[OT]This Bus Nut is very grateful to be alive!

[Mex-Busnut]

Dear Friends,

I have been quiet for several weeks. Here are the reasons.

I have been having severe acid reflux for many years. In January, I went in for an endoscopy and biopsy. The biopsy tested positive for esophageal cancer. Ten days later, it came back NEGATIVE. My esophagus' tissue had returned to a level 3. (1 is normal, 4 is pre-cancerous, according to what I understood.) PRAISE THE GOOD LORD!   

The third of February, I went into surgery for a large (2 inch) hiatal hernia, which was the cause of the acid reflux that was cooking my esophagus. It turns out that my trachea is totally crooked: a factory defect. Our family anesthesiologist (a dear friend and member of our central church) could not get the tubes in me. The 45-minute procedure ended up lasting over three hours.

A second anesthesiologist was called in, and he couldn't get the tube in either. I was unconscious during all of this. Finally they had success. At two specific points during surgery, they were sure they had lost me. The Gastroenterologist  said that in 22 years of practice, he had never had a patient as difficult like me. (I guess I am a unique individual!)

I am very thankful to the good Lord that I am still alive.

And if any of you are suffering from acid reflux, dear friends, take it seriously, get it taken care of before something worse comes along.

Be blessed!

Stephen Wilson

[chev49]

thanks for your post. wondered where you were. my niece had almost exactly the same condition, and like you, the specialists had several problems in the OR and the did lose her. Was very sad for her 2 young children.  Wise to keep on top of this stuff, like you said.

[robertglines1]

 Glad you didn't go to sit with him yet!  We got allot of bussin to do. Plus haven't met in person.  Bob  

[artvonne]

  Close calls are what bring us (some of us anyway) closer to God, realizing we are truly mortal beings. Thank you for Sharing, Dr Steve, and glad to hear all is well. 

[Runcutter]

Stephen, I'll chime in on the "take it seriously" part.  After years of what turned out to be reflux, I had an upper GI endoscopy.  They found that the reflux had changed the cells in the lower part of my esophagus to a pre-cancerous condition, and put me on a daily over-the-counter medicine.  For under $.70/day, the frequent reflux (at one point, I thought it was a heart attack -- didn't have health insurance, so I put the cat out, and unlocked the front door) -- turned into a very occasional event.  Follow-up checks have showed no change, so the stuff is working.

My last barber had esophageal cancer, twice -- and I saw what he went through the second time.  Kind of makes me glad my wife made me go have it checked out.

Glad things went well for you.

Arthur 

[CrabbyMilton]

I'm glad things are working out with your health. Indeed praise and thank the Lord for every day.

[Oonrahnjay]

Thank you Steve.  My father suffered with reflux from the time he was a young adult until he died at age 84 (we always called it the "Henderson stomach" because every male in the family has it some severity or other) and I'm moving that way.  I'm getting an appointment today to get it checked out.

Congrats on all being well, and continue to live in God's Love.   BH,  NC USA

[Eagle Andy]

AMEN

[PCC]

We shall continue to pray for a complete healing, knowing that there is nothing we do not owe to HIM.

Blessings to you and your family.

[Lin]

Are you saying that merely having a complicated surgery, being unconscious, and being at death's door stopped you from visiting the Board?  What kind of busnut are you?

[Mex-Busnut]

Are you saying that merely having a complicated surgery, being unconscious, and being at death's door stopped you from visiting the Board?  What kind of busnut are you?

Sorry, Lin! I did read other people's posts, but did not post anything.

[longjohn]

AMEN

Ditto!    We will keep you in our prayers, Dr Steve

[ArtGill]

Male,  PSA every year!!!!   It works!!!

Art

[Rick59-4104]

 Not trying to push a product but after several years of suffering my doctor put me on Nexium, huge improvement. The co-pay on my insurance is high but I gladly pay it. After I was on it for about a year my health insurance company (my policy is about $1500.00 a month) decided they would no longer pay for it.  A week later I was in the hospital, they "reconsidered" and now pay for all but my monthly co-pay. Before the "purple pill" my lungs would fill with fluid the reflux was so bad. Good luck and glad you are back with us......

Rick

[opus]

As a singer, reflux symptoms are one thing I stay on top of! 

Very glad to hear you are well.  Kinda on the same note, great day here today.  Wife just came home from 7 weeks worth of radiation treatment for breast cancer.  God is good!