Downsizing Denise
June & July 2008:
Jul 30, 2008
It's been a busy few months. I was approved for surgery, no problem, and am officially scheduled for September 22, 2008. I had to go see a pulmonologist about my sleep study in June and was then fitted for a wonderful CPAP machine. I had surgery on June 30th to remove the ovarian cyst and also had a D&C. What fun that was! I went last week to see the surgery coordinator (I think that's what her title is). Anyway, it was a little group meeting with two other WLS patients and we went over the pre-op liquid diet, post-op diet, etc. It finally feels like this is really going to happen! I was weighed just before I left and had officially lost 25 lbs - WOOHOO!
Nothing else happens until early September when I go in for an EGD, pre-op stuff in Rochester, another meeting with Dr. D, and then surgery.
I did go see an endocrinologist about a week ago at the request of my GYN. She wanted to know if my hypothyroidism is autoimmune, and it is. From what my GYN says if you have one autoimmune disease then you're likely to develop others. Lucky me. The endo also said that I am on the fast track for diabetes, so it's a good thing I'm having the bypass surgery.
I think I'll schedule a dental visit and eye visit before surgery just to get those outta the way. I am really sick of going to doctors LOL.
Nothing else happens until early September when I go in for an EGD, pre-op stuff in Rochester, another meeting with Dr. D, and then surgery.
I did go see an endocrinologist about a week ago at the request of my GYN. She wanted to know if my hypothyroidism is autoimmune, and it is. From what my GYN says if you have one autoimmune disease then you're likely to develop others. Lucky me. The endo also said that I am on the fast track for diabetes, so it's a good thing I'm having the bypass surgery.
I think I'll schedule a dental visit and eye visit before surgery just to get those outta the way. I am really sick of going to doctors LOL.
05/29/08
Jun 03, 2008
Followup with Dr. DiBenedetto. I am on my way - he is submitting a request for surgery! Yippee!
I told him that my GYN put me on bcps to try and regulate my periods and he wants me off of them 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. He said they cause blood clots and doesn't let his patients take them. He also told me to stop my wonderful Ambien! He got my sleep study report and I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. He said that he'd just been to a seminar that morning about sleep apnea and apparently Ambien is a big no-no. It can cause you to not remember to start breathing again or something...so, sleepless nights here I come. He said that once I get my own CPAP (Oh Joy) I'll sleep just fine.
Okay, okay, I'll use a CPAP. I'll just have to get used to the mask being strapped to my head. I'm more excited about getting scheduled for surgery!!! He said it may not be until September....as soon as I'm approved and officially down 15 lbs he'll schedule me...only 6.5 lbs to go!!!
I told him that my GYN put me on bcps to try and regulate my periods and he wants me off of them 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. He said they cause blood clots and doesn't let his patients take them. He also told me to stop my wonderful Ambien! He got my sleep study report and I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. He said that he'd just been to a seminar that morning about sleep apnea and apparently Ambien is a big no-no. It can cause you to not remember to start breathing again or something...so, sleepless nights here I come. He said that once I get my own CPAP (Oh Joy) I'll sleep just fine.
Okay, okay, I'll use a CPAP. I'll just have to get used to the mask being strapped to my head. I'm more excited about getting scheduled for surgery!!! He said it may not be until September....as soon as I'm approved and officially down 15 lbs he'll schedule me...only 6.5 lbs to go!!!
05/16/08
Jun 03, 2008
Nutritionist appointment: This one was a breeze. I went to Dr. DiBenedetto's office in Rochester, which was the only challenge because I've never been there before. The nutritionist was very sweet and a bit dingy. We basically just went over the do's and don'ts for after surgery, talked a little bit about the presurgery liquid diet, and about my trying to meet the presurgery weight loss requirement. She gave me some paperwork to read, and that was it.
My last requirement is now done! Well, except for the weight loss, but that's in process. I did have blood work done, but that was the most simple thing yet.
My last requirement is now done! Well, except for the weight loss, but that's in process. I did have blood work done, but that was the most simple thing yet.
05/13/08
Jun 03, 2008
Sleep study part 2: All I can say is...torture!
Since I was a return customer I got into "my" room right away, and was hooked up to all of the wonderful wires by about 10:00 or so. Since they make you leave the place by about 5:30 in the morning, and the last time I still felt pretty drugged when I left, I chose to not take the Ambien. Bad choice. They put the oh-so-wonderful CPAP mask on my face, which is akin to a torture device as far as I'm concerned, and I don't believe I slept a wink all night! I must say that some days even putting my hair in a ponytail gives me a headache, so you can just imagine what having a mask strapped to my head for an entire night was like. The tech came in a couple of times and asked me if I was okay? Was I worried about something? There was really nothing she could do, they wanted to know how I'd do with the CPAP, it's not like she could take the vice grip off of my head!
When I left the next morning the tech informed me that I may have to repeat part 2 of the study since I didn't really sleep - NOOOO! Honestly, how do they except you to sleep?
1. I already have insomnia, which is why I take Ambien in the first place.
2. I have a terrible time sleeping in strange places.
3. They have tons of wires attached to you.
4. They then strap a mask to your face.
You're supposed to relax and sleep under these conditions? I think my husband is the only person I know that could sleep under those conditions. Then again, he could probably sleep on the sidewalk in the middle of rush hour in NYC!
If they tell me I have to go back I will. I'll pretty much do anything they ask me to do to have this surgery. Further updates to come....
Since I was a return customer I got into "my" room right away, and was hooked up to all of the wonderful wires by about 10:00 or so. Since they make you leave the place by about 5:30 in the morning, and the last time I still felt pretty drugged when I left, I chose to not take the Ambien. Bad choice. They put the oh-so-wonderful CPAP mask on my face, which is akin to a torture device as far as I'm concerned, and I don't believe I slept a wink all night! I must say that some days even putting my hair in a ponytail gives me a headache, so you can just imagine what having a mask strapped to my head for an entire night was like. The tech came in a couple of times and asked me if I was okay? Was I worried about something? There was really nothing she could do, they wanted to know how I'd do with the CPAP, it's not like she could take the vice grip off of my head!
When I left the next morning the tech informed me that I may have to repeat part 2 of the study since I didn't really sleep - NOOOO! Honestly, how do they except you to sleep?
1. I already have insomnia, which is why I take Ambien in the first place.
2. I have a terrible time sleeping in strange places.
3. They have tons of wires attached to you.
4. They then strap a mask to your face.
You're supposed to relax and sleep under these conditions? I think my husband is the only person I know that could sleep under those conditions. Then again, he could probably sleep on the sidewalk in the middle of rush hour in NYC!
If they tell me I have to go back I will. I'll pretty much do anything they ask me to do to have this surgery. Further updates to come....
The journey so far...
Apr 30, 2008
04/29/08: Sleep study part 1 scheduled. I also had an endometrial biopsy scheduled for this day, which is something I've never had before, so I called and rescheduled the sleep study. Well, the sleep center called me before I left for my GYN appt to say that they had a cancellation and would I like to come in that night for my study? I laughed and told her that she an opening because I had been scheduled that night! I told her about my biopsy and that I'd call her afterward and would come in depending on how I feel.
The biopsy wasn't bad, so I went ahead and scheduled the sleep study. I arrived there at 9, but didn't get all hooked up until almost 11. I was tired, but went ahead and took an Ambien. I remember waking up several times, mainly because the wires were bothering me. The next morning - at about 5 - I heard the tech waking the guy in the room next door up. I was SO TIRED. When she came in to disconnect me she said that I hadn't slept much during the night. She said she'd tried to keep the noise she was making to a minimum, but I still didn't sleep much. Great. I hope that this doesn't mean that I'll have to repeat it. I never sleep well away from home anyway - and to want me to sleep in a strange place with wires stuck to me everywhere - hahaha - ya right.
Okay, hopefully this means my second requirement is at least part-way met.
I'm slowly getting off the weight requirement, it could be better. I have an appt with the nutritionist on 05/16/08. Back to see the doctor on 05/29/08. Whew, it's coming up fast!
04/16/08: Psych appt: I was an absolute nervous wreck about this, not sure why. It went so smoothly! I talked to the psychologist for about 30 minutes; he basically just took a medical history and asked me if I understood what I was getting in to. I had to go back the next day to take the MMPI II and was told that I may not have to come back again, depending on the results.
I wound up not having to go back, so I guess that means I'm sane ;-) One requirement down before my next appt with my surgeon, four more to go.
04/03/08: Saw Dr. DiBenedetto today! He said I'm a great candidate for a lap surgery; we'll discuss which surgery I want (or which is best for me) at a later appt. He gave me his list of requirements to complete before my next appt with him:
1. Psych eval.
2. Sleep study.
3. See nutritionist.
4. Blood work.
5. Lose 15-20 lbs (yuck).
My journey has begun!
03/21/08: Called Dr. DiBenedetto's office and set up my consult appt - April 3rd - WOOHOO!
03/20/08: Attended a seminar put on by Dr. DiBenedetto with my husband, which is a requirement to make your first appt with him. We like him.
The biopsy wasn't bad, so I went ahead and scheduled the sleep study. I arrived there at 9, but didn't get all hooked up until almost 11. I was tired, but went ahead and took an Ambien. I remember waking up several times, mainly because the wires were bothering me. The next morning - at about 5 - I heard the tech waking the guy in the room next door up. I was SO TIRED. When she came in to disconnect me she said that I hadn't slept much during the night. She said she'd tried to keep the noise she was making to a minimum, but I still didn't sleep much. Great. I hope that this doesn't mean that I'll have to repeat it. I never sleep well away from home anyway - and to want me to sleep in a strange place with wires stuck to me everywhere - hahaha - ya right.
Okay, hopefully this means my second requirement is at least part-way met.
I'm slowly getting off the weight requirement, it could be better. I have an appt with the nutritionist on 05/16/08. Back to see the doctor on 05/29/08. Whew, it's coming up fast!
04/16/08: Psych appt: I was an absolute nervous wreck about this, not sure why. It went so smoothly! I talked to the psychologist for about 30 minutes; he basically just took a medical history and asked me if I understood what I was getting in to. I had to go back the next day to take the MMPI II and was told that I may not have to come back again, depending on the results.
I wound up not having to go back, so I guess that means I'm sane ;-) One requirement down before my next appt with my surgeon, four more to go.
04/03/08: Saw Dr. DiBenedetto today! He said I'm a great candidate for a lap surgery; we'll discuss which surgery I want (or which is best for me) at a later appt. He gave me his list of requirements to complete before my next appt with him:
1. Psych eval.
2. Sleep study.
3. See nutritionist.
4. Blood work.
5. Lose 15-20 lbs (yuck).
My journey has begun!
03/21/08: Called Dr. DiBenedetto's office and set up my consult appt - April 3rd - WOOHOO!
03/20/08: Attended a seminar put on by Dr. DiBenedetto with my husband, which is a requirement to make your first appt with him. We like him.
