I have a small pouch... *medical images included down the bottom - may annoy some readers*

Just before you start to read, I have put images from my Gastroscopy down the bottom of my blog.  I have also put some images up from my Barrium Swallow which aren't as 'confronting' as they are an X Ray.  These are located half way down the page.  Sorry in advance if this offends anyone...

Today I had my endoscopy.  I thought it was at 12.30 however, it was actually scheduled for 9.30.  Lucky Brad got the paperwork that I needed to fill out prior to attending the clinic in the morning else I would have missed it.

I have and plenty of gastroscopys before as I had gall stones whilst I was pregnant with Callum.  After he was born, I had a lot of problems with tiny stones that I had gotten stuck along the 7 and a bit months of my pregnancy which meant I had to have a stent inserted into my bile duct before they went ahead and crushed the rest of the stones with a net. 

I had to fast from midnight last night (which wasn’t a problem as I’m not hungry!) although I did end up having to have a sip of water as I needed to have one of my indigestion tablets.  I have required these a fair bit over the past few weeks.

After I had the procedure (and was with it enough to enjoy watching Ellen whilst sipping on applie juice), Dr Winnett came and saw me. He told me that I have developed a small pouch and that I may require surgery to fix it.  He said that he wanted me to have a barium swallow and a follow up appointment had been made for me to see him after the test results had come through.

I went and had the barium swallow right away.  For those who haven’t had one (or don’t know what happens), you stand in front of an X Ray Machine and when prompted, you drink a contrast liquid (about the texture of Mylanta) and as you drink it, pictures are taken of what is going on as the fluid passes through the esophagus and in my case, my band.  It is quite bizarre watching it work!  I would have a mouthful of the ‘goo’ and I’d watch it go down my throat and to my stomach where it would sit on top of my band for a while before it drained through.  It was taking longer than what it should (which is why I was having this test).  I then had to eat a salada.  It was revolting as it was stale.  I had to eat it quite quickly so that they could see what happened when my band was put under ‘stress’.  The same thing happened – it didn’t do a lot – the fluid sat on top of the salada and managed to find it’s way through the cracks.  I then got dressed and he took another few pictures to show what happened after 5 minutes of eating the salada.  Not a lot had happened.

The white stuff is the fluid sitting on top of my band...

Another picture of the fluid going through my band and then to my stomach...

I found the pictures really interesting.  I am yet to fully research what a ‘small pouch’ is as I was a bit out of it when Dr Winnett was telling me what was going on.  On my report, it says that I have moderate erythematous.  If anyone has gone through it before, feel free to share your experiences and thoughts. 

If I do have to have more surgery, I’m not really that upset about it.  When you have any type of Surgery done, there are pros and cons.  This is one of those things that happens.  I will take it one step at a time.  The only thing I am a bit annoyed about is that everything has healed so nicely!  My scars are looking brilliant now.  Just a small set back on my way to having the perfect bikini body :)

The oher pictures are below... stop looking now if you don't want to see them!  You have been warned!

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