HELP!!! I AM SCARED !!! NEED A FRIEND!!!

I am so scared!! Today is 9/24/04, and I have no clue what is up. I have an appointment on 9/30/04 for an endoscopy. What is this and is it going to hurt? Then I have an appointment on 10/5/04 for pre-surgical workup, blood gasses,& ect. I was told that my surgery will be scheduled that day, and it will be about a week from that appointment. Is that true or not? See today I recieved an appointment letter in the mail from another Dr. that I was reffered to by my doctor for 10/29/04. So will I have to wait til after that for surgery or will that be after the surgery? I am at a loss and starting to get scared enough to back out what do I do? I need a friend of an HELP!!!

hi there first of all take a deep breath. The endoscopy is just a tube they make you swallow i beleive that takes pictures of your insides it like the size of a pill. Blood gasses and workup is just that bloodwork. The gasses are takin from you arteria vein again just bloodwork nothing to be too frightened of. Let them know you are nervious they prolly will give you somehting to relax during this. You date for surgery for the weight loss will prolly be sceduled at the time but you will not have it that date cause they are waiting lists and that is what was meant im 99.9% sure ive yet to hear of sugery scehuled say day as tests. Add me to your messenger thing add using my email address [email protected] my name is deborah gale by the way.....relax take a breath do it one step at a time you will be fine

Sit down, take a few deep breaths. In through the nose and out through the mouth. No, do it now before you read the rest of this. Ok, have you taken those deep breaths? If you have then read this. I am a nurse and an endoscopy is done under sedation. You won't be completely under, but you won't know what is going on. Not painful in the least. As for all the other tests, they are blood work. The blood gases is usually taken from the artery at your wrist. It stings about like a bee sting, but only for a few seconds. After the needle comes out the pain is gone. You may have some x-rays done. It just depends on your doc. Don't buy trouble. You are worrying about things that haven't even come yet. If they said they would give you a date on the day you went for the tests, then I am sure they will. My physician called me after my insurance cleared and we set a date then. It does take a long time, because so many people are having this done. Don't be discouraged. Hang in there. You can feel free to email me at [email protected] I will be happy to answer any questions that I can, but I don't have my surgery until October 20th. I had to wait over a month just to get in to see my surgeon for a consult the first time. It just takes a lot of time... Good luck and I'll say a prayer for you...debbie

Hi Tammy! My name is Bobbi. You will be just fine. Over the last year I have had several tests, one of them an endoscopy. I did not feel a thing. It was a breeze. You don't feel anything afterwards either. They do endoscopies often to see if you have GERD. Gastric Esophageal Reflux Disease. This often occurs in overweight folks (not always, but very often). Another reason why Bypass surgery can be authorized through insurance carriers. Take a few moments to remember the reason you started this trek. How many years have you suffered from being overweight? How many afflictions have you endured because of being overweight? Now take a few moments to dream of what it will be like when you don't have all the problems overweight people have. Is the tradeoff worth a few tests and inconveniences? I think so! You have a wonderful support group and many people thinking and praying for you. Stick in there and stay tough, it will be worth it. Anytime you don't understand something, ask your doctor or his staff or one of the hospital staff. That is what YOU are paying them to do! Believe me, it won't be the first question anyone has asked of them. They are used to it and they are trained to be there for you. Good luck and I'm pulling for you

Tammy, I had an Endo last month, to check for esophageal hernias. I do not remember a thing about the procedure....the last thing I remember is the PA telling me to lay on my side. Then, I remember talking to my wife in recovery! So, don't worry, it will be a piece of cake. I was actually glad he did the Endo, because it made me feel better that there were no cysts/polyps or stones. He said it would be the last time he could check out my stomach and the surrounding areas, so I was relieved when he said everything was OK. As for the pre-op work, they will take some blood, probably a chest c-ray or two, and maybe an EKG to check your heart. You will do great!!!!! jm