[Moreta]

So I've been having gastro problems, and the GI Dr. has been sending me on tests. I had an abdominal ultrasound this week, and apparently I have an enlarged spleen. Everything else was fine. So now I have to go for a CT scan, then I guess I'm supposed to get an appt with my internist? I really have no idea. This enlarged spleen thing must be new, b/c I have to get a CT scan every year so they can look at my mysterious mass I have near my kidney, and they've never mentioned it in the past.

I also had an endoscopy yesterday. They found some red patches in my stomach, and a yellow mass on my esophagus, so they took biopsies of them. Should hear back next week about what they are. They also said that I have a hiatal hernia, which does explain all the acid reflux that I have. So I'm taking 80 mg of omeprazol to help with that.

I think the next time a Drs. office calls, I'm not going to answer b/c I'm tired of hearing bad news.

[lynn P.]

((Moreta)) - sorry you're having health problems. Any chance you've contracted Mononucleosis, because this can cause an enlarged spleen for about 2 months. You should ask what's the mass on your kidneys. I've had stomach scopes before, because I also have a hiatal hernia /acid reflux too. Please do answer the phone for the results, since we should pay attention to any esophageal changes. My doctor told me I need to get this scope done every 2 yrs because of my father passing at a young age from stomach cancer. I pray the results come back negative.

[Moreta]

Thank you lynn. I'm pretty sure I don't have mono. I don't have any of the symptoms, except for fatigue, but I always feel fatigued, so that's not really new. The mass on my kidney is called something that starts with an n, but i have no idea what it is. My cancer doc told me once, but he also said it might not be that. All I know is that sometimes I get stabbing pains in the general right kidney area, but they're not frequent. They did a biopsy of it last year, and they ruled out cancer, they just check it now to see if it's grown. And yes, I'll answer the phone, the GI doc called me earlier, but I missed the call, so I'm waiting to hear back from them now.

[TerryL]

I have had acid reflux for 12 years due to a hiatal hernia also. I had a hard time changing my lifestyle and so the condition became pre-cancerous. I took Prilosec (omeprazole) for 3 years but got stomach polyps from it. (thankfully my gastro says those do not turn cancerous. knock wood) However, the whole concept of acid reducers do not make any sense to me. We do not have too much acid. It's just that there is a leak. Our bodies need that acid to break down the food we eat. After my pre-cancerous diagnosis, I did finally changed my lifestyle. I watch what and how much and how often I eat. I have stopped all meds and now just sleep on a wedge.

As for the CT scans every year, can they do an MRI instead? CT scans give a lot of radiation.

[lizardlady]

Moreta, I have reflux due to a hiatal hernia too. They are not uncommon. I manage mine nicely with an acid reducer (Acifex) and some lifestyle changes. I really miss eating spicy food (I'm a garlic fiend!) but don't miss what it did to my insides.

What did they find out about your spleen?

[Moreta]

Originally Posted by lizardlady

Moreta, I have reflux due to a hiatal hernia too. They are not uncommon. I manage mine nicely with an acid reducer (Acifex) and some lifestyle changes. I really miss eating spicy food (I'm a garlic fiend!) but don't miss what it did to my insides.

What did they find out about your spleen?

They found out that I have mono, and that's causing the enlarged spleen.