Re: z

[Guest guest]

Z, I know but you are still a little girl to me. Shoot I'm 5'3" and 100 pounds front and 100 pounds back.. just to short for my weight.Oh well. I look at all under 50 as my little ones.. Love & Prayers, PeggyFlorida,  IPF/UIP 2004"I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet, when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly."  LITTLE one????   I'm 5'7" and over 180lbs!  > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > Hi, I'm back, I thought I'd write down what happened and what was> > > talked about etc.> > > > Now my evaluation was slightly different as normally I would > still> > be> > > in on the thursday while my case would be discussed and then > would get> > > the answer in the afternoon, but the full team isn't there > today, so> > my> > > case is going to be discussed NEXT thursday.> > > > So on monday morning we trailed up to the Harefield Hospital. > I was> > > given a private room and have been assured that private rooms > are the> > > norm on a transplant ward. They immediately started a 24 hr urine> > > collection, (I had to pee in a bed pan that was on the loo and > tip it> > > into the collection bottle, not as hard as it originallly looked, I> > > didn't encounter any spillage). Then I had a 12 point ecg, and then> > > attached to a 24hour 'tape'. They attach 3 wires to you, 2 on the> > lower> > > part of the chest to the side and one on the upper chest and you > are> > > given a mini ecg machine, which is about the size of a > blackberry. It> > > has a clip so you can attach it to your waistband and forget > about it.> > > They took 15 tubes of blood and sent me down for my lfts. A doctor> > came> > > and checked me out generally in the normal way that any doc will > do on> > > admission to a ward. A dedicated Tx Nurse took my medical history,> > > occasionally asking unexpected questions where> > > > we determined that I do NOT suffer with erectile disfunction! > Phew!> > I> > > was given a patient information booklet, which is mine to keep, and> > lots> > > of forms to fill in, including a psycological one. (It gives you a> > > range of 'feelings' and gives you a scale on how often you might > have> > > those feelings). I was told to be nil-by-mouth from midnight so > that> > I> > > can have a fasting blood test in the morning.> > > > Day 2 and I was woken at 6am so a nurse could take my fasting > bloods> > > and I didn't have to miss out on or wait for a cup of tea or> > breakfast,> > > which I thought was quite nice (if anyone remembers my trial of NBM> > when> > > I was waiting of my angio will know that I don't manage NBM all > that> > > well ) I had a CT scan, a bone scan and another scan that used > dye (so> > I> > > had a cannula inserted in the ward ready) All these scans were done> > in> > > the same place and with the same machine so that I didn't have to> > move.> > > The dye is weird, you get a very hot feeling, a very strange > metallic> > > taste in your mouth and finally a warmth around your groin that > gives> > > you the sensation of incontinence, but don't worry, it's only the> > > sensation, you don't haven't actually wee'd. Also at some point > they> > > came and sprayed something under my tongue that is to dilate the > blood> > > vessals in the heart. They will take your heart rate before you > go in> > > and may decide to administer beta-blockers> > > > if they need to slow your heart rate down (if it's resting > rate is> > > above 70) in order to get a clearer picture. Once the 24 hour urine> > > collection is over they then want a urine sample. I also went down> > for> > > the 6 MWT.> > > > Day 3 brought an echo, chest xray, arterial blood sample > (finally,> > > they'd tried the day before, but couldn't find any!). I spoke at> > length> > > with a psycologist. She is sending me some information in the post> > that> > > she thinks will be useful. Please remember to be honest when > talking> > > about anxiety issues. They EXPECT you have some anxiety in the > run up> > > to the tx and would be concerned if you weren't. I was visited > by the> > > ward doctors and the dedicated tx nurse all together where they> > > discussed my results so far, they would tell you at this point > if they> > > had found anything that needed to be addressed. Finally I was> > visited> > > by a tx consultant, who discussed everything else that was on his> > list,> > > which was really making sure that I am aware of what I am in for.> > > > At all times they were prepared to answer any questions, and no> > > question was considered silly or unnecessary. I was given the times> > > for any trips off the wards for tests. It felt quite relaxed. I> > > thought I would be shunted around the hospital a lot more than I > was,> > > but I was given plenty of time to rest and relax. The only minor> > issue> > > was that they told me everything that I was due to see, then some> > things> > > were cancelled as they then decided that I didn't need that > particular> > > test, eg, I was told a dentist was coming to see me, but as i have> > > regular check ups (every 6mths) it wasn't necessary.> > > > I have asked for advice on how to help my daughter through all > this> > > and they are going to contact a post tx patient who was in a > similar> > > position to me with a young child, and ask if she is prepared to > talk> > to> > > me.> > > > I received lots of encouragement for the weightloss so far, which> > was> > > nice.> > > > I have been told that so far everything looks good to proceed,> > > although they didn't have all the results back yet. I will probably> > be> > > looking at a double lung tx. I have antibodies which can make> > matching> > > a donor a little more difficult, but apparently my frame (quite > large> > > for a girl) is in my favour. So it's swings and round abouts in the> > > donor lottery. I will get the definite answer thursday evening.> > > > I've left the hospital feeling a lot more confident about my> > decision> > > and more motivated in general, which can only be good.> > > > Love Ze xx> > > >> > >> >>