I have been in Georgetown. I have been having problems with my stomach for some time, and coupled with a noticeable weight loss, I felt I needed to go where there were better medical facilities. I had an ultrasound done on my stomach and upper digestive tract (for $22.50 US) The technician doing the test said that I had so much gas in my stomach, he couldn’t get a clear look at my pancreas and recommended a CT scan, which I had done for $165US. I also had a bunch of blood tests run. In the end, the doctor said she could see nothing which explained my symptoms, and therefore couldn’t treat them. She recommended that I return to the states where I could get more quality health services.
I told her I wasn’t interested in taking that option. She said she could refer me to an endogastic specialist. I took all my tests results and went to see him for a $10US consultation fee. He had me lay on the examining table, and he started to probe my stomach. He told me to relax and not be afraid he would hurt me. I told him I was relaxed, my stomach was that distended. He took a look at the CT scan results and exclaimed, “Who could look at these and say you were normal!” He scheduled me for endoscopy the next morning. He joked and said that what I needed was for someone to put a tube down me and suction everything out. I told him he didn’t realize how often I wished for something like that. He said he was kidding, because it was a very painful process.
The next morning as I was getting prepped for the procedure, the anesthesiologist came in and informed me that since I had so much undigested food in my stomach, they were going to put a tube through my nose to draw it of so I didn’t vomit it up while under sedation. It was in fact, very unpleasant. Then I was knocked out and when I came to, the tube was still into my stomach. I was told there was a large mass of food that was so thick, it wouldn’t suction out. The surgeon informed me that they had discovered a small ulcer in my stomach, but it was quite close to the outlet. He said that that can cause enough irritation, that the outlet will constrict. He said he wasn’t able to pass the ‘scope through because it was so constricted, and my stomach was so distended, he ran out of scope line to push farther.
They said they wanted to keep me in overnight for observation. A few times the nurse tried to suction out the line, but it was like trying to suck paste through a bic pen tube. After a bit I got very uncomfortable and told the nurse I was going to vomit, and would that be a problem with the tube down my throat. She asked me when I thought I was going to vomit, and I said, “Right now, and started to hurl.” She grabbed a little spit pan, which I immediately filled, then she grabbed something which I more than filled, finally she got a sizable pan in front of me and I pretty well filled that. The stuff as very thick and nasty. They measured it at a little over 1600 ml. And this after fasting for more than 24 hours. After that, I asked if she would contact the surgeon, explain what had happened, and ask for permission to remove the nose tube. She came back and said he said she could do it. I told her I wanted to kiss her.
Near the end of the day, a couple of the surgeon’s associates, came and said I should go by the doctor’s office Friday morning for an evaluation. I explained that if I did that, I would be stuck in Georgetown for another weekend, and asked it there was any way I could see him Thursday afternoon so I could travel back Friday morning. They said that should be possible. So I went to see him today. He said that he couldn’t definitively say what the problem was, but there was a good chance it was the ulcer. He recommended that in about 5 weeks, I get a barium dye x-ray. I am hoping I can do that while I am in Mabaruma for the SAD program. I know the new hospital there has the equipment, but I don’t know if they have the technicians to operate it. In the meantime he recommended a liquid diet for a week, and then start adding other things, but preferable pureeing them before eating them.
I’m sorry I went on so long about this matter, but the main purpose of the blog is to keep our friends and families informed at to how we are doing.
On a positive note, Andrew, Jonathan, and Jared reached Matthew’s Ridge Friday and were able to assist with last weekend’s meetings. Another brother, Kenneth Branch traveled in to Port Kaituma Wednesday, along with Sherwin Gordon, who was originally from Port Kaituma, to prepare for, and hold the Memorial there. Since they will be there the next two Wednesdays, no one from the Ridge will have to drive down.
Stephan flew into ‘town on Wednesday, and he flies out tomorrow. I got to spend a little time with him here and it was bittersweet. I am going to very much miss his support, recommendations, and friendship and companionship, I have often said that is one of the hardest challenges of this work, the friendships that come and go. When you serve together, you can become so close, but inevitably people move on.
For this week’s pictures, I’ve included a couple of Stephan. It may be that I had used these in the past, if so I apologize, but I thought it would be a fitting send off. In Guyana when someone is leaving, they say, “Walk good.” In Carib it’s Chupwa changa. Walk good Stephan Johnsen.
