2 More Appointments Out of the Way

Well I met for the first time with my psychologist today, very very nice lady.  I have to go back and see her again before surgery.  Look forward to that. I texted messaged Cindy earlier today and asked what to expect with my pulmonary test.  She told me the drawing blood from the artery would hurt, MAN was she not kidding.  I nearly passed out when they tried the right wrist and failed.  The nurse then called the anasthesia guy and he came and deadened my left arm and went to work.  After about 10 minutes he gave up and went and got an ultrasound machine.  After about 10 more minutes using it he finally got into my artery and got enough blood out.  My hand is sooooo sore right now and bruised but hey at least its over.  That much closer.

I agree, that was the most painful test of them all!  I was lucky, they got mine the first try, don't know if I could have stood to have them try a second or third time!

Oh my.....Now I am scared.  My doctor is sending me for a pulmonary test too.  Can someone explain to me what this is?  I thought it was breathing in a machine. Sighhhh...................

I did the breathing machine then they took blood but I dont remember it being that bad. but then my skin is almost see through. rarely do they have trouble taking blood from me... actually my daughters votech teacher asked me to come let the nursing students practice on me.. I said "ummm NO!"  lol.. I maybe silly but i am not stupid! anywho. glad to hear your got those two appts out of the way. You will be fine at the next phyco dr.  the one i went to the last time was a kewl guy. yes i have been through that more than once. lol.. and they all seem to think I am sane!.. lmao.. my family keeps saying I cheated...lol.. but i will never tell.

This test isn't that bad... First they take a chest x-ray. Then They just take blood from your artery in your wrist. then you go up stairs and they do 3 breathing test into a machine and they measure how much air you can breath in and out. It's not that bad...

The only reason it was bad for me was that I have class red rolling veins and arteries....very very tiny.  Doctors and nurses have always had a hard time finding them on me.  I am okay now other than my whole left arm hurts a little still. 

Okie- OUCH!  that sounds painful!!  luckily I didn't have to have that test.  I wonder if you REALLY hydrated yourself the 2-3 days before if that wouldn't help.  I used to have hard to find viens - they said because I was obese and kinda dehydrated......  just a thought ...

I don't mean to sound dumb, but what is the difference in an artery  and vein?  Is it just the size like a vein is much smaller?  I feel dumb here but since I have to have this done I want to know what I am getting myself into.  Also, why the artery and not just take blood like you would for every other blood test? Thanks  :)

Arteries are larger yes and it allows them to get better readings of things like the ammount of oxygen in your blood.

OUCHIESSSSS! I did not have to do the blood test woohoo! I blew into a machine that gave me a horrible headache and I thought my lungs were gonna run away...But that pain is nothing, compared to the pain you will endure if you ever have  a heart attack from obesity....Thats just my outlook every ouchie ohhhie is one that I can/will endure to be healthy verus having them and being obesed...Good luck to ya and I am thinking of ya