I wanted to see what they looked like. The post banding varices scars of scary pictures of my EGD and Colonoscopy are below. While being treated for end stage liver disease, I had a lot of bandings. My story about EGD and colonoscopy kind of triggered fear from the past. Sitting in ICU with my family after a varices bleedout that almost killed me was a trauma. I ended up with emotional and physical scarring from the bandings. I even had painful swallowing and esophageal spasms for the last several years. I can be so stubborn, and used calming techniques to overcome them. Well, I finally had enough.
My Recent Story about EGD and Colonoscopy
Last week, we had the great granddoggy over, and that helped take my mind off of the upcoming scope. It was an upper and lower meaning they went into my esophagus and my colon. The prep is the worst part and I’ll write a blog about the new ones, how I made it easier, and which one works the best. I’ve tried them all. There are ways to make sure you are good and clean so your doctor can see everything.
While we had Finn, it was fun to take him on our weekend hikes. We have a lot of trails along the river, lake, and near our property in the woods, and he frolicked and kept us laughing. We took him home on Sunday. It took my mind off of the scope coming up. Literally, I took him home and started my prep that same evening!
Tuesday was my procedure and we took the earliest arrival time. I slept downstairs near the main bathroom so hubby could rest. That didn’t work, and we were both groggy anyway! I wanted my original doctor who had diagnosed me all those years ago. Dr. Vasudevan Raghuraman, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Tulsa who I have absolute confidence in. He was chosen to open the new colonoscopy center at St Francis Springer Clinic. He’s brilliant, thorough, compassionate, and honest. I get teary just typing this. He has saved so many lives. When I had Hep C, he got me into treatment.
I wore my baggy britches and a loose long sleeved shirt, with my Birks. That makes for easy undressing and dressing. I honestly remember very little about the whole morning. I remember sitting on the couch later and having popsicles with hubby. The verdict is what was important to me.
The Verdict after my EGD and Colonoscopy
For the Endoscopy or EGD, there was very little scarring. I put pictures of the scarring, because even though they were small, they caused a LOT of pain. Dr. Ramen did an amazing job even when I was throwing up blood and needed multiple blood and plasma transfusions. This time, he did the balloon procedure and dilated, or stretched, my esophagus a bit where it had narrowed. He left the scar tissue there because it wasn’t hurting anything.
There were a lot of pictures showing mostly a healthy esophagus and colon. All of the varices that were in the top of my stomach had shrunk down after the transplant. I had a LOT of varices after my liver disease Hepatitis C diagnosis.
I figured they would find some polyps in my colon. I had some before and they removed them. Diverticulitis runs in my family. I’ve lost 2 relatives to colon cancer. Add that to my immune suppressants post liver transplant, and I had some fears. I was ignoring them, but they were there.
A Clean Bill of Health
For the colon part of it, Dr Ramen told my husband that there were NO – Zero – 0 polyps and that was a huge relief. He also put pictures for me to reference later.
What a relief. I never knew how much of a burden I was carrying til it was gone. He literally told my husband that he would see me again in 5 years. In other words, my gut is as healthy as a person who had never had liver disease. No polyps, no major scars, and a healthy colon and gut from top to bottom.
Varices Scars: Scary Pictures of my EGD and Colonoscopy
If it is time for a EGD or colonoscopy, if you’re having pain, or just putting it off, go ahead and make an appointment now. If you live in the Tulsa area, call Dr. Raghuramen. xo Karen
