Drain My Vein

Pee jug.... round 2!

Stick it to me, nurse!

 










Today was lab day.  I did my second 24 hour urine collection from Sunday morning until this morning... yes the decorated cooler got a second 24 hours of use!  After doing the last collection in a 24 hour period I had to take it over to the lab and complete my blood draws.  If you remember from one of my previous posts I had to get a large quantity of vials filled for a couple of dozen different tests. 

I checked in with the lab receptionist and handed over my jug and then  took a seat in the waiting room.  Eventually the nurse called my name and directed me into the exam room where I have been getting all of my blood draws done.  She had a label sheet a mile long printed out for all of my vials, as well as lengthy instructions on what to do for the various bits of lab work.

Needle in.... vials filled.... and 16 tubes later I was done with the blood draw.  Easy breezy as always.  Next up she needed height and weight again, and then a "fresh" urine sample.  She sent me into the bathroom with a sani wipe kit and a sample cup as well as instructions on putting the sample cup into the door in the wall once I was done.  So in honor of chronicling every step of the way in this blog I included a picture of my sample in the wall.  Yes... I need to drink more water.  :(

16 vials of liquid Laura

Little box in the wall

So anyway today was a snap.  The next steps will happen this week.  I received a video in the mail that I need to watch and then I will have a psych evaluation done by one of the therapists that are on staff at the Colorado hospital.  I will take detailed notes on both so that all of you know what kind of information I am receiving.

For a little bit of fun.... I have been dog sitting for my parents this past week.  Here is my little buddy, Otis, who delights in dragging me down the block every time we go outside for a walk.  Don't let his size deceive you, this pupster is a strong one!

Otis the wonder dog

The Short Walk

Papers and vials for the lab

Walking across the street to the clinic

 












It's testing day!  Today I had an appointment set to get my physical, EKG and chest x-ray.  My papers and blood vials had arrived in the mail earlier this week, so I packed everything up and headed across the street to my doctor's office.

Waiting room

Temp Taking

 











Once I got there my doctor's office informed me that there might be an issue with my getting the tests taken at their clinic.  The issue seemed to be with the billing and the fact that my doctor's office would not participate in third party billing.  Hmmmm.... their solution was to instead bill me and have me try to get reimbursed by the Colorado Hospital.  Clearly this was not going to work, especially since the billing instructions ask the testing clinic to cover 30% as a goodwill discount since this is a donation process.  I was asked to go sit in the waiting room while they tried to sort everything out.

Finally the nurse came to get me and told me they would go ahead with the physical since that was being billed to my own insurance, and they would keep me posted about the rest of the testing.


Blood Pressure



Reagan keeping me company



 

My physical consisted of getting my medical history and the following: allergies, height, weight, temp, blood pressure, heart and lungs check, ears, nose, throat check, and a check on my abdomen to make sure there were not any lumps or bumps.  I had already had my pap done two months prior, so it was not necessary to get that done again.

Once we were through with that we got a call from the billing department letting us know that I would need to go to the hospital for the rest of the testing, as my doctor's office would not do the necessary third party billing.  Frustrating?  A little.  But the good news was that once I sat down with the appointments gal, she was able to get me in tomorrow morning for the remainder of my tests. 

Getting my physical

Papers for the lab

 

So the line up for tomorrow:

- EKG

- Chest X-ray

- Abdominal Angiogram

- Dozens of blood tests

Bright and early.... 6:45 am appointment to get it all taken care of.  Then I will also be collecting another pee jug for my second 24 hour collection.  Good times!

More tomorrow....