Still Waiting

I still don't see a light at the end of the tunnel. When I embarked on this weight losing journey, I didn't know it was going to be a looong one. I began in May 2007 with the hopes of having the surgery done during the summer, not. Today I went to the cardiologist, and now he wants me to have a stress test and another echocardiogram even though the EKG done in his office is normal. I'm scheduled for the test for October 29, but I don't see him again until December 6, what the heck? WHEN, OH WHEN WILL I HAVE THIS SURGERY? The only thing that has really put me behind is the fact that everytime I have to go see a doctor, I have to wait for at least a month and a half before I'm seen. Will I have the surgery before this year is out? I'm a high school teacher, and since I wasn't able to have this surgery during the summer, my next best bet is for winter break. Nereida

Hang in there!!! First, you really want them to have the full picture before you have any surgery - you can only benefit from them knowing 100% what is happening. Second, don't dispair..... it takes time (sometimes alot of time).  It took me quite awhile but I finally got my date AND YOU WILL GET YOUR DATE TOO!   What I did to pass the time was learn, learn, learn!  I researched everything about the surgery, read experiences from alot of different people, went to the support groups - even without having a surgery date.  You can gather alot of good information at those support groups.  A big plus is talking to people who are already on the loser's bench.   While everyone is different, it's nice to know you can succeed and what types of things to expect. Good Luck & don't give up!

I too started this trip in May and finally I'm sooooo close I can smell it.I never thought I'd make it .Even though I'm close I had another disappointing day today.I was told last Friday that I would be called  TODAY with my surgery date.I waited all day and they never called me.I'm hoping they call tomorrow I can't take many more let downs.Best of luck.Hopefully we'll both hit the losers bench soon

MeLinda, Waiting on a call for the same surgeon....I'm calling them tomorrow and leaving a message if need be, I suggest the same for you.  The scheduling number is: 1-267-572-3167 Peggy Biddle Good luck Pam

Waiting sucks....no two ways about it. I started in January of 2007.  Granted, some of the delays were my "fault" because I had multiple family emergencies all in a row and I kinda ignored everything on my end because I was to busy taking care of everybody else to take care of myself. As far as not seeing the cardio until Dec...can you call for the results and have a copy picked up so you can give them to your surgeon?  That, in my opinion, is un unreasonable amount of time to wait for results of a very important test. Good luck  Pam

I know that everything happens for a reason. I took the stress test, and got a call from the doctor that very same afternoon. He didn't have good news for me. He told me that the results were very abnormal and, according to the images of my heart when they did the echocardiogram, blood isn't flowing correctly into the front part of my heart. I'm scheduled for a angiogram on November 9. I have to go to the hospital this Thursday for the pretesting and preadmission, and on Friday I need to be there before 7:00 a.m. My husband asked for a personal day so he can be with me during the test. Now I understand why I keep getting the quick, sharp pains in my chest.  I really don't know what to expect and what kind of treatment (if any) I'll be getting. The cardiologist told me that if I in fact have a blocked artery, it can be treated with medication, or with surgery. It all depends how blocked the artery is. Has anybody in this forum ever had this test done, and is it painful? What should I expect? I've been online learning about this procedure but I would love to hear from a "live" person. Nereida

hi nereida there is a light at the end of the tunnel  in the meantime learn learn learn!!! we started together in 6/05 changed surgeons in september of 05 had to wait until november to get in with the new surgeon we did all our appointments the same time  we have different insurances i have to do a 6 month diet diet is over in april 05 ross has to do a 3 month diet ross was approved in april 06 and had his surgery in may 06 i ended up having medical treatments for 28 weeks for another problem that started march 06 until september 06  i was approved in june had to wait the 28 weeks -- takes me into september liver doc won't clear me until october -- ok ok i understand what you are saying went to cardio oooops have to go for a stress test -- this is taking time people!! went for my PAT's in october and i was still anemic from the medical treatments  tried to get medication to up my red blood cells -- pcp told me to wait it out -- surgeon told me to wait it out --WAIT IT OUT???? i've done nothing but WAIT!! november -- my approval is only good for 6 months  finally!! i get a date -- the day before thanksgiving!! i'll take it!! 6 months after ross's surgery to the day 17 months after we first started in that time span i read  and learned and talked to everyone and read some more and went to other message boards and other web pages and just read everything i could  there is a rainbow out there with your name on it -- take this time to educate yourself some more  take care roberta