conflicting info given upper GI question

I actually had a blood test for H. pylori, no history org symptoms of an ulcer and my hiatal hernia was diagnosed by UGI, so like I said, every ssurgeon is different!

I agree every surgeon is different.  Most hiatal hernias can be seen on an Upper GI but some can't, some small ones can be subtle or just in a place that an xray can't see.  The blood test for HPylori isn't very accurant - most just tells you if you every had in your lifetime, not at present and then very often has false positives or false negatives.   The first time I looked in bariatric surgery, the surgeon I went to did the blood test and it came back positive.  I was put on the prevpac.  Then afterwards, I went for the breathtest to make sure it was gone - it was negative and all was good, so figured all was good.  Ended up not having surgery at that time, waited a couple of years until I would my current surgeon with much more experience.  In the interim, I saw a couple of more surgeons - again having the blood test and the second time it said I had never had it in my lifetime, meaning the first one a mistake and I took all that medication for nothing.  Just to be sure, they repeated the bloodtest and again it was never in my lifetime.  I also had an Endoscopy and it was negative for HPylori. 

According to my gastro doc and my current surgeon, the blood test is very inaccurate and causes many people to be treated unnecessarily.  The only ways to truely know if you have HPylori is either via Biopsy - most accurate and some feel the breath test is also accurate.  I personally would only trust the biopsy.

You dont need symptoms to have HPylori since it doesn't mean you have an ulcer, it just means you have the bacteria that causes ulcers.  If you have the bacteria, you want to irradicate it prior to surgery since post op you are more prone to them.  It is also imperitive that you take PPI's for atleast 6months to a year post op to prevent ulcers and reflux.

I had to have both but most RNY's have to have the Endoscopy to check for ulcers, HPylori, check for hiatal hernias, barretts, gastritis or any other problems that they dont' want to be suprised with when you have your surgery.  If you do have hpylori or an ulcer, you need to be treated ahead of time to make sure it is gone prior to surgery

 Got a message from Doctor's office.  Not very clear, but she did say it's the anesthesia.  Just sent an e-mail around to a dozen of my neighbors.  Hopefully, I can get a couple of volunteers that don't ask too many questions.

Very hard for me to ask favors.  It's the thing I hate most in the world.  It almost causes me physical pain!  Few times I have reached out, I haven't found people all that helpful.

I doubt Tricare offers transportation could ask if the neighbors can't help, and a cab will probably cost a lot as it's 45 mins away - assuming it's permitted.

If all else fails I'll have to put off surgery, but Jim is only home for 3 weeks before he has to head off again so this is going to be hard.

Irony is he hasn't been gone all summer, but the minute I need him to be home is when he has to go- typical.

I currently work in the GI/surgery dept of my hospital. You are not going to be allowed to go home in cab. It's not a CYA thing like a previous poster said. You will have anesthesia - not a general, but still anestheia, or moderate sedation. You will be very groggy, and not be able to remember much. You can not drive yourself. The reason for no cabs is that the cab driver is in no way taking any responsiblity for your safety. They do not help you from the cab to house at all. 
Typically the person driving the patient home will be able to come in to the hospital, go over safety issues for the immediate post-op at home (avoiding stairs, no driving, no alcohol etc). And typically the driver is able to stay with the patient to make sure they are getting something to eat, and are able to walk around the home ok before they leave. (Actually they SHOULD stay for a couple of hours).
Now there are many times when a situation like yours occurs. Where the person is just the driver, and that's it. We still ask that they at least sign the paperwork about getting the patient in safely, and ask that they make sure that they have something to eat that the patient doesn't have to cook (either pick up something on the way home, or make a quick sandwich)
It's all for the patients safety. I guess a cynic could say it's the hospital CYA, but really it's about safety. We can't follow people home and make sure their driver is ensuring their safety, but we can make sure they know they are supposed to.

Yeah, I understand about the cab.  It makes sense.  My problem is more or less solved.  I have two neighbors who offered and my friend also offered but she lives further away and would have to fight northern virginia traffic (probably during rush hour)

I'll stick with the neighbors and my 14 year old son will be home so I should be ok.  I had this type of sedation last year for surgery on my breast.  It was a piece of cake -other than the discomfort of my boob, but I went to bed for a couple of hours when I got home and was fine.  (hubby drove that time)

You know, many, many people are happy to help if asked. It's okay to reach out.

Yeah, I did and I have my volunteers.  Funnily enough I don't know which two of my neighbors volunteered because I just sent out an sos from an e-mail list and can't place the face to the address. 

Still hate asking for help, but I'm trying to change the way I think.  e.g. I would never have been part of a support group before, but I will be joining a bariatric support group and embracing it as best as I can because I can see the value in it.  Hopefully, it will be a good place to make friends.  Most of my friends live elsewhere.