Testing 1, 2, 3 cont.

Monday I went for the DEXA scan and upper GI.  These were scheduled on different days because the DEXA scan can't be done if any contrast was used for a previous test within seven days.  They were both simple and not bad at all.  For the DEXA scan I laid on a table while they took pictures of my hips.  It was quick and painless.  The UGI wasn't too bad either. The barium that I had to drink didn't taste too good, but it wasn't the worst thing I have had to eat or drink.  First I had to fill my mouth with it and then swallow when the doctor told me. I think that was the worst part.  He took pictures of it going down while I was standing and then he laid me down on a table and took pictures of my stomach from all angles.  My favorite part of these is seeing my insides on the screen.  It looks so cool as the barium goes down the esophagus and then splashes into the stomach.

Testing 1, 2, 3

Things are going pretty good.  I felt pretty overwhelmed when I got out of the hospital, but I am starting to get things organized again.  The apartment is pretty much set up except for one room and most of my Dr's appointments are scheduled... just waiting on a few call backs.  My port is healed for the most part.  It is a little less than three weeks since the surgery. I don't really feel it anymore.  Sometimes I feel it when I am lying on my stomach and it hurts when I hit it.  Jay threw a shirt at me and it didn't hurt when the shirt hit me, but then a second after I felt the pain.  It wasn't a strong pain and it didn't last long at all, I just didn't expect it.  haha  It is hard to explain, kind of like a delayed reaction.  Like when you touch something hot for a split second, you pull away on a reflex and actually feel the heat a second later.  I also hit it on the couch when I leaned forward to see my kitty Lindy.  Forgot about it haha.  So a little sore if I mess with it, but I don't even realize it most of the day. The one thing I am really nervous about though is the appointment to get it flushed.  They are going to teach me how to put a needle into it and flush it with heparin.  This needs to be done once a month to keep it from clotting.  I have a cream that will numb my skin so I won't feel it, but I am still nervous about sticking a needle into myself. I am not a queasy person, I could do it to anyone else, I just don't know about myself.   haha

Start Me Up

I went to the Dr's and the PICC line is out. My PFT's went up to 35. So it was worth it to go one more week. I am not going to lie, I am not overly thrilled with being at 35 after a round of antibiotics, but I guess that is where I am at right now. Hopefully I won't have to go back in for awhile and the plus to that is when I do go back in I won't need a PICC line. :) Having this port is going to make that much easier for me.

So I made appointments for all my radiology related tests. Three will be done next Wednesday and then the other two are made for Friday the 19th. I am then going to make an appointment with my primary doctor for the chicken pox vaccine and also to ask her which cardiologist I should go to for the other tests, including the one I am a little nervous about, the right heart catheterization. I don't really know what it entails. It might be easy and no big deal, but I don't know.. something about it makes me nervous. I just have to relax and do one thing at a time I guess.