The Day of Testing
Yesterday was a day that my family and I have been waiting for. I was able to have my antroduodenal manometry study done. This test will hopefully provide us some answers to the motility of my stomach and the beginning of my small intestine.
It was such an interesting procedure to have done, and it sort of went in the following steps:
- We had to report to check in at 6 AM. My Mom and I managed to drag ourselves out of bed and put our shoes on the correct feet when we woke up around 5 AM. Something we never realized about Columbus is the fact that there is a time zone change!!! So back at home, our wake up time would have been 4 AM, and we would’ve arrived at Nationwide at 5 AM.
- I was walked back to my room where they began to get everything ready.I went through the typical procedure preparation questions and changed into the typical hospital gowns
- They wheeled me back and I was able to hold my Moms hand as they put me to sleep, which made it much easier. For those who know me, I hate being put to sleep. There is something about not having control that puts me in distress. I may be a slight control freak over myself 😉
- I woke up! I remember feeling groggy as I woke up in the PACU, tracing my fingers over the new tube. The gag fest began rather quickly, feeling my throat raw from the object they had to put down it. During the procedure, they placed a long plastic and metal probe through my nostril until it ended in my small intestine. Oddly enough, it brought me a sense of comfort feeling the familiar duoderm and tube taped against my right cheek. It was just like my NJ tube, just like what I had just a few short days ago. It was an odd sense of comfort, but I held onto it.
- Once I was somewhat awake, and still in a dream daze, they wheeled me back to the GI area and they hooked me up! I had an amazing team of people who cared for me. The tube they placed had multiple sensors to track the movement. They put water through it to measure everything. I had to remain laying in bed the whole time, but I made sure I could view the monitor, hoping to see some squiggles of movement.
The Study Screen - Then, it began. Overall, it was 13 hours of testing. We sat for a long time, and then they gave me Erythromycin to give my slow stomach a little jump start through my PICC line. Once we waited about an hour for that to settle, it was time for the hardest part of the test yet: FOOD. I took lots of time ordering from the menu, I chose mac and cheese, a piece of chocolate cake, and a pizza twist. I felt so excited to try these food items, but also was covered with anxiety since I knew what would happen once I ate it. This part of the test is very important because it shows how my digestive tract responds to food. I worked super hard, and shoveled in as much of the food as I could muster down. Then I sat and watched as my body began to reject the pleasing meal. I felt all of the symptoms creep in, and watched as my once flat stomach ballooned to 95 centimeters round. I felt a twinge of hurt, seeing once again how my body is incapable of handing food.
- After an hour of monitoring after I ate, it was time to be done! At this point, we had been testing for over 13 hours. It felt so good as the nurse swiped that tube out of my nose. I once again was free of the “nose noodle”. I went to get an X-Ray of my abdomen and then I bid my goodbyes to the amazing team of nurses and doctors that monitored me during my testing. My Mom and I then busted out of there.
The rest of the evening was rather rough. I felt incredibly ill after having to put so much food into my body. We made the best of it though, perusing around town and looking at what Columbus has to offer. As I write this post, I am in one of the waiting rooms here at Nationwide. My big appointment is at 4:30! I will meet with the team of doctors to discuss my results and see if there is anything they can do for me. No matter how worried I am for this news, I am so grateful. We beat the odds and made it to Nationwide so quickly. I was able to receive the testing I needed. I am on the radar of some of the most incredible GI doctors. I am at the place that gives us so much hope. And for all of those things and so much more, I am so thankful. So as I wait for the news, I am going to be grateful. Because we made it, made it to Nationwide.