Hi! My name is Meg. I'm from the peach state. I have been a registered nurse since 1992 and I'm currently manager of my department Vascular and Interventional Radiology. I'm scheduled for sugery March 8th. I am busy preparing for everything--I feel like there is so much to do!! Sometimes it seems like it's taking forever--other times it seems like it is going soooo fast. I am sooo excited . I cannot wait to be thin! My favorite saying has become "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels!" That is going to be my motto! I have four children--two are still young 7 and 10. Any suggestions for them in explaining my hospitalization and recovery? Would love to be able to ease their concerns. Thanks for all of your support, comments, suggestions and prayers. Huggggs! Meg

Thanks Pam! I am okay with the postponement now. I have been using the CPAP and can't really tell a difference (no change in daytime sleepiness, still wake up feeling tired), but my boyfriend is getting a good night sleep without me snoring! By this time next week the surgery will be over and I will have walked in the halls! Cris

I am sorry to hear you were rescheduled. It is horrible to keep waiting, and the money stinks too! Just wanted to put in a thought though. My friend had the bypass surgery in September (she is an RN too). She did not even know she had any sleep apnea, and answered all "no" on the questions for sleep stuff- she truly has never had a problem. She ended up in the ICU for 3 days post op with respiratory distress, much to her surprise and the doctors dismay! She went home on CPAP, but has lost about 85 pounds now and doesn't use it ( she only used it for about 2 weeks after she went home). She still doesn't believe she needed it when she was discharged, so what it was all about I have no clue???? So maybe, when she was under the stress after the surgery, she had the problem? I just know they are getting more and more serious about it. Good luck and God bless! Whatever you go through, it is worth it....I don't regret a minute...it is truly a new life

Well that sucks, if your pulse ox doesn't drop before 90, I didn't think you needed a CPAP. Check with your surgeons office, maybe he misread the report. It is just a minor set back but an expensive one if your insurance won't cover the machine. Hang in there and good luck. Janice

Well, here is kind of an abbreviated answer to how I did it. I kind of fell into it. I was being supplied by an occ health person to a company and the occ health person (like an agency) took a cut off of what I was making. That company moved to California and I was left in Ohio. The logistics got to be a problem, I was not having my CEU's reimbursed, ect, so I am supplying my services on my own! I do case management for workman's comp and return to work. Also, I keep their medical files, contract for medical surveillance, ect. I do health referrals too, and find doctors and services that they may need. I also participate on the ergonomics and safety teams. I was doing that, word got around and another company's doctor requested that I do their onsite blood draws for lead, respiratory testing, and pre-employment physicals. So now I work with him, for the company directly and am paid directly from the company (self-employed). I am considered a contractor. Right now I work 3 days a week - I am not looking for more right now ( I have kids) - I was offered another company for one day, but declined. It is really cool, I like working with mostly healthy people and feel I can make a difference in preventative care you know? I sure get a lot of questions at the first job, because they have seen my weight loss. They are very impressed that I made that commitment for my future health. Hope this answers, I know it sounded strange for a nurse to be self-employed but it is happening out there~yeah!