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Hi everyone, my name is Tina and i am new to the forums but i love reading what is happening with each of you and have learned so much from all of you. I actually spend more time on here than facebook..lol

All my pre op tests were scheduled for next Friday on May 29th. This includes an ABG (arterial blood gas) has anyone else had to get this and how bad does it hurt? It is the only thing about this whole process I'm dreading.

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oh, sweetie.. I'm not going to lie.. those things hurt like hell.. I have had plenty of those since I was a teen because of respiratory issues.. I just want u to prepare urself because that way u can expect it & not panic during it.. there was one woman who didn't hurt me that bad, & she did it completely different than the others.. she got down at eye level with my wrist resting on the hospital bed, & went in straight instead of them hovering over my wrist & going straight down.. maybe I shouldn't tell u all of this.. really just trying to help!! if u can take an ipod or something to help keep u calm.. that helps me!! please keep us posted!!

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What is ABG?

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@ nervous nana: yay!!! I really hope I helped & not caused u to have a panic attack.. lol -- @ spiritfilled: abg's are arterial blood gases.. it's where they draw blood from an artery in the wrist.. in my experience, it's not an exact location for them.. they have to kinda search for it once they're in it.. i can honestly say that those are one thing that can raise my blood pressure! lol

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Yes it did definitely raised my blood pressure and I wouldn't say it was a pleasant test but it was such a relief when it was over. Left a big hole.in my wrist though. You did help and thank you so much for replying to me. This was really a big deal to me and I am so glad to have it behind me. All other pre op testing is scheduled for next Friday. This site is awesome, I love all the support!!!

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OMG!! That sounds painful! (As if the surgery isnt.. lol) its so crazy how each DR has their own test they make us go thru for the same surgery. ..glad mine did not request an ABG!

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@@caligul, it is crazy how the hoops of fire we each have to jump through is different. The labs, the xrays, outpatient tests, even the pre op diet all different for one common surgery, one common goal. I agree, absolutely crazy! The ABG was almost a deal breaker for me. That's one test I have always been scared of. He's also the only surgeon in my area that requires this test, however he is also the surgeon that my insurance covers with the least out of pocket so I was in a catch 22. I'm really glad I got it over with and glad you don't have to have it either ;)

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I am having the ABG test done in the morning. It has me extremely nervous! I don't like needles but tolerate getting my blood drawn from the middle of my arm. My wrist though? It gives me the heeby geebies thinking about it lol! I don't have a surgery date yet but this is one of the last clearances to complete, along with a chest xray and breathing test (blow into a tube or something like that)!

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Just to follow up incase anyone searches this post for info! I had the ABG today. I was dreading it... palms sweaty, pulse racing! When she stuck me though, I didn't even feel it. It lasted about 30 seconds and then done. It makes you a little light headed but thats about it. I guess it all just depends on the placement of the artery and who is doing the procedure!

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So glad that is over for you, for us both!!!! I was definitely expecting it to be much worse than it was. Most importantly WE DID IT!!! Now we can move forward. My surgery will be the end of Oct or beginning of Nov

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Yes, I was expecting the worse haha! So glad that part is over though. All I need to do is to get lab results back, write a letter to my insurance company stating why the surgery will benefit me, and get a few years worth of medical records. Once I do those, I have to call my doctor and get an appt for them to make sure I have everything done on the checklist, then we wait for approval and a date! Gosh I hope that doesn't take long. Maybe it will be around the time yours is! :)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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