MY REVISED DATE... :-@ 09/29/06 ((((LONG)))))))

Today was a terrible day....I went in for my dietary consult that 1/2 day...and was supposed to also see my surgeon for the FINAL CONSULT and she actually told the help to tell me that she was canceling the appointment....because the sleep study I had last week shows I have sleep apnea.... This will mean more trips to and from Columbia and pushing my surgery date ANOTHER MONTH out.... NOW, I called my ANGEL, MEL MEL, and she helped me see the light in this incredibly jumbled up story....that they want to be totally prepared....but...IF I WAS having surgery on 8/29, they'd take me off the CPAP anyway....and now... They are refusing to even DO THE SURGERY, and will make me fork out the $$$$ for the trips and costs of this extension, to then just 30 days later TAKE ME OFF the CPAP...???? Do I appear to be made out of MONEY? I wanted soooo bad to tell them all to go stick it today, like I have never wanted to tell anyone anything.... These folks are the most un-professional bunch of people....they don't TELL the patient the steps, and if they did, they'd just change them 10 more times anyway....so it wouldn't matter. The screw offs so far have cost me: $1K additional Blood Work; $300 for an additional Phyc. Eval...(((my fault too on this one, as I was told she was licensed))) One, maybe two more trips to Columbia that I wll fork over for.... I am sooo disappointed, I cried all the way back to the hotel.... This has been a terrible experience for me...from the beginning. 1.) Seminar...drove 5 hours to have the presenters learn their laptop would not be able to perform the presentation, so they hand drew out the flip charts 2.) Bloodwork they tell you at seminar is OUT DATED 3.) Licensed Phyc Eval personnel I submitted was not refused, hence I paid for some quack to end up going to another facility and paying again. 4.) The $1k bloodwoork bill was a joke, the man at the lab on Nifong could not find a vain and I ended up wearing black arms for almost a month 5.) Chemical Stress Test - began like #4...person could not get IV started, very tramatic, and once they did, they realized no one had told me NOT to take my beta blocker for the day of the test, so my med and their meds played tug of war all day.... 6.) #2 Psych Eval was fine, but was 4 hours long and expensive, and I had to find her myself....again 7.) Sleep Study was worst experience up to this point....Tech had no bedside manor...resembled a drone, was very robotic, as I explained that I can not lie for 7 hours flat on a tiny bed without elevating my head or back....kept getting terrible cramps in legs and stomach and she kept telling me to "LAY STILL"....i felt like I was in prison. I insisted that I be let up to walk around at about 3:00 a.m. and that was the only relief I had. 8.) Tech must have had a crystal ball, because she KNEW prior to my tests completion that I would require a #2 study to wear the CPAP machine, so I better get "used to it"....So, does anyone know if they get additional monies for running a second test? You'd sure think they did! 9.) FTP & Blood Gas....Tech was very kind...blood gas was incredibly painful....will never forget how that felt 10.) Day of final eval and Surgeon decides she will NOT be taking our appointment, as she now has only 9/29 as the next surgery date and that is "too far out" to do the pre-op appt. 11.) She cancels my 8/22 pre-op with the Anesthesiologist, EKG and Final Bloodwork....but wants me to keep an appt. with the Sleep Study Doc so he can share his "findings" with me... 12.) The point of a sleep doctor meeting is???? Since he doesn't know HOW I will perform w/ the CPAP on...YET? RIGHT? 13.) Revised Final Consult is now 9/11 and I haven't a clue when they want this #2 Sleep Study 14.) Surgery Tentatively set for 9/29/06 15.) BEST PART OF THE WHOLE PROCESS was Jen the Dietician.... Amy K...(((grrl at front desk))) has tried so hard for me, but she seems to be as confused as I am, with the way the "GAME RULES" continually change, and no one is made aware of the changes.... 16.) Biggest Cluster I have ever experienced.......and the really sad part is I am the one that will suffer the extension...it doesn't hurt anyone else but ME.

Goodness gracious Sherr, what a time you have had I know different doctors require different stuff but wow, seems your required to do a bit much for some reason. When I went to the consult in Columbia for Dr. Scott back in february I knew they required alot which I was willing to do cuz Im desperate but reading what your going through sure makes me thank the good Lord even more for bringing Dr. Hornbostel across my path because of the medicare requirements now. Sedalia for me isnt but 30 -45 mins further then Columbia so its not a problem driving but I guess the Lord knew I wouldnt be able to make all those trips to Columbia like that, there would of been no way I could of done that so many times. Im so thankful for the system Dr. H has and the way he works, his staff is so good and so helpful. I'll sure be lifting ya up in my prayers that things work out and get easier for ya. Even tho I have to wait until november for my surgery I am soooo thankful for Dr. H. Try to relax gurl, it'll all work out for ya!!! Bless ya Andrew

DEAR DEAR ANDREW I am sorry, I think I just blew my TOP yesterday....that is a full blown NERVOUS BREAKDOWN everyone witnessed above.... I have cried so many tears this last couple of weeks....I am actually going back to my PCP on Thursday and asking him to help me with something, Anti-depressants or anxiety meds or SOMETHING...... I won't last another month going at this rate!!! Yes, the trips are really getting me, after having the monthly $700 expense out of pocket before any medical coverage then, the $200 in gas each time to get up here....GOOD LORD, I think that is what set me into a tail spin...LOL Thank you soooo much...every word soothed me like you can not imagine!!!! THANK YOU MY FRIEND!!! Sherr

You should wait 24 hours before ya come here and act like a NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.... SO, I am ashamed and Embarassed... but of course, those with cooler head, KNEW that would happen.... I went to meet with the Director of Neurology & Sleep Disorders today.... along with another Neurologist, both worked so smoothly as a team.... Apparently, I have a lot more wrong w/ me that I ever could have imagined.... My O2 Sat rate is 71. This should be in the 90s even at rest...a smoker should score in the high 80s.... So I need AIR The markers they measure to determine "IF" you need a CPAP, should look like 4.5-6 for a "GOOD" level candidate to have one... The higher the Marker, the higher score one is for needing one... My score was 15.9 So, not only do I not have high enough Oxygen Saturation levels, I am over 3 times higher than someone that NEEDS help. I apparently "SHUT DOWN" 95 times an HOUR! I just hate that I took it ALL out on the Sleep Disorder people...I was absurd. I will go for another sleep study on 9/10.... Just ignore me for a while...I am going to... S

We are here for you as we are for all! Isn't that what support is all about? We all have bad days and somedays all we have are the people on here and we all have to vent sometime! If the people on here don't like what they read, they can alway**** the "off" button and do something else for the day...lol The tests that we go through aren't always easy and the drive, gas prices, the waiting, poking, proding....all the jumping through the hoop stuff gets old, quick! Do take comfort in the fact that they found this out before surgery and not during! We want good reports from your angel on your day of surgery! We don't want you to have any problems on your day and we definately don't want to lose any of our team players! I will keep you in my prayers and ask the good Lord to look over you and to help you with the issues at hand. Try to stay strong and try to look beyond the struggles you are having now. I know it has to be hard but try.....one day at a time and when that gets to be too much try an hour at a time. You'll make it, give it time! Love & Prayers, Deb M

Hey Sis, I am telling ya, maybe we are meant to be up there at the same time, so we can lean on each other and make it a little more bearable. Besides-who can knock the other back to reality and even when the news sucks and we are bawling like babies (hey WE ARE ENTITLED!!) that we know the other one is there NO MATTER WHAT... I AM GLAD they found ALL of this out B4 you went in for the surgery and maybe you will finally feel better after too, with the treatments and whatever they are going to give you. All I know for certain is that I have finally found my long lost sister and I know that this road seems so never ending and twisting and turning and hell, the hills for a fat chick-PLAAEEASE!!! when this is all said and done (and IT WILL BE) we are gonna feel SO good, and be able to go sit at a restaurant IN a booth (not BE the booth) and we are gonna be able to BUY our clothes ANYWHERE and probably the best thing ever-we are gonna feel so much better, that we WONT dread waking up anymore-but we will embrace life and ALL it has to offer and we will be okay. You will be okay, because we love you and we are here for you, and because you have GREAT doctors looking out for you now.....woo-hoo... The thought of kicking your butt in a wheelchair race down the corridore after surgery, well-that just makes me smile-and I really hope we can be there at the same time. I love ya sis and I want you to remember that these doors that you keep thinking are closing they arent. DELAYS ARENT DENIALS..... Love ya, Jan

Deb & Jan.... Thank you guys, but I deserve at least one kick in the pants for being a BRAT YES! JANET, I see you with your hand up...Volunteering...LOL It will be a wonder if you don't hate me for all the ribbing I give you on Cigs, Sodas & Sugar.... WLS MO peeps have really lifted me up, when I thought I couldn't fall any farther... JANET! I really hope, hope, hope that you are there with me in the hospital, so I won't ge as scared....lonely....or a BRAT Love you GUYS!!! Sherr