I wanted to update you all about what is going on with me at this point in the hospital. I had hoped I would of gone home by now but I am still here.
On a good note I have gained 10 pounds on the TPN so far. So I am very happy about that as my skin looks so much better and my coloring. I don't feel so shriveled up! On the bad side I am having alot of problems with the PICC line. It is bruised,swollen and very sore where the line goes into my skin. The nurse changed the dressing for the second time today. (It is usually only done once a week). She is having the IV specialist come tomorrow to take a look at it as the pain and the throbbing is just killing me.
I have had two Gastric emptying test done since I have been in here. One was 3 hours the other was 4 hours. I failed both miserably, which was a good thing. Who would of ever thought that you would wish that on yourself. But my doctor is trying to get me approved for a gastric pacemaker and I have been having many tests done.
I had told Judy that I had the Manometry test done yesterday and I also had a Bravo Capsule implanted into my esophagus. I have to tell you that both of thoughs tests were the most horrible test I have ever had to go through.
I know some of you have had theses test and the gag reflexes of them putting tubes down your nose and throat while you are awake with very little numbing was very stressful. The Bravo capsule they attached to the side of my esophagus and I have to wear a box for 48 hours. I am wearing a monitor box that has 3 buttons on it. One is for heartburn, another for regurgitation and the other for chest pain. So when or if I feel any of thoughs types of pains I am to push a button. This measures the ph in the esophagus.
On monday I am having a final test that is a barium tilt test. Once that is done, He has promised me I can go home. Then he will take all my test and send them to this doctor at USF that does the gastric surgery to see if I qualify. He has no doubt about that. But I am worried about my Insurance company. I have B/C B/S, PPO. So I am praying as nothing is working for me, and I really want this in hopes that it will help me.
I have one month approval for the TPN home care, so my GI said it will be a month to month approval thing. He did say that if I do get the pacemaker that I will have to keep the TPN in for several months til the pacemaker starts to work like it is suppose too.
Please take it from me, never let yourself get as weak and bad as I did before I finally said uncle and let the doctor admit me to the hospital cause it almost killed me. I had no clue my body had gotten so malnutrioned and dehydrated. I still can't eat much of anything, but the TPN has saved my life. What a wake up call that was for me. I think the denial that i kepted filling was only hurting me in the long run. Now I am going to try my hardiest to do what I need to keep as healthy as I can with the gastroparesis.
I am just very worried now as alot of you know that I am a massage therapist and i can't bare down or do any repetitive motions with the arm that has the PICC line in it so I am in a panic about that. I will have alot to deal with when I go home with my future and my life as a working woman. Life for most of us isn't like it use to be where the woman stayed home and the husband made all the money. I pray that somehow I can figure out a way that I can still work as taking the months that it takes to get disability I can't afford that wait period of no money. It's in gods hands and I pray for a miracle to happen to get us through this.
Hugs,
Whispper
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