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Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Tests Without Results

Am I there yet?
In my lunchtime yoga class today i was pondering the "Kidney Stuff" (yes I know you are supposed to clear your mind in yoga but if you know me, that ain't happening.  At least I wasn't thinking about work).  I was thinking about how I kind of feel sightless in this testing process, as though I am wearing a blindfold or something. You see, despite all the poking, prodding, x-raying and imaging, you don't know where you stand or if you are moving ahead in the process until you get the next call from a whole new office booking another step in the process. I know with some certainty that the fact that I am moving ahead indicates I didnt epic fail any of the tests but were there any mini red flags? Am I in "normal" health or am I exceptional in any categories? 
It seems odd to me to have given over 16 vials of blood and not know a thing about what the results are. Same thing applies for all the other tests compelted so far.  Ok, I get that the x-rays just were to show that I did indeed have kidneys and that there were no heart lung issues from a tumour perspective-I didnt really need an update on that. And the ultrasound same kind of thing.  I don't know-I guess I was expecting maybe a weekly or biweekly check in from the transplant program to tell me where we are with things and what's coming up.  They did give me a list in the beginning but I've done all those tests already.  The coordinator showed me another list (I didn't get a copy) that had more of the phase 2 and 3 tests on it but things dont seem to be happening in the same order as her lists.  Like the psych test-that wasn't even on this list! The social work test was but at the very end of phase three.  But when the social worker found out I was seeing psych she panicked because I hadn't seen her yet! But when I told her I couldn't come and see her on a days notice so that I could see her pre-psych. she put our meeting off indefinately.  It's all very confusing and out of order.
I know the system is new and that these programs are all "learning" their way through this.  I am patient and I will surf my way through the system until they kick me out or deem my kidney(s) fabulous. Its just a little unnerving to feel like I am standing in the dark waiting for the next person to come along and shove me forward.

(P.S. If you use "Google Image" (what I often use to find free pics for this blog) and enter the term "Blindfold" some pretty kinky/naughty pictures come up! Good thing no one was watching me :)