Waiting....

Ok, I know that I should plan to do ALOT of this, but I'm just so darn anxious to get this ball rolling! LOL It's been a week since I turned in my initial paperwork. I am just sitting here, patiently (NOT) by the phone trying to make it ring! LOL I got on the scale last night and it said 240. Let's see, that would put my BMI at...41.2. I have a few questions about the sleep study that I KNOW I'll have to have! I feel for sure that I will be diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, but can that also hinder the surgery? If you have it too badly, will they decline to put you under? I'm just wondering. I've been practicing my breathing excersizes, trying to get my lungs in shape for the pulminologist. I am a singer, but haven't been actively doing my excersizes. I've felt, and heard the difference after doing a certain set, so that's what I'm working on. I do this because I'm also a smoker. I'm quite worried about the lung doc. I'm psyching myself into quitting, and my husband promises he'll do it with me. We'll see what happens there! LOL I know that if I quit, I'll gain 50 pounds - been there done that! It's the only thing that has kept my weight at a fairly consistent level. Anyway, I'm just babbling now so I'll go for now. I LOVE it here! You guys are great! HUGS Kimberly

Babble on---- that is what we are here for. You will be fine and I will pray you can quit those sticks! Jane

Kimberly, just wanted to tell you, we're all here for ya with support. As for the sleep apnea, if you have it, they 'll give you a cpap machine, send you home and you just make sure you bring it with you to the hospital ( so I heard... I didnt need one, lucked out). Apnea will NOT keep you from getting surgery, for sure. One thing that MAY keep you from surgery is smoking though. My surgeon requires you to quit at least 6 weeks prior to surgery, and I've heard of many people who ended up being refused surgery because they claimed they quit but didnt. I know it's hard as hell. I quit 6 yrs ago and it was not easy, so I can sympathize. Once you quit though, you'll beat that monkey off your back, then get surgery, it's a whole new lifestyle and you'll be glad you did it. You won't be needing those cigarettes any more to keep from gaining weight. Trust me, this tool works, IF you follow the rules- and it's not all that hard, much MUCH easier than it's ever been on any diet. Restriction is the key. So babble on and keep posting, we're listening ~Andrea aka Cheezy Chicken-Tush~

Hey Kimberly, I don't the Sleep Apnea will keep you from getting approved. In fact, I think that actually helps. I was not one with the Sleep Apnea, so I have 0 info. But, The Smoking? I smoked for over 20 years, And quitting was the hardest thing I've ever done, But, it was do-able. Throw everything at it. Wellbutrin, the Patch, the Gum, Long Walks, Hot Showers, etc... Don't think of it as quitting all smoking, Just decide not to have "This" cigarette. That makes it do-able. After I'd been smoke free for a couple of months, It became a lot easier. Because I realized it wasn't "This" cigarette that I wanted, it was that 18th cigarette That Tasted Normal to me, that I really wanted, And I wasn't willing to have 17 bad ones in order to get to that one. Now, 2 + years Smoke-Free, I'm TOO glad I did it. Best Wishes- Dx

Hi Kimberly. I am a smoker too and I was not required to quit smoking before surgery. I was asked to cut back.... I WISH I WOULD HAVE QUIT! I had a lot of problems breathing in the hospital. It was an ordeal. Resp therapy was in my room every 30 minutes. It was a mess... I smoked pulling into the parking garage and I went 3 days after surgery to the 5th floor to smoke again. I am addicted. I hope to quit smoking this year. Its just so hard!! Good luck to you...

Christine hun if you and anyone else near hattiesburg is seriosu about quitting let me know I can help you get in contact with a great support group that will also supply you with the patch and cinnamon sticks to use in place of that ciggy I did it after smoking 23 yrs i quit with the patch on for only 6 days. So email me at [email protected] and i will tell you who to contact she is great and they have evening and daytime support group meetings. Barry aka Bear

Hey Kim, Dr. C won't perform surgery on you if you are still smoking. It is one of his requirements. Since I didn't smoke, I don't know how long before surgery you must stop; however, for some reason 2 months rings a bell. I do know that even w/ good lungs, the breathing exercises after surgery were no fun at all. It is very wise to begin preparing before surgery as you are doing. Good Luck!! Gina

Honey PLEASE Don't get discouraged !!! Slow down and try not to worry about it. Rather we like it or not, we have a "wait" ahead of us in this WLS game. Some get in really quick, others takes a year or more. Just do the best you can. And try not to think about "I WANT A SURGERY DATE" all the time. Over thinking how slow your going, makes it worse. As far as the sleep apnea goes.... I go to see if I need a sleep study the 1st of Feb. I know that I probably do, so I wish we could skip this step. But I'm sure that this is only to benifit me. So, I'll go along with it and smile the whole time. You do need to stop smoking. Even if you don't have surgery. Smoking is bad !!! Very Bad !!! Do you know that when they raise the tobacco: They use alot of chemicals to keep the bugs off of the plants. Well, when they cut the plants (harvesting) and take them in to dry, they DO NOT wash them off. You are smoking all those chemicals they use to kill bugs. Would you smoke what the bug man uses to kill roaches, ants or whatever else may be in your or someone elses house ? Would you eat fruits or veggies without washing them really good ? I'm not fussing at you by no means. But after seeing a Great-Aunt die of Brain cancer that actually ate a hole through her skull, I think I should warn you of the dangers. BTW: It also spread throughout her whole body. She was completely ate up with cancer. All because she smoked her whole life. Tammy

Hey Kimberly, I am firmly convinced that God uses the WLS process to teach us patience....patience and more patience....I kept telling God I get already just get me the surgery!!!! No matter how long or short it takes you to get there, you will swear that it took FOREVER, so come babble to us as much as you need to. We are here for you. About the smoking....I can't help you with that, but I will warn you that you MUST be honest with your Doc about it. When they do the blood work, they will check your nicotine level in your blood so they will know anyhow. Do your very best to stop, because you want as much oxygen in your system as you can get to help the healing process. Sleep Apnea....I have mild sleep apnea....I have a CPAP machine and love it. I sleep like a baby. No snores and no movement during the night!! You will have to bring it to the hospital with you and use it at night there, if you have sleep apnea. The only "problem" mine created was as a precaution, ALL sleep apnea folks spend the first night after surgery in the ICU. It didn't matter that there were no problems during my surgery. It was their rule. Hang in there girl, we are with you! Smooch, Arlies

Thanks guys! As far as the smoking, yes, I know it is bad! LOL I know I can quit, I always quit when I was pregnant, and since my youngest is only 10 months it shouldn't be too hard. I just always started back because it took the place of food. How stupid is that? LOL I don't even smoke "all" the time....not like a pack a day or anything. I did talk to the people at the seminar about it, and my surgeon does require that you quit, and they DO test you. My problem with that is this.... When a friend of mine, who does not smoke, but chews the gum, got her nic levels tested for insurance, they told her it didn't matter whether you smoked it or used a supplement. They made her pay the higher rate because the test can't tell the difference. The guy did tell me that they were supposed to be getting a new lab test that can finally tell the difference in how the stuff got in your system, so we'll see. Anyway... thanks for the info and support. Hugs Sleezy