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The Work Begins

ShrinkyDink

ShrinkyDink

Member
I saw my surgeon yesterday. I let the staff's attitudes get in my head yesterday. The nurse was not very nice. She was being judgmental about the fact that I failed with a LapBand, & that this is pretty much my last chance to get it right. She found it really hard to believe that I had "THAT" much trouble with the band. It was like getting punched in the gut - again. Why do people have to be so nasty?

My surgeon was great. He made me feel at ease. After he gave me all the info, I decided to go with the sleeve. I have to get a psychiatric clearance, cardiac clearance, see a nutritionist, take my cpap card in for them to download, and go to 2 support group meetings. I have been on the phone making appointments for everything this morning. My last appointment is for the cardiac clearance. It's on August 2nd. I see the surgeon again on August 7th. Easy Peasy! - I keep waiting for the catch. It's just going too smoothly.

Since I'm private pay, I'm not sure if I'll have to do the 3 months supervised weight loss or not . I will find out tomorrow.
 
ShrinkyDink said:
I saw my surgeon yesterday. I let the staff's attitudes get in my head yesterday. The nurse was not very nice. She was being judgmental about the fact that I failed with a LapBand, & that this is pretty much my last chance to get it right. She found it really hard to believe that I had "THAT" much trouble with the band. It was like getting punched in the gut - again. Why do people have to be so nasty?

My surgeon was great. He made me feel at ease. After he gave me all the info, I decided to go with the sleeve. I have to get a psychiatric clearance, cardiac clearance, see a nutritionist, take my cpap card in for them to download, and go to 2 support group meetings. I have been on the phone making appointments for everything this morning. My last appointment is for the cardiac clearance. It's on August 2nd. I see the surgeon again on August 7th. Easy Peasy! - I keep waiting for the catch. It's just going too smoothly.

Since I'm private pay, I'm not sure if I'll have to do the 3 months supervised weight loss or not . I will find out tomorrow.
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I don’t understand why health “professionals” choose to have any bias against a patient. Shouldn’t they of all people know the criteria that many times causes being overweight? Shouldn’t compassion and care be in their mission statement? Well, don’t let her put a halt or a hurdle in your plan. And I’m relieved that the surgeon, who sometimes are the ones guilty of showing little encouragement, was the one who made you feel relieved.
One thing I noted on your list of things to compile was to bring in your CPAP card.. I also have a cpap, but I wasn’t required to bring in the card. Just to update my neurology office of the surgery. Has anyone else had to turn their CPAP card/records in?
Also curious, studies show that many people no longer require the CPAP machine once they’ve lost significant weight.. has anyone had this happen for them? Was it difficult to sleep without the usual routine?
 
@ShrinkyDrink,
I am so sorry that the staff at the clinic was rude to you. No one needs that especially a person working in Healthcare. I’m glad the surgeon was nice to you. And I am glad that you provided some of the steps that you have to take. I have my first appointment next week with the Bariatric Department, and I know that I will have some testing. I am glad that you are moving forward in your weight loss journey and I’m sorry that you had a bad experience. Good luck!!
 
Redy2go said:
I plan on taking mine with me to hospital. I have the nasal pillows and love them. I get great sleep since getting the CPAP. Hopefully I can loose the snoring part. Dang without CPAP I sound like a bear..lol
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dianeseattle said:
I got my CPAP machine in 2005. In my sleep study I was rated as having severe sleep apnea. One time during the night I stopped breathing for 1 minute and 20 seconds. I could not do that while I'm awake if you paid me a million dollars. I believe that my setting was 12, which is extremely high. I remember it was blowing so hard into my nose that when it cycled into my mouth my cheeks were flapping like a basset hound!

After the surgery I had another sleep study and it was pretty unremarkable. They dropped my setting down to a six I but I had to stop using my CPAP machine, even though I need it and I sleep so much more deeply when I have it, especially during REM sleep, because they change the material of the hose. It used to be very rubbery.

Nowadays the hoses are wrapped in crinkly plastic. It sounds like somebody's unwrapping a piece of butterscotch candy all night. I cannot sleep through it. Really pisses me off too, because I really loved my CPAP machine.

I took it to the hospital with me but they would not let me use it. Instead they hooked me up to a BiPAP machine, which is extremely uncomfortable because of the face mask. I use nasal pillows on my fixture.

But you have to have it after you've gone under anesthesia because it takes a long time for the various drugs they use to cycle out of your system, and if you already have trouble breathing, you could have a serious episode without your CPAP machine.

So, yes, my sleep apnea was practically cured after surgery that led to significant weight loss. And I have also heard that this happens to virtually everybody. I guess I am living proof since I am not even using my CPAP now, and I sleep okay but not perfectly without it.
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You’re both hilarious! Love and appreciate your honesty. I’ve used my CPAP for a year or two, then I lost some weight on my own (about 50-60 lbs) about 5 years ago. I had stopped snoring and though I can’t say I know for sure I slept (and breathed) fine, I felt like I was rested. My life went upside down and I gained the weight back, or perhaps my life went upside down because of the later, but I’m back to snoring, so using my cpap again.. though I’ve truly never felt very comfortable with it. I just had wondered if you had to turn in your card prior to your surg. But perhaps they just haven’t told me yet.
Thanks guys!
 
It may just be an individualized requirement of my surgeon to turn the cpap card in. I did get cleared for surgery by the psychiatrist yesterday. WOOHOO!!! I felt like that was going to be my biggest hurdle. He does want me to have 8 sessions with a therapist to help me learn to use better coping skills. I have a LOT of stress in my life (3 adopted kids, my mom moved in in January, & I take care of my 94 y/o grandpa). I totally agree with this, and I'm looking forward to it. He said that I was cleared, and that I could do the sessions concurrently with surgery. He isn't making me wait. I was thrilled to hear that. One more step closer to my goal! Thanks for all the support!!
 
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