Got a call from Susan yesterday. She told me to actually STOP taking the B Complex for a few days. Seems now my B1 level is high. I guess the double doses I had been taking did the job. So that was the last little hurdle to get over for surgery.
I go in next Monday, the 5th of November for pre-op.
I am so ready to get this done and get healed up so I can be a loser!!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
It's Official !!
Got a call from Susan today. She heard back from the insurance company and everything went through and is approved. I am officially a go for November 9th.
The Cardiologist went just fine on Tuesday. I went in, doc asked me some questions, then had the nurse hook me up and do a short EKG. Then he came back in the room and listened to the ol' ticker. He said he thought I would be fine, told me I was cleared for surgery and wished me good luck.
On Monday I went to the hospital and visited with the vampire. She drew blood to do the work up and check my B1. Oh, and she was DAMN good. She didn't even bother with the, "Gonna feel a little poke here". She just did it, and I didn't feel a damn thing. Others lately have had a time getting blood from me, but she hit it right off and boom, boom, boom, filled three little vials and was done. Anyway, still don't have the results from that yet, but I think that even if my B1 is still a little low, they will just add a drip to my IV when I have surgery.
The Cardiologist went just fine on Tuesday. I went in, doc asked me some questions, then had the nurse hook me up and do a short EKG. Then he came back in the room and listened to the ol' ticker. He said he thought I would be fine, told me I was cleared for surgery and wished me good luck.
On Monday I went to the hospital and visited with the vampire. She drew blood to do the work up and check my B1. Oh, and she was DAMN good. She didn't even bother with the, "Gonna feel a little poke here". She just did it, and I didn't feel a damn thing. Others lately have had a time getting blood from me, but she hit it right off and boom, boom, boom, filled three little vials and was done. Anyway, still don't have the results from that yet, but I think that even if my B1 is still a little low, they will just add a drip to my IV when I have surgery.
Monday, October 22, 2007
More appointments
So, I now have an appointment for a Cardio consultation with a Dr. Bream on Tuesday, October 22. Not sure if I will need another after this, but I am hoping this will be the only one I need and I can get clearance that will satisfy the insurance company.
Then on Thursday, October 25th I have an appointment to get a new CPAP machine. The doctor wrote me a prescription for a new type machine. I am hoping it is easier for me to use and keep on all night.
Then on Monday, November 5th, I have a pre-op visit with Dr. Read. So now I am just hoping all this other stuff falls in line so we are able to go for the November 9th surgery date.
To add to the madness of this next couple weeks, I need to get the FMLA paperwork back from Dr. Read and get it turned in at work. I need to make a run to the hospital and get the bloodwork done again to check my vitamin B1 level. Oh, and I am working on a web site for some friends, and would like to have it done and up and running before surgery so I don't have to mess with it afterwards.
Then on Thursday, October 25th I have an appointment to get a new CPAP machine. The doctor wrote me a prescription for a new type machine. I am hoping it is easier for me to use and keep on all night.
Then on Monday, November 5th, I have a pre-op visit with Dr. Read. So now I am just hoping all this other stuff falls in line so we are able to go for the November 9th surgery date.
To add to the madness of this next couple weeks, I need to get the FMLA paperwork back from Dr. Read and get it turned in at work. I need to make a run to the hospital and get the bloodwork done again to check my vitamin B1 level. Oh, and I am working on a web site for some friends, and would like to have it done and up and running before surgery so I don't have to mess with it afterwards.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Insurance demands...
I got a call from Susan yesterday. The insurance had already contacted her and they want me to have a cardio consultation before they will approve me for surgery.
It seems when I went to the sleep lab for the sleep test, I had a number of instances of an irregular heart rate. The doctor made a note of it in the report, so they want me to get the ol' ticker checked now. I will be trying to call them this morning to try to get an expedited appointment so we can keep the surgery date.
The good news is they contacted her just the day after she turned in the packet. So I think if all looks ok with the cardio, and the blood test shows my B1 is adequate, I should be good to go for the November 9th surgery date.
It seems when I went to the sleep lab for the sleep test, I had a number of instances of an irregular heart rate. The doctor made a note of it in the report, so they want me to get the ol' ticker checked now. I will be trying to call them this morning to try to get an expedited appointment so we can keep the surgery date.
The good news is they contacted her just the day after she turned in the packet. So I think if all looks ok with the cardio, and the blood test shows my B1 is adequate, I should be good to go for the November 9th surgery date.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Good news and GREAT news...
Good news is, I tried on a pair of BDU's I got for work about 5 months ago. When I first got them they fit too tight to wear comfortably. Now, although they are still a little tight, I can wear them!
The GREAT news is Susan just called me. I have a tentative date to have surgery on November 9th. As long as they get the approval from the insurance (and we assume they will) I will be having the surgery in just a little over 3 weeks.
I'm so excited, I don't even know what to say at this point.
The GREAT news is Susan just called me. I have a tentative date to have surgery on November 9th. As long as they get the approval from the insurance (and we assume they will) I will be having the surgery in just a little over 3 weeks.
I'm so excited, I don't even know what to say at this point.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Last weigh in
I went over today and weighed in at the bariatric office.
I am officially done with all the things I have to do to have surgery. I had to lose 5% of my weight, and I hit that goal today. I lost 8 pounds since I weighed in last week!!
(In case you are curious, I am a slim 411 lbs. now)
Bobbie told me Susan is out of the office until Tuesday next week, and when she gets back she will call and probably set a tentative date for surgery. She will get the packet sent to the insurance for approval. She said my insurance is usually pretty good and we will most likely get an answer back from them within 2 weeks. Then a blood test to make sure my vitamin B1 level has come up sufficiently and I am good to go.
I will post again next week after I talk to Susan.
I am officially done with all the things I have to do to have surgery. I had to lose 5% of my weight, and I hit that goal today. I lost 8 pounds since I weighed in last week!!
(In case you are curious, I am a slim 411 lbs. now)
Bobbie told me Susan is out of the office until Tuesday next week, and when she gets back she will call and probably set a tentative date for surgery. She will get the packet sent to the insurance for approval. She said my insurance is usually pretty good and we will most likely get an answer back from them within 2 weeks. Then a blood test to make sure my vitamin B1 level has come up sufficiently and I am good to go.
I will post again next week after I talk to Susan.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Getting Close...
The back surgery seems to have been a success. I have not had any sciatic pain down my back and leg since the surgery. It is SO nice to not have that pain all the time.
I also had to go to the sleep lab and have a sleep study done. Well, big surprise, it turns out I have sleep apnea. So I now have a CPAP machine I use when I sleep to help keep my airway open so I sleep better. I have had it for several weeks now, and I am still trying to get used to it. I have a tendency to pull it off part way through the night. It seems to dry my throat out or make my sinuses stuffed up. Oh well, hopefully I will be having the WLS soon and the sleep apnea will go away as I lose weight.
I met with Dr. Read on September 17th. It was a good meeting and just re-affirmed my first impression of him. He is a down to earth, honestly nice guy that cares. So many surgeons (at least the ones I have known) have a varying degree of "God Complex". They seem to be so detached and uninterested in you other than doing the job and moving on.
Dr. Read is NOT one of these. We talked about my reasons for wanting the surgery, and if I was prepared to do the things that I will have to do afterward to make it a success. I have given this a lot of thought and the answer is a resounding YES! I am so tired of always being tired.
The day I saw Dr. Read I also had blood drawn for some tests. I got a call from Susan last week telling me my B1 vitamin level was way to low. So now on top of taking a one-a-day vitamin and calcium tablets, I have to cram a vitamin B complex for the next 3 to 4 weeks to get the levels up before they will do surgery.
The Psychologist has finished and sent her report in. I am getting very close to getting a date. I have not been serious enough at losing the weight I need to. I have continued to lose, but very slowly. As of last week, I still need to lose another 6 pounds. That is basically all I need to do at this point, so this next week I will be seriously working on getting those last few pounds off.
Once I get those last 6 pounds off, my packet will get sent off to the insurance company for approval. I don't think this is going to be an issue. I think once I do that we will actually schedule a surgery date, pending getting my vitamin B1 up where it needs to be.
I am getting pretty excited now. This means within the next 6 weeks or so, I could be going in and having something done that will change my life. I will be posting more as things progress...
I also had to go to the sleep lab and have a sleep study done. Well, big surprise, it turns out I have sleep apnea. So I now have a CPAP machine I use when I sleep to help keep my airway open so I sleep better. I have had it for several weeks now, and I am still trying to get used to it. I have a tendency to pull it off part way through the night. It seems to dry my throat out or make my sinuses stuffed up. Oh well, hopefully I will be having the WLS soon and the sleep apnea will go away as I lose weight.
I met with Dr. Read on September 17th. It was a good meeting and just re-affirmed my first impression of him. He is a down to earth, honestly nice guy that cares. So many surgeons (at least the ones I have known) have a varying degree of "God Complex". They seem to be so detached and uninterested in you other than doing the job and moving on.
Dr. Read is NOT one of these. We talked about my reasons for wanting the surgery, and if I was prepared to do the things that I will have to do afterward to make it a success. I have given this a lot of thought and the answer is a resounding YES! I am so tired of always being tired.
The day I saw Dr. Read I also had blood drawn for some tests. I got a call from Susan last week telling me my B1 vitamin level was way to low. So now on top of taking a one-a-day vitamin and calcium tablets, I have to cram a vitamin B complex for the next 3 to 4 weeks to get the levels up before they will do surgery.
The Psychologist has finished and sent her report in. I am getting very close to getting a date. I have not been serious enough at losing the weight I need to. I have continued to lose, but very slowly. As of last week, I still need to lose another 6 pounds. That is basically all I need to do at this point, so this next week I will be seriously working on getting those last few pounds off.
Once I get those last 6 pounds off, my packet will get sent off to the insurance company for approval. I don't think this is going to be an issue. I think once I do that we will actually schedule a surgery date, pending getting my vitamin B1 up where it needs to be.
I am getting pretty excited now. This means within the next 6 weeks or so, I could be going in and having something done that will change my life. I will be posting more as things progress...
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