Friday, February 07, 2014

Latest Check Over and Colonoscopy

So I have just seen the doctors for a recent checked up. All is going well. The Azathioprine seem to be working well for me and I am glad to be back on them.

The doctor was happy with me and I have been feeling well. I was due a colonoscopy to check things over which I had today. Never pleasant. Taking the laxative and having that rumble in your belly is not nice. Luckily I have had a few colonoscopies before, so kind of took it my stride.

This time I decided to go for gas and air instead of a sedative as I wanted to drive myself some home as they wife was busy with the kids. It was certainly an experience. At times it was quite painful when the doctor had to ease out a bend of my intestine all the while the nurses where chatting away to me.

I did kind of enjoy seeing what was going on. They have a magnet in the tube so you can see it winding up towards the your belly. Very clever stuff.

The doctor was complaining of a lack of air during the procedure. It seems the air is fired out the end of the tube and used to open up the intestine. So they replaced a button mid op on his control stick. Thankfully this seems to make things a bit easier and less painful.

When the doctor got to my Ileocecal valve it seemed there was some ucleration. The doctor was also concerned that it seems quite small. There was scarring around there valve from when I had been ill previously.

The doctor recommend I get this dilated. They discussed doing it there an then which would have involved sticking a balloon in there and pumping it up.


I am glad they elected to not do the procedure immediately. Even if it means another colonoscopy. Apparently this is the area most Cronhs suffers encounter problems and is the section of stomach which is often removed with surgery.

I spoke to one of the nurses who has looked after me for year now who explained dilating the vavle might not be the best course of action. I have been feeling well recently. Do not suffer pain. Can eat pretty much what I want (with the exception of yeast). See will speak with my consultant and let me know the recommendation.

In a couple of weeks I am moving to Australia. So will see what living with Crohns is like over there. Hopefully Medicare treats me well and won't cost a bomb.