Second Part Stress Test

Second part of the stress test wasn't as bad as the first day.  Only had to have an IV for a little while.  They injected me with some radioactive stuff and took more pictures.  So they put back in the little space and took more pictures of my heart.  Okay so later that day they called.  I don't know about you but the day you go for a test and you get a phone call it can't be good news.  The first thought is that they test didn't work or that something is wrong with you.  It was my lucky day they already had my results and I passed with flying colors.  

This means that next Friday I can set my surgery date.  Can you believe it?  I'm almost there!  Have met all the requirements before surgery.  Lost the weight, attended a support group meeting, pre-op diet class, and stress test.  There is nothing more to do.  After two months I'm ready to set my date and make this major change in my life.

One of the staff asked if I could imagine my life this time next year.  I have no idea what my life will be like.  My entire life I have felt overweight.  Since my mother made we attend Weight Watchers when I was in Middle School.  Had a huge effect on my life.  Can't begin to picture my life without worrying about my weight.

Stress Test

Completed the first part of the stress test.  Of course it had to be schedule for the worst day of travel so far in 2009 but I made it on time. Should probably tell you that my lovely husband played the role of driver today.  Lots of curb service very helpfully to someone who walks with a cane.  Canes and ice don't go well together.  

So I go in and they start an IV line then put me in a chair and hook me up to all the monitors.  Then the real fun begins when they begin to tell me about how the drugs will make me feel. Very promising you could begin to feel like you are having a heart attack but remember we can stop it in a few minutes.  So they hook me up to the drugs and start them.  The first thing that happens is I realize that my body is really tense.  Then I begin to get really lightheaded and my body is tingling.  Okay so this isn't so bad, not fun but I can work with this, right?  Oh that is when the guys comes around the corner and with more drugs to add to the IV.  Needless to say things begin to kick up a lot, you shortness of breath and the world spinning.  So the guy asks are  you doing okay?  I wanted to ask him to describe OKAY, but thought better of it.

The thing is that I want to pass this test so I can have surgery.  Don't really need to piss the guys off right?

So they stop that part and send me off to the Ultrasound of my heart.  This part was interesting because I could watch the pictures of my heart as it was working.  Didn't have a clue as to what she was doing but knew that it was working.

Now they tell me to have some breakfast and come back at 9.  The roads are covered in ice and my normal breakfast right now is a Soy French Vanilla Shake.  So that took about 5 minutes tops but waited until 9 as asked and then part two of the stress test.  Pictures of my heart.  The important part of this portion is that I don't like tight closed spaces.  As you might have guest I have to lay on a table for 15 minutes in this small space and let a x-ray like machine slowly move around me taking pictures.  Thankfully they did not try to cover my face with this moving part or it would have been very exciting but I managed to get through this part.  

So I completed day one BUT WAIT.  Tomorrow I have to be there at for the second part.  Stay tuned for more exciting medical experiences.

This is the beginning of a new chapter in my life and I have decided to share it with the people in my life.  The new beginning is the fact that I'm in the process of having weight loss surgery.  My whole life I have felt over weight, pictures of my past say otherwise. Now at 48 years old the reality is that I'm considered morbidly obese, great phrase one that I have still not been able to hear or say with out flinching.  In 2007 I hurt my knee and lower back and put myself in a position where I can't exercise and lose weight.  So a decision had to be made do I die young and morbidly obese or take back my life.  Wasn't a really hard decision.  Would like to play with possible future grandchildren.

So after some soul searching and Internet searching I have found the greatest place to begin my new chapter.  Have been able to find a clinic with a great staff and doctors to work with my in my new beginning.

The first hurdle was losing 38 lbs. beginning before Thanksgiving 2008.  As of January 23 I have lost 38.5 lbs.  Now the only things standing in my way of setting a surgery date is a stress test and echo-cardiogram.  Have completed the weight loss, the VO2 test, Support Group Meeting and beginning an exercise program (designed especially for me).  

One last hurdle and then the real work with begin.  My hope is that this blog will serve to help others understand what I'm going through.  As well as maybe help one person begin to understand their own struggle is not one they have to suffer alone.