I have test dates!!!

Would you believe that today around 4:30 my sweet loving hubby went to our Post Office to get our mail. And in it, low and behold was two letters from the UMC. Now for the good part. I was suppose to have been at the UMC this morning at 11:00am for Pulmonary Lab Test. After crawling around on the floor and finding my eyeballs to put them back in, I called the UMC Lab and made another appointment. So, now I go on Oct 15th at 11:00am. At this time I would like to send a very big THANK YOU to the UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. Without them I'd be lost. With them I'M LATE!!! On Dec. 7, I go to the Sleep Disorder Clinic. They will decide if I need to have a sleep study done. And if I do, they will make the appointment for that. Ok, this is where I need your help::: Just what are they going to do to me on Pulmonary Lab test day ??? Should I be scared ??? On Sleep Disorder Day. What are they going to do ??? I am pretty sure that I have it. My snoring, waking up with headaches, memory loss, etc.should prove it. Has there ever been a case that they say "Yes you do have it" without having to do a sleep over ??? B/C if I can go ahead and get done with that, it would be great. I really don't want to wait for another appointment to have the sleep over test done. I know.... Slow Down, it takes time, a long time. But..... I've got ants in my pants. I can't wait. I can, but I sure don't want to. Even though I know they will make me wait. At some point.

Well the first thing they do when you have your pulmonary study is pinch your nose closed and sew your lips together!!!!!!! And then they tell you to breathe!!!! Nope!!! It's not bad and it doesn't even hurt! And if you have the same girl I had, she'll ask you a bazillion questions about WLS - not as part of the test, but just because she is interested. You do a lot of deep breathing and holding your breathe and breathing it out until you turn wrong side out, but even the blood gases doesn't hurt (much). The sleep test is really HARD. You have to SLEEP!!!!!! No, it's just a little strange but doesn't hurt anywhere, except the next day when the get all the glue out of your hair! Breathe deep and relax!!! If the Queen can do it, YOU can easily do it!!! Smoochies & Hugs Arlies

Hi Tammy!! I didnt have to have a pulmonary test so I dont know. I am thrilled for you that you are getting so close! I know you are very excited. Ancy Pancy!!

I had symptoms, so I went to my pcp and told him I wanted a sleep study and gave him my symptoms. So that is one thing I did not have to wait for. If you can go ahead and do it, it will help speed you up.

Well Donna that sounds like a very good idea. But poor ole me, don't have insurance at all. And there is no telling what they would charge to do it here in Meridian. I'll sure check into though. Thanks for the tip.

Sorry, I should have looked first. I am sure they are really expensive too. I am very blessed with my insurance. Maybe you wont have to have one.

Well it is still a good idea. I'll still check into it. You never know what may happen. I don't see why I should have to have a sleep study. You would think with all the symptoms of SA that I do have, that would be enough to prove it. So who knows. It will all work out for the best I'm sure.

I may be wrong, but I thought if you did have it you would have to get a bipap or c pap machine before surgery. I sure hope not, but that is why I went on and did it. I was told that some surgeons will make you sleep with the machine for a month before surgery to take some strain off of the heart. Now all of this came from the main board, so your or mine may not even care.

Well, Dr. Salameh did say that he thinks I have it with all the symptoms that I have. He wants to check and see to make sure. I'm sure that once they see me at the SDC, they will confirm that I do have it. At this point a machine would be a welcome, considering that everyone says that you sleep and feel better with it. I'm tired all the time and wake up with headaches. Plus I could sleep for 16 hrs if everyone would leave me alone, or if I didn't feel guilty about being in bed all the time. I wish they would go ahead and get me in there for this test, instead of waiting till Dec. I know that Dec really isn't that far away, but when you get to thinking about all those good night sleeps that your missing, and actually feeling good when you get up, Dec. is like years away. Maybe they will have someone cancel and I'll get the appointment. But, I'm still going to check here in town with my PCP about it. You never know.

Tammy, hey, are you talking bad about the folks who will deliver your mail come hail or snow or hurricanes? I work for Cingular and you have no idea how many people I have talked to lately who haven't received their bills, or whose payments havent gotten to us yet. I am not blaming, but I'm definitely not sending payments to anyone per mail any more. I just wonder why they didnt CALL you to tell you of your appointments? hmm.. anyways, just wanted to say GOOD LUCK on all them tests, I seem to have been totally lucky not to have to do any of that good stuff. The only thing I had to do is the psych eval and the ultrasound, xray and blood tests. Never blood gas, pulmonary, sleep tests etc. Whoohoo.. I guess they knew they were dealing with the military and they figured they wouldn't pay for unnecessary squat anyways Let us know how you did!! And I can't wait for all you guys to be losers too Andrea