To swallow or not to swallow

The swallowing test got postponed until today. It was just as well that there was a mix-up regarding my appointment for yesterday because for most of the day, the power supply kept fusing (no doubt caused by the construction workers). Every time it did, all the lights and everything went out for a second or two until the emergency generators took over. So heaven knows what it was like in the operating theatres. I imagine the surgeons were tearing their hair out.

Anyway, at 1030 this morning, I was transported through the underground labyrinth once again and wound up in a remote part of the hospital where all the x-ray people earn their daily bread. No windows anywhere. It must be a morbid existence.

They made me lie stretched out on a narrow bed with a platform for the feet. Then the whole construction was moved hydraulically from horizontal to almost vertical (which is the reason for the foot platform). A large x-ray disc is manouevered into position directly in front of your nose - certainly not fun if you're claustrophobic. And then they make you drink a little container of contrast fluid and take dozens of x-ray shots as it goes down through your body.

The outcome this morning was that on the one hand, none of the fluid was able to find its way into the windpipe, which was the main worry. From that point of view, it's working well. However (there's almost always a "however"), whilst most of this fluid went the right way and flowed nicely through the substitute oesophagus, there's a tiny leak somewhere that's allowing a little fluid out of the tube. That will have to be corrected. I expect Dr. Huber will be here within the next few hours to talk about it.

Even though there's still a litttle bit of tweaking to do, it was a marvellous feeling to be swallowing fluid for the first time since last September. I imagined it was Best Bitter although, of course, it was 99.9% pure water.

I might have to have a visit from one of the dermatologists. My entire face is now extremely flaky, and neither E45 cream nor anything else appears to cure it. Personally, I think I'm short of vitamins. Anyway, I shall get something done about that.