My day began at 4:15 a.m. This morning, I woke and drove to St. V's hospital for my pre-op testing. The end goal for me is Roux-en-y Gastric bypass surgery... The end goal is LIFE! Weighing over 300 pounds has taken a real toll on my body, and it has come to the point where, if I don't DO something, the quality of my life is going to be non-existent.
I was not sure what to expect this morning, so I am writing this first entry to outline the kind of tests I underwent, with the hopes that others might be better prepared than I was. I should preface this all by saying that it was not nearly as "bad" as I was led to believe!
1. Cardio-pulmonary tests: In the cardio-pulmonary office, I had an ekg, and two breathing tests. In the first one, I had to breath several times, then take as deep a breath as I could. Then, I was instructed to blow it out as forcefully as I could, and when I thought I had pushed all the air out, I had to keep blowing for several seconds. Okay-- I used to be a voice teacher. I know this one! I used that diaphragm and aced it. The second breathing test was done with a little plastic thing that I brought home with me. I have to exercise with it 4 times a day until the surgery, and it will help me keep from getting pneumonia after surgery. (Side note- my evil cat is not sure what he thinks of this exercise, and he is giving consideration to either biting IT or me while I use it!)
2. Lab work- Typical blood and urine tests. I think she must have taken about 8 vials of my blood! Thankfully, I have a good vein that never lets me down. :-) And thankfully, I had not gone to the bathroom yet--usually my first stop when I get there, but I waited just "in case".
3. Digital Imaging- I had a chest x-ray (painless), and then an ultrasound of my liver, pancreas and gall bladder. That was probably the worst of the tests, but the man doing them was absolutely delightful and an expert at getting my mind off of how hard he was having to push with the device. He also teased me for having my gown on backwards. "We aren't doing a mammogram today!" (note: It should open in BACK, not the front, though how you are supposed to tie it that way is beyond me. I suggest that you tie it in front, and then turn the darned thing around.)
4. Then came the upper GI. (This was still in the Digital Imaging Suite, but it deserves its own entry because it was the most interesting of the tests.) First, I was given a cup of little crystal things and a cup of water. I was told to put the crystals in my mouth and swallow with the waters. They FIZZED like alka-selter, and I wasn't supposed to belch. (I tried not to, but a few little ones bubbled out.) This was followed by the barium, which was thick and pasty. There was no real taste to it. If it had been flavored like a milkshake, I might have really liked it! They took several x-rays standing up, and then the table rolled backwards. I was not quite on my head, but I realize why people explained it that way. And the rolling was not done by the table, as I expected, but I had to roll around so the barium coated my stomach. More photos were taken. I had to drink some other substance so that they could take pictures of me swallowing it down. All in all- not nearly as bad as I was led to believe!!
5. At this point, I went to another part of the hospital where I met with a nurse and a nurse practitioner to go over my test results and health history. I was given instructions for the days leading up to the surgery, as well as the day OF surgery. I was told to back off of bananas and yogurt because my potassium is high. They are now waiting for a copy of an old ekg to compare the new one to. If it's the same, I will be approved. If not, I may have to see a cardiologist first. At any rate, they estimate we are still 4-6 weeks from a surgery date!
4-6 WEEKS? <deep sigh of frustration>
So, I am praying for the patience to accept that it is all in God's timing. I pray to accept that it's all part of the bigger plan for better health. It's a journey that has already been filled with many stepping stones... each one has a purpose.
Let the waiting continue...!
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