7.31.2007

good news

Diagnosis: good.
it's treatable. it's reversible. i'll be breathing normally in a couple months (at most)
what is it?
i first have to ask.. are you ready for a laugh?

i've always had issues with my stomach.
you may have heard it called GERD.
where acid backs up from your stomach into your esophogas.
i've never been diagnosed, but i've always known that i have it (i have the classic symptoms, and my mom's been diagnosed... i didn't need a doctor to tell me)
i always thought, i can deal with the stomach aches.. with waking up with sore throats (they usually went away within an hour of getting up anyway).. with pain in swallowing.
but what i didn't know is what hurt me....

evidently, in some cases, it can cause more damage beyond the norm. for instance, burning the bottoms of my vocal cords (don't worry, they'll heal... my lower, slightly raspy voice will go back to its beautiful self eventually).

the worst? it can flatten your airway leading to your lungs!!! DUDE!!!
so i've been breathing through a tube that has been shrunk and flattened by acid coming up from my stomach.
(sorry if i'm spoiling anyone's appetite)

so i went to a lung specialist to get diagnosed with a stomach disorder. ironic. and expensive.
but the relief is worth whatever it ends up costing us.... and we're thinking that all put together, it'll end up being less than one ER visit... which we contemplated doing at several different times.

the good news? i will breathe normally again. after doing a series of pulmonary function tests, the doctor told me that not only are my lungs normal.. they're better than normal. he said, and i quote, "you do not have asthma, that's for sure!"

thank you, Jesus!!!

2 comments:

SpartnPrincess said...

YAY! See? Well worth the visit. I am so excited to hear that everything will be back to normal...soon. :) YAY!

Anonymous said...

Praise God! the world is a crazy place, eh? So glad to hear that everything will be back to normal in the near future...woohoo! JMac