Well this day started at 6:30AM and my first appointment was an orientation class at 8AM with the transplant coordinators. This lasted until about twenty minutes after nine. They covered a LOT of info. They told us what to expect and what was expected of us. After all there is no point in putting new lungs into someone that will not take care of them and is not willing to do what it takes to bounce back. We learned how people were selected and of all the channels of support we would have throughout. Very good information.
After that we headed upstairs to meet with the social worker who asked a lot about my health history since Cancer. She was already sitting down so I just started from the beginning. Then she asked my care givers a ton of questions. She will be giving her info to the doctors to go into making the right decisions for candidates. Then I was sent for a pulmonary function test, a blood gas reading and 6 minute walk. First they did the blood gas reading. They take a needle and go into the artery in your wrist and draw from there. It is more painful than an IV but not too bad really. I did not have a good reaction for some reason. Either because of my overall oxygen levels, the fact that I had not eat much at all, anxiety or a combination of all. I was right on the verge of passing out. It felt like an hour and a half but I am sure it was only a few minutes. I was sick feeling, had cold sweets and was burning up. I wanted to lay down but she would not let me. I felt better after about 4 cups of water. She was talking to me but I just starred at her and was really slow to respond. Ok that was the bad part of the day. Then because I am such a hard stick she informed me that someone else was coming to do it again. Imagine my excitement. I did not have that same reaction on the second one. Then we did the pulmonary function test which is a series of tests that you are in this booth breathing into an apparatus in several various ways. It measures capacities and such...so I did just like someone with trashed lungs does...bad.
Then the 6 minute walk. This is exactly what it sounds like. You walk for at least 1000 feet (if you can) as fast as you can. They have all these sensors on you to measure your heart rate and oxygen levels. As the oxygen levels fall they crank up the rate going through the tubes in your nose. Mine sounded like an air compressor by the end so I am sure it was up there but I actually went 1300 feet. And yes it kicked my butt. Took me a while to catch my breath. Then it was to get blood labs done. They drew 27 tubes of that stuff. I guess they will know a lot from all that. After that it was a simple chest X-Ray and I was done. We ate at the cafeteria together. David came down and Darlene showed him around as well. She was a great help to the both of us as far as getting around that place. After we ate she and David went to his appointment and mom, dad and I went to the hotel for a much needed nap. After David and Darlene got out they came by the hotel and we went to eat some pizza.
Tomorrow I meat with the Psychiatrist at 11:30AM then the financial coordinator at 1:00PM and then see the doctor at 4:00PM.. This means that it will be a late trip back. I hear that they are usually running late and it will most likely be a long appointment. We wont get back to the Mountains until pretty late Tuesday night.
Check back for more latter on how day two went. Day one down...many to go.
God, you keep shinning the light on the path and I will surely walk it.
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