Gastroenterologist update

First, I want to wish Lydia A. and her family a bon voyage as they had to Europe for a land and cruise vacation. Have a wonderful time and I can't wait to hear about the trip when you return.

Second, my friend Kay is headed to Dana Farber in Boston today to discuss her potential participation in a clinical trial for her specific type of breast cancer. I am thinking of you and hope all goes well.

Yesterday we met with the gastroenterologist and, at the risk of making a quick (and inaccurate) first impression, we liked him. He practices internal medicine as well as gastroenterology, and he was quite thorough in his discussion of the potential causes of my cough. One thing he is almost certain of is that it is NOT acid reflux. For one, I don't have and have never experienced the usual burning sensation that affects those with acid reflux and contrary to the ENT's information, I should be coughing more when I lay down rather than less. Because of my cancer history, he's decided to perform an endoscopy and biopsy to check for any tumors (that will take place on June 17), but doesn't think he will find evidence of acid reflux. He suggested that he could place a pH monitor in my esophagus that would wirelessly monitor any stomach acid for two days (I don't know what happens to the monitor after two days), but he indicated it would have to be placed during an endoscopy, and I doubt he will get approval from Oxford to do that.

If he finds there is no acid reflux, he has recommended an ENT at NYU Medical Center who he said is at the top of the field. He thinks perhaps it's a spasm at the top of my esophagus, but said there could be other causes as well. He'll call me after the endoscopy to discuss the next step.

While we were talking, he noticed a red spot on my lower right eyelid. (As background, I had experienced this on my upper right eyelid while we were in Paris. I thought I had slept on my hand and my ring had irritated my eyelid, but then realized it might be a sty. Whatever it was, it went away of its own accord in about three days. When this one popped up on Sunday, I thought it would also disappear in a few days.) He examined it, promptly wrote me a few prescriptions, and recommended hot compresses. I started the hot compresses last night and today it is still there but now feels hard rather than soft. I'm going to continue with them tonight and Friday, and will fill the prescriptions if it's not gone by the weekend.

I appreciated that he took the time to examine my eye when I was there for my cough. I would really like to see him as my primary physician, although he doesn't accept my insurance for that part of his practice any longer. I could see him out of network, though. We'll see if our impression changes after my endoscopy. We originally liked the ENT, and you know how that worked out.

So, the week of June 15 will be a busy one for the first four days of working from home for the summer. On the 16th, I have my annual exam with Dr. "Gout," on the 17th at 8 a.m. is my endoscopy, on the 18th I have my Zometa infusion and on the 19th I have chemo. What a way to start my "summer."