Please tell me the glucose tolerance test isn't that bad **UPDATE**

[Kermit]

I know I don't have much room to whine with people here facing spinal taps and colonoscopies, but I have to take a glucose tolerance test tomorrow for gestational diabetes, and I'm not looking forward to it. I have horrible veins that roll all over the place, so who knows how many times I'm going to end up getting stuck. And I always get dizzy when my blood sugar changes, so I'm sure I'll end up feeling bad. Add to all of that the fact that my throat closes and makes it hard to breathe when I eat or drink something sweet, and you'll understand why I really don't want to do this.

Please tell me that you've been through this and didn't faint or anything. I was planning on trying to talk my doctor out of making me do it, but I'm carrying big, so I have to do it since the main risk of gestational diabetes is that it makes big babies.

**UPDATE**

I took it, sort of. The doctor's office gave me instructions for taking the glucose tolerance test (it even said I'd drink something and have my blood drawn 1 hour later), but the lab order sheet they gave me apparently was just for a glucose screening, which is a plain blood test. The tech in the lab called my doctor's office, and the nurse said that my chart said I just needed a glucose screening, so that's what I got. I have a doctor's appointment later today. I'm pretty sure he's going to tell me I have to go back and drink the yucky stuff. :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the reassurance. I'll definitely go more willing when I do go to take the right test.

[glo]

The worse part of the entire thing for me was drinking the stuff. It is like drinking pure sugar...after that it was a breeze....You will be ok.

Good luck.

[one_cat]

DW dropped her sweet drink at work in the middle of a meeting the first time she had to take the test. It made quite a racket and she was very embarrased. You know how it is when you are pregnant. My advice: Hold on tight to the bottle.

[snoopy]

Yup, the worst part is getting that drink down. Just hold your nose and chug.

How are things for you, Kermit? Have you started the baby's nursery yet? Getting ready for the big day? I know you are pretty close to your due date, how far is that away? Thinking of you, and wishing you luck tomorrow. :)

[A kid at heart]

I'd rather drink that than the stuff for the colonscopy.

[tnkrbell]

No its not bad at all!!!!!! Everyone told me it was Horrible, Its so not!! THe drink is like a flat soda. (not the best but not that bad)
Youll be ok!!

[Serena]

It's not bad at all, at least it wasn't for me. That stuff they make you drink is like a coke or orange drink loaded with sugar, it's pretty bad.
And then of course they take your blood. It'll be over before you know it. :)

[Blondie]

That Glucola stuff is nasty.

They usually give you a choice of either Orange, or Cola flavored.

It tastes like pure syrup, and you have to drink the whole bottle in under a certain amount of time.

Made me gag!

[nancy679]

I actually liked the drink:D :D but I really have a sweet tooth.

[piratesmate]

{{{HUGS!!!}}} :( Oh Kermit, I'm sorry that you have to have this test! Of course it's better to know so it can be treated, but it's still upsetting to need to do it.

It's been years (maybe 29??) since I've had the test, so I doubt my experience is much to go by; however, I do remember thinking it wasn't all that bad. The worst part for me was getting bored sitting in the doctor's office for 6 hours on a Saturday morning with nothing to do! I realize that other people have reacted differently.

One thing that comes to mind is that when I had it done there was no such thing as a "finger stick" which I now do 4 - 5x/day. I would at least discuss it with your doctor & find out if they can do those instead of using veinous blood.

I only have one arm that gives blood & I had a lot of scarring during/after my 1st pregnancy. (I had to go for tests at 8 11, 3 & 7 two or three times/week for 8 months - again, before finger sticks!) Anyway, I had a really good tech for most of that time. She told me to insist on them using a pediatric needle - they're much smaller. Some techs balk, since it takes longer to get enough blood through it, but it penetrates easier/quicker & the veins are less likely to roll.

I would also tell the doctor about what happens when you eat/drink anything sweet! I would be concerned about that, too. It's really important to be treated if you do have GD, but it seems to me you shouldn't have to get sick to figure out if you have it.

Deb

[nativetxn]

I had a GTT many, many years ago. The drink wasn't tasty but it wasn't terrible. I believe I had the 7 hour test and got pretty weak and "fainty" towards the end but other than that it wasn't too bad.

[Buckalew]

I was told it was more horrible than it was for me. I wish that same thing for you, Kermit!
Yup, you have gotten a pretty good idea of what it tastes like from this thread. Sugary and like flat soda.

I drank it and had the blood taken and sat down after each time and read. They said I could roam the halls but I knew if I exerted any energy that I'd feel really bad so I stayed seated except for the blood work. It worked but I almost didn't make it to the car!
:eek:
Best wishes to you Kermit. I hope things go well!

[Michelle]

As everyone else said, the worst part was the sickeningly sweet stuff you have to drink, but it's not that bad. :)

And the fun part is the sugar makes the baby go into hypergear and you get LOTS of kicks! :teeth: I always loved those baby kicks. :)

[Boo'sMom]

It wasn't that bad....just remember to bring something to read...you'll be there longer than the magazines....LOL


Go for orange over cola....

[debster812]

Another tip, if you can, have the drink REALLY REALLY REALLY cold, seemed to go down better for me, and I had to do 2 of them, because one of my urine stick tests was wacked out after the first GTT.

Kermit, I am also a 'hard stick', make sure whomever is drawing your blood knows that you are, and they will take some more care to get your veins to really pop! (I thought my arm would fall off, LOL)

Good Luck, and you will be fine, and get through it OK.

[d.kurz]

Drink it with a straw...it's easier to get it down! And the worst part of the test as stated above is the boredom!!

[Disneyaholic]

The worst part for me was that towards the end of the test my blood sugar was so low, I kept falling asleep in the waiting room. I finally asked for an exam room that wasn't being used, so I could curl up on the table. They just came in and took my blood at the appropriate times and then I went back to sleep.

:eek:

You also might want to bring a piece of fruit or something with you for on the way home.

Good luck!

[nuke]

I didn't think it was bad at all. Tasted like Orange Crush to me. Having blood taken never bothered me though. Good Luck!

[Regina]

We moved and I had a different OB/GYN for my second delivery. He routinely ordered the test, and it was pretty gross. Everything was fine.

When I was expecting my third, he again ordered the test, and I refused it based on not having a problem with my two previous pregnancies.

I always remember the comment from another expectant mom who overheard me saying that I wouldn't take it again. She said "you can do that?":p :p :p

I may have started a revolution.;)

[CamColt]

That test in particular was very easy. I am prone to fainting anytime I get blood taken, its happened a few times. Never happened during one of those tests though.
Good luck!

[iluvorlando]

Ditto what CamColt said. Was not that bad. I had (forced) DH to accompany me and he lovingly (forced) bought me dinner afterwards!:p

[POLLY ANN]

You'll do fine, Kermit!

I've taken it 3 times and I just made sure that I was very, very thirsty. Then I was able to drink it quicker. I prefer the Orange over the Coke, though.

Let us know how you did!

[dizneenut]

I've taken it 4 times. I am terrified of needles, but the worst part for me was trying to get that drink down. It was pretty nasty.

You'll do just fine! :)

[browneyes]

It's not all that bad, but that drink is horrible.:eek: The green drink tastes better than the orange one. The needle isn't that bad. It's just like the blood work they do on your first OB visit, but they don't take as many vials of blood. Good luck.:)

LOL! Sherry, I've taken it 4 times too.:) I had to go for a 2nd test with both of my kids.

[dedala]

All I can say is ...compaired to giving birth (which I have done twice) It is a piece of cake!!!!!

[lisaschu]

Ya know, I had heard it was bad so I went in there and just sorta chugged the first bit. Basically it tasted like really sweet orange soda. I was a bit confused by why everyone thinks it's so terrible. I finished the drink rather quickly and walked away wondering what all the drama was about. Maybe I just had myself so psyched out and was expecting the worst. I don't know. At any rate, it's not that bad tasting and I didn't feel any different after drinking it (and I'm prone to get shaky after too much sugar that early in the day).

[Laurabearz]

I have had to take the test 3 times.... one for my first pregnancy and I failed..... and twice for my second pregnacy and I passed both times....

One thing that helped me get the drink down..... if you cant chug it in the allotted time..... you have to start all over again... the same holds true if you barf.... gotta start back at square one... so drink it fast and dont throw up!

Now the plus side of the test..... There is nothing in this world that makes your baby move more than that sugary drink. I was not bored at all..... I spent the whole time watching a feeling my sweet baby do flip flops....... I would even giggle out loud at all the movement.

One option, which I think I may take this time, is to ask to just skip the test and give in to the GDD diet and prick my finger 5 times a day....

(((((((((hugs)))))))) Your not alone...... lots of us have been there and done that..... you too shall surivie!

Let us know how it goes!!!

[CookieGVB]

The orange one is better than the cola. But that's not saying much. Reminded me of pixie stix, but in liquid form. :)

I have problems with my veins being hard to find, so I routinely have a butterfly needle used on the back of my hand. It pinches a bit more, but it's better than having them poke and miss, and poke and miss, in my arm!

Good luck - you'll be fine! :)

[danacara]

Kermit, you might want to go to the doctor about that mouth and throat swelling and closing, making it hard to breathe, every time you eat or drink something sweet problem. That definitely does not sound like a natural human reaction (heck, over half of what we eat in an average day is basically sugar in some form) and I've never heard anything like it before.
DC

[Kermit]

I know that it is strange that I can't breathe when I drink sweet things, but almost all the women on my mom's side of the family do it. I've never remembered to bring it up with my own doctor, but my grandmother is 83 with the same problem, so it's not terminal or anything. I can drink things with sugar, just not things that overly sweet. Mainly it's just things like overly sweet Kool Aid and sweet pickles. I can eat and drink over 99% of the stuff normal people do without any problems.

[musicfan]

Kermit --

I know exactly what you mean. Mine doesn't actually close up, but really sweet things make my throat burn.

[Pin Wizard]

I remember drinking that gook as a kid. I've been diabetic for years, so I didn't have that test when I was pregnant...hey! A positive thing to diabetes? :) When they draw your blood, ask them to use a butterfly. It's a finer needle for your arm.

[Pembo]

I made my dh taste it! I figured he needed to experience it too! :)