Leah B.
Humble Servant of All
Yesterday I prayed in Jesus's name that I would make it through my PET scan. I am happy to say it really was not bad at all! I had to wait an hour after they infused the radioactive tracer. I watched TV, some Christian programming. The test itself only took about 20 minutes. They put heated blankets on my arms and torso. It wasn't very claustrophobic at all, more like a CT scan than an MRI and also not the least bit noisy. Anyway, I ask for more prayer in Jesus's name for a negative result. In addition, I have another prayer: This was a lung scan, focused on my upper lobe. However, I'm pretty sure they got imagery of my esophagus and throat as well. Please pray in Jesus's name that this PET scan shows inflammation in the aforementioned areas, indicative of acid irritation from GERD. Please pray in Jesus's name that all other lung nodules, particularly in lower lobes, are shown on this PET scan and also mentioned in the report. My reason? I strongly believe especially lower lobe nodules can be indicative of microaspiration of stomach acid. [An ENT already found my throat to be inflamed from stomach acid. If acid is up to my throat, surely it's getting to my lungs as well.] My theory, which I arrived at after a great deal of research and which was confirmed by one doctor, is that all this mucus and postnasal drip is getting down into my lungs and aggravating my COPD. On top of that, the microaspiration of stomach acid is spraying upwards into my lungs, causing asthma-like symptoms. If you had seen me yesterday morning getting ready to go for that test, you would have been aghast. There was so much nasal congestion and throat mucus dripping down, I was dizzy. I had to stop putting on my makeup for five minutes and sit down. I had chest pain I am pretty sure was from GERD. [The day before I fainted for about 30 seconds. Everything went dark, and I fell. I broke the fall with my hands.] My best friend yesterday told me I was so pale, she could see through me. The main thing here: This episode yesterday, where I felt sick and dizzy and had all throat mucus, etc., happened after 24 hours of ZERO caffeine intake [I only drink limited amounts of low-acid decaf anyway] and eating only bland, high protein foods in preparation for the PET scan. I ate NOTHING that could possibly trigger reflux. Another point: First, in thankfulness-- I had put in a prayer that I would successfully complete a pepsin test I ordered and did at home. The prayer was answered! Two out of three saliva samples were positive for pepsin. Most important here, the sample I took upon arising, done on a totally empty stomach, was positive. If you put all of this together, it shows I'm refluxing acid and pepsin both in my sleep. Another thing I think proves this is I was so highly symptomatic yesterday morning when I woke up in spite of the low-acid diet probably partially because I did not take my RefluxRaft before bed because I was afraid of making a shadow or artifact on my PET scan. I'm still symptomatic when I take the RefluxRaft, but I'm way worse without that alginate raft blocking the acid and pepsin. But back to point -- In Jesus's name, I'm praying to be able to make the case for TIF surgery with hernia repair to these doctors, especially the surgeon when I go back. I am tired of being chopped into little pieces by body system instead of being looked at as a whole person -- I feel the preponderance of the evidence, including the fact that my pulmonary function test was improved at my last, very recent visit with my lung doctor, shows the gastroesophageal reflux and laryngopharyngeal reflux are severe and are harming my breathing and my lungs. I'm tired of what I perceive to be nothing but a stall job trying to get the corrective surgery. The GERD/LPR diet is soul-crunching. I don't want to spend the rest of my life eating food that tastes like cardboard. Sadder still, I'm at an extreme disadvantage because I have to use Trelegy inhaler for my COPD. That relaxes your esophageal sphincter, causing GERD. Another disadvantage is the chances are excellent that down the line, I will have to take prednisone again for a COPD flare. The prednisone will inevitably aggravate my GERD. [In fact that's exactly what set off this horrendous GERD/LPR flare last December that I never recovered from. I took high-dose prednisone and then had a GERD attack, got an excruciating sore throat and lost my voice.] All this being said, my prayer in Jesus's name is I can get especially the surgeon I am supposed to be going back to in July to see that surgery is my only real chance to protect my lungs. I haven't smoked in almost 19 years. I'm to the point now where I feel [NOT that I would ever actually do it] that I might as well start smoking again because I don’t have a real chance of getting better anyway. I worked SO hard on maintaining my lung function. I did pulmonary rehab. I exercise faithfully. Without the surgery, I'm just going to be sick anyway so why should I keep trying? I calculated the stall jobs and delays already put on my getting this surgery to be a whopping 12 months! [Three-month wait to see surgeon, who told me to come back in three more months. Six-month wait from ENT who put all the conservative treatment protocol for GERD in his report even though he knew the report was for a surgeon and knew I've been treating conservatively for GERD for three years already. You know what? Honestly, I believe if I had been that ENT'S mother or sister, there would have been a surgical recommendation.] To conclude, please pray in Jesus's name to give me wisdom in choosing my words with these doctors and to be able to effectively present my case to get this TIF surgery with hernia repair. Please pray in Jesus's name that I collect more evidence to bolster my case from the PET scan. Thank you for praying.
