Everything Works out in the End – Part 2 April 5, 2009

So it was time for a test from the GI doctor.  She decided on what’s called a Sitz Marker test.  Basically you swallow a pill and then they xray you to track it through your system.  I was sent directly to the radiology lab where I explained to the front desk what test I was told to take.  They weren’t familiar with it and had to refer to Charlie [in the back] on what exactly that meant.  He knew exactly what it was, they just didn’t have the magic pill for me to take.  They sent for it and once it arrived I was taken to the back.  Once you go behind the entrance they hand you some scrubs and lead you to a changing room.  This room has a pull curtain, mirror, a bench and a locker for your valuables.  There were also white spa robes available.  This was quite possibly the nicest radiology department I had been to. Usually they throw you a hospital gown and say remove all your clothes and we’ll meet you down the hall. [NICE!]  I take my time changing and folding my clothes and placing everything inside my locker.  I proceed out of the dressing room to the waiting area.  It has several chairs arranged next to a mini waterfall and a basket full of magazines.  If you were there for an MRI you also had a music playlist to choose from.  I was just there for a regular old x-ray so…I got nothing.  As I sat there waiting to be called back, I noticed how spa-like this whole set up was.  When Charlie came back to get me, I asked if I was here for an x-ray or a facial.  Now I’m thinking that would be a great set-up for people when coming to the doctor.  A combined facility where you could knock out a mammogram and get a pedicure while you are there.  Before I can get the x-ray I have to swallow a small capsule.  Inside this capsule are 24 markers.  The x-ray can pick them up and track their movement [or lack of] during my digestion process.  The bottom line of the test is to see how long it takes them to go from beginning to end [literally].  I have one baseline x-ray and then swallow the pill and have a 2nd x-ray.  Then I have to come back in 24 hours for another and then every other day until the 7th day for a total of 6 x-rays of my abdomen.  On each subsequent visit, Bill took my x-rays.  He was a nice guy and we shared a few laughs.  In between him confirming that I was indeed “backed up” or “full of poo.”  This test took up a lot of my time and energy over the course of a week and all for an obvious conclusion!  The test results:  “You have slow motility”.  Well guess what you could have saved yourself the 100’s if not 1,000’s of dollars and I could have simply told you that I was constipated.  Oh yeah, I DID!!! So, now I’m back where I started.  The GI’s conclusion…take a drug.  Her assistant told me that was the recommended follow-up. Take a pill, go potty—the end.  I told her that I didn’t want to add another drug to my repertoire.  The assistant was seemingly shocked at my refusal for drugs and said “one moment, please.”  The line picked up again and it was the doctor.  She bluntly asked “why are you afraid of drugs?”  I explained to her that I am in my 30’s and completely healthy [minus the thyroid thing] and didn’t want to take a drug until I’m 99 just to go to the bathroom.  This made complete sense to me.  Why did the doctor just want to throw another medication at me and be done.  What was the real underlying issue to my lack of “movements?”  Stay tuned to Part 3