Food Challenge & a small moan...

[Louby]

I have now been back on my meds for a full week - I feel like a different woman.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been made to sweat, drink some horrid glucose thing, exercise, had tubes put up my nose, monitors, the gadgets and gizmos have been amassing - I can now sigh a big, sigh of relief as it is finally over.

I seem to remember that quite a few people had not heard of the food challenge.

It involves, not eating or drinking anything other than water from 12pm the night before. Bit of a nightmare for me as I had to tackle the tube, to get the testing centre, and I missed my cup of coffee. They then tilt you, to see how you react (I passed out) and then they bring you back to a resting point, then whilst you are laying down you are passed a glass of what was described to me as a McDonalds Thick Shake (don't believe them...) with a straw, you elegantly have to try to drink this very thick drink whilst moving only your head. It contained about 700 calories, and contained glucose, full fat milk and a sachet of complan (not sure if you have this) which is meant to be vanilla flavoured. It was so sweet it turned my stomach, but I managed to drink the whole thing. They then leave you for 45 minutes, and re-tilt you. I was not too bad on the second tilt, better than the first. However, the rest of the day, I felt like death, and it took me quite a while to recover.

Also, and just a little moan on my part, every time I have to have a candela (Sp - this is to enable them to take multiple blood samples) they ruin my arms, I always warn them, that I am going to be a challenge! (I have wobbly veins) I also have very bad pains in my arms, and needles being pushed in, doesn't exactly help. So I warn them, and the first one is un-successful, so they try the next arm, Un-successful, then they had to call a doctor, who managed to do it first time round, back in my right arm where the pain is. So I am left with really bruised arms, they are only starting to disappear now.

I also have had over the past couple of weeks, a sweat test, Cat blood samples, exercise test, and the full range of autonomic function tests (squeezing, cold compresses, breathing etc) and a 24 hour heart and blood pressure test.

Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for the results, which I should receive (insurance company willing - which seems to have been cleared yippee) in about three weeks.

[EarthMother]

Wow Lou we always learn so much from you. Thank you for helping to demystify so many procedures. It helps.

I'm nominating you for the guinea pig award for the week!

Please let us know what you learn and how it will help guide your treatment plan.

With light & love,

EM