Put me on the front porch...

with a cocktail & I'll tell you stories past sunset! That's how we do it in the south!  Call me crazy but, I come by it honest ~ I'm just willing to share a little more than others.

Which is unusual when there is supposed to be so much shame attached to our skeletons, that we keep them crammed in the back of the closet: well hidden!

It must be the tribal talking gene that came along in my DNA basket of goodies.

At this point, I guess I'm just hoping there's a comfy porch or rocking chair with my name on it somewhere with an interesting view, someone who wants to listen & hopefully I'm not a burden.

So I adopted the mantra...
IF YOU FIND YOUR WOUND `
YOU CAN BEGIN TO HEAL
and am willing to take the skeletons out of the closet & dance with them (how very UN-Southern, of me!) ...

I have -by necessity, due to physical ailments- had to start picking at proverbial scabs. I had been focusing on figuring out the signs & symptoms of my condition when it became apparent that all my world's were colliding ....
~ physical manifestations & emotional scaring ~
whoaa the motherload I have uncovered is a conspiracy theorists dream.... Man, this goes deep!

In fact, I still take pause over some of the things I have been enlightened with... Especially when I listen to things I am sharing & how they might be interpreted/heard by the listener of said tale (s).

So with much appreciation and copious amounts of humility I am ever so grateful and thankful to the scant few who took time to listen & show non-judgmental compassion/empathy.  Thanks to their support & understanding I have been able to work my way through some intensive therapies -mental, physical, genetic-!!

Its all related.. beginning with Scheurrmans spine to Osteochrondritis / My right side including arm, shoulder, knee, hip, rib cage & liver. NOW ESOPHAGUS!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osteochondritis

OSTEO-CHONDRITIS DISSECANS This is an unusual condition that develops in the last few years of growth, and is thought to occur because a small segment of the joint surface loses its blood supply long enough, or repeatedly enough, to become separated from the main body of the bone. The joint surface (articular cartilage) remains intact for a few months to several years, but when it splits around the margins of the lesion, the fragment of bone and articular cartilage separates and becomes an osteo-chondral loose body. This may click and cause discomfort and/or swelling. It may also dislodge and get jammed between the bones causing episodes of locking. The treatment is either to replace the fragment back in the crater it came from, and try to get it to heal, or if it is thought that is not going to succeed, or has already failed, then to just remove the loose body. That still leaves the question of the crater. If it is quite small, no further treatment may be necessary. If, on the other hand, the remaining crater is large enough to cause ongoing symptoms, or if it is lie that early arthritis will result, then it is desirable to find another way of trying to heal the defect. The most popular technique these days is to take some of the healthy articular cartilage from the joint, culture it in the lab for about 6 weeks, and then do what is called an Autologous Chondrocyte Impantation (ACI). If, as is usually the case these days, the graft comes on a collagen patch (matrix), then it is called Matrix Autologous Chondrocyte Impantation (MACI).

Barrett's Esophagus from About.com

Barrett's Esophagus
By Sharon Gillson

Barrett's esophagus is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged. This damage occurs when parts of the esophageal lining are repeatedly exposed to stomach acid, and are replaced by tissue that is similar to what is found intestine. This process is called intestinal metaplasia. The cells in the lining of the esophagus and the stomach have different functions, and are different types of cells. Also, their appearance is very different, making it easy for a physician to tell them apart when examining the esophagus and stomach. At the end of the esophagus, there is an area that marks the border between the cells of the esophagus and the cells of the stomach. With Barrett's esophagus, abnormal intestinal-like cells develop above this border. Causes of Barrett's Esophagus Barrett's esophagus is uncommon. The most common risk factor for Barrett's esophagus is long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), though only a small percentage of GERD patients will develop Barrett's esophagus.

However, once Barrett's esophagus is present, there is a greater risk of developing esophageal cancer. Statistics show, though, that while the risk is increased, the overall risk is less than 1% per year of Barrett's esophagus patients developing this cancer.
When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, it can cause injury to the normal lining of the esophagus. Esophageal injury with inflammation is called esophagitis. If this injury to the esophagus continues over many years, the injured normal lining of the esophagus will not grow back. Instead, it is replaced by an abnormal lining called Barrett's esophagus.

Symptoms of Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus itself does not produce any symptoms. The acid reflux that causes Barrett's esophagus can have the symptoms of heartburn. If Barrett's esophagus has progressed to cancer of the esophagus, the symptoms can include difficulty swallowing or weight loss. Barrett's esophagus itself, however, does not cause symptoms.
Diagnosing Barrett's Esophagus

Individuals who have experienced acid reflux symptoms for a number of years should undergo an upper endoscopy exam to determine if they have Barrett's esophagus. Tissue samples from abnormal looking areas of the esophagus are taken during this procedure and examined under a microscope for the presence of abnormal cells. Tissue, showing intestinal metaplasia with goblet cells, is necessary to make the diagnosis of Barrett’s esophagus.
Treating Barrett's Esophagus

The best treatment strategy for Barrett's esophagus is prevention. When people are diagnosed with GERD, their doctor will work with them on lifestyle and diet modifications, and possible medications (such as antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and H2 blockers) to control the acid reflux.
Currently, there are no medications that will reverse Barrett's esophagus. Treating the underlying GERD, however, may slow the progress of the disease and help prevent complications. This includes:

Eating smaller, more frequent meals
Limiting intake of acid-stimulating foods and beverages
Not laying down for about two hours after you eat
Elevating the head a few inches while you sleep
Maintaining a reasonable weight
Quit smoking
Avoiding drink alcohol
Not wearing belts or clothes that are tight fitting around the waist
Taking any doctor-prescribed medications for acid reflux symptoms
Prognosis

An increased risk of esophageal cancer is present. A follow-up endoscopy to look for dysplasia or cancer is important.

Other ref: http://www.sts.org/patient-information/esophageal-surgery/barretts-esophagus