Unhappy Esophagus. Plane Conversation.

November 15, 2021

Nose Tube Results

I got the results back from my test at UNC Hospital. For anybody that missed the post, here’s a photo of the contraptions I wore for twenty-four hours.

When Dr. Lobo called with the results and told me that I do have significant acid reflux, I was actually glad because he had said earlier if that were the case, it could probably be fixed by surgery. (Which would, in turn, most likely keep my lung disease from getting worse.)

However, the next part of the conversation was a different story.  I actually hadn’t even realized that part of the test was also to take a look at the functioning of my esophagus. And as it turns out, I have an unhappy esophagus.

In fact, it is so unhappy that the middle and lower areas aren’t contracting at all and therefore the esophagus doesn’t have the strength to completely push all the food and drink into my stomach.  So when I lie down, small remnants come back up and filter into my lungs.

It’s not really known what causes this problem; I did read something about it possibly being an autoimmune issue where the body attacks the nerve cells in the esophagus but who knows?  The bottom line is that because of the problems with my esophagus, I am not a candidate for the previously mentioned surgery after all.

Dr. Lobo has scheduled an appointment for me on December 13 with an esophageal specialist.  At least that’s what he calls it.  What I call it is the “probably having more tubes put up my nose specialist.”

From the brief reading I’ve done, it appears that the condition cannot be cured but only treated. If it’s not fixable, then I’m back on my former road to declining lung function.

So it’s not exactly super news but at least we are another step closer to understanding what is going on.  Before I saw Dr. Lobo, we didn’t know that the lung problems were very possibly being caused by reflux, and now we know that the reflux is no doubt being caused by the esophagus issue.

Thanks for your concern and prayer all along this lung journey.

A Conversation

Last month on our flight home from Wisconsin, Steve was holding our place in line to board while I went down the hall to the restroom. A woman rushed by where he was standing,  accidentally dropping her boarding pass as she passed. The man in front of Steve ran after her, got her attention, and returned the pass to her. Steve and a few other people in line gave the guy an “atta boy” and a round of applause.  Steve told him that he was quite the Boy Scout and thanked him for being so considerate and then they chatted for a second.

After Steve and I boarded the plane, we headed to our seats in the last row only to find out that a man and his young son were mistakenly sitting in our seats. The flight attendant asked if we would mind sitting one row ahead of where we had been assigned.

Just as we were getting settled in, the man who had picked up the boarding pass walked to the back of the plane and took his seat in our row.  Steve said, “Hey, Becky, this guy here is a Boy Scout!”  He then went on to explain to me what happened and we all introduced ourselves to each other.  (I’ll call him Brian.)

After we had settled in,  Steve leaned across me and said, “So, Brian, where do you live?” He replied, “Well, I live in California; I’m just headed to Norfolk for a couple of days.”

In most circumstances, that’s where the conversation would end.  Everyone would go back to their cell phones, Kindles, and earplugs, content in knowing that the civilized niceties had been attended to.

But that was not the case. Instead of returning to his own thoughts, Brian suddenly leaned forward, turned toward us,  and unleashed a whole torrent of words.

“My wife and I have separated for six months and I’m flying back to Norfolk to see her for a few days. She is going to meet me at the airport tonight and I don’t know how it’s going to turn or if our marriage even has a chance. I’m very nervous.”

About that time, the woman in the row in front of us turned around and said, “Don’t be nervous.  You got this!”  I had to smile at being in the small confines of the airplane community.  I appreciate her chiming in with her encouragement even though it meant she was eavesdropping just a little.

Brian continued to talk, sharing some of the difficulties he and his wife had faced and saying how he wasn’t even sure if their marriage could be salvaged, even though he still loved his wife.

Steve listened carefully and when Brian was done, he shared gentle but strong words about marriages being worth fighting for.  He said that he and I had been married almost forty years and had been through our share of difficulties but we hadn’t given up.   (Brian seemed dumbfounded at the idea of anyone being married forty years.)

Steve told him, “Whatever things are causing you problems in this marriage are the same things you are going to carry into your next relationship unless you deal with them now.  Eighty percent of couples who face difficulties will succeed at their marriage if they get counseling but most of the time, the man isn’t willing to go to counseling.”

He went on to say, “You are a great man, Brian, and I believe that you can turn your marriage around.”

Then Steve added, “Okay, I’m not going to preach to you the whole trip.  Here’s my card; if you ever are in the area, call me and I’ll take you to lunch. I’ll be praying for you.”

Brian had been listening very intently the whole time Steve was speaking. As he leaned back and closed his eyes, I noticed several times he reached up and wiped tears from his eyes.  Steve’s words definitely hit a tender spot in his heart.

When we landed about 9:30 p.m., Steve leaned over and reiterated one last time, “You are a great man, Brian.  You can do this. I’ll be praying for you.”

We all disembarked and went our own ways.  I stayed with our suitcases by the curb while Steve went to the parking deck to get the car. He texted me about ten minutes later and said the battery was dead and he was going to have to get some help jumping it off.

When he finally picked me up he said, “Guess what I just saw?  I just happened to see Brian and his wife standing on the sidewalk, wrapped in a hug so big they wouldn’t have noticed if the whole world had disappeared around them.”

Steve and I shared a big smile, hoping and praying that his words had had some small part in that hug.

As we drove home I got to thinking about all the different things that had contributed to the circumstances of that evening:

  • Steve had already conversed with Brian in line after he picked up the woman’s boarding pass so the ice was already broken between them.
  • If the man and his son hadn’t sat in the wrong row, Steve and I wouldn’t have been seated next to Brian.
  • And if our battery hadn’t been dead and Steve hadn’t been delayed, he wouldn’t have had the joy of seeing Brian and his wife in their embrace.

Isn’t it wonderful when things happen that we could never have planned? The Bible says that God orders our steps and I believe that’s what happened that night.

 

And just because I can’t have a post with only one photo . . .

let me close out with a couple of other airport and Wisconsin-related things.

We flew into a wonderfully teeny weeny airport in Mosinee, WI which I loved. I especially loved it because this guy works there–Randy and Debbie’s son, Caleb.

I love small, sparsely populated airports. The one on the left was in Norfolk, and the one on the right was in Mosinee.


If you’ve done much traveling and waiting around at the luggage carousel, you’ll appreciate this story.

After we got off the plane in Mosinee, we waited a moment to get our small bags from underneath the plane, then I stopped by the restroom, and Steve got a cup of coffee to go. By the time we got to the luggage carousel it was . . . wait for it . . . empty.

Empty as in no travelers. No luggage. Not even our luggage.

Like you, I have stood for 20-30 minutes at carousels in mammoth airports waiting on suitcases so I was dumbfounded that when our luggage hadn’t been claimed within  8 1/2 minutes of the plane touching down, it had already been spirited away to some secret airport location.

Fortunately, though, we had a secret weapon. We had Caleb!  That’s him in the photo above going off in search of our luggage. He found it successfully and we went our way, having learned the important lesson of the need to sprint to the carousel the next time we land in beautiful Mosinee.

And speaking of my nephew, this is my nephew’s mom and my nephew’s mom’s sister . . .

and this is my nephew’s mom’s sister and my nephew’s mom’s sister’s brother. (Did you get all that?)

So many happy memories on that trip; I can’t wait to go back.

What about you?

What did you do this summer (or fall) that was especially memorable or enjoyable?

Have you (or someone you know) ever have a problem with your esophagus?  

What are you looking forward to this week?

 

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32 comments so far.

32 responses to “Unhappy Esophagus. Plane Conversation.”

  1. SueEllen says:

    I’m glad to hear you are finally getting some answers, although maybe not the complete “fix” we’ve all been praying for. But with answers, hopefully more relief will be possible and they will be able to better help your lung function. I’d never really thought about reflux contributing, but when you think about aspiration, it makes a lot of sense. Maybe your esophogeal specialist will be able to use the test results you just completed and you won’t have to swallow anymore tubes – fingers crossed.

    What a cute little airport your nephew works at. It reminds me of the one near my home in West Virginia. The advertisements boast about the “longest paved runway” in the state. It’s also the ONLY runway and there is ONE gate. Talk about small.

    I hope all the Smith’s have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week!

    • Becky says:

      Sue Ellen,

      An airport with just one gate? I think you win the small airport prize. So fun!

      Yes, I would be more than happy to not have any more “nose jobs” but we shall see. As you said, hopefully the information already gathered will be sufficient.

  2. Gloria A Smith says:

    Becky, so glad to hear that you are receiving direction from your doctors. I often think about the people that just turn their heads and don’t seek out advice from the medical community. Like you, I take direction from my primary care physician and follow up with specialists when advised. I received a favorable report today from my Endocrinologist. I have been on a daily injection of Forteo for the past year to help build my bone density and treat my osteoporosis. It seems that Forteo is working fine for me and my doctor was pleased with the improvement. !!! Praise the Lord !!! I’ll remain on Forteo for another year and will go for another evaluation in November 2022. I have also been taking 500 mg of plant based calcium and 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily for the past year to help build bone density.

    I love love love the story about Brian and his wife !!! God really did use Pastor Steve in this situation. !!! Praise the Lord Again !!!

    I really enjoyed my recent trip to the Outer Banks but regret not making it to Manteo First Assembly on November 7th. I stayed at the Town Place Suites in Kill Devil Hills. Parking my car on the eastern most end of the building proved to be a big mistake. The north eastern winds were so strong Sunday morning that I literally had to hold on to walls and vehicles to navigate to my car. It was at that point that I decided not to venture out. I look forward to seeing you and your family on my next trip to the Outer Banks.

    Peace, Love, Hugs,
    Gloria

    • Becky says:

      Gloria,

      I’m so glad to hear the Forteo has worked well for you. We have a woman in our church who has used it and the doctor told her she has the bones of a 30-year-old. Good stuff!

      Yes, I remember that Sunday being pretty windy; I don’t blame you for staying put. If there’s one thing the Outer Banks can do, it is to specialize in WIND! Steve and I were just talking last night that we are glad to live in Manteo because it’s less windy than being out on in Nags Head, or Kill Devil Hills.

      Hope you can come back again soon.

  3. LeeAnne says:

    No, fortunately no esophagus problems here. I’m glad that the doctors are figuring out your problem. Now if they could just come up with an effective treatment that will prevent further lung damage.

    Prayers always for you, Becky.

    I’m really looking forward to my granddaughter’s competitive dance season beginning after the holidays. She is only 8 but is so good. Her teachers have said that she is a gifted and talented dancer. She makes us so proud!

    Short term, I am looking forward to more time outdoors while the weather is nice!

    • Becky says:

      Lee Anne,

      So excited for your granddaughter and this wonderful season she is in. I have always admired people who were able to dance; I know she is fabulous at it.

      It’s 72 degrees and sunny today; the perfect fall weather. I know just what you mean about getting to out and enjoy it!

  4. Ellen Grod says:

    I live 5 minutes from CWA or CWay as we call it. I love the convenience of flying out of there. Sadly United will no longer fly out of there starting in January.

  5. Lynn Ladd says:

    My husband has severe acid reflux and has developed Barrett’s esophagus from it. He is on medication for it and also finds it helpful to sleep with his head and upper body elevated. We have a wedge mattress topper that works very well but, you can also put blocks under the legs of the bed to elevate the head or use a wedge pillow. Prayers continue for both you and Sarah.

    • Becky says:

      Lynn,

      Thank you for your prayers for my sweet girl and me.

      One of my earlier pulmonologist had mentioned elevating my head but, for some reason, my reflux doesn’t seem to be an issue at night. I’ll ask the esophagus guy what he wants me to; he may well suggest the same thing.

      I’m glad your husband has found some help.

  6. Ellen W says:

    Yes, I was diagnosed this year with eosinophilic esophagitis. I’m not completely clear on the physiology of it, but the short of it is that an allergy to wheat and dairy cause inflammation in my esophagus. That causes food impactions (food getting stuck). Thus I have to eat a wheat and dairy free diet. I miss cheese. And baked goods!

    Is it a possibility to reduce the acid in your stomach with proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec? Would that help reduce the amount of acid getting into your lungs?

    • Becky says:

      Ellen,

      Eeek. Getting completely rid of wheat and dairy would be a tough thing. I have cut down but can’t quite picture cutting it out. Glad you found what was at the root of your problems, though. I am on a prescription med for reflux called pantoprazole. I guess it’s doing a good job; hard to tell but I don’t really feel much reflux.

  7. Phyllis says:

    A lot of my late summer and early fall was caring for my mom after her fall, finding a place for my parents to move to, getting the house ready for an estate sale then getting the house ready to be shown by the realtor. I’m happy to say that the house is listed, and pictures of both the exterior and interior are online.
    I’m looking forward to the senior adult Thanksgiving meal at church tomorrow. Hopefully next winter I can make a long weekend trip to Florida to see my good friends in the Daytona area.
    Not sure if this was esophagus related or not but my mom had a good friend that would get choked quite often when eating. She got to the point where she wouldn’t go anywhere to eat.
    Sorry to hear that you’re not a candidate for the surgery you were hoping to have.

    • Becky says:

      Phyllis,

      You have had SUCH a jam-packed season of stress and emotion; I hope the weeks and months to come are a time for you to get some rest and recuperate. What a lot you accomplished.

      I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving meal at church; it’s always so great to get together with folks you enjoy.

  8. Fred & Lucy says:

    Dear Becky, thank you for posting the story about Brian. I admire you and Pastor Steve so much for the compassion and caring that you display in your daily lives. The story of Brian is a perfect vignette of Steve and his heartfelt concern for others. In this case, someone he didn’t even know. And in that relatively brief period of time, Steve gave Brian exactly what he needed to build his confidence and prepare him for this important meeting with his wife. I think he needed someone to recognize and tell him that he is a “great man.” Like your other readers, I was struck by the divinely ordered exact steps that were necessary for this story to come to fruition, each step beginning with Steve reaching out and uplifting a “great man” in need of encouragement. If the world were made up of people like Pastor Steve, what a different world this would be! Becky I pray for your strength as you proceed with this reflux-esophagus-lung mystery. You have made so much progress with this “trial”, I can’t help but think that you are on the right path to a cure or treatment. You, your family and Brian’s family will be in my prayers this week.
    Blessings,
    Fred & Lucy

    • Becky says:

      Fred and Lucy,

      Thank you for your kind words and your prayers.

      You never know what brief encounter will make a life-long difference for someone. I’m so thankful for those few moments we had together with Brian.

  9. Kaye Joyce says:

    I love that you share your special moments in life with us all. I am a homebody so my posts would be about my church, staying home, reading, working puzzles and playing with my Yorkie, Jilly Bean. I had to reply to your post and tell you that my mom has been going through the same thing with her esophagus and the doctor said they can’t do anything for her and she may end up later with a feeding tube. She has trouble swallowing her food at times and also feels like her food is stuck in her throat. She of course is 85 and is on O2 all the time due to COPD, She has congestive heart disease and coronary heart disease and has a pacemaker. We pray she won’t have to get a feeding tube later on but if she does, then we do know it will help her. I love hearing about your adventures. I have never flown on a jet and I have always wanted to before I fly to Heaven. I fly vicariously through other people’s post. I am praying for your health issues and also Sarah’s. I hope she is doing well. God bless you and your family.. Thinking of you and praying for you from good ole Mount Airy, NC.. (Mayberry).

    • Becky says:

      Kaye,

      May I just say I LOVE your dog’s name? How funny is that? 🙂

      Your mom must be quite the fighter to have so many health issues and still be alive. I know you are grateful to have had her for this many years.

      I am glad to be a part of helping you experience travels and flying vicariously. That’s one of the many things about being online; getting to share in the adventures of other people.

      Have a great day there in Maybeery. 🙂

  10. dmantik says:

    Aww, so nice to have pics with a few of us sibs! Treasured days.

    So sorry the test results didn’t turn out as you had hoped. But at least they’re kind of figuring out what’s going on. It’s been such a mystery for so long. Continued prayers. ❤️

    Loved the story of “Brian”. We all need to have more of the compassion and listening ear that Steve had and be ready for those divine appointments! It’s amazing how God can take the most mundane moments of daily life and turn them into life changing events.

    Glad my boy was there to retrieve your luggage! Those small Wisconsin airports don’t mess around! 😁✈️

    Love, Deb

    • Becky says:

      Deb,

      Yes, it WAS nice to have a sib photo. 🙂

      Very thankful to have had Caleb on the job, going to bat for us. It was so fun to come off the plane into the (empty) corridor and see the three of you standing there. What a treat for the eyes and for the heart.

  11. Mary Winters says:

    I have Barrett’s esophagus which is a pre-cancerous condition due to severe acid reflux. I am fortunate in that my condition has stabilized and not progressed to cancer. Due to some orthopedic issues I’ve had since birth, my doctor had recommended I stop exercising (I was quite athletic at the time) which naturally resulted in a significant weight gain. The obesity was a contributing factor to the acid reflux so I wanted to get a gastric bypass. Ordinarily that surgery would not be done on someone with Barrett’s but again I was lucky that my doctor felt the benefits of the bypass would outweigh the risks so I had the surgery, lost 225 pounds so I was able to get knee and hip replacements and have a new lease on life. I still have occasional issues with the reflux but the medication I was prescribed has helped tremendously. I hope you get relief from the reflux so your breathing issues can get better too. I will be praying for you.

    • Becky says:

      Mary,

      Wow, what a medical journey you have been on–and continue to be on.

      I know you’ve endured a lot and it must be such a great feeling to have come out on the other side of the weight loss, the surgery, the knee, and hip replacements, and find yourself with a new lease on life. Thank you for sharing an encouraging medical story; very much needed.

  12. Wendy says:

    oh man, to get the news that it is acid reflux and the joy of that and to have that dashed by saying it can’t be cured. Hey, though, it can be treated so that is wonderful too.
    I said a prayer for “Brian” and his wife that they will go to counseling and be able to fix their marriage and I pray they get into a good Bible and God believing church.
    Good thing your nephew was able to get your luggage. Who knew you couldn’t take the time to use the bathroom and grab a coffee before your luggage was absconded 😉

    • Becky says:

      Wendy,

      Absconded luggage. Thanks for using such an interesting word!

      I will be very interested to see what the esophageal specialist has to say about my situation and what things he/she can offer.

  13. Robin Smith says:

    Hi Becky, I too have some issues with my esophagus. I have spasms and at times trouble swallowing pills and anything that is overly “dry”. I see a specialist at WFU Baptist in Winston Salem and take a prescription twice daily that helps. Things you should avoid are carbonated drinks, really cold drinks, chewing gum and hard candy. Feel free to email me and I can give you details on the prescription drug i take. I am so glad they found a cause; at least that is a place to start.

    • Becky says:

      Robin,

      Ooh. A spasm does not sound like a pleasant thing to experience; thankfully, I don’t think I’ve experienced anything like that.

      I’m glad you’ve got a specialist on board who is helping you. Who even knew there was such a thing as an esophageal specialist? So thankful for great doctors and great medicine for you and me both.

  14. Sharyn L. McDonald says:

    Wow, that story about “Brian” gave me goose pimples. How wonderful the way the Lord put all of that together and then for Steve to see them embrace – EXCITEMENT! My sister also had acid reflux several years ago. Went in for a gall bladder operation, and for some reason, her acid reflux went away. Could eat spicy foods now. Strange coincidence. My husband was wondering if you ate standing up and then jumped up and down if that would help and then also to sleep standing up. 🙂 Glad you got your luggage back – thanks Caleb!

    • Becky says:

      Sharyn,

      Tell you husband he missed his calling as his doctor and needs to get himself to medical school. 🙂 I’ll get right on his advice.

      How great for your sister to have an unexpected side effect of gall bladder surgery. A happy happenstance!

  15. Ruth rehberg says:

    What a wonderful event planned by the spirit of God- talking with Brian on the plane!
    Small, simple things can go a long way when the spirit breathes his life into it. To be ready and open to reach out to others in kindness…
    Is a sermon for us all.
    Thanks for sharing it.

    • Becky says:

      Ruth,

      Yes, it was really amazing to unexpectedly get to be a part of his life and his journey. Definitely had our steps ordered.

      You are so good at the small, simple things making a difference in the lives of those around you. I’ve always admired that about you.

  16. Buff says:

    We had a busy summer but did get to spend a week with our kids and grands in our house in Kissimmee. Our daughter, son in law and three grandkids live in Kingston Ontario Canada. Just above upstate NY. We had not seen them for 18 months til they came home in April. Then again in August.

    I love small airports too. I always say I want to work in one. We fly into New Bern every now and then to visit my relatives. It’s like only two people run the whole airport! I could do that! I think I have a control issue. Ha!

    We drove 14 hrs to Kingston from Knoxville on Thursday and Friday to visit our Canadian kids. Ethan who is 15 has his last football game tomorrow afternoon. He’s never played before this year so we wanted to fit one in. We had snow last night! Since moving from Indianapolis to Knoxville we don’t see much snow.

    I will continue to pray for your lung and esophagus issues.

    Have a great week!
    Buff

    • Becky says:

      Buff,

      Kissimmee, Canada, New York, New Bern, Knoxville, Indianapolis. I think you have inadvertently won the award for the most locations mentioned in one comment!

      So glad you had some travel and family time this summer and especially getting to see your grandson play football. Precious memories.

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