getting scared
okay, so i went and had my special heart test done on 11/22. i won't know the results until 12/14, which is the next available date to see my cardiologist. he has the last say in all of this because if he finds a blockage or something wrong, the ds is a no-go.
the date arrives for me to have my heart test and i go into the room and see this huge machine with all these lights on it and shaped like a huge doughnut. i lay down on the table and the assistant attempts to find a vein, so i automatically give her the explanation that i give them all when they attempt to draw blood: "my veins are small, deep, and they roll". she says it's no problem and proceeds to pat my right arm on the inside of my elbow. she continues for awhile, then turns my arm over and pats and turns it back over again and pats again. this goes on for about 5 minutes, then she takes my left arm and proceeds to do the same thing.
after about 10 minutes of going back and forth to each arm about 3 times, she called in another assistant for help. so she comes in and does the same thing, asking if i'd drank water as instructed the night before and i stated yes. i made sure to drink my water because a week before this i was told that i was somewhat dehydrated so i had to make sure i drank water. so anyway here i am with one assistant on each arm, turning over and inspecting each arm for the ever-elusive veins. so the one assistant that was called in said "okay it looks like we're gonna have to go in the back of your hand" which i dreaded. she said they'd rather do it in the arm because they have to rush the fluid through the vein and when its at a certain point in my heart they'll take a picture. so they found a vein in the back of my hand and OH MY GO**** was so painful when they rushed the fluid in there. i was screaming. they apologized but there was nothing else they could do. they rushed it thru 3 times with me screaming each time. i couldn' move my hand one inch or I'd throw off the readings. i was sooooo relieved when it was over.
i had to have blood drawn again a week after to make sure the fluid didn't hurt my kidneys. once again, it took a 2nd person to come in and do the draw. she even tried the back of my hand and barely anything was coming out, so she finally found a vein in my arm.
i heard in doing the ds they go into your neck to find a vein if need be.
i've just been so scared about my heart not being strong enough and getting scared as the date approaches. i've been thru alot to escape my obesity hell and now that the time is getting closer i'm getting scared.
is it normal to be scared like this? a few months ago, i wouldve given anything to make the date come quick, but its coming pretty quickly now.
i know i have one of the best surgeons possible to do my ds but i'm still nervous.
berta
the date arrives for me to have my heart test and i go into the room and see this huge machine with all these lights on it and shaped like a huge doughnut. i lay down on the table and the assistant attempts to find a vein, so i automatically give her the explanation that i give them all when they attempt to draw blood: "my veins are small, deep, and they roll". she says it's no problem and proceeds to pat my right arm on the inside of my elbow. she continues for awhile, then turns my arm over and pats and turns it back over again and pats again. this goes on for about 5 minutes, then she takes my left arm and proceeds to do the same thing.
after about 10 minutes of going back and forth to each arm about 3 times, she called in another assistant for help. so she comes in and does the same thing, asking if i'd drank water as instructed the night before and i stated yes. i made sure to drink my water because a week before this i was told that i was somewhat dehydrated so i had to make sure i drank water. so anyway here i am with one assistant on each arm, turning over and inspecting each arm for the ever-elusive veins. so the one assistant that was called in said "okay it looks like we're gonna have to go in the back of your hand" which i dreaded. she said they'd rather do it in the arm because they have to rush the fluid through the vein and when its at a certain point in my heart they'll take a picture. so they found a vein in the back of my hand and OH MY GO**** was so painful when they rushed the fluid in there. i was screaming. they apologized but there was nothing else they could do. they rushed it thru 3 times with me screaming each time. i couldn' move my hand one inch or I'd throw off the readings. i was sooooo relieved when it was over.
i had to have blood drawn again a week after to make sure the fluid didn't hurt my kidneys. once again, it took a 2nd person to come in and do the draw. she even tried the back of my hand and barely anything was coming out, so she finally found a vein in my arm.
i heard in doing the ds they go into your neck to find a vein if need be.
i've just been so scared about my heart not being strong enough and getting scared as the date approaches. i've been thru alot to escape my obesity hell and now that the time is getting closer i'm getting scared.
is it normal to be scared like this? a few months ago, i wouldve given anything to make the date come quick, but its coming pretty quickly now.
i know i have one of the best surgeons possible to do my ds but i'm still nervous.
berta
Recently had a CT with IV contrast and they were unable to use the catheter that I already have and had to put an IV in my hand. I have very difficult veins too. When the machine pushed the contrast through my body my arm ached so much, but I just bit my lip and didn't move knowing it would only be a few uncomfortable minutes.
As for the DS and the neck thing, I did have a central line put in place, but it was put in once I was unconscious so I don't remember it going in. Coming out was no big deal either, though the sutures were a little uncomfortable. I've had a Groshung catheter since June that goes directly into my subclavian vein. I get blood draw every week so it's a thing a beauty for me because I don't have to get poked. I will be getting iron infusions again soon and will be fortunate in that they will be able to use the catheter to infuse the iron.
As for the DS and the neck thing, I did have a central line put in place, but it was put in once I was unconscious so I don't remember it going in. Coming out was no big deal either, though the sutures were a little uncomfortable. I've had a Groshung catheter since June that goes directly into my subclavian vein. I get blood draw every week so it's a thing a beauty for me because I don't have to get poked. I will be getting iron infusions again soon and will be fortunate in that they will be able to use the catheter to infuse the iron.
HW (pre RNY) 430 / HW (pre DS) 302 / SW 288 /
Lowest weight 157 / CW 161 / GW 150
"I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight"
Getting nervous and scared, even doubting your decision is all normal. I had a PICC line but they went through my arm instead of my neck using fluroscopy. *live x ray* I had that put in the day before my DS surgery. I felt nothing but the initial stick, after that I felt nothing at all. I loved having that in too, no veins collapsing, no more sticks looking for another vein and they do everything from that one line. Easy peasy.
Maybe the stress of having that fluid pushed through a tiny hand vein and the associated pain is the real cardiac test. Hey, if your heart made it through that, you're doing ok!
Just kidding, of course, and yes, it's perfectly normal to be nervous before major surgery, even with nothing else going on. You are strong and you will get through this.
Larra
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