Status update on my pre-op testing & surgery plans

 Hi all...

So a few people whom I had the pleasure of speaking with at the brunch hosted by Karen M. were filled in on where I presently stand with regards to my DS revision surgery.

Last week I met with a Dr. Kibar Yared in Scarborough for a consultation (cardiologist) on Monday.  Was a really friendly doctor and he definitely wanted to help me get the tests I needed to have as part of my pre-op testing.  Wednesday I was booked for a dobutamine stress echocardiogram.  Aside from a mishap with one of the recetionists putting my file in the wrong bin, which delayed me by over an hour, the test was successfully completed and Dr. Yared did not see any problems from a preliminary glance of the photos.  Although he stated the likelihood of seeing anything was so minor due to my age, no reported heart troubles personally or in my family, etc.

The test was for the most part a breeze.  Was an extremely odd feeling to be laying on a table and gradually noticing my heart rate, temperature and breathing increase.  Within the last 2-3 minutes of the test I was praying it would be over so I could sit up.  I was not panicked, but the shortness of breath coupled with holding it for photos and feeling as if my airway was blocked from the weight of my neck was just not fun.  Once they administered the stuff to slow things down I felt immediate relief.  Aside from some lightheadedness and ringing in my ears for a few minutes I was normal.

At any rate...

Monday I'll be going to a walk-in clinic and hoping to get a doctor with a good demeanour to hopefully get requisitions for blood work and a chest x-ray.  I'm going to fast tonight so that I can get this all done tomorrow then it'll be a matter of nailing down a definitive date for surgery.

Right now it is looking like the first or second week of April.  Definitely glad this whole process is winding down.  It has been mentally (and at times physically) exhausting.  

And would you look at this?  No ******g and moaning in this posts! lol...

Can't think of anything else I wanted to add so hopefully I covered it all.  

good to hear things are moving along well. And i love the lack of ******g and moaning!!!

Awesome progress,  you'll get your surgery date before  you know it.

I wear my emotions on my sleeve now.  Still not entirely sure if that is a good or bad thing...mainly for others, lol.

i prefer people to be that way. I hate guessing how someone is feeling.

Hugs, Jeff. Next time we meet, i'd love to talk.

I'm glad to hear things are moving along for you!  That test does sound kind of scary!

 At one point I was actually scared I might lose control of my bowels.  (TMI? lol)

The worst part was the breathing aspect.  Apparently the cadiologist said only to take me to 85% as I am only 27.  They got me up to 83% and apparently maxed me out at 225BPM!  That number is crazy.  I don't think I've ever gotten that high myself even wehn physically exerting myself.

Haha not too much is tmi around here!  Glad things are winding down for you! 

 All good news!  
YAH!
Char

Great to hear an update with your process. Happy you were able to meet with the group.

 Managed to get the lung x-ray and the bloodwork done today.  It almost turned into yet another roadblock as the walk-in clinic quote/unquote "do not do any sort of pre-op assessments!"

Thankfully the doctor agreed to give me the requisitions and I said I wouldn't require any sort of diagnosis from the tests just the results.  So apparently I can pick that up next week.

Veronique at Dr. Gagner's office said they've received a letter from Dr. Yared and will receive the results from the tests I did last week sometime this week and that they will email me as soon as they hear from HSC with an operating date.

So glad the testing is over!