PhatLadySings

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So in the world of DeAnne as of late:

I had a sleep study done on Wednesday June 21 and it was one of the most miserable nights in my life. They forced me to sleep in their posture pedic bed, (as if that would make me comfortable--I can't lay flat!!) and I tossed and turned myself swollen and sore.
They had me hooked up to every kind of wire in the world and it was put on every part of my body; they even glued wires in several parts of my hair.
Anyhoot, I do this thing thinking that this is a lot of crap to endure for nothing, because while I have a small sleep problem, it's not worth all this stuff.

Well did I get an eye opener. I didn't even make it home from the sleep hospital before I get this phone call from the analyzing doc telling me that I need a CPAP delievered immediately at my house as well as an oxygen machine. He told me that my O2 levels were dropping as low as 70% during the night and that I had stopped breathing well over 60 times during my sleep.
He of course freaked me out. Of course with this HMO insurance I have, I am not able to go into the sleep hospital for another exam, which is what he told me he really preferred.

Am I dying???? Now I lay in my chair at night with this thing attatched to my nose and if my mouth opens during the night, my cat freaks out, because I sound like Darth Vader! (she sleeps on my belly at night with me)
I'll admit it has helped me feel better, but I am still feeling tired and fatigued. I do feel the difference though and the guy that brought out my machines told me that it does take a week or so to feel the full effects.
I've set myself to regular bedtimes. For the most part it's working.

June 22, 2006

I went for a requested sleep study last night. When I got there, the young tech guy started hooking me up to what seemed like a thousand and one thin, different colored wires. He taped them to my chest, my legs, my hair (yes, my hair) my chin, my brows, and my cheeks. I don't think I missed out on anything.
I hadn't any supper at this point and with my diabetes medication on board, he allowed my husband to go get us something to eat. We ate and I actually felt tired. Being tired didn't last long, because I suddenly felt myself aching from my spine injury and legs. I asked him for another pillow. I asked him for water, and I asked him to puh-leassse let me sleep sitting up. He said it was most important that I sleep laying as flat as possible.
Consider my dear reader, I've not laid flat in a bed in over 2 years. The pain and pressure in my chest, which does inhibit my breathing, has kept me from enjoying my plush bed. I've been sleeping in my fat-boy-LazyBoy chair all this time, so a bed would be a welcome change.

To continue, I ended up sleeping some, but around 5:45am, I woke my hubby and told him that I couldn't cope with this arrangement much longer and I wanted to go home. We called the nurse in and he started taking his wires off of my body. I asked him if I had slept at all, because I hadn't felt like I did. He told me that I did have some sleep, but no REM. It was enough sleep to get a good reading on me. He also told me there were times I stopped breathing, that sleep apnea would most likely be the diagnoses given to me.
So, I'm on my way home, to get some sleep sitting up so I could breathe and not hurt with the extra added pressure on my back, and I get this phone call from Dr. SleepingTest and he tells me with great urgency that I needed to have a CPAP machine delievered to my home immediately, but it also had to be along with an oxygen machine. I not only need a CPAP, I also need the use of oxygen. He wanted to make sure that I was going straight home, so that home health equipment could make thier delivery.
He told me that my O2 levels were as low as the low 70's during the night. The urgency in his voice freaked the heck out of me and he even said that he wanted me back into the hospital to do a CPAP study, but my insurance wouldn't cover. (until July 1st I am on UK HMO)

So, there it is--I have severe sleep apnea. From what I am being told, this is a bonus for insurance support to approve the surgery. I hope so, I can see where my severe morbid obesity is taking me down hill fast.

Please pray for me--will update more later.

June 12, 2006

WoW...talk about a lot of information; I mean A LOT!!! When I first learned the seminar was going to be 2 1/2 hours long, I'll admit, I was dreading it. Boy was I surprised to see that it was almost 3.5 hours before we finally got into the car.

I went to St. Joes East and I have to admit, they really made me feel safe and quite comfortable with going forward with this surgery. I tell you, it doesn't matter how much you study and research this procedure, having experts and staff explain the different types of surgeries, talk about statistics of the surgeries, the success rates of the surgeries, what surgeries they do (they only do one by the way--the r-n-y) WHY they do the surgeries they do, insurance plans, coverage, nutrition, therapy, physiology, AND the lovely post-op program they offer at the Beaumont Y to help with keeping and strengthening you muscle, support groups, meetings, and a 24 hour hot line for any questions you may have.
By the way, I am certain I'm leaving a lot of things out from above.
All I have to do now is fill out my online application and within two-weeks I will recieve my first appointment with my surgeon. From there they will set up all my pre-op tests (all done there at the center, what Mike and I called BONUS) and start the paperwork ball a rollin'.

I talked to a lady (the physiology nurse) named Renda and she has had the surgery. She used to work at UK and she told me today that UK PPO was one of the easiest insurance companies to have this surgery approved. She told me that she didn't foresee any complications with them, with Dr. approval pending. (I already have that--with my doc anyways)
So, we can hope that Humana (uk ppo's carrier) will be no problem and the tests that they will do will be normal in that there wont be any complications for surgery or preventing surgery.

They are very thorough, because one of the tests that they do is where they stick a camara down your throat to your stomach and make sure it doesn't have any bad bacteria (if I understood that part right) and make sure the stomach is in good condition.
Well, I'm going to start my application sometime tonight or tomorrow (feeling kinda tired right now) and I have to tell you, I am psyched!!

Mike is interested in the surgery too, although before this seminar he wasn't too sure. Now, well, now he's really for it not only for me, but him as well; they made him feel that confident in their abilities and the results. Renda was married to a phatman and they both had this surgery and she showed us a picture of before and after. Mike got all kinds of ideas (as did I) and after the seminar stengthen his **vision** of the future, (and mine) we were giddy all through our very fattening meal.
No seriously, we were just throwing all kinds of things we've always wanted to do and things we'd be able to do, because we wouldn't have the weight be a hamper.

I have two-weeks before I have my UK PPO, (that's when the open enrollment changes switch over) and then I'll have my appointment. Renda told me tonight that she will go ahead and make my appointment and I can bring in the insurance information with me.
She told Mike he can do the pre-op stuff and get it out of the way until he decides to do his surgery. (He's thinking the first of the year for himself)
So, there it is for now. I'm sure I will think of more stuff as I sleep. I can't tell you how long it's been since I've been able to not only say, but feel that there just wasn't enough time today to do everything I wanted to do. I am going to have to wait till tomorrow.

There it is...

June 2, 2006

I got my reservation card in the mail today for my seminar. It is schedule for June 12th. I am really excited to go and have some questions answered, such as insurance based ones. I am a little nervous about the insurance thing. From what I've been reading on the boards, in personal profiles, I can see that a lot of people have been fighting insurance battles.

Will post more later...