Terrible upper Gi experience.. some problems found.. any ideas?
Wow, sorry you had such a rough time with your upper GI barium swallow; I remember those are no fun. When I had one done they kept having me swallow more and more and kept having me turn and raise my arm etc. over and over. It was because my GI was all screwed up and they couldn't figure out what the hell was going on in my guts. I had had my stomach stapled back in 1980 and some of the staples had come apart and torn my stomach so I had barium going in a bunch of different directions. So I know what you're talking about.
However, I don't know what to tell you to do about how to calm down and not worry so much. I've always been one who doesn't let emotions control anything. I just do not allow emotions to make any decisions or choices; I try to remember to consider them, but that's all. In some ways, I err that way and probably should listen to emotions more than I do, but that's my problem to try and resolve. To me, logic and reason are always in control, emotions; never.
All I can suggest to you is to try to make your logic and reason more powerful so you can have better control of your life and emotions. Letting your emotions run your life is no way to live. Getting the DS isn't going to make any difference in this, but it will probably help make all your physical health issues better.
Kerry
However, I don't know what to tell you to do about how to calm down and not worry so much. I've always been one who doesn't let emotions control anything. I just do not allow emotions to make any decisions or choices; I try to remember to consider them, but that's all. In some ways, I err that way and probably should listen to emotions more than I do, but that's my problem to try and resolve. To me, logic and reason are always in control, emotions; never.
All I can suggest to you is to try to make your logic and reason more powerful so you can have better control of your life and emotions. Letting your emotions run your life is no way to live. Getting the DS isn't going to make any difference in this, but it will probably help make all your physical health issues better.
Kerry
Kerry! LOL the whole 2nd half of your post can be paraphrased into 3 words. "I'm a man." LOL That's all I could think when I read that. Boy oh Boy are men and women different when it comes to emotions and "feeeelings" LOL of course having a mans opinion around here is nice since there are so few of them!
Yea Jess, I do tilt to the man side a bit ~ 
~ I try to be "sensitive", but I know it's not one of my strengths. And I will say, not considering the emotions can also be a bad thing and that's what I have to really work on. It's hard to me to give emotions any consideration and that's not right or good either.
Kerry
~ I try to be "sensitive", but I know it's not one of my strengths. And I will say, not considering the emotions can also be a bad thing and that's what I have to really work on. It's hard to me to give emotions any consideration and that's not right or good either.Kerry
Yup, I'm right there with ya, Barb is always working on me to be more aware of how people "feel" about things, especially about what I say to them. It's really hard for me to do that; I have to stop and actually think about what someone may "feel" about what I say. Barb on the other hand is the complete opposite and won't say anything before considering how it's going to make someone feel. I'm all about solving the problem, she's all about making sure everyone feels good. IMO both are important, so if we can be aware of our weakness and work on it, it's a good thing.
One of my Icons; Vince Lombardi was so successful and such a great coach because he realized that all his players had strengths and weaknesses and he would put his players in positions that would maximize their strengths and minimize their weakness. A great lesson for everyone IMO.
Kerry
One of my Icons; Vince Lombardi was so successful and such a great coach because he realized that all his players had strengths and weaknesses and he would put his players in positions that would maximize their strengths and minimize their weakness. A great lesson for everyone IMO.
Kerry
Thank you so much and I def. agree with what you have said. I also was very surprised they told me to wait while they read the results. For one I have had many ultrasounds, ct scans, mri's, x rays etc and they have never given me the results ever. They wont even talk about it until it is read by a Radiologist.
Totally agree I know this isnt easy surgery. I have prepared to feel like hell but I think with really anything you cant be 1000 percent prepared because you dont know truly how bad its going to feel.. same with childbirth.
Thanks again!
Totally agree I know this isnt easy surgery. I have prepared to feel like hell but I think with really anything you cant be 1000 percent prepared because you dont know truly how bad its going to feel.. same with childbirth.
Thanks again!
WOW. Those people were ASSHATS and NOT professional at all. Especially since you told them upfront that you are hard of hearing AND you were anxious about the procedure. I am SO sorry they treated you so shoddily. I would for damn sure complain about that - they had no right to treat you that way, at all. Had they been more understanding, patient, and considerate you're entire experience would have been totally different and more pleasant. Again, I'm sorry.
My barium swallow pre-op was not a good experience either...so you are not alone. It wasn't as bad as what you went through. They came out and asked me my weight and then told me that I was right at the threshold for max weight and that I had to "be careful" to not break the table. Seriously? WTF? And when the skinny ***** told me that she was NOT nice about it - tone, facial expression, the whole deal. So on top of having to swallow the nasty **** roll around on the machine, and try to keep my gown on I had to worry about breaking the ******g thing too!
As for the diagnosis I would wait to see what your surgeon says. They normally don't read them and diagnose right there. So they could be totally wrong.
As for the post-op leak test - mine was a walk in the park compared to the pre-op one. All I really had to do was stand up face front and then face back. No rolling around, no table leaning me all the way back, etc....so don't be TOO afraid of that. And I had my DS open too.
Freaking out before you have surgery is pretty normal. I never did, honestly. I think THAT is weird, but that's me. I was SO very ready to have it done and I had read for hours and hours and hours on here and talked to a bunch of peeps that already had the DS. I felt I had all the info I needed to have a good outcome, that I had made the best decision possible, and that the time had come for it to happen. It is possible that you might need a little something extra for your anxiety leading up to your surgery - a LOT of peeps do. And Valium the day of would be a great idea!!
I suggest you just keep reading, researching, and making your preparations for surgery. Freaking out, apprehension, and fear are a normal part of the process. You have until they wheel you back to change your mind...so just keep planning on doing the DS.
My barium swallow pre-op was not a good experience either...so you are not alone. It wasn't as bad as what you went through. They came out and asked me my weight and then told me that I was right at the threshold for max weight and that I had to "be careful" to not break the table. Seriously? WTF? And when the skinny ***** told me that she was NOT nice about it - tone, facial expression, the whole deal. So on top of having to swallow the nasty **** roll around on the machine, and try to keep my gown on I had to worry about breaking the ******g thing too!
As for the diagnosis I would wait to see what your surgeon says. They normally don't read them and diagnose right there. So they could be totally wrong.
As for the post-op leak test - mine was a walk in the park compared to the pre-op one. All I really had to do was stand up face front and then face back. No rolling around, no table leaning me all the way back, etc....so don't be TOO afraid of that. And I had my DS open too.
Freaking out before you have surgery is pretty normal. I never did, honestly. I think THAT is weird, but that's me. I was SO very ready to have it done and I had read for hours and hours and hours on here and talked to a bunch of peeps that already had the DS. I felt I had all the info I needed to have a good outcome, that I had made the best decision possible, and that the time had come for it to happen. It is possible that you might need a little something extra for your anxiety leading up to your surgery - a LOT of peeps do. And Valium the day of would be a great idea!!
I suggest you just keep reading, researching, and making your preparations for surgery. Freaking out, apprehension, and fear are a normal part of the process. You have until they wheel you back to change your mind...so just keep planning on doing the DS.
Marci
Marci: Thank you hun. Yes they were really not nice to me and thinking back I have no idea why they would not let my mother in. They didn't tell me I was going to break the machine but when I was rolling back and forth and having to jump up on it I was a little afraid. I felt like they were staring at me because I had two gowns on which was making it very hard to roll all over the place and I probably looked like some kind of circus act!
I am going to try and get in to see my PCP tomorrow if possible since his nurses never seem to relay messages to him. I spoke with someone who was actually nice at Radiology records and she said they only had my preliminary report which was what the guy told me and that the formal report is usually done within 72 hours of the procedure but that it could take longer. I explained to her my situation so she said she would see if she could get it expedited due to the nature. She also went ahead and sent my prelim. report and a copy of the images on CD to Dr E's office so he should have it tomorrow or Thursday to look at. I am going to call back in the morning and see if they have the final report yet.
I know it probably wont change the outcome of surgery, but I know there is always a slight possibility it could so right now I am just kinda hanging on waiting to see what happens. I will update when I know more.
Thanks for being so sweet.
I am going to try and get in to see my PCP tomorrow if possible since his nurses never seem to relay messages to him. I spoke with someone who was actually nice at Radiology records and she said they only had my preliminary report which was what the guy told me and that the formal report is usually done within 72 hours of the procedure but that it could take longer. I explained to her my situation so she said she would see if she could get it expedited due to the nature. She also went ahead and sent my prelim. report and a copy of the images on CD to Dr E's office so he should have it tomorrow or Thursday to look at. I am going to call back in the morning and see if they have the final report yet.
I know it probably wont change the outcome of surgery, but I know there is always a slight possibility it could so right now I am just kinda hanging on waiting to see what happens. I will update when I know more.
Thanks for being so sweet.
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