As you may remember from when I met the surgeon, one of the items on my list was to get an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or an EGD. I can't even say the long version of that...
This was not my first trip to the EGD rodeo. I had one in 2010 when trying to figure out why my digestive system hates me, and I got a colonoscopy done at the same time. Just before the anesthesia was started in 2010, I asked if they can take a picture of one camera with the other and they said they used the same camera, then I went to sleep. Without the colonoscopy prep, this procedure was going to be much easier.
I called the department to get the EGD done the same day as the surgical consult, and they got me in for the following Monday morning. This completely shocked me but I wasn't about to say anything.
In case you don't know what an EGD is and the whole idea of going to the hospital, being put into twilight, and having a procedure freaks you out, it's really nothing to worry about. If you want to read what the professionals have to say you can look here. This reads at a good eighth grade level, but here is what happened on that day.
First of all, you need someone to go with you, so I recruited my mom. From midnight the night before, I didn't eat or drink anything (though a small sip for medicine is usually ok, just check with the doctor). We took the drive to JH Bayview, and waited to be called back.
Once I was back in the prep area, things moved quickly enough. I was allowed to keep my undergarments on for this procedure as it is not done in a room with the clean standards of an operating room. After I was cleared by the pregnancy test (phew!) the nurse got an IV started.
As I hung out waiting, by this point mom was able to rejoin me, the doctor performing the scope stopped by to ask what brought me in for the test. I'm not sure if this is a Hopkins or all hospitals thing, but they like to hear in your own words why you are getting something done and what you are there for. Then the anesthesiologist came by to make sure she had all of the right information about my medical history.
Finally they rolled me back to the room. Once again, they did what is called a time out to ask me my name, date of birth, and what procedure I was getting done. They warned me about this by telling me this was normal and "they know what they're doing". They put a special mask on me to push oxygen while also leaving an opening to put the camera into my mouth, and the rest I don't remember.
I woke up to one of the assistant anesthesiologists asking me to cough. My oxygen numbers tend to dip a little bit and a little coughing got my numbers right up. The doctor came by to see mom while I was waking up, and then came to see me. The EGD showed a tiny polyp and low level GERD, which led him to ask if I was experiencing heartburn at all, which I was not. I got a copy of the report (with pictures!) and I was wheeled down and out of the hospital.
The recovery from the anesthesia was not bad. I felt like myself pretty early, and it was a chill half day off.
Flash forward about a month and a half. I followed up with a few questions I had to my surgeon, and she told me that the EGD showed her that I was no longer a candidate for the sleeve and I would need to have a roux-en-y gastric bypass if I wanted to proceed. I told her that was fine by me.
If you're reading this while on your journey, just know that if you're not sure what procedure to get, and you experience heartburn and/or have been diagnosed with GERD, your decision might be made for you.
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