The gastroscopy and the results

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Two weeks ago I had the gastroscopy. The morning was messy so I didn't have much time to worry about it. And when the hospital called to ask if I could come earlier, everything went very quick. Once in the hospital, i went straight to the endoscopy department. I was immediately admitted there. List of questions was completed, checks were made and an IV was placed. Then I had to wait a while until it was my turn. Once in the treatment room, the nerves kicked in tremendously. Flashbacks to the first endoscopy I had at the LUMC. The bronchoscopy in which the lung specialist has taken a biopsy from the tumor. Luckily I get a sedation this time. All I get is the numbing spray in the back of my throat. A spray that they made “tasty” by giving it a banana flavour. Who made that up?!?

I wake up in the recovery room. At first I am still very drowsy, but I soon see that the letter with the provisional results is already ready. When I read that I am a bit disappointed: they have not found a cause for my complaints. Of course it's nice that they haven't found anything serious, but what causes my complaints.

Two weeks after the endoscopy I (finally) have the telephone appointment with the nurse specialist of the MDL. The conclusion: we have not found anything that explains your complaints, so we cannot help you further. I am advised to contact the radiation doctor. He would then be able to determine what can be further looked into based on the radiation data.

That is very disappointing, I had hoped that they could refer me immediately.

Fortunately, at Holland PTC, where I had my radiation therapy, they are very accessible. I make a phone call in the early afternoon and get the doctor's assistant on the phone. After hearing my story, she indicates that the doctor will call me back that afternoon. Less than 10 minutes later I have him on the phone. He was not able to view the data from the endoscopy yet, but he could view the report of the nurse specialist I spoke to. I describe to him the complaints I experience and ask him if it is possible that the problem is in the muscles or nerves that control my esophagus. He certainly sees this as a possibility that fits the period after radiation. I also indicate that my voice is increasingly bothering me. Heavier/hoarse voice, tired and sometimes painful feeling when talking. He indicates that even though nothing was found at the scope, it does not mean that there is nothing wrong. The complaints I have indicate that something is not quite working as it should. The radiation doctor will contact the pulmonologist with whom I am being treated to discuss what can be further investigated. They may want to take a swallow picture or have the ENT doctor take a look.

Although I don't have any concrete next steps yet, I'm very happy with this conversation. I feel taken seriously, heard and it's nice to know that they will at least look further. The radiation doctor expects to be able to call me back this week if he has had consultations with the pulmonologist.

That evening I remember that I once saw a website, in the Head and Neck cancer group, with recipes and tips for when eating is a bit more difficult. I'm going to take a closer look at this because a little more variety in what I can eat would be nice.



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