S is for Spring and Scope.

**Warning!  Following this post is a graphic photo**

Its almost spring, and you know what that means right?   Flowers, bunnies and the inside of my esophagus.  What?  That isn't what spring is to you?  Damn.  Guess it must just be me.  Every year about April I have an endoscopy done.  Its so routine now that I actually look forward to it.  I don't mind the sleepy juice and for the most part always wake up feeling rather refreshed.

Why do we do this every year?  For something called varices.  As it was explained to me, when blood flow to my liver is slowed, that the blood can get back up and sometimes it gets back up in small blood vessels in the esophagus.  Causing varices.  If one of these were to rupture, I can expect to vomit blood or have blood in my stool.  Sounds really pleasant, I know! So in order to be one step ahead of the game, I am monitored to make sure I don't have any.  They also measure the pressure in my portal vein, because the risk of a bleed increases with added pressure. I am so thankful to have both neither varices or portal hypertension!

The coolest part about it all, is that they give me pictures.  And so if you have ever wondered what the inside of my esophagus looked like, today is your lucky day.  I find it rather fascinating, but some might want to hurl!  Be warned!  And to some it may look bad, but last night I saw a photo of an esophagus with varices. Big difference than this!
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