Lorea J.

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I have not updated in a little while, so here ya go!

I went last Friday and had the first night of my sleep study. Boy what an experience! I never imagined that it could be so bad. I was under the impression that I would just go, get hooked up to a bunch of wires and then sleep a normal night of sleep. I WAS WRONG!!! Oh my gosh, that was the WORST night of my life. I tossed and turned and huffed and puffed all night long trying to make myself go to sleep. The one time that I actually felt like I was about to doze off into lala land the nurse came in and woke me up by the squeeky door so that she could fix a wire that had come undone. I honestly do not think that I slept any. I came home Saturday morning and went to sleep for about 3 hours and then got up and took my mom shopping. Saturday night I went back for my second night. I was hooked to all the wires once again and she "introduced" me to the cpap mask. I had a little trouble with wearing the mask, took it off once in the night, but all in all it was a much better night than the night before. I actually slept Saturday night....still not enough though! I came home Sunday morning and slept for about 4 hours and then got up to start my day. Sunday night and Monday night were 2 of the best nights of my life. I slept through except for a couple of times to turn because my back was hurting.

I think my cpap machine is going to be my new best friend. I sleep so much better and can already tell a difference. I have not been experiencing the sleepy spells throughout the day and I actually feel rested in the morning.

I went today for my follow-up with my PCP. She stated that she would go ahead and write my letter of clearance. Thursday I get to have my EGD. October 15 I go back to the pulmonologist for a follow-up from my sleep study and to get his letter of clearance then I get to go back to Dr. Ramos (my surgeon).

All I can manage to say at this moment is WOW!! If you read my last blog most likely you probably got a little disappointed yourself, everyone I have told my experience to says that they would have threw a real big fit if they had been treated that way. Well.....I was speaking with one of the ladies that was scheduled with my sister and I on Thursday yesterday morning; we were discussing what all happened and how upset we were. When I went to work yesterday everyone noticed that I was in an awful mood, a few people thought I was sick but I told them I was just angry. Anyways.....I told the other lady that the only way the doctor could make things right was to call me personally or come to me in person and apologize for what happened.

I left at about 2:05 yesterday evening to go to the bank on lunch and to get something to eat real quick. When I arrived back to my office I was told to give my sister a call and I noticed that my voicemail light was on. So I checked my voicemail and had 4. The first......Dr. Ramos apologizing and saying that he needed me to call him and left his beeper number. 2 and 3 were my sister telling me to call her and wanting to know where I was, the 4th was my boyfriend wanting me to call him. I called my boyfriend and sister first and then I paged Dr. Ramos. He returned my call within less than 5 minutes. I was so amazed. I answered and he was so friendly. He kept apologizing for the situation and what had happened. He explained that it was a communication error between his office and ENDO and that he did not even have any idea that the 3 of us were scheduled that day. The more he talked the more I felt my anger just float off my chest. I told him that I appreciated him calling me and that it meant the world to me and he thanked me for being so understanding. He said that if I was not too mad at him and still wanted him to be my surgeon to call his office and reschedule my EGD and he promised that this would NEVER happen again. I told him that I would call and reschedule Tuesday, his POA was already gone for the day.

I praise God for this experience because I was under the impression that ALL doctor's were cold-hearted jerks who could care less about their patient's. Well....not Dr. Ramos. It took a lot of nerve for him to call us and apologize and it speaks thousands of words about his character. He seems to really care a LOT about his patient's and I'm thankful for that. It's about time! In the past I have not had very much success with doctor's caring, so it's good to know he does care.

PRAISE REPORT: Our first ever bariatric surgery patient at our facility is doing great. I'm so excited to see how our hospital is growing. Next on our list is a brand new ER, Parking Garage with offices and a research center. It's exciting to see new growth in such a small town.

Just sitting here and thought that I would post an update on my progress so far. Last Friday I had my Chest Xray, Pulmonary Function Test, and Blood gas done. I was so terrifed going in for my blood gas, but it was a breeze. I cannot believe how nervous I was for no reason at all. The worst part of that is the bruise, which I still have today. The PFT was horrendous lol. All I remember is.....BREATHE, BREATHE, BREATHE, INHALE, INHALE, INHALE, BLOW, BLOW, BLOW, HOLD IT, WAIT DON'T BREATHE as the lady was screaming at me. It was really no big deal, just a lot of inhaling and blowing along with slow breathing, fast breathing and holding my breathe. I will admit though, my lungs actually got sore from all of the exercise they received. The chest xray was easy as pie, it does not even need an explanation. 

Today I went in for my EGD. This was not such a pleasant experience. Initially I was told to arrive at 9:45, then it moved it 8:00. So, I rolled in at about 7:30 (my sister was scheduled for 7:30) We answered some questions, had an IV placed, hooked up to fluids and then around 8:30 we were informed that the doctor would not be doing our EGD's first (today was his first bariatric surgery at our hospital) because he wanted to do his big case before us. We were given the option to leave and come back or stay and wait. We decided to leave and come back. I can just imagine what people were thinking when they saw us walking around Lowe's with our IV's in our hands lol. Quite an experience! So after almost 2 hours we went back to the hospital just to find out we would have to wait longer. At 12:30 we were given the option to reschedule or wait.....we decided to wait, not like we had anything to do at home....right? lol So.....after about 30 minutes after this we were informed that the doctor wanted us to reschedule for another day because he did not know how much longer he would be. I am so furious. I took a vacation day just to spend it at the hospital (which is where I work by the way!) sitting and waiting.  Not what I call a "vacation" day. Such a waste. At this point I am finding myself pretty disgusted and depressed. It's so hard to get a day off and I was really hoping to have this taken care of today. Now I have no idea when I'll be able to reschedule another EGD. 

As far as I know, all that I have left to do is:
EGD (hopefully next time will be much better)
Eye Exam with Dr. Brown
IVC Filter
Sleep Study
Follow-up with Family Doctor
Follow-up with Dr. Mettu (pulmonologist)


and hopefully nothing else will be added.
 

I pulled into the gas station yesterday evening, which is nothing unusual for me....that use to be my "snack shop" I like to call it lol. I had the intention of purchasing something to drink and a pizza roll. Yes.....I said pizza roll, I know I did not need it, but it was a "but this is the last time I'll get to eat it situation". (I know I'm not suppose to do that, it's not like I'll never get to eat again) So anyways.....I walk to the back of the store and glanced through the water section, I could not find the water I wanted so I settled with an Aquafina. I began walking toward the front and I caught myself looking at the cakes, but not for long, something inside of me made me turn away I could not even stand to look at them without being disgusted and thinking "it's just not worth it". I continued walking toward the front and then glanced over at the icee machine....I saw the usual blue (which is what I use to buy) and then something caught my eye.........it was PEACH! Oh my goodness, they had peach which is one of my favorite flavors. Once again though, my innerself was saying "IT'S JUST NOT WORTH IT!" So...I walked up to the register, paid for my 99 cent bottle of Aquafina and walked out the door with a huge smile on my face. Not only had I just passed by the cakes, icee's, and pizza roll's without making a purchase.....I also saved quite a bit of money. My usual purchase would have been a bottle of coke, a cake, maybe an icee, and a pizza roll if they had them at the time, but not this time......

I am just so happy with myself. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can do this. I don't need the pop, cakes, icee's, chips, and candy to make it in life. THEY ARE JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!! My health means so much more to me than all of this junk.

Now I have a song stuck in my head....."put a smile on your face, make the world a better place."

God Bless You!

 Yesterday was my appointment with the family physician, which in itself is a somewhat interesting story. Due to the fact that I go to the clinic at the hospital where I work I never know which doctor or PA I will see. I am in the process of working on finding a new doctor, but until then, the clinic will do. SO anyways....I saw a new PA yesterday whom was very nice and seemed to be very caring about her patients. I gave her the paper that Dr. Ramos had sent to her with the tests that he wanted me to have and she looked over it and added a few of her own. Dr. Ramos had stated that he would not need an EKG because I had an echo done recently but she insists on getting an EKG regardless. I am getting so excited with each step that I get closer. I am praying that everything works out and I will get my surgery soon. I hate getting up every morning because I get so disgusted with how I look and feel right now. I feel miserable being this big. 
 
When I weighed myself last Monday in the gym at our hospital I weighed 356, at Dr. Ramos' office I weighed 353, and yesterday at the clinic I weighed 350......I like the clinic much better lol.

BP at Dr. Ramos' office was 177/108 (I was very excited and nervous)
BP at Clinic yesterday was 142/60 (PA said it was still a bit high) This could be the reason for the headaches that I get sometimes.

TO DO List:
Labs (cbc, cmp, hga1c)
EKG
Sleep Study with Dr. Mettu
Psych. Eval with Dr. Adkins
Retrieve a copy of Echo report
Follow-up Appointment with PA at clinic

I finally got to meet with my surgeon, Dr. Salvador Ramos yesterday. He is the sweetest doctor ever. I really enjoyed getting to speak with him. Yesterday was the first time that I have ever felt comfortable with speaking to a doctor about my weight. After discussing the pros and cons of both surgeries and my medical history, He recommended that the Bypass would be the best option for me. I initially was leaning more toward the bypass and he just confirmed it for me. I now will begin the process of losing some weight before surgery, getting a psych eval., a sleep study, and I have to get clearance from my PCP. I am so excited that I can hardly wait. I am looking forward to a new body. I would give anything to be able to go out in public and feel comfortable in my own skin.