A vent about surgery and a question

question first: has anyone taken their cpap machine to the hospital or just went without it while they were there?


vent: i am so sick of people telling me to either not to have the surgery or that i am doing so well on my own that i can continue to lose the rest of the excess weight myself. sure its a miracle going from 359 to 295 all by myself but it wasnt really all by myself. i have 100 pounds to go to the weight that they wanted me at orginally. i have almost every comorbity on the list of obesity related ones and im afraid that if i dont lose the weight my body will quit because i have more wrong with me every year. why cant people just think before they speak and think that maybe ive already considered doing this all on my own and decided i needed a tool. why do some people think thats its a dangerous magic tool that will just make me a super model? i dont get it and i dont want to truthfully. i just wish people would recognize how hard im trying, recognize i am overly sensitive and just say good job and move on

grrr



Sara

Hi,
I use a C-PAP machine also. Each Hospital is different. My 12/1/10 surgery wanted me to bring my own. The 1/11/11 surgery said not to bring it. They had their own for me to use. I'd rather have my own, but I hear hospitals are running into problems w/ safety issues.
Mag

i think that most people are encouraged to bring there CPAP machines from home.  When my dad had his open heart surgery they used theirs, but had to put his mask on it for him to be able to tolerate it.

As far as the other stuff goes.  I agree with you.  I encountered that as well.  Had a co-worker who was a toothpick tell me that I could do it on my own if I tried.  She meant it in a nice way.  What I told her was that I have got to do something NOW and that I don't have the time to wast on YoYoing again.  Why people think that they have to offer advice, is beyond me.  Had another person at work tell me "I'm gonna change your mind on having this surgery".  First of all i didn't ask for my mind to be changed.. he went on to tell me a horror story about his brother.  I got tired of hearing it and finally asked how old his brother was when he had the surgery. 45-50.  Well that's 11-16 years older than me.  Asked if he had medical issues..  he said yes that he had a heart attack in his early 40's.  Well there you go.  U cannot compare me to him.  I am 34 years old, have mild HTN and borderline DM, but no major health issues as of yet.  I am having this surgery to PREVENT the major health issues.  That shut him up.. He even wished me well my last night at work.. LOL

In the end, YOU are the only person who has the right to decide what to do or not to do to your body. 

out of all the machines ive tried i can only tolerate my new one so i will be bringing it no matter what.

i understand people are worried or just plain ignorant, depending on the person but i agree with you that it is our choice. i have alot of things wrong with me and cleveland clinic deals with people with issues but mine arent really bad. just bad enough that if i continue to weigh 300 or over the rest of my life will be sooner than later. i have to try something.

I am with you on bringing your own cpap machine.  I brought mine along with me, and even used it when napping between walks.  I love that my settings are about half of the pressure I was on when I first got the machine.  Yayyyy WLS.

Take others advice with a large grain of salt.  Horror stories run rampent.  Everyone is ready to spead bad news.  You are right to stop the stories mid story.  I feel free to share that I want to only hear positive comments.  Set boundaries that you find acceptable.  Best of luck with the comments.  Switching the topic suddenly to something else should get the point across that you are done with the current line of thought.

Stay warm this weekend.  Hugs

Hi Sara, just left a response.  Went to check my email and found this.  Had to share with others.


"It is never safe to look into the future with eyes of fear."

i really like that quote and its going to help me. i am also looking for positive affirmations to say to myself during a struggle or when i cant get past the fear. i have one "i am a peaceful soul" but i need more. where do u get those emails from?

 I know it's frustrating to hear all of that stuff, but I wouldn't give it too much thought.  We know what you're going through because we're going through it.  People have their own misconceptions of what we're going through, but that doesn't change your experience.  You're working hard and in the end this is going to be great.  I'm so proud of you losing all that weight yourself!  

And I would just like to add to these other comments, you are still going to be losing the weight 'yourself'.  Having weight loss surgery doesnt mean they implnt another person in  your body to lose the weight for you!  You still do all the work, go through all the recovery, and still fight the battle for the rest of your life.  The only difference you give your self and edge you didnt have before by making your stomach smaller and forcing you to feel for the first time (at least in my case) that it doesnt take 4 pounds of food to feel full....a cup will do.  I wish people would just but out and just say 'good luck, I hope it works out for you!'.  It amazes me how people love the spead the negativity.  The best part of WLS for me was how much easier it became to exercise!  You think you are doing good now, you are going to blow yourself away after your surgery...and you wont believe how proud you will be of yourself!!  Keep up the awesome work!!!  Routing for you!!!

i agree with you. i just find it habit to say that u either lose it yourself or with surgery. its not magic. i have changed so much that i worry that surgery wont be as dramatic. obviously it may not be but at the same time i do think that it might work better because i have faced my challenges and beat them temporarily at least. i am struggling with cravings now but have learned through all of this that a craving doesnt mean that you actually have to eat the stuff. ;)