EGD a Success!

Today was my EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) *try saying that 3 times fast!*



Anyhow, mom and I went to the Outpatient Surgery Center in J.C. around 730 this morning.

I think I waited all of 5 minutes and was taken back to the holding area where I put on a hospital gown and relaxed in a ginormously squishy easy chair. I had a sweet Nurse named Chris, who by the way has had the gastric banding done. So far he has lost 100 pounds! To look at the guy he looks as though he's never been big a day in his life!

Chris started an IV on me *I am a WAAY hard stick* and to my surprise he numbed me with a tiny shot of lidocaine before he stuck in the IV. Let me just say that it was the BEST IV I have ever had! No pain, and I didn't even bruise after the fact!

I basically sat back in the holding area for a little over an hour and took a nap until they took me back to my room where they did the procedure. The room was fairly small but comfy. I was put on a stretcher and hooked up to an automatic BP machine and heart monitor. I waited around 25 minutes (when the doctor arrived) then was given some nasty thick lidocaine gel that I gargled with and had to swallow. Needless to say Amy gagged a little...


I then was given 2 sprays of even more powerful lidocaine spray that burned a little going down my throat. Not even 15 seconds went by and I had absolutely no feeling in my throat!

The surgical tech and Nurse layed me on my left side and that's when Dr. Hodge came in the room and said, "Hey Amy! How are you doing??" I said, "Fabulous! Dr. Hodge!" I remember the nurse saying something like, "Now you'll start feeling a little funny in a second"

Dr. Hodge asked why I was so fabulous and all I got out was, "Because I've only got 5 weeks left of nursing schoo.."


The next thing I knew I woke up in the post op area where an awesome nurse took out my IV and told me I would feel a little groggy for a few minutes. To be quite honest I felt like I just woke up from a nice deep good night sleep.


Apparently right after the procedure, Dr. Hodge called out and talked to mom on the phone and said I was okay for the surgery!

I got changed back into my clothes and was taken out to mom's car parked out front. Mom asked how the procedure went and I was like, "It was awesome!" Mom said, "Apparently...because the staff said you were quite hilarious." Hmmmm I guess Versed and Fentanyl makes me an unconscious comedian???


Now all I have to do is attend one Preop and three Postop support group meetings and I will have all of my requirements finished for surgery! I will have these finished by December 12th and then I wait on insurance approval.



God is soooooo good!! I am so excited about this surgery!!!

Abscent minded much??

Okay, so this last semester of Nursing school has been somewhat busy...okay very busy. So busy in fact that I apparently wrote down my required GB support group meeting on the wrong saturday and I missed it.



Anyhow, I will have to attend the ones in November and one in december..THEN I can schedule my surgery.



I go for my EGD on the 31st and then all I have left for insurance requirements are the support group meetings. 1 preop and 3 postop.

Stuff

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. I feel as though my soul comes alive with the vibrant colors of crimson and gold leaves painted across the mountains.



I feel as though my life is finally coming together in many ways.

The Lord has been with me every step of the way and I cannot thank Him enough.
In approximately 8 weeks I will be a graduate of ETSU college of Nursing!



A wonderful sidenote is that I get to graduate with my twin brother. He and I have shared so many things over the past 24 years and I am honored to accept my diploma with him.



The gastric bypass surgery is really going to happen and I couldn't be more peaceful about it. I never would've thought that I would even consider having this surgery, but as life unfolded and God intervened it made so much sense. I have clinical tomorrow from 6:30a-7:00p at the hospital I work at. I also have my gallbladder ultrasound in which I must register at the front desk by 7am. This will interfere with the beginning of my shift for clinical but an ultrasound does not take long to do. It does help that I am the first one in line in the morning....

My last day working on the psych unit is saturday. I will be sad to leave my wonderful and amazing co-workers, but I need to move on. The Lord has blessed me with a new job in which I will only have to work 2 days/week until school ends, which will give me a lot more time to focus on school.

Anyhow, I am going to get off of here and get ready for work. I haven't been able to work the past few days because of my awful bronchitis and sinusitis. So I am glad to be going back today.

Everyone have a great week!

I'm Getting Closer!

Okay, so as of Tuesday I officially have the following finished for my Gastric Bypass requirments:

-Psych evaluation (passed with flying colors!)
-Personal letter to doctor's office stating my reasons for surgery and promise of compliance.
-Letter from my primary care physician stating need for the surgery.
-Dietary class
-Chart records from doctor's office

All I have left to do now are:

-Gall bladder ultrasound (scheduled for monday)
-Support group meetings (scheduled for Oct. and Nov)
-EGD (scheduled for later this month)


Basically as soon as the rest of these things are completed I can submit all of my information to the insurance company and pray to be accepted for the surgery the first try!
*again prayers please for this!*

Shew...God is good! He has allowed EVERYTHING to fall into place for me.