Yesterday morning I was scheduled for and completed an EGD (Esophagogastroduoden), which is a scope down your upper GI Tract. These EGD's can be used to diagnose disease of the GI Tract such as ulcers, GERD, Barrett's, Cancer, Bleeding Disorders etc. My EGD was scheduled because I was having extreme pain in my epi-gastric region (middle of chest) 24/7 for the past 5 weeks. Since I had finished radiation treatments on my cancer in my esophagus on April 22, phyicians were not certain what was causing my pain. The EGD allows the physician to guide a TV camera down the GI tract and record, photograph and biospy any areas of concern. The phyisican can also at times "dilate" the esophagus if a person is having trouble swallowing food.
My EGD was very evident that I had many ulcers in the lower portion of my esophagus leading to the stomach. This may be a result of the radiation treatments. This is what is causing my extreme pain and rendering me unable to eat any foods or drinks. The physician started me on strong dosage of Nexium twice per day and a liquid medication called Carafate that I drink 4 times per day to coat the lining of the esopahagus. It is hoped after 2 weeks of treatment that I feel relief from these treatment and the ulcers will begin to heal. This healing process could take up to 6 weeks.
It was important to me to get this pain under control since I will begin chemotherapy again on Friday this week. I have lost much more weight than I had hoped at this point and I am not in a good position to begin chemotherapy.
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If your physician ever orders an EGD for you, it is not a procedure to worry about. It is relatively very quick and pain free. You generally arrive one hour prior to the procedure where the nurse will gather all your medical history for the chart. The nurse will start an I.V. by which medication will be given to you so that you don't even remember the procedure. When it is time, you will be taken to the surgery suite and the physician will discuss his intentions with you. A nurse will spray some numbing medication in the back of your throat which helps knock out your gag reflex. The physician will have you lay on your left side and then the medication is added to your I.V. The medication is generally Versed and Fentanyl. You most likely will not remember anything else until you wake up back in the pre-surgical area. You may be slightly sleepy for the remainder of the day and are not permitted to drive that day. The physicain will come into your room and discuss the results before you go home.