conflicting info given upper GI question

 Doing the final workups for RNY.  The PA at my doc's office said that I had to take a drink and xrays for the upper gi.  She said if it was the band I would have had to have an "endo" which involves camera and anethesia.

When I called the hospital, they told me the opposite and booked me in for the camera and anethesia.  I tried to call back to the Dr's office but they are closed.  I'll call in the am but in the meantime does anyone know which is the most likely.

I really didn't want the camera and anethesia because hubby is gone until a week before surgery and i don't have anyone else who can drive me.

Do you have any connections like with church or someplace? Any group where you could put out the word that you need a ride?

Also, in many communities you can put in a call to whatever helping agency exists, even the food pantry folks, and find a connection to people who volunteer their time in various ways. You might wangle a ride that way.

Barring that, how about paying someone to drive you? How about a neighbor?

ETA: The comment about hubby being gone just registered with me. Are you folks military by any chance? If so, you can call your post help center or spouse's group and see about getting help with a ride that way. For me, it's through Army Community Services or one of the veterans groups.

 ex-Navy retired.  He works for the government now  and travels a lot.  I thought about one neighbor but she is a nervous driver and the others' work.  I have a friend that I could ask in a pinch, but she works part-time so my fingers are crossed she can do it.  

We've only lived here about a year, so most of my friends are hours away.  

Shame I'm such a heathen serves me right.  Keep talking about going to church but put it off as the one's I like aren't near me. (UU)

I guess I could get a cab in a pinch but it will cost an arm and a leg.  Hopefully, I won't need the camera thingy or my friend can help me out.  I don't see her that often and I wasn't planning on telling her, but she is nice and will help if she can.  I hate asking because I will have to hang around for a few hours.  It's a big ask.

Hi,

I had to have one of those too. They refused to do the EGD unless I had someone to drive me home. A cab was "prohibited". There wasn't anyone I could hit up for a ride.

I had to spend an arm/leg/head and hired a limo. The driver had to come up onto the floor to escort me out.

This was what is known as "CYA". Turns out the hosp. was sued by an elderly pt who took a cab home after having an EGD, the cab driver dropped her off at the curb where upon she did a major face-plant!

I have to have another, more involved scope at the end of this month. I'll be damned if I'm going to hire another limo. I called my ins. co. and found out they have had a medical transportation service all along. It wasn't listed in my benefits.

So, call your ins. and tell them you need door to door trans. for the EGD...

Try hooking up with a volunteer group. What kind of senior citizens' clubs are around there?

Your PA is correct. You are awake throughout an upper GI. Endoscopy is generally performed with "twilght" sleep. Not general anesthsia, but you'll be very loopy afterwards and CANNOT drive yourself home. Call the hospital and have them straighten it out. Call your surgeon's office as well. They can also fax the order to them.

 which one did you have done?

I've had both several times, but for the purposes of having surgery, it was the upper GI.

I had an upper GI. Not sure why you would need to have endo done. Most people I've noticed have had endos after surgery. But, as is the mantra, every doctor and ins company is different!

Most surgeons do the Endoscopy prior to surgery as part of the preop to make sure you don't have any ulcers, biopsy for HPylori and check for hiatal hernias which can be fixed during surgery.    In general they like to see what is going inside you so they dont' have any suprises before surgery. IF you do have ulcers or H Pylori, they need to be cleared up before surgery can be completed and thse can't be diagnosed with an Upper GI.

I had to have both.