Clearances Update!

 Hello everyone!

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I am finished with my clearances!   A week ago today I didn't think I was going to make it!  I started drinking the colon ****tail at 1:00.  First five glasses I got down with minimal gagging.  Glass 6 I started vomiting!  In tears I called my surgeon's office asking what would happen if I couldn't keep any of it down.  Of course, they told me that they wouldn't be able to do the test and I would have to try another day.  I KNEW there was no way in  H E double hockey sticks that was gonna happen!  She said I had to keep drinking until I "ran clear".  I wanted to run alright... clear to their office and make them drink it!  *shivers*  Anyway, it took 14 8 oz glasses before it was what I considered clear.  I just couldn't do anymore.  So Thursday I was at the hospital at 6:30 and everything went well.  I was on my way back home by 11:30.  

I have a hiatel hernia (endoscopy discovery), lymphotic something or other that isn't cancerous (colonoscopy discovery) and a cyst in my lower left abdomen that he said is fluid build up from the dissection done on my lymph nodes when they did my cancer surgery in 2008 and biopsied 34 lymph nodes.  He said it was nothing that required further intervention, but I'm involving my OB/GYN that diagnosed my cancer just to be on the safe side.  

I was told to go ahead and schedule my pre-surgery physical with my PCP and that my paperwork was being submitted to the insurance company.  So, hopefully I will have a surgery date soon!

Thanks for all the well wishes and words of encouragement for my testing on Thursday.  The prep really was the worst of it!  Tomorrow night I go to get "fitted" for my CPap?  From what I understand, they will put me on a machine and keep adjusting the amount of air until my oxygen level gets to where it needs to be.  That information will be emailed to the pulmonary doctor who will in turn write my script for the machine.  I truly hope I don't have to wear it for long as I can't imagine how I will ever get used to having that on my face while I'm trying to sleep!

Congrats on completing your clearances!  That is so awesome and a huge accomplishment!

I also got a CPAP machine (and I'm already off of it! Yay!)  They had me on the CPAP machine for a month before they would write the pulmonary clearance and I truly hated that thing--but once I got through it, I was sooo happy!

I can't wait to celebrate with you when your surgery is approved and your date is scheduled!!

Congrats again!!

Thanks!  I'm certainly hoping I don't have to be on the CPAP for a month!  Dr. Rahman only said that I had to get it before my surgery!  Arrrrrghhh

I can't wait to celebrate either... better yet i can't wait until until I'm on the losers bench!

Call your pulmonologist and ask what the procedure is in order to receive the clearance for surgery.  I think Debbie told me it is fairly routine to be on the CPAP for a month prior to receiving a clearance--but it may be different for your Dr.  I went to a Dr not affiliated with Arnot and it was a nightmare! 

Took your suggestion and called the pumonologist and here's the low down!

I go tonight for part II of my sleep study... this is where they figure out the air flow or whatever it's called that I need to keep my oxygen level at a non-deadly level!  Apparently your oxygen level falling below 77% 38 times in an hour is NOT a good thing!  Who knew?  Anyway, the pulomonologist will get the report from the sleep study within a day or two and they will call me to have me come in the office at which time they will collect an office call fee and give me my prescription.  Then, yeah... wait for it... wait for it.... I have to be on the machine for a minimum of two weeks and then they will have me come in AGAIN and then submit my clearance to Dr. Rahman.  I guess I shouldn't complain... two weeks is better than a month! 

I'm kind of concerned about this cyst that was found during my CT Scan!  Having the report sent to my OB/GYN as he has some concerns as well.

Kristi... Congrats on getting to this point... it does get alot easier once the pre-op stuff is done!

I'm 6 months out and going for a follow-up sleep study to see if I can get off the CPAP. or at the very least get it turned down. I'm thinking for me it may just get turned down because on days after I haven't used it --- I YAWN all day... and could fall asleep very easily.
but I'll just wait and see what happens.
In the meantime try to be as positive as you can be it will help you get through this whole process!

Oh and i'm just wondering... since the two of you both have the same doctor and you are from SMALLtown NY... and she is from COWtown NY... does that make it a SMALLCOW town??? How small are the cows in your town?  sorry just couldn't resist....

Oh wow--they are super duper small cows!  The smallest cows that I have ever seen---kinda like oompa loompa cows!  LOL

oompa loompa cows!!!

Awww they must be kinda cute! 

I just can't explain the way my crazy brain works sometimes... It slips into a Gary Larson -- '"Far Side" comic mode from time to time.

LMAO, you two are too funny!  Now I have that Oompa Loompa song stuck in my head!  Which is as bad as that Pants On The Ground song that seems to have risen in popularity rather rapidly!  ~laughing~

Hello my pretty lady!!

I'm so sorry you had such a tough time with drinking the stuff.  Are you going to have to do it again for the surgery?  If you do have to do it again, make sure and keep it as cold as absolutely possible and don't breathe through your nose for a while.  You can also use peppermint to mask the taste.  I'm so proud of you for toughing through it!

YEA!!!!!! Paperwork on it's way!!  I can't wait to hear a date!!  I'll jump up and down too!!

I had a C-Crap (my name for it) for a while and I got used to it pretty quickly.  It's funny... a lot of people almost become addicted to it.  They have different kinds of masks and types of ways to hook you up to it.  I'll bet you'll be out of it in no time.  I always laughed at the video they showed at the hospital where the guy was snoring and the wife was disgusted.  Then they show him with this rhino thing on his face and the wife is all snuggled up next to him.  They are less cumbersome than they used to be.

I'm soooooooooo excited for you!!!  I hope your date comes quickly.  I know I was one excited girl when I got mine!
hugs, Y