Just had a pre surgery test where I swallow (challanging) some radioactive liquid so they can get a good xray outline of the esophagus. I could see the screen with the xrays on it. For those of you that are interested, there's a picture on this website of EXACTLY what my esophagus looks like (website's lower portion, left side) and a general description of the surgery.

http://www.smallscars.com/pages/proc_dx/hellermyo.html

OMG, Leo's showing us his sphincter. He really HAS opened up here!

Good luck tomorrow, hope all goes well.

Not THAT sphincter! I hate that word. Note in the OP I used the word (though inaccurate) "valve" to avoid juvenile jokes like that. :)

Of course, if it were someone else, I'd make the same juvenile joke.

"In this laparoscopic procedure, the surgeon limits the action of the muscles that close the lower esopheageal sphincter (LES). This allows food to pass more easily into the stomach from the esophagus."

Technically, Scaeagles won't be 'opening' up until after his surgery, which I wish him the best of luck with!

Do you even realize how long I've kept myself from making a sphincter joke?

Can I get a witness??

Your restraint is both noted and admired.

Hehehe. He said sphincter.

scaeagles, good luck with the sphincter surgery. ;)

Guess my restraint will be neither noted, nor admired. Oh well.

I do wish you a speedy recovery and a quick return to the boards. We'll keep you in our thoughts.

Good Luck tomorrow! We'll be thinking of you!

Get well soon...we'll miss you til your back!

Well, I'm off to the hospital. I cannot than you all enough for the well wishes and I will let you know how it went as soon as I can.