abg blood work

My surgeron is having me have the ABG ..from the artery. I am not looking forward to it at all. Any advice or suggestions? Did u have to have it done also? I am looking for input on the reasoning behind this stupid test..it seems to me like these people are getting money hungry and ordering every test in the book! I am looking for answers.. Heather

Im not sure what the AGB is but i did every test imaginable, i went to see every "oligist" there is and its all for our safety in the OR, they dont want anything to happen that might make the surgery harder becasue we already are high risk because of our weight. Honestly their not money hungry. _mike openRNY 2/25/05 623/500/200ish

im nto too sure what abg blood work is... before i had my surgery i only had bllod drawn, a dexa scan, and this little breathing test done..... they are only doing it for your safety! ~Michelle Price

Well an update i had the endo on the 15th also went to have to ABGS..tried 2 times to get it..and after the second time i almost passed out. So they didnt do it again. the baritic office decided they couldnt get it and not to put me thru anymore pain I AM READY FOR SURGERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I should get a date the 31st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heather

I had my blood gas test done about two weeks ago. At first I wasn't worried at all, needles don't bother me. Then my mom (who is a nurse) kinda shivered when she read the paper that said what I'd be having done that day (my schedule of pre-op tests). I asked her what was wrong, and she explained to me what was gonna happen! *Gulp* Well, the lady who did it was wonderful. It took her about a minute to find the artery... That means that for an entire minute she was moving that needle around inside my arm! Yeah, that was painful. LOL She asked if it hurt, I laughed and said, yes it hurts. She told me that it shouldn't... So she moved it up a little, and the rest was a breeze. Here I was bracing myself against pain that was literally running up and down my spine (the pain-shivers) when I didn't have to. She fixed it, got the blood, and I was done. I would do it again anytime! lol (Well, as long as it's her doing it) As for why they need that: You will be under anesthesia, and that means that they will 'put you to sleep' to the point where you are unconscious, your muscles do not quiver, and your breathing and heart rates slows down considerably. Being 'put under', you are as close to death as they can get you. All of your body functions have basically stopped, and you are seriously just a hair above being considered 'dead'. Kinda scary, huh? So they need to know how much oxygen and carbon dioxide and whatever else is in your blood right after it has visited your heart. (That's why they go for the artery... It's 'clean' blood) It's a baseline for the anesthesiologist. You didn't get it... So either they decided that it wasn't needed, or they will try again after they numb you a little (probably on the day of your surgery) Please keep us updated on your WLS journery! Amanda