antecoitus

I’m cleared!!! I’m cleared! I’m done with my
gastroscopy, an examination of the stomach and the duodenum (the tube that
connects to the small intestines). The doctor inserts some thin, flexible fiber
optic instrument into my mouth to check if there are any damages on the lining
of the esophagus, or whether there are any ulcers in the duodenal area.

They didn’t find any!  

They gave me one shot of this calming drug before the
procedure so that I would not fight their attempt to gag me and throw up on
them (it was literally like being induced to puke, so I pretty much experienced
supermodel bulimia if only for a few seconds… and with a techy medical
instrument instead of a toothbrush butt). The drug made me drunk instantaneously
(I really much prefer it, rather than having to work on getting drunk the whole
night, hehe =) and before I knew it, I was already being led by the doctor
outside so that I can relax and have some fresh air for at least half an hour
until the effect is gone. I was smiling this dorky, junkie like smile at him as
I went out saying thank you and waving to him, to his nurse, his assistant and
a couple of his patients. Sobrang diyahe when I got a clearer head and
realized. I called W during this coming down, who was half laughing at my
verbal skills while I was telling him the good news. The other patients must
have thought I was from the psychiatric ward because I was smiling at everyone
passing by like I’m running for office.

I went back to my GP, one metro station away, an old
adorable gentleman who explains everything to me in detail. He said that I have
been a very good patient. Did I take the meds properly? Yes, sir. Did I smoke
or drink during the week? Hell no, sir. Did I eat at least five times a day?
Yes, sir, you can even check my weight sir. No seasoned food? Well, I’ve
forgotten the taste of pepper, sir. Good girl. He explained to me that I clearly
have a predisposition for severe acid secretion, the finding was that I have a
very spastic stomach although no clear damage has been caused to the mucus
lining of my gullet and esophagus yet. He said I have to try to relax and not
be stressed so much, not smoke, avoid drinking alcohol (especially dry wine)
and eat every three hours at least. He’s not taking me off my meds and I still
have to go back in a fortnight. Also, I have to have it checked regularly from
hereon, especially if I draw out blood. Eew.  

Since I was already there, I said to myself, lahat
lahatin na ‘to! I complained about my chronic headaches which usually occur only
at the left side of my brain, it starts from the back of my left eye then down
to my neck. ‘Ah,’ he started, ‘you have hemicrania’. Hemi-what? (like Nancy
Navalta??? Joke.=)) He said it’s a kind of severe headache that affects only half
of the head and is usually remitting (it comes and goes) and if it’s becoming
chronic then it should get checked. ‘It usually starts to happen to young adult
women who have stressful jobs, usually the smart ones. As you grow older it may
cause some serious danger if not treated’, he continues. I do not know if I
should feel flattered or cursed. ‘Doc, inuuto niyo lang yata ako para masabi nyong
– actually walang gamut diyan dahil nervous system yan e, tiisan na lang ineng’,
— but I didn’t say that. He then adds, ‘the cause is unknown until now, but
you have to be x-rayed (ang cool ang tawag dito roentgen, named after William
Roentgen, the guy who produced and detected the first electromagnetic radiation
– x-rays). ‘Sometimes the pain is connected to an abnormal connection to the
spinal cord’ — yes takutin ba ko?

I conceded and had my x-ray taken, I’m coming back on
Tuesday for the results. And he tells me I shouldn’t get stressed.

During my stay at home I managed to watch these:

Weeds (full two seasons)

Deliverance (1972)

Barbershop (2002)

New York Minute (the emaciated Olsen sisters)

Cinderella Man (2005, Russell and Renee)

American History X

Amelie (English subs)

Ronin (1998)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)

City of G o D

Reservoir Dogs (Tarantino, Buscemi, Keitl)

Domino (spunky Kiera didn’t work on me, movies like an
MTV video all throughout, not that bad though)

First Descent (snowboarding)

It’s All Gone Pete Tong (Ibiza DJ goes deaf)

Last H o l i d a y

King Kong

Pimp my Ride International (half of season 1)

The Fifth Element (and flawless Milla Jovovich)

The Family Stone (Keaton, Parker)

Mission I m p o s s i b l e III

Syriana (Clooney, Daemon)

Scary Movie 4

Friends (random, while I clean up or take showers or
surf on the net)

******

I’m not glad I got sick, but I did get a good rest. =)
Happy weekend.