Ellewilliams
Entire Surgery Blog
Mar 05, 2010
March 15th, 2010- The Start of the Rest of My Life.
Wed at 7:44pm
March 15th, 2010- The Start of the Rest of My Life.
Soooo! My surgery is scheduled for 3/15/10 and I am SO excited, and SO nervous! GAH! I've been on a "liquid" diet for about 5 days now, and its super hard. It consists of 2 protein shakes and one high protein low carb/fat meal! Yay. Once I found out the date though I became VERY determined.
I started to get VERY nervous(excited nervous) starting Monday. I decided to go to Bmi of Texas' monthly support group, mainly for people who've had the surgery, but I knew it would calm my nerves to be around people who've had it. They were awesome and it really did help! I was able to ask questions about life afterwards and share my fears as well, and well of course everyone was "supportive." Dr. Duperier made an apperance which was totally awesome, we all discussed ways to make the following support group meetings more effective, such as all going out to eat and having the nutrtionist Jennifer help us order, or go grocery shopping with the same premise. I've heard about a lot of different stories, and issues from others who have had the surgery. All of the people I have met, and all of the new friends I have gained through this experience are awesome!
Surgery Blog, Friday, Feb. 19th: APPROVED! Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:06pm | Friday, February 19, 2010
APPROVED!
Today is Friday, Feb. 19th. Today is special. Today is important. Today is happy. Why, do you ask? Today I recieved the news that my surgery has been APPROVED by my insurance. This is so monumental. APPROVED. I'd heard many surgery stories when it has taken months, even a year to get approval from the insurance. Some people even get denied at first, and understandably so. This surgery is around $25,000, so to have insurance approval to cover that cost, is major.
-Honestly, I sit here in awe.
My surgery was submitted for approval to my insurance: Independence Blue Cross (backed by QVC) on Feb. 11th. Today is the 19th. That's 8 days folks! I'm not trying to state the obvious, however this is a remarkably short time for approval. I really feel like this surgery is going to happen. Not that I didn't before, but this is coming down to the wire, in which I can really wrap my head around the fact that I've passed my biggest hurdle.
This is not my first journey with this surgery. I was going to get this actually two years ago, but the pieces didn't fit, and I know now that it wasn't the right time. This time around, however, everything fits, and is falling into place. I really feel like the creator is holding my hand on this situation and I really thank everyone for their prayers.
With this surgery, I want to lose my weight and inspire others in my situation, even if they don't get surgery. Living your entire life obese is horrible. As much as you try to fight it, with some success, even major success the reality sets in that you are STILL highly obese. It's horrible. It's horrible to weigh 180lbs at 8 years old. Obesity is a horrible epidemic. Look around you, look at the children especially. I'm seeing more and more children obese far too young these days. I want to help, I'm not 100% sure how yet, but I do know I want to beat this battle and help others. I want to help other people save, or get their life back. I am so happy, praise Jesus for the life I have and the breath I breathe!
Upper Endoscopy Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:05pm | Upper Endoscopy...
On Monday, Feb. 15th I woke up at 5am. Yes, you read that right, 5am. I never ever get up this early, but I had too. We drove an hour to be at Foundation Surgical Hospital. A small, private hospital mainly dealing with bariatric surgeries and procedures. We arrived around 6:15am, and waited in the waiting room to check in. Pretty soon the admissions nurse called my name and I had to sign a few papers and got a hospital bracelet... woah. Manuel and I then went to the waiting room where they had nice, comfortable couches and large flat screens showing Fox News. My procedure wasn't until 8am, but I didn't wait long at all. I conversed with a few other ladies that had been at the same seminar with me, and one of the ladies was also getting the same procedure as I.
After a while, a nurse came out and called my name for me to go back and I got really nervous (I've never been admitted in a hospital.) She took my weight, not really any different from the last time I was weighed, and then she took me into a little hospital room that was guarded with a curtain. She asked me to pee in a cup, and then get into a hospital gown. I came back and placed the sample on a table and dressed into my gown. I don't like hospital gowns because they are way to revealing, however I was sitting up on a hospital bed, so I was covered.
I was really nervous, mainly about the anesthesia, of not being in control.. The nurse came in and says "Okay, so you're not pregnant and you don't have diabetes." Yay. She then took my temperature by rolling a metal thermometer across my forehead. How hi-tech is this place! She then started my I.V. Ugh. I HATE NEEDLES. That statement is a little ironic, because I've had my nose pierced and that doesn't bother me. However, hospital needles or shots, I HATE THEM. I'm a wimp, I know. So, she sticks me quickly with a numbing shot and says "That's the worst part." I didn't believe her because my hand didn't feel numb, and I stared down at a pretty big needle for the I.V. AHHH. I grimaced and looked away (quite dramatically I may add) as she put in my I.V. I peeked back to see if it was in and it was! She didn't lie. That part didn't hurt. It did, however, freak me out.
My husband was great through all this, we joked and watched some "Saved By the Bell" as we waited for them to take me away for my upper endoscopy.(If your curious a Upper Endoscopy is where they stick a camera down your throat to your stomach and look at it and take a small sample of the stomach lining) One of the male nurses came in and asked me if I was cold. I was so he hooked a hose to my gown and it warmed my gown! How cool is that?! A few minutes after that, My surgeon (Dr. Duperier) came to check on me. I really love Dr. Duperier. He is not a "touchy-feely" kind of doctor by any means, he's pretty much all business, but I know he cares. He was very happy with my progress, and with how fast my pre-op was going.
Twenty minutes later a few nurses and the anesthesiologist came to wheel me away into my procedure! I was nervous, and praying a little bit. I was wheeled into this room with about 6 people. I saw Nurses, and my anesthesiologist, I have no idea why those people were there, but hey. They had me turn on my side and then put a mouth guard in my mouth for me to bite on. The anesthesiologist then told me that he was starting my anesthesia and told me it may burn. I remember that it didn't burn it, hurt. The kind of feeling when your hand falls asleep but intensified. I remember saying "my hand hurts," looking to the left and then I was -out-.
I woke up exactly when they were wheeling me back from my procedure, amazing. I felt a little bump inside my lip where they told me that I bit my lip, because I keep wiggling around (great.) I was told my stomach looked good everything was good and I felt oddly rested. I got dressed and left. I was pretty awake, just giggly.
On Thursday, Feb. 11th, my patient advocate (Laura) sent off my information to my insurance for final approval for the surgery! YAY! She said this usually takes this about a week.. I'm nervous and excited, just waiting for the surgery date :)
Monday, February 8th, 2010
On Monday, I completed all of my major appointments before my patient advocate (Laura) will be sending my information to my insurance for approval. I'm nervous and excited!
I woke up early monday morning to arrive early for my gallbladder ultrasound. It went very quickly, however, it was a little more painful that I imagined. The ultrasound technician pushed very hard up and down near my ribs, but it was all over rather quickly. No gallstones right now, but some can develop after rapid weight loss so I will be on medicine for that for 6 months after.
I then went to my surgeons office (Bmi of texas) to meet with the "behavioral specialist." "Behavioral Specialist" is just a fancy name for a psychiatrist, however he does specialize on picking up on addictive, emotional, behavior causing the weight problem, and to change those habits for after surgery. The appointment went well.
I then walked across the hall to the Nutrionist, Jennifer. First she took my weight. Down 4lbs from my last appointment only 1 week ago! Yay! That was just from cutting out sugary sodas and from switching to mustard instead of mayo on my sandwhich. Once in her office, Jennifer greeted me and then said "I see you have a 6 month diet requirement from the insurance." I about panicked right there. I replied "My patient advocate says my insurance only requires one initial nutritionist visit." She told me "Oh, let me check on that then, I don't want to make you wait longer then you have too." She came back and then told me that I was right and they just have to change it in the system. I breathed a breath of relief. We sat down at this small table. While she reviewed my information on her laptop, I surveyed her office. Jennifer's office is very tiny with her personal pictures on a shelf to the left. On the right there were varies products from huge jars of protein shake powder, to soups, jello, and protein bars. I thought "this must be what I'll be eating afterwards." I studied Jennifer for a second. I know a lot of the staff at BMI of Texas have had the surgery and I can usually tell. Jennifer has light brown curly hair that were in perfect ringed curls. She was short and very very thin, with no real signs of having the surgery. I'm pretty sure she is just naturally thin.
I noticed in front of me was a plate with fake food, not uncommon for a nutrionist. However, as I looked closer the portion size of this food is tiny! I picked up a piece which was suppose to resemble steak, I looked at it closer. This piece was maybe at most 1 1/2- 2 inches long and a half inch thick. I asked about it and she says "That's the portion you'll be able to eat after surgery." I asked "Will this feel like a Thanksgiving dinner?" She laughed. "That's what I've heard, some people can't even finish that." I was just amazed how small it really was. I knew the portion sizes after, but the visual was just unreal!
I asked to go ahead and transition into a liquid, healthier diet because my surgery is probably going to be very soon. Two weeks before surgery a protein liquid diet is required. This diet consists of two meals of protein shakes, and one fat free high protein meal. I need to get in that mind set now. I am having one protein shake now, in the morning, and soon will tranistion into the two week diet. The protein shakes aren't too bad. They taste like sugar free vanilla pudding if you've ever tasted that. This week for lunch I've been eating 3 fat free turkey slices and a piece of cheese with cucumbers for lunch. I cut the turkey and the cheese into small slices kind of like the ones you would find in a lunchable. I've almost completly cut out soda, and usually have one diet soda a day but the rest is a lot of water.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Talk about a weird experience! I thought it would be hard to sleep because I would know people were watching/hearing me, that wasn't even the hardest part.
I arrived at "Snore and Sleep" at around 8:45pm. It is located in a medical plaza inside. I was really the only person walking through the building other than the cleaning crew and the security guard. Just around the security desk I come to the suite 220. It was very odd because I had to ring a door bell and wait for someone to open the door. It had a very "secret society" feel. A very friendly lady opened the door and led me down the hallway to my "room" for the night, and asked me to wait for my technician to come in. I filled out some paperwork and around 9:15pm I met my technician Charlene. Not really at all what I expected. She is very young and thin, and very nice. Charlene asked me to change into my pj's and she would come back and hook me up to the sleep equipment. Oh boy. All of the wires were laid out on the bed. The room was nice, kind of like a hotel with certain small home-like touches, but none-of-the-less still all peculiar to me. I went across the hall to the personal bathroom and changed. I came back and read for a few minutes and Charlene came back into the room. We chatted for a bit which put my nerves at ease. We talked about hair, and other girly things. We talked about my surgery and what tests other than the sleep study that I had to go through. She was just very kind and understanding. She stuck these electrodes all over my head and face. The worst was this wire that was kind of near my nose to monitor my breathing. I laid down to sleep at 11pm. I had felt tired so I really thought that I actually might fall asleep. I brought 2 pillows from home and at first it was rather comfortable. As time went on I just could NOT fall asleep. Part of the reason was because everything that I could EVER think about came to my mind as I lay there, and also because these electrodes were really constraining and I couldn't really move too much. I tend to toss a few times until I find that comfortable "spot" and always end up on my side. I couldn't do that last night. A few times within the next two hours Charlene came in to check my wires and reglue a few of them. She had to change out the wire 3 times to my nose because none of them would read. I was nervous because I really didn't want to have sleep apnea or have to sleep the rest of the night with a CPAP oxygen machine. Charlene had told me that she would monitor and test within the first hour or so that I was sleeping and if my breathing was shallow and I indicated that I had sleep apnea she would come in and put a CPAP machine on my face to aid with breathing. I still really couldn't fall asleep. The room was dark and the temperature was nice and cool and the bed was realitively comfortable. I was getting very thirsty by this point. I knew Charlene could hear me and I spoke out into the darkness with a rather quiet voice. "Hello?" "Yes ma'm?" Charlene replied promply. "May I have a drink of water?" I asked. "Be right there." Charlene replied. Charlene was so nice an comforting always asking if I need anything, another blanket, anything. I was truely thankful for her.
At 5AM I was pleasantly surprised to be awoken by Charlene and there was NO Cpap machine! YAY! so this may be a VERY GOOD indicator that I don't have sleep apnea. Charlene took all the wires off of me and I gathered my things and was SO happy to get in my truck and drive home. I don't know the medical center area too well, and at 5am it was still dark do I had to turn around a few times, finally I found the highway and made my way home and was in my own comfortable bed next to my snoring husband by 7am.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
So, I got a call to schedule my last and final test (sleep apnea test) and their availability... tomorrow! WOAH! ALL MY TESTS ARE SCHEDULED! So, tomorrow I will be having a sleep study, which the concept is definately weird, I'm just happy everything is scheduled! I actually am really really nervous about the sleep study.. I don't know how I'm going to sleep knowing someone is watching me and with all these cords hooked up to me, but it has to be done. This is the first night since I've been married (almost a year) that I'll be sleeping without my husband and its a really wierd feeling. The timing is really in my favor though for the surgery, with all the appointments scheduled and the approval anticipated to come back quick, I can't wait for a surgery date.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Hello all! I had been making video vlogs for a while on youtube, however I do not have internet at my house at the moment, so I will be posting my journey through here, so thank you for reading! A lot has happened and a lot of exciting news. I have began my roux-en-y gastric bypass journey full force. I have gone to 3 seminars now. One of them was 2 years ago when I first started my journey, the other was just a few weeks ago, and the third and FINAL one was when I had to switch surgeons because of out-of-network coverage. I am now going to be getting my surgery through Dr. Duperier through BMI of Texas: www.BmiofTexas.com. Dr. Duperier is one of the best in the field of bariatric surgery. I feel very safe in his hands. My Preliminary appointment was Mon. Feb. 1st. I met with Dr. Duperier, and my patient advocate Laura, and also had an ekg. The insurance stand point looks awesome and I only have to complete very few appointments. My next appointments are Monday, Feb. 8th. I will be getting a gullbladder ultrasound at 8am. I then will have my psychiatric appointment and appointment with the nutritionist also that day. Once these appointments are complete my patient advocate will submit my claim to the insurance for approval. It usually takes 2 weeks. On Mon, Feb. 15th I have and Upper Endoscopy so Dr. Duperier can take a look at my stomach. A little nervous about the anesthsia. I still have yet to schedule my final appointment and that is for my sleep study to test for sleep apnea and that is the last and final test!!!!!!! This is all happening quickly, I'm excited and a little nervous. I can't wait until I get a surgery date!
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
0 comments
Soooo! My surgery is scheduled for 3/15/10 and I am SO excited, and SO nervous! GAH! I've been on a "liquid" diet for about 5 days now, and its super hard. It consists of 2 protein shakes and one high protein low carb/fat meal! Yay. Once I found out the date though I became VERY determined.
I started to get VERY nervous(excited nervous) starting Monday. I decided to go to Bmi of Texas' monthly support group, mainly for people who've had the surgery, but I knew it would calm my nerves to be around people who've had it. They were awesome and it really did help! I was able to ask questions about life afterwards and share my fears as well, and well of course everyone was "supportive." Dr. Duperier made an apperance which was totally awesome, we all discussed ways to make the following support group meetings more effective, such as all going out to eat and having the nutrtionist Jennifer help us order, or go grocery shopping with the same premise. I've heard about a lot of different stories, and issues from others who have had the surgery. All of the people I have met, and all of the new friends I have gained through this experience are awesome!
Surgery Blog, Friday, Feb. 19th: APPROVED! Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:06pm | Friday, February 19, 2010
APPROVED!
Today is Friday, Feb. 19th. Today is special. Today is important. Today is happy. Why, do you ask? Today I recieved the news that my surgery has been APPROVED by my insurance. This is so monumental. APPROVED. I'd heard many surgery stories when it has taken months, even a year to get approval from the insurance. Some people even get denied at first, and understandably so. This surgery is around $25,000, so to have insurance approval to cover that cost, is major.
-Honestly, I sit here in awe.
My surgery was submitted for approval to my insurance: Independence Blue Cross (backed by QVC) on Feb. 11th. Today is the 19th. That's 8 days folks! I'm not trying to state the obvious, however this is a remarkably short time for approval. I really feel like this surgery is going to happen. Not that I didn't before, but this is coming down to the wire, in which I can really wrap my head around the fact that I've passed my biggest hurdle.
This is not my first journey with this surgery. I was going to get this actually two years ago, but the pieces didn't fit, and I know now that it wasn't the right time. This time around, however, everything fits, and is falling into place. I really feel like the creator is holding my hand on this situation and I really thank everyone for their prayers.
With this surgery, I want to lose my weight and inspire others in my situation, even if they don't get surgery. Living your entire life obese is horrible. As much as you try to fight it, with some success, even major success the reality sets in that you are STILL highly obese. It's horrible. It's horrible to weigh 180lbs at 8 years old. Obesity is a horrible epidemic. Look around you, look at the children especially. I'm seeing more and more children obese far too young these days. I want to help, I'm not 100% sure how yet, but I do know I want to beat this battle and help others. I want to help other people save, or get their life back. I am so happy, praise Jesus for the life I have and the breath I breathe!
Upper Endoscopy Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:05pm | Upper Endoscopy...
On Monday, Feb. 15th I woke up at 5am. Yes, you read that right, 5am. I never ever get up this early, but I had too. We drove an hour to be at Foundation Surgical Hospital. A small, private hospital mainly dealing with bariatric surgeries and procedures. We arrived around 6:15am, and waited in the waiting room to check in. Pretty soon the admissions nurse called my name and I had to sign a few papers and got a hospital bracelet... woah. Manuel and I then went to the waiting room where they had nice, comfortable couches and large flat screens showing Fox News. My procedure wasn't until 8am, but I didn't wait long at all. I conversed with a few other ladies that had been at the same seminar with me, and one of the ladies was also getting the same procedure as I.
After a while, a nurse came out and called my name for me to go back and I got really nervous (I've never been admitted in a hospital.) She took my weight, not really any different from the last time I was weighed, and then she took me into a little hospital room that was guarded with a curtain. She asked me to pee in a cup, and then get into a hospital gown. I came back and placed the sample on a table and dressed into my gown. I don't like hospital gowns because they are way to revealing, however I was sitting up on a hospital bed, so I was covered.
I was really nervous, mainly about the anesthesia, of not being in control.. The nurse came in and says "Okay, so you're not pregnant and you don't have diabetes." Yay. She then took my temperature by rolling a metal thermometer across my forehead. How hi-tech is this place! She then started my I.V. Ugh. I HATE NEEDLES. That statement is a little ironic, because I've had my nose pierced and that doesn't bother me. However, hospital needles or shots, I HATE THEM. I'm a wimp, I know. So, she sticks me quickly with a numbing shot and says "That's the worst part." I didn't believe her because my hand didn't feel numb, and I stared down at a pretty big needle for the I.V. AHHH. I grimaced and looked away (quite dramatically I may add) as she put in my I.V. I peeked back to see if it was in and it was! She didn't lie. That part didn't hurt. It did, however, freak me out.
My husband was great through all this, we joked and watched some "Saved By the Bell" as we waited for them to take me away for my upper endoscopy.(If your curious a Upper Endoscopy is where they stick a camera down your throat to your stomach and look at it and take a small sample of the stomach lining) One of the male nurses came in and asked me if I was cold. I was so he hooked a hose to my gown and it warmed my gown! How cool is that?! A few minutes after that, My surgeon (Dr. Duperier) came to check on me. I really love Dr. Duperier. He is not a "touchy-feely" kind of doctor by any means, he's pretty much all business, but I know he cares. He was very happy with my progress, and with how fast my pre-op was going.
Twenty minutes later a few nurses and the anesthesiologist came to wheel me away into my procedure! I was nervous, and praying a little bit. I was wheeled into this room with about 6 people. I saw Nurses, and my anesthesiologist, I have no idea why those people were there, but hey. They had me turn on my side and then put a mouth guard in my mouth for me to bite on. The anesthesiologist then told me that he was starting my anesthesia and told me it may burn. I remember that it didn't burn it, hurt. The kind of feeling when your hand falls asleep but intensified. I remember saying "my hand hurts," looking to the left and then I was -out-.
I woke up exactly when they were wheeling me back from my procedure, amazing. I felt a little bump inside my lip where they told me that I bit my lip, because I keep wiggling around (great.) I was told my stomach looked good everything was good and I felt oddly rested. I got dressed and left. I was pretty awake, just giggly.
Waiting for Insurance Approval!
On Thursday, Feb. 11th, my patient advocate (Laura) sent off my information to my insurance for final approval for the surgery! YAY! She said this usually takes this about a week.. I'm nervous and excited, just waiting for the surgery date :)
Monday, February 8th, 2010
The Finale of Requirements
On Monday, I completed all of my major appointments before my patient advocate (Laura) will be sending my information to my insurance for approval. I'm nervous and excited!
I woke up early monday morning to arrive early for my gallbladder ultrasound. It went very quickly, however, it was a little more painful that I imagined. The ultrasound technician pushed very hard up and down near my ribs, but it was all over rather quickly. No gallstones right now, but some can develop after rapid weight loss so I will be on medicine for that for 6 months after.
I then went to my surgeons office (Bmi of texas) to meet with the "behavioral specialist." "Behavioral Specialist" is just a fancy name for a psychiatrist, however he does specialize on picking up on addictive, emotional, behavior causing the weight problem, and to change those habits for after surgery. The appointment went well.
I then walked across the hall to the Nutrionist, Jennifer. First she took my weight. Down 4lbs from my last appointment only 1 week ago! Yay! That was just from cutting out sugary sodas and from switching to mustard instead of mayo on my sandwhich. Once in her office, Jennifer greeted me and then said "I see you have a 6 month diet requirement from the insurance." I about panicked right there. I replied "My patient advocate says my insurance only requires one initial nutritionist visit." She told me "Oh, let me check on that then, I don't want to make you wait longer then you have too." She came back and then told me that I was right and they just have to change it in the system. I breathed a breath of relief. We sat down at this small table. While she reviewed my information on her laptop, I surveyed her office. Jennifer's office is very tiny with her personal pictures on a shelf to the left. On the right there were varies products from huge jars of protein shake powder, to soups, jello, and protein bars. I thought "this must be what I'll be eating afterwards." I studied Jennifer for a second. I know a lot of the staff at BMI of Texas have had the surgery and I can usually tell. Jennifer has light brown curly hair that were in perfect ringed curls. She was short and very very thin, with no real signs of having the surgery. I'm pretty sure she is just naturally thin.
I noticed in front of me was a plate with fake food, not uncommon for a nutrionist. However, as I looked closer the portion size of this food is tiny! I picked up a piece which was suppose to resemble steak, I looked at it closer. This piece was maybe at most 1 1/2- 2 inches long and a half inch thick. I asked about it and she says "That's the portion you'll be able to eat after surgery." I asked "Will this feel like a Thanksgiving dinner?" She laughed. "That's what I've heard, some people can't even finish that." I was just amazed how small it really was. I knew the portion sizes after, but the visual was just unreal!
I asked to go ahead and transition into a liquid, healthier diet because my surgery is probably going to be very soon. Two weeks before surgery a protein liquid diet is required. This diet consists of two meals of protein shakes, and one fat free high protein meal. I need to get in that mind set now. I am having one protein shake now, in the morning, and soon will tranistion into the two week diet. The protein shakes aren't too bad. They taste like sugar free vanilla pudding if you've ever tasted that. This week for lunch I've been eating 3 fat free turkey slices and a piece of cheese with cucumbers for lunch. I cut the turkey and the cheese into small slices kind of like the ones you would find in a lunchable. I've almost completly cut out soda, and usually have one diet soda a day but the rest is a lot of water.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
My Sleep Study.. A Pleasant Ordeal
Talk about a weird experience! I thought it would be hard to sleep because I would know people were watching/hearing me, that wasn't even the hardest part.
I arrived at "Snore and Sleep" at around 8:45pm. It is located in a medical plaza inside. I was really the only person walking through the building other than the cleaning crew and the security guard. Just around the security desk I come to the suite 220. It was very odd because I had to ring a door bell and wait for someone to open the door. It had a very "secret society" feel. A very friendly lady opened the door and led me down the hallway to my "room" for the night, and asked me to wait for my technician to come in. I filled out some paperwork and around 9:15pm I met my technician Charlene. Not really at all what I expected. She is very young and thin, and very nice. Charlene asked me to change into my pj's and she would come back and hook me up to the sleep equipment. Oh boy. All of the wires were laid out on the bed. The room was nice, kind of like a hotel with certain small home-like touches, but none-of-the-less still all peculiar to me. I went across the hall to the personal bathroom and changed. I came back and read for a few minutes and Charlene came back into the room. We chatted for a bit which put my nerves at ease. We talked about hair, and other girly things. We talked about my surgery and what tests other than the sleep study that I had to go through. She was just very kind and understanding. She stuck these electrodes all over my head and face. The worst was this wire that was kind of near my nose to monitor my breathing. I laid down to sleep at 11pm. I had felt tired so I really thought that I actually might fall asleep. I brought 2 pillows from home and at first it was rather comfortable. As time went on I just could NOT fall asleep. Part of the reason was because everything that I could EVER think about came to my mind as I lay there, and also because these electrodes were really constraining and I couldn't really move too much. I tend to toss a few times until I find that comfortable "spot" and always end up on my side. I couldn't do that last night. A few times within the next two hours Charlene came in to check my wires and reglue a few of them. She had to change out the wire 3 times to my nose because none of them would read. I was nervous because I really didn't want to have sleep apnea or have to sleep the rest of the night with a CPAP oxygen machine. Charlene had told me that she would monitor and test within the first hour or so that I was sleeping and if my breathing was shallow and I indicated that I had sleep apnea she would come in and put a CPAP machine on my face to aid with breathing. I still really couldn't fall asleep. The room was dark and the temperature was nice and cool and the bed was realitively comfortable. I was getting very thirsty by this point. I knew Charlene could hear me and I spoke out into the darkness with a rather quiet voice. "Hello?" "Yes ma'm?" Charlene replied promply. "May I have a drink of water?" I asked. "Be right there." Charlene replied. Charlene was so nice an comforting always asking if I need anything, another blanket, anything. I was truely thankful for her.
At 5AM I was pleasantly surprised to be awoken by Charlene and there was NO Cpap machine! YAY! so this may be a VERY GOOD indicator that I don't have sleep apnea. Charlene took all the wires off of me and I gathered my things and was SO happy to get in my truck and drive home. I don't know the medical center area too well, and at 5am it was still dark do I had to turn around a few times, finally I found the highway and made my way home and was in my own comfortable bed next to my snoring husband by 7am.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
All tests are scheduled
So, I got a call to schedule my last and final test (sleep apnea test) and their availability... tomorrow! WOAH! ALL MY TESTS ARE SCHEDULED! So, tomorrow I will be having a sleep study, which the concept is definately weird, I'm just happy everything is scheduled! I actually am really really nervous about the sleep study.. I don't know how I'm going to sleep knowing someone is watching me and with all these cords hooked up to me, but it has to be done. This is the first night since I've been married (almost a year) that I'll be sleeping without my husband and its a really wierd feeling. The timing is really in my favor though for the surgery, with all the appointments scheduled and the approval anticipated to come back quick, I can't wait for a surgery date.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
The Beginning.. but not quite :)
Hello all! I had been making video vlogs for a while on youtube, however I do not have internet at my house at the moment, so I will be posting my journey through here, so thank you for reading! A lot has happened and a lot of exciting news. I have began my roux-en-y gastric bypass journey full force. I have gone to 3 seminars now. One of them was 2 years ago when I first started my journey, the other was just a few weeks ago, and the third and FINAL one was when I had to switch surgeons because of out-of-network coverage. I am now going to be getting my surgery through Dr. Duperier through BMI of Texas: www.BmiofTexas.com. Dr. Duperier is one of the best in the field of bariatric surgery. I feel very safe in his hands. My Preliminary appointment was Mon. Feb. 1st. I met with Dr. Duperier, and my patient advocate Laura, and also had an ekg. The insurance stand point looks awesome and I only have to complete very few appointments. My next appointments are Monday, Feb. 8th. I will be getting a gullbladder ultrasound at 8am. I then will have my psychiatric appointment and appointment with the nutritionist also that day. Once these appointments are complete my patient advocate will submit my claim to the insurance for approval. It usually takes 2 weeks. On Mon, Feb. 15th I have and Upper Endoscopy so Dr. Duperier can take a look at my stomach. A little nervous about the anesthsia. I still have yet to schedule my final appointment and that is for my sleep study to test for sleep apnea and that is the last and final test!!!!!!! This is all happening quickly, I'm excited and a little nervous. I can't wait until I get a surgery date!
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
About Me
Florence, KY
Location
51.5
BMI
Surgery
03/15/2010
Surgery Date
Jul 26, 2008
Member Since
