Gravitron

This is the post covid version of that carnival ride, the Gravitron.

The table stands up, you to get on it, and then the camera moves in close to your body to capture how radio active materials move through your esophagus to your stomach. The table then moves around and tilts you in all sorts of directions to see if it affects the liquid passing into the stomach, or to see if acid will come up out of the stomach just by moving. Your stomach is supposed to be a secure vault—nothing out once it’s in.(Spoiler Alert: my stomach no longer keeps the contents in.)

I was able to watch the camera in real-time and saw my covid-created, large hiatal hernia make a star appearance. The treating GI specialist said that this confirms my need for serious surgery to repair the damaged structure. He suspects the violent coughing, vomiting and diarrhea experienced while having covid is what created the hernia.

Until I have surgery to fix it, I will continue to have acid come up from my stomach and aspirate my lungs. This puts me at risk for things like pneumonia, sepsis, and in the long term, esophageal cancer. In terms of daily functionality, I have to sleep sitting up, I cannot lift things or bend over to clean. Even walking can cause me to choke on acid.

I still do not have LTD insurance paying for the time I am medically restricted from working in order to recover. I have a serious need to raise at least 3K before Oct 3rd in order to cover the deficit in salary and cover my rent.

If you are able and willing, please share my story with your friends, family and colleagues—anyone who might be willing to donate toward my recovery fund. Every gift, no matter the amount, is directly helping me survive during this scary and painful time. Thank you all again for all of your support, kind words and encouragement. You all have been my light in a very, very dark tunnel.