what a weird, crazy week!

Nov 10, 2007

First, the news about my surgery,........uh, there is no news.  STILL waiting to hear back from Dr. Frezza's office that my file was sent to Presbyterian for approval.  ARGH,   I was notified on the first of November that I got the promotion!!!  I was on cloud nine about that.....then I got a call from my cousin letting me know that someone very close to my heart passed away suddenly on Tuesday,  Alton Bratcher, and his wife Ruth were my first real employers.  I was barely 18 when I started working for them, and stayed with them for 10 years.  Ruth ran the show, and she is an extremely hard worker and sometimes expected the impossible from her employees.  We butted heads a few times, but Alton was always jovial and comforting.  Don't get me wrong, I love Ruth very much, they are both like surrogate parents to me.  Alton was playing golf, which he loved so much....and thenm WHAM, a devastating heart attack,  I don't live in that small town anymore, and traveled yesterday for the funeral services.  It takes about 4 hours to get there.  I was so drained and tired when I made it back up to Rio Rancho.  The services were beautiful, There was a huge crowd that turned out, my son and I estimated about 400 people showed up.  As for my weight loss surgery.....STILL WAITING to hear anything.  UGH!!

The long wait...

Oct 30, 2007

I ended up speaking to Sarah the Monday after my post.  She said that she is waiting for Dr. Frezza to review my tests, and he won't be back in the office until 11/05!!!   ARGH!!!  Even when he does get back, there are 25 files ahead of mine.  This really sucks.  Once he looks at it, he will submit to Presbyterian for final approval, and who knows how long they will take to decide.  Soooooo....at this point, I don't have a clue when my surgery will be.  *sigh*  What choice do I have other than to wait it out?   
I stayed home sick today, really felt bad.  I had an interview for a promotion on Friday, I  hope this doesn't hurt my chances. 

Another week puff-free, but still no news

Oct 20, 2007

I am glad to say that hubby and I have made it through another week smoke-free.  All of our friends are pretty much in awe, but I give all of the credit to Chantix.  It's a miracle drug in my book.  
Since yesterday was Friday, I called Dr. Frezza's office AGAIN to see if I could find out ANYTHING....of course I was passsed through to Sarah's voice mail and I left another message.  She never called me back though, so I still don't know anything.  UGH!!!  This is getting ridiculous, my hubby is so angry he said he was going to call the office on Monday! LOL  I told him no way....if he talked to them they would cancel everything!   I am very frustrated, but after 7 weeks of basically WAITING I guess I am getting used to it,  I also figure that surely this can';t be stalled MUCH longer.  *sigh* I sure hope I hear something soon. 

Yeah for me!

Oct 12, 2007

Okay, maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel!  My hubby started taking the Chantix with me and we have both been smoke-free since October 9th!    I was a total witch on Tuesday, but I have been fine ever since and am actually doing quite well.  I'm glad we quit.  The other small bit of news is that I spoke with Sarah today and she thinks she got all of my tests in...she is going to review everything over the weekend and if it's all there she will submit to my insurance for final approval. I have my fingers crossed!!!!!

Another update, sort of

Oct 05, 2007

I started taking Chantix on Monday, and my husband did as well.  I can feel a big difference!!  For someone that didn't WANT to quit, it sure has slowed me down,  It's more of a psychological thing now.  I don't have the cravings, or the extreme urge to smoke.  When I do light up, the cigarettes don't taste the same.  By Tuesday I am supposed to be smoke free, and I don't think that will be too hard now. 

As far as my surgeons office......ARGH!!  I called today and they put me through to Sarah's VM (the nurse), and I left a message saying I was very anxious to hear about the progress of my case.  Well, all afternoon I was staring at my cell phone as I was working.  I came home and had my cell phone next to me.  It rang, but by this time it was around 6:30 Texas time, so I figured there was no way it could be her.  I didn't answer because it said "unknown".  UGH!!  IT WAS HER!!!  She just left a message saying that she had letters from all of the doctors that I had seen with clearances, but she didn't have the actual tests and she needed those,.  DOUBLE ARGH!!  The last time I spoke to her she said she had everything,  So, now I am stuck, I am not supposed to call her back until FRIDAY....why is this so freaking hard???!!!!   

I am off on Monday, I hope most of those doctor's offices are open so I can have them send tests in AGAIN if needed, or run all over town collecting them myself!!  I am so upset.  This really sucks!!  After hearing her voice mail, I had to light up a cigarette....oh boy.

Okay, I can do this....

Sep 29, 2007

I went to the sleep study clinic yesterday to go over my results.  She said that I have very mild sleep apnea and do not need a CPAP!!  That's excellent!  She did however say that the doctor wants me to be on oxygen at night because my levels go down too low.  Okay, I can deal with that.  My doctor hadn't yet called in the script for Chantix, so she wrote me one for it.  (After I left the clinic I got a call from my PCP saying the script was called in for me) LOL Now I have TWO!!  
Anyway, I called Sarah, at Dr Frezza's office to tell her exactly what the findings at the sleep study showed, but I just got her voice mail.  I left her the message and also told her I was going to be starting on Chantix and should be smoke free in 8 or 9 days.  She never called me back.  Now I am just left hanging.  I have completed and passed everything they asked me to do.  I am sure hoping that my insurance won't really make me wait three months now!!  
Quitting smoking is a huge step for me.  I am picking up the pills today.  *GULP*I have been through a lot already just to get this surgery, so if I have to quit, I have to quit.  All of my friends smoke, and I think that's making me a little anxious.  My husband said he is going to switch to smoking a pipe, which will help.  
So now I am in limbo.  I have no idea when my surgery will be.  Not knowing is going to drive me crazy, so I hope Sarah gets back to me fairly soon and can give me some good news. 

Can I scream now?

Sep 24, 2007

I have always been a very patient person, except when it comes to things I want.  I want this surgery, and I have worked diligently to get there.  I got a call from Dr. Frezza's nurse, Sarah today.  She was reading my medical tests and clearances and saw that I am a smoker.  She told me there was NO WAY I could have the surgery unless I hadn't smoked for three months!   THREE MONTHS??!!!!  They are telling me NOW, after I had my consultation over two months ago and have completed all of my tests??  She said that would be my insurance requirements and that Dr. Frezza wouldn't perform the surgery anyway if I was smoking.  FINE.  I know I need to quit, the problem is I don't want to.  After my crappy childhood, I have earned some security blankets....I am already giving up my other two, food and diet coke.  I will do it if it will get me the surgery, however, I don't want to wait a fricken' three months!!!  On top of this, I guess there was some kind of discrepancy with my sleep study test??  Sarah said she didn't understand the findings, now I have to call them and see what's going on.  I really thought I was done with all of this crap!!  I will try and update this tomorrow night if I can speak with someone at the sleep study clinic.  I phoned my Dr.'s office to see if I can get Chantix to help me quit smoking.  I was reading about the side effects...lovely.  Gas, bloating, constipation and sleepless nights.  UGH, can this day get any better?

The waiting game....

Sep 16, 2007

  I called Dr. Frezza's office on Friday and they have received only 4 results out of the 16 medical tests I had to go through!!   ARGH!!!  I didn't expect my latest ones....the GI tests, to be there, but I thought everything else should be!  I then called my PCP to make sure they fax over whatever they had, but I was told they were in the middle of moving to their new offices and had no computer access.  GRRR!!!  
Now I am kicking myself for not making sure each doctor I have seen these past two months gave me a copy of everything.  I might have to call them this week and beg for them to fax anything they have.  My DH suggested calling my insurance company and asking them to do it....but I would think they would just refer me back to my PCP.  I don't know....I am just anxious and want to get the show on the road.  I am usually a huge procrastinator, but I been on the ball with this entire process and hate having to rely on other people now to continue the journey.  
All I can do is to keep bugging everyone until all the results are sent in...and believe me, I will!!

Final Test?

Sep 06, 2007

  I had my FINAL pre-op test yesterday!!   I feel like I shouldn't jinx anything....I'm so afraid the sleep study people will call back or the GI doc and say they need more information.  LOL Paranoid here.  BUT, as far as I know, I have finally completed all of my pre-op stuff!!  *WHEW*
Dr. Frezza asks for a lot of tests, that's for sure.   
The manametry test yesterday was very uncomfortable.  The nurse squirted some lydocain in one nostril and had me "snort" it down my throat.  LOL  Then she put a small, flexible tube down that nostril, all the way down to my stomach!  During different points they had me swallow.  It was just weird, then I remembered why I never go to the doctor if I can help it.  LOL
I am going to give Dr. Frezza's office a couple of weeks to get this information together then call and harrass them!     I don't know how long it will take for Presbyterian to decide once his office sends in the surgery request.  I am just so relieved that this part of the long journey is over with.  I'm hoping my weightloss isn't slow, but until I'm restricted I have to be good...and we see how good I have been the past few years.  LOL  Think positive!!

Sleep? Are you kidding?

Sep 01, 2007

Okay....had my sleep study last night.  I worried for nothing, I guess.   It wasn't great, and not something I would sign up for again! (unless I had to) LOL  Good thing is it seems I do not have  sleep apnea.  The therapist showed me the the CPAP machine and put it on me before she ever wired me up from head to toe.  She's required to show me how it works in case she has to come in and put it on me during the night,  UGH, how anyone can sleep with that on is beyond me!  
Just as I was warned by everyone, the goop they put in your hair to hold the wires on your head was pretty gross.  I had to scrub my hair three times this morning with shampoo, and I'm still not convinced I got it all out!  
By the time Friday night rolls around I am pretty dang exhausted and sleep so good.  I feel like I MIGHT have experienced two to three hours of real sleep last night, the rest of the time I was dozing lightly praying I didn't have sleep apnea.  LOL The wires were so annoying....I usually toss and turn a lot, even though I sleep pretty hard, and being constricted just didn't allow me to do that.  I guess the doctor will review all of the data they collected and make a final report.  I'm not sure if they will contact me with more information...I didn't even think to ask before I boogied out of there this morning.  Oh well!   
So, Wednesday I have to have the manametry test done and I should be done with all of my pre-op tests at that point!! 
*whew*  It's been a wild ride so far....I am just crossing my fingers that Dr. Frezza's office will be as prompt on their end,  LMAO  Don't worry....I will ride their butts!!

About Me
Rio Rancho, NM
Location
31.0
BMI
VSG
Surgery
04/03/2012
Surgery Date
Jun 26, 2007
Member Since

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