cherron
Scared to Death
Jul 28, 2008
4/20/05
Well, I've been on this site for about 2 weeks, researching, reading, checking things out. I finally got the courage to post something. I just wanted to say that this is a really supportive website. I don't know anyone on here and you've treated me like I was your best friend, you don't know how much I appreciate that. I am scared out of my mind and thanks to you guys, I know that is normal. I am still in the researching and deciding stage. Although I have set an appointment with my PCP for May 4 to get the ball rolling. I guess my biggest fear is not making it through the surgery, although I'm the healthiest person I know and I've never had any type of major surgery. I just want to make sure I'll make it back to my beautiful 13 year old son and my gorgeous 16 month old baby daughter. I would do nothing, absolutely nothing, to jeopardize my life for their sakes. But I need to get healthy, even though I don't have any major health problems, I do realize that in a couple of years if I don't start taking care of my health now, it will decline rapidly. I want to take my baby's to Sea World and actually ride the rides with them!! My husband is also very supportive. He's behind me 200% in everything I do and I know he's going to take very good care of me (secretly hoping to change his eating habits during this as well...lol). Thank you sooooo much everyone for all your support. Till next time. Good Luck everyone!! XOXOXOXO
4/28/05
May 4th is getting closer and closer. I'm getting really anxious to find out what is going to happen.I emailed the surgeon's office that I want to use and asked a couple of questions. Can you believe the surgeon emailed me back himself and within 2 days. I couldn't believe it. Just trying to get all my T's crossed and I's dotted. Trying to make sure my insurance will pay for as much of everything that I can get them too. Well off for now. XOXOXOXO
5/4/05
Okay, everyone. Back from my appointment. My doctor is going to give me the referral to see the surgeon...YEAH!! She wanted to make sure I knew the risks, the pros and cons of the surgery, that this will be a major lifestyle change, etc etc etc. She wanted me to go to Saint Francis, but I think my insurance will only cover Baptist. I'm looking forward to getting started and moving on to the loser side. Talk to ya later. XOXOXOXO
5/7/05
Can you believe I got my referral today. I've been showing it off every since. I'm so excited. I found out the other day that I have two surgeons that I can choose from. I'm going to get my husband and sister to go to Dr. Woodman's seminar (May 16)so we can decide between him and Dr. Madan. My sister and I went to his seminar on March 31. Dr. Madan is having another one on May 10th, I'm going to ask my husband to go to that one with me also. That way I have another person to help make the decision on the surgeon. He may get some things out of the seminar that I didn't. XOXOXOXO
5/10/05
Can you believe my husband is actually going to go to Dr. Madan's seminar with me today? I have to work from 8am - 6:30pm and then the seminar starts at 6:30pm, we should get there about 6:50. I am excited. I know my husband said he is supporting me 200%, but it is hard to get him out of the house and to go somewhere. So that is why I can't believe he is actually going with me. I'm so proud of him. He is also going to quit smoking with me before surgery. I did make sure he understood that once I quit I hopefully (never say never) will never pick that habit back up. If I have to quit I might as well quit for good. So we'll see how that goes. Well off for now. XOXOXOXO
5/20/05
Hello all!! Well went to Dr. Madan's seminar on the 10th. Very good and very informative. My husband and I did meet him after the seminar and asked a couple of questions. We also went to another seminar on May 16th to meet with Dr. Woodman. My sister went also. She is going to have the surgery with me. We can't wait!! Anyway, Dr. Woodman is very informed about what he is doing, however, I got the impression that his specialty was only the lap band. Also, at the end of his seminar he acted as if he really didn't have time to answer questions. I mean he would answer them but the whole while he was packing up his laptop, walking around, and I don't think he actually looked anyone in the eyes while he answered questions. I didn't trust that too much. Soooo, my sister and I have decided that we are going to have the gastric bypass and we are going to let Dr. Madan do the surgeries. WONDERFUL!! So that's about it for now...my honey has been out of town all week and I'm am wore out with this 16 month old little girl...lol. She's my sweetie and so is my 13 year old little man that asks for everything under the sun. Well, I just wanted to drop a few lines to let everyone know how everything is going over here. So I'll talk to everyone later. XOXOXOXO
7/11/05
I am getting so frustrated that I don't know what to do. My PCP seems like she doesn't know what the hell is going on and it is really bothering me. Every time I try to take one step forward it seems as if I'm being pushed two steps back. My OB-GYN is going to write a letter for me and send all my paperwork from their office. My PCP couldn't find a nutritionist for me to see so, I found one on my own. Now let's hope my insurance will pay for it. My sister and I were thinking about Weight Watchers, just found out they are a little high. So we are going to look into a gym here called Hope and Healing. They have a registered dietitian and physicians that put you on an exercise program and it's according to your income. So that might be feasible. I'm just trying to push forward. I guess I have to keep in mind that when it's my time it will be my time. No sooner or later than when God says so. I'm just soooo tired of dealing with all this weight on me. I'm getting to where it's hard to move around, I don't want to do anything, I can barely walk. Today my leg is hurting sooo bad. From my calf muscle to my hip bone is killing me. Anyway, enough sobbing. I'm waiting on my PCP to get back with me so I can start this 6 month diet and exercise. Talk to you guys later. XOXOXOXO
12/13/05
Oh my goodness. I can't believe it has been this long since I have posted. Well, no surgery yet. But I have definitely started the ball rolling.
My sister and I have had our consults with the surgeon, Dr. Madan, November 18, 2005. That appointment literally took almost all day long. We got there at 8 am and signed in. They called each of us to the window individually. At the window we turned in our paperwork and payed our fees for the doctor, nutritionist and the psychologist. Once everyone was done we were all sent to a conference room for a meeting. A case manager went over a few things with us. Then the nutritionist came in and went over some things. Then one of the surgeons came in a discussed both the lap band and rny surgeries and answered any questions. Then we were called one by one into a room, they took our weight, height, blood pressure and then put us in a room individually. The nutritionist came in and she and I talked about nutrition stuff. I went to sleep after that seeing it was two hours before the surgeon came in. Dr. Madan himself saw me. We talked about the surgery I wanted and if I had any questions. I asked him if he would be able to do it lap or open. He said all his surgeries are done lap, only in an extreme emergency would he open me. (sigh) He told me not to gain anymore weight and he would see me when it got closer to time. Then my appointment was over. My sister saw the nutritionist and then another doctor we had never seen before talked to her. Then becuase of her insurance she was able to go downstairs and go ahead and take her EKG. Then she came back up and waited on the psychologist, their psychologist wasn't in my network so I couldn't see her. By the time my sister finished seeing her it was almost 4 pm. During the appointment we were given a sheet that has all the tests we have to have before we can have surgery:
REQUIRED BY ALL PATIENTS TO GET INSURANCE AUTHORIZATION:
Nutritional Evaluation
Pshychological Evaluation (by M.D. or Ph.D. in psychology)
PCP (Primary Care Physician) Support Letter
Medical Records with detailed diety history
REQUIRED BY ALL PATIENTS:
EKG
Chest X-Ray
Medical Clearance for surgery written by your PCP
EGD
REQUIRED FOR ALL GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS:
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
Arterial Blood Gases (ABG)
3 Hour Glucose Tolerance Test (ONLY FOR NON-DIABETICS)
ADDITIONAL WORKUP FOR YOU (INDIVIDUALLY-he chooses)
Abdominal Ultrasound
Stress Test
Echocardiogram
Cardiac Consultation w/ written letter for surgical clearance
Sleep Study
Pulmonary Consultation w/ written letter for surgical clearance
Other
On November 29 I had my appointment with my PCP to get the 6 month diet started. I should have been done with this but because my PCP sent me to the hope and healing for the 12 week program and she didn't start the 6 month program herself I have to start from the beginning. The 12 week program won't work anymore because my insurance is changing in January and the new insurance won't accept the 12 week program. So my first month's diet with my PCP was on November 29. We talked about everything that is going on and I gave her the papers that Dr. Madan's office gave me to make sure she puts everything that is going to be needed for approval into my file, like weight, height, comorbidities etc. And I also gave them the paper for all the test that I need so they can get all my referrals together.
Dr. Madan's office set up my sleep study test. I went on December 2, 2005 to have an initial consult. They explained everything about sleep apnea, the three types of treatments (CPAP being the main one), how to use the machine and the mask, checked me out and prescribed me some medicine for sinuses and just talked and talked. Then he sent me to the sleep study area (down the hall) to make an appointment for my sleep study. I was supposed to have had it on December 4. I drove 20 miles from my home to have this study and they hadn't received the referral yet and no one had called me to let me know not to come. Anyway, it was finally set up for December 9, 2005 at 9 pm. I got there and signed in at the ER then I was sent to the sleep study floor. When you walk in the door a clip board has your initials and your room number. You sign in and go to your room. There was a survey on the bed for me to fill out, I filled it out and started reading my book. Then a guy walked in and welcomed me and took the survey, introduced himself and said he would be back shortly. He came back about 10 minutes later and asked if I was ready for bed, yeah. So we went out in the hall and he started hooking all this stuff to me. A sensor on each leg, two sensors on the chest, six in the head, one behind each ear, 2 on the chin, 2 on the forehead, one beside each eye, a belt around my waist with a sensor, a belt around my chest with a sensor and a nose piece thing to determine if I breathe through my nose or mouth. My bed time was at 11 pm. He wrapped the wires and the box it was attached to around my shoulders and sent me to my room. He came in and said it was time for bed. I asked if I could read he said no. So I wasn't sleepy and just kind of laid there. I remember drifting to sleep off and on but never for long. Then the machine on the night stand came on and scared the hell out of me and Wally (the attendant) walked in and told me he was going to put the CPAP on me. Well that was definitely an experience. I felt as though it was suffocating me and crushing my nose. I pulled the mask off twice, they have a camera and speaker so they can see and hear you, and he wanted to know why I had the mask off. Finally after a while, I asked him if he would come in and readjust the mask it was very uncomfortable. After he came in and adjusted it I made myself calm down and breathe only through my nose. I closed my eyes and told myself to think of other things and once I was asleep it would be morning before I know it. The next thing I know Wally was telling me it was time to wake up. He came in and took all the wires off of me and I filled out another survey and put the number I wanted the doctor to call me at on the survey. When I left it was 6:15 in the morning. The doctor called the next day to tell me about my study. I have moderate snoring, everytime I moved a leg I woke myself up, I have mild to moderate sleep apnea which means I have to have a CPAP machine, he said that if I lost 50-60 pounds I wouldn't have to use the CPAP anymore (yeah), that thing was awful. So I have an appointment on December 15 at 9 am to go pick my machine up. (Woo Hoo {sarcastic})
I have my appointment for the psychologist on December 20, 2005 at noon. I'll let you know how that turns out after I have it.
I'll keep you guys updated. XOXOXOXO
02/26/2008
I haven't had surgery. My sister did have surgery in January 2007. She died May 3, 2007 due to complications. I still haven't come to terms with it. She was not only my sister, she was my best friend.
07/28/2008
I still have not come to accept my sister's death. I miss her so much.
02/16/2009
Still scared to death about this surgery. But I'm slowly coming around...I'm showing a little interest in the lap band. I still haven't come to terms with my sister's death due to the rny and it's taking me awhile to venture out. I have come to terms that I will never have the rny version. My sister's 39th birthday just passed 7 days ago and her 2 year homecoming anniversary will be in 3 months. LOVE YA SIS!
0 comments
Well, I've been on this site for about 2 weeks, researching, reading, checking things out. I finally got the courage to post something. I just wanted to say that this is a really supportive website. I don't know anyone on here and you've treated me like I was your best friend, you don't know how much I appreciate that. I am scared out of my mind and thanks to you guys, I know that is normal. I am still in the researching and deciding stage. Although I have set an appointment with my PCP for May 4 to get the ball rolling. I guess my biggest fear is not making it through the surgery, although I'm the healthiest person I know and I've never had any type of major surgery. I just want to make sure I'll make it back to my beautiful 13 year old son and my gorgeous 16 month old baby daughter. I would do nothing, absolutely nothing, to jeopardize my life for their sakes. But I need to get healthy, even though I don't have any major health problems, I do realize that in a couple of years if I don't start taking care of my health now, it will decline rapidly. I want to take my baby's to Sea World and actually ride the rides with them!! My husband is also very supportive. He's behind me 200% in everything I do and I know he's going to take very good care of me (secretly hoping to change his eating habits during this as well...lol). Thank you sooooo much everyone for all your support. Till next time. Good Luck everyone!! XOXOXOXO
4/28/05
May 4th is getting closer and closer. I'm getting really anxious to find out what is going to happen.I emailed the surgeon's office that I want to use and asked a couple of questions. Can you believe the surgeon emailed me back himself and within 2 days. I couldn't believe it. Just trying to get all my T's crossed and I's dotted. Trying to make sure my insurance will pay for as much of everything that I can get them too. Well off for now. XOXOXOXO
5/4/05
Okay, everyone. Back from my appointment. My doctor is going to give me the referral to see the surgeon...YEAH!! She wanted to make sure I knew the risks, the pros and cons of the surgery, that this will be a major lifestyle change, etc etc etc. She wanted me to go to Saint Francis, but I think my insurance will only cover Baptist. I'm looking forward to getting started and moving on to the loser side. Talk to ya later. XOXOXOXO
5/7/05
Can you believe I got my referral today. I've been showing it off every since. I'm so excited. I found out the other day that I have two surgeons that I can choose from. I'm going to get my husband and sister to go to Dr. Woodman's seminar (May 16)so we can decide between him and Dr. Madan. My sister and I went to his seminar on March 31. Dr. Madan is having another one on May 10th, I'm going to ask my husband to go to that one with me also. That way I have another person to help make the decision on the surgeon. He may get some things out of the seminar that I didn't. XOXOXOXO
5/10/05
Can you believe my husband is actually going to go to Dr. Madan's seminar with me today? I have to work from 8am - 6:30pm and then the seminar starts at 6:30pm, we should get there about 6:50. I am excited. I know my husband said he is supporting me 200%, but it is hard to get him out of the house and to go somewhere. So that is why I can't believe he is actually going with me. I'm so proud of him. He is also going to quit smoking with me before surgery. I did make sure he understood that once I quit I hopefully (never say never) will never pick that habit back up. If I have to quit I might as well quit for good. So we'll see how that goes. Well off for now. XOXOXOXO
5/20/05
Hello all!! Well went to Dr. Madan's seminar on the 10th. Very good and very informative. My husband and I did meet him after the seminar and asked a couple of questions. We also went to another seminar on May 16th to meet with Dr. Woodman. My sister went also. She is going to have the surgery with me. We can't wait!! Anyway, Dr. Woodman is very informed about what he is doing, however, I got the impression that his specialty was only the lap band. Also, at the end of his seminar he acted as if he really didn't have time to answer questions. I mean he would answer them but the whole while he was packing up his laptop, walking around, and I don't think he actually looked anyone in the eyes while he answered questions. I didn't trust that too much. Soooo, my sister and I have decided that we are going to have the gastric bypass and we are going to let Dr. Madan do the surgeries. WONDERFUL!! So that's about it for now...my honey has been out of town all week and I'm am wore out with this 16 month old little girl...lol. She's my sweetie and so is my 13 year old little man that asks for everything under the sun. Well, I just wanted to drop a few lines to let everyone know how everything is going over here. So I'll talk to everyone later. XOXOXOXO
7/11/05
I am getting so frustrated that I don't know what to do. My PCP seems like she doesn't know what the hell is going on and it is really bothering me. Every time I try to take one step forward it seems as if I'm being pushed two steps back. My OB-GYN is going to write a letter for me and send all my paperwork from their office. My PCP couldn't find a nutritionist for me to see so, I found one on my own. Now let's hope my insurance will pay for it. My sister and I were thinking about Weight Watchers, just found out they are a little high. So we are going to look into a gym here called Hope and Healing. They have a registered dietitian and physicians that put you on an exercise program and it's according to your income. So that might be feasible. I'm just trying to push forward. I guess I have to keep in mind that when it's my time it will be my time. No sooner or later than when God says so. I'm just soooo tired of dealing with all this weight on me. I'm getting to where it's hard to move around, I don't want to do anything, I can barely walk. Today my leg is hurting sooo bad. From my calf muscle to my hip bone is killing me. Anyway, enough sobbing. I'm waiting on my PCP to get back with me so I can start this 6 month diet and exercise. Talk to you guys later. XOXOXOXO
12/13/05
Oh my goodness. I can't believe it has been this long since I have posted. Well, no surgery yet. But I have definitely started the ball rolling.
My sister and I have had our consults with the surgeon, Dr. Madan, November 18, 2005. That appointment literally took almost all day long. We got there at 8 am and signed in. They called each of us to the window individually. At the window we turned in our paperwork and payed our fees for the doctor, nutritionist and the psychologist. Once everyone was done we were all sent to a conference room for a meeting. A case manager went over a few things with us. Then the nutritionist came in and went over some things. Then one of the surgeons came in a discussed both the lap band and rny surgeries and answered any questions. Then we were called one by one into a room, they took our weight, height, blood pressure and then put us in a room individually. The nutritionist came in and she and I talked about nutrition stuff. I went to sleep after that seeing it was two hours before the surgeon came in. Dr. Madan himself saw me. We talked about the surgery I wanted and if I had any questions. I asked him if he would be able to do it lap or open. He said all his surgeries are done lap, only in an extreme emergency would he open me. (sigh) He told me not to gain anymore weight and he would see me when it got closer to time. Then my appointment was over. My sister saw the nutritionist and then another doctor we had never seen before talked to her. Then becuase of her insurance she was able to go downstairs and go ahead and take her EKG. Then she came back up and waited on the psychologist, their psychologist wasn't in my network so I couldn't see her. By the time my sister finished seeing her it was almost 4 pm. During the appointment we were given a sheet that has all the tests we have to have before we can have surgery:
REQUIRED BY ALL PATIENTS TO GET INSURANCE AUTHORIZATION:
Nutritional Evaluation
Pshychological Evaluation (by M.D. or Ph.D. in psychology)
PCP (Primary Care Physician) Support Letter
Medical Records with detailed diety history
REQUIRED BY ALL PATIENTS:
EKG
Chest X-Ray
Medical Clearance for surgery written by your PCP
EGD
REQUIRED FOR ALL GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS:
Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
Arterial Blood Gases (ABG)
3 Hour Glucose Tolerance Test (ONLY FOR NON-DIABETICS)
ADDITIONAL WORKUP FOR YOU (INDIVIDUALLY-he chooses)
Abdominal Ultrasound
Stress Test
Echocardiogram
Cardiac Consultation w/ written letter for surgical clearance
Sleep Study
Pulmonary Consultation w/ written letter for surgical clearance
Other
On November 29 I had my appointment with my PCP to get the 6 month diet started. I should have been done with this but because my PCP sent me to the hope and healing for the 12 week program and she didn't start the 6 month program herself I have to start from the beginning. The 12 week program won't work anymore because my insurance is changing in January and the new insurance won't accept the 12 week program. So my first month's diet with my PCP was on November 29. We talked about everything that is going on and I gave her the papers that Dr. Madan's office gave me to make sure she puts everything that is going to be needed for approval into my file, like weight, height, comorbidities etc. And I also gave them the paper for all the test that I need so they can get all my referrals together.
Dr. Madan's office set up my sleep study test. I went on December 2, 2005 to have an initial consult. They explained everything about sleep apnea, the three types of treatments (CPAP being the main one), how to use the machine and the mask, checked me out and prescribed me some medicine for sinuses and just talked and talked. Then he sent me to the sleep study area (down the hall) to make an appointment for my sleep study. I was supposed to have had it on December 4. I drove 20 miles from my home to have this study and they hadn't received the referral yet and no one had called me to let me know not to come. Anyway, it was finally set up for December 9, 2005 at 9 pm. I got there and signed in at the ER then I was sent to the sleep study floor. When you walk in the door a clip board has your initials and your room number. You sign in and go to your room. There was a survey on the bed for me to fill out, I filled it out and started reading my book. Then a guy walked in and welcomed me and took the survey, introduced himself and said he would be back shortly. He came back about 10 minutes later and asked if I was ready for bed, yeah. So we went out in the hall and he started hooking all this stuff to me. A sensor on each leg, two sensors on the chest, six in the head, one behind each ear, 2 on the chin, 2 on the forehead, one beside each eye, a belt around my waist with a sensor, a belt around my chest with a sensor and a nose piece thing to determine if I breathe through my nose or mouth. My bed time was at 11 pm. He wrapped the wires and the box it was attached to around my shoulders and sent me to my room. He came in and said it was time for bed. I asked if I could read he said no. So I wasn't sleepy and just kind of laid there. I remember drifting to sleep off and on but never for long. Then the machine on the night stand came on and scared the hell out of me and Wally (the attendant) walked in and told me he was going to put the CPAP on me. Well that was definitely an experience. I felt as though it was suffocating me and crushing my nose. I pulled the mask off twice, they have a camera and speaker so they can see and hear you, and he wanted to know why I had the mask off. Finally after a while, I asked him if he would come in and readjust the mask it was very uncomfortable. After he came in and adjusted it I made myself calm down and breathe only through my nose. I closed my eyes and told myself to think of other things and once I was asleep it would be morning before I know it. The next thing I know Wally was telling me it was time to wake up. He came in and took all the wires off of me and I filled out another survey and put the number I wanted the doctor to call me at on the survey. When I left it was 6:15 in the morning. The doctor called the next day to tell me about my study. I have moderate snoring, everytime I moved a leg I woke myself up, I have mild to moderate sleep apnea which means I have to have a CPAP machine, he said that if I lost 50-60 pounds I wouldn't have to use the CPAP anymore (yeah), that thing was awful. So I have an appointment on December 15 at 9 am to go pick my machine up. (Woo Hoo {sarcastic})
I have my appointment for the psychologist on December 20, 2005 at noon. I'll let you know how that turns out after I have it.
I'll keep you guys updated. XOXOXOXO
02/26/2008
I haven't had surgery. My sister did have surgery in January 2007. She died May 3, 2007 due to complications. I still haven't come to terms with it. She was not only my sister, she was my best friend.
07/28/2008
I still have not come to accept my sister's death. I miss her so much.
02/16/2009
Still scared to death about this surgery. But I'm slowly coming around...I'm showing a little interest in the lap band. I still haven't come to terms with my sister's death due to the rny and it's taking me awhile to venture out. I have come to terms that I will never have the rny version. My sister's 39th birthday just passed 7 days ago and her 2 year homecoming anniversary will be in 3 months. LOVE YA SIS!