Shocked by the Docs!
The last 24 hours or so have been a complete shock to me. I have had two doctors appointments that have me here in a state of complete shock... not knowing how to feel. On one hand I feel relieved and "vindicated", if you will, by what has happened. On the other hand... I am ANGRY 
and hurt 
... and have cried quite a bit.
First of all, I'll give you the results of my sleep apnea study 
. I stop breathing on an average of 95 times an hour and while they monitored, my blood oxygen level dropped to 81%! 
The doctor said that my oxygen level probably drops much more than this on a typical night because they did stop the study and put me on the machine whereas I go all night without treatment. Umm... guess there is a real reason for me to feel like I'm dragging, huh?
The next set of results are the ones that have really put a shock on me... and a warning to all of you. I had made the assumption that since I have talked to doctors for years about the growing seriousness of my weight problems and the lack of results from diet and exercise that when the pooh-poohed me it was because there was no medical cause for my weight issues. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! It seems my doctor was the first person to ever run a thyroid test!!!! There's a lot of debate on whether to diagnose hypothyroidism when the level is between 3.0 and 4.0. I wish that was the question... my TSH level is 45.54!!!!! I most likely have Hashimoto's Disease- to be confirmed with another test. I definitely have hypothyroidism... it's just what type that is to be determined. I am just totally in shock. Everything I've been saying about my diet and activity level just not adding up to the increasing weight issues and lack of success dieting... and no one ever thought to run this test.
So I sit here tonight just trying to process all of this and figure where to go from here. I asked my doctor about the surgery and without a second's hesitation he said I still need it. It seems the hormone replacement will stop further weight gain and take off some (maybe 20 pounds).... but I need this weight off NOW and the surgery is the only way to make that happen.
Some 24 hours, huh? One thing I can say is that the preop process alone has most likely saved my life- I was a walking time bomb and I had no idea!
LOL... I do have to add one chuckle.... You would think with a BMI as high as mine, I would be a poster child for high blood pressure and high cholesterol... yet both those numbers are FINE! Go figure!!!
and hurt ... and have cried quite a bit.
First of all, I'll give you the results of my sleep apnea study . I stop breathing on an average of 95 times an hour and while they monitored, my blood oxygen level dropped to 81%! The doctor said that my oxygen level probably drops much more than this on a typical night because they did stop the study and put me on the machine whereas I go all night without treatment. Umm... guess there is a real reason for me to feel like I'm dragging, huh?
The next set of results are the ones that have really put a shock on me... and a warning to all of you. I had made the assumption that since I have talked to doctors for years about the growing seriousness of my weight problems and the lack of results from diet and exercise that when the pooh-poohed me it was because there was no medical cause for my weight issues. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! It seems my doctor was the first person to ever run a thyroid test!!!! There's a lot of debate on whether to diagnose hypothyroidism when the level is between 3.0 and 4.0. I wish that was the question... my TSH level is 45.54!!!!! I most likely have Hashimoto's Disease- to be confirmed with another test. I definitely have hypothyroidism... it's just what type that is to be determined. I am just totally in shock. Everything I've been saying about my diet and activity level just not adding up to the increasing weight issues and lack of success dieting... and no one ever thought to run this test.
So I sit here tonight just trying to process all of this and figure where to go from here. I asked my doctor about the surgery and without a second's hesitation he said I still need it. It seems the hormone replacement will stop further weight gain and take off some (maybe 20 pounds).... but I need this weight off NOW and the surgery is the only way to make that happen.
Some 24 hours, huh? One thing I can say is that the preop process alone has most likely saved my life- I was a walking time bomb and I had no idea!
LOL... I do have to add one chuckle.... You would think with a BMI as high as mine, I would be a poster child for high blood pressure and high cholesterol... yet both those numbers are FINE! Go figure!!! 
Wow Fawn!!
You have certainly had an eventful time of late. I can certainly relate to the sleep issues. I wasn't waking up as often as you but when I went into REM sleep my oxygen levels went into the 50's!!!!!! I have to be honest that the cpap machine helped but did not really give me a good nights sleep. I still use it occasionally but find that I am not sleeping any better with it than without it. As for your thyroid............again for years I have been telling my doctors that the only time I have ever successfully lost weight was when I was on thyroid medication. Did they listen??? NOOOOOOO......lol. Anyway I hope your surgery is scheduled soon. You will feel so much better once it is over. The difference is astounding. Good luck and keep us posted.
Linda 
This was the last of the preop stuff so now I wait for a date 
I called today and asked where it goes from here and they said that it takes about two weeks for them to get the report from Dr. Phillips (pulmonologist) and then a week to 10 days for Dr. Aranow to review and give the ok to Lois to schedule me and get insurance approval.
I can't believe it... I'm finally here- I am waiting for a date!!!!
I called today and asked where it goes from here and they said that it takes about two weeks for them to get the report from Dr. Phillips (pulmonologist) and then a week to 10 days for Dr. Aranow to review and give the ok to Lois to schedule me and get insurance approval.
I can't believe it... I'm finally here- I am waiting for a date!!!! 
I wish you great luck in getting your date and the surgery. Those pre-op tests can be so stressful! When I had my endoscopy I found out I had an ulcer, gastritis & esophagitis, and they had to put me on medication for that, then go for another endoscopy in another month, where they found more problems. It threw me for a loop!!
You'll be feeling much better after the surgery -- hang in there & keep your sense of humor!
Kathy
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