Pre-testing Days

So the testing has begun!

So many tests … so much to remember… But I have a hold on it ! I have to. I have dreamt about this day for so long. I am ready.

The nice docs want to establish a baseline for a lot of my scores pre-HSCT.

I started out with visiting the pulmonary function test facility. That means that they check for proper lung function. I had to blow into a tube and the machine that is hooked up to the tube plots my lung function on a graph which I couldn’t read. I thought the blue lines looked nice, BUT apparently my efforts sucked (metaphorically, not literally)

A thought for later: Do some Yoga and Pranayama regularly

Up next was a 1 hour session of 2D Echo – to see functioning of my heart. The lab tech very kindly threw in a free check of how efficient the pumping was and said “This is the only thing you will get for FREE in Chicago”. He was right. This city is insanely expensive.

In the excitement of starting testing, we got no time for breakfast. Me and my husband are vegan. I cannot walk far and by that I mean I can walk maybe 100 feet. This limited our food options to the small cafe in the hospital building (Arkes Pavilion – Corner Bakery). And the only vegan option there was coffee with no milk. So…we had scrambled eggs 🙂 yes Vegan lifestyle went down the drain.

Back to testing… First was a blood draw. They must really like blood here. They drew 18 tubes of blood. Yes you read that right. 18. Small price to pay I suppose.

Followed up by an EKG and chest X-ray, both of which took 1 minute each. But I spent a good 10 minutes dressing in the appropriate gowns before each test. Why they couldn’t do it all at once? I do not know. I think this is called ‘Job-security’. But we shall not complain. we shall not complain.

More tests to come tomorrow and the all important doctor’s appointment with Dr. Burt.