Results of Endoscopy and Ultrasound

Yesterday I had the Endoscopy and Ultrasound to try to determine why I'm having such a terrible time with the acid reflux. I've been diagnosed with GERD now for several years, so I generally know what I can and cannot eat. I really thought it was the Sinemet that set off the reflux, but my Gastroenterologist wanted to be sure it wasn't a lingering infection from the severe colitis I had been plagued with for so long.

Anyway, the tests showed nothing but irritation, not infection, and no sign of gall stones or anything like that, so it was the medicine after all. My own doctor had been called away, and one of his associates, who is not familiar with my case, did the endoscopy. His orders were to take the Parkinson's meds with meals, which, of course, I'm not supposed to do. He also prescribed Carafate and a week's worth of probiotics, and to continue the twice a day on Protonix. All this is designed to settle down my tummy and soothe my esophagus.

As for taking the PD meds with meals, I'm not going to do that, but I do eat crackers with them each time, to try to protect my stomach. Hopefully, by the time I'm weaned off the Sinemet and fully titrated onto the Requip, I won't have the conflict with the meds, anyway.

If I still have problems then, I'll have to try to get the Neurologist and the Gastroenterologist to talk to each other and decide what's best for me. I don't like being the go-between for doctors. They need to discuss this with each other!

I had read that Parkinson's meds and Parkinson's itself could cause a person to react differently to anesthesia. Well, there may be some truth to that. I slept until 6:30 PM yesterday evening after we got home from the endoscopy, and then I went back to sleep about 10:00 and slept all night until around 6:30 this morning!! I just about lost yesterday!! I'm fine today, with no ill effects at all.

Busy Busy Day

I walked to Daddy's this morning .... the first time I've done that in about six months or so. He lives about a block or two away, I guess, but we don't have blocks. DH came and got me, so I wouldn't tire out too much.

We had a full day today, making our usual round of the Estate Sales, looking for the really good bargains. We did find a few goodies, too, and I got a lot of walking in. By lunch time I was pretty well worn out, but it was fun. After lunch we went to the thrift store and did some more bargain hunting and then headed to the other side of town for my Gastroenterologist appointment.

Dr. B doesn't seem to think that the acid reflux I'm experiencing is due to the Parkinson's medicines, so he's scheduled an endoscopy and an ultrasound for next week, and I gave more blood today for a liver function test.

As caregivers, we always kept a spiral notebook log of everything that happened concerning our loved one, such as when we gave medicine, any behavior changes, any digestion problems, etc., and we always took it to the doctors. So today, for the first time, we used the new notebook we bought yesterday for the start of my log, writing down Dr. B's directions for me to take my Protonix twice a day and not drink any liquids with my meals. We'll continue to note anything out of the ordinary in the notebook from now on.