Day 181: Ultrasound

At dawn I warmed up Ruby and drove downtown for my abdominal ultrasound.  One of the stipulations was that I be fasting foe 12 hours prior to the test. I'm not very good with fasting. Years of heavy drinking have fucked-up my blood sugar beyond repair. So my driving was not at its best. And I got no help from the city planners, who, in their finite wisdom, had changed the formerly 2-way street leading to and from the parking garage to a 1-way street leading away from the parking garage. (Note: if you're going to make grotesquely illegal driving maneuvers, do so in a car that's less conspicuous than a 1972 Maverick.) On balance tho, things worked in my favor. I got to the garage about 10 minutes sooner than if I'd gone around the 4 city blocks it would have taken to enter legally. And all it cost was a tongue-lashing from the parking security guard. I apologized and assured him I wasn't trying to get myself killed, and that there was still a left-turn arrow emblazened on the street (which can be confusing).

The ultrasound itself was far less eventful. The wait was brief,  the tech was efficient, the ultrasound gel was even pre-heated...which was a little creepy.  I had to think of all the times during Cecily's pregnancies that we went for ultrasounds. And all that ultrasound goop.  Now it was my turn. I tried to get a sense of what he was seeing on the screen. Finally something recognizable appeared... "Either that's a stone, or I'm pregnant."  It was, in fact, a stone, in the neck of the gallbladder. Not wedged, but definitely in a bad spot. Which would explain why fatty meals are likely produce an attack, while low-fat meals are not. I told the tech I'd switched to a low-fat diet. He asked if I'd lost any weight. "About 18 pounds," I told him. "Maybe I should get a gallstone," he said. "Only if you're into pain."

One good sign was that the doc on duty didn't want to have a second look himself. Second looks usually mean something bad, or at least tricky. So I dressed, ate the snack bar I'd been carrying in my pocket, and drove Ruby home, trying my best to break no laws.

Now we wait for the official word from my doc. I have a feeling there's a surgery in my future...but hopefully at a time of my choosing.  

Comments

[Thomas]

Word of the day: lithotripter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithotripter

[Charlie]

Yeh, I've read about lithotripsy. Depends what my doc & insurance company want to do. Usually they just like to cut...no chance of recurrent stones that way.

[Catherine]

Charlie: glad to hear it's not something more serious. Sorry about the potential surgery. And GO YOU on the weight loss and healthy diet!

[Thomas]

Usually they like to cut. Agreed.

A law school classmate of mine was one of the few MDs qualified to use the one (mobile) lithotripter in the state back when they were a new technology.