Question:
Preop did you have too much fat around your neck?
Hi everyone- I am still pre-op hoping for surgery in Jan '04. I have gained so much weight around my neck, I feel it is partially blocking my airway, as I hear wheezing sounds and sometimes can't get air in fast enough. Sometimes when I lay down, I can feel "tissue" moving in my throat as I'm breathing. My brothers and I used to call this "chubneck" when we were kids, however, now it's not so funny. I had the pre-surgery pulminary testing done and tested at 97% for my age and gender, so it's not a matter of lung function. I see my surgeon's support staff this week, and would like to know if anyone else had this problem and the proper testing to dx it? Does it impact anything during WLS? Is it considered a co-morbidity? Does it have a name (beside chubneck, LOL?). Any resonses appreciated. Thanks :o) — Mea A. (posted on September 14, 2003)
September 14, 2003
I don't know that it is a condition all on its own - but it is just fat on
your neck as far I would say. I had this preop to where I definetely felt
like it was almost choking me when I laid down, or even buckling in the
car. I have lost 40 pounds so far (7 weeks) and it was some of the first
fat to go.
— bethybb
September 14, 2003
OH YES. See my pix. My upper body was encased in fatty tissue. I hope
your surgeon requires a pulmonology clearance. Mine did, and since it took
a LONG time to get to surgery, it probably saved my life, as that is when
my severe sleep apnea was diagnosed & treated. Don't know your
insurance, but maybe you can self refer to a pulmo? I had asthma for 4
months while they treated me for bronchitis, but was dx promptly by a pulmo
#1. (asthma now) And probably suffered with sleep apnea for 4 years &
was treated for laziness before seeing the pulmo #2. Pulmo #1 missed it.
Prejudice runs so high against us that you might have to LEAN a little to
be treated.
— vitalady
September 14, 2003
See my pics! LOL!! I had NO NECK! It was just a blob of fat from my chin to
my chest. Have they checked you for sleep apnea?? That "snorking"
noise is indicitive of it... and that is definately a co-morbidity!! I now
have a neck... a REAL one... and I NEVER had a neck before!! That was one
of my major goal-posts... having a REAL NECK!! Good luck, and look at my
first profile for a good list of comorbidites that may help you, okay!
Hugs!
— Sharon m. B.
September 14, 2003
You need to have a formal sleep study done. People who have
"thick" necks and are overweight are prone to sleep apnea. It's
called Pickwickian Syndrome. Your pulmonary function test may be normal
(you're awake), but when you sleep the tissues relax and close off your
airway producing apnea (you stop breathing) and your oxygen saturations
drop. Sleep apnea is a co-morbidity. Your surgeon needs to know if you
have it BEFORE surgery as the anesthesia holds an even greater risk for you
if you do.
— LLinderman
September 14, 2003
Mea, As suggested below, please get a sleep study done. My best friend,
Ginger Brewster, who is on the memorial page of this website, died because
she had the surgery with undiagnosed/untreated sleep apnea. If you wish
you can read her story for more details. She also had a very thick neck
like you are describing which they called a "bullneck". Because
of this they had a very difficult time intubating her, but this is NOT why
she died. The thick neck just made it difficult to intubate her. Please
bring up these concerns to your surgeon and pulmonary doctor and PLEASE get
tested for sleep apnea! If you have any questions please feel free to
e-mail me. Best of luck to you.
— Hackett
September 14, 2003
I had a very thick neck as well. I didnt need a sleep study done at all.
But when the anesthesiologist came to see me in the holding room, he told
me that because I had a short, thick neck that he'd need to intubate me
with a scope while I was awake. I have a very sensitive gag reflex and
told him there was no way he'd be able to get anything down my throat (no
jokes please...already heard them LOL:) so they sprayed some nasty stuff at
the back of my throat, and by the 3rd spray he touched my uvula (the dangly
thing at the back of your throat) with the tongue depressor and I didnt
know he even put anything in my mouth. I was worried that I would freak
when they tried to tube me. However, they give you some really awesome
drugs:) They make you have some kind of amnesia and I dont remember A
THING. So don't stress about it!
— kathy B.
September 15, 2003
I would suggest having your md check your thyroid. It is an organ around
your windpipe and it can become enlarged due to underactivity or other
issues, which will definitly make you feel as if you have a lump in your
throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, etc. Some people get a goiter
that needs removing. It is usually treated by medication, but sometimes
surgery is needed to remove it. Then you are on medication for the rest of
your life. A sleep study will not diagnose thyroid issues. Several blood
tests: tsh, T3, T4, etc are done. Issues related to sleep apnea are
usually enlarged uvula, enlarged soft palate, compression of the pulmonary
system from fat, etc. The actual conditions can be either Hypothyroidism
from too little thyroid, or sometimes it enlarges and causes overactivity
which leads to Graves disease. If your neck is actually larger and you feel
a moveable lump in the front of your neck, see your md about it. I have
had Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) for years and taken synthetic
thyroid for it. It caused no probems with my wls 2 yrs ago and it is not
considered a weight issue disease. You either have it or you don't. It
often runs in families. But be sure to check with your md, he is the only
one who can dx and tx the condition. Good Luck!!
— Karen M.
September 15, 2003
Please get a sleep study done. I agree with Linda Linderman's response.
Find "Ginger Brewster's Story" and see how important it is to
diagnose sleep apnea. You will find her on the memorials page. Best wishes
— Barbara D.
September 15, 2003
Hi everyone-Original poster. Thanks for all your good advice. I was
familiar with Ginger Brewster's story; it moved me to tears again as I
re-read it. In the last year or so, the co-morbs that go along with being
MO have been catching up to me quickly. I feel that my age (39) and weight
are finally catching up to eachother. I feel that I have undiagnosed mild
sleep apnea. When I go to the surgeon's office on Wednesday, I will ask
for a sleep study. So far, they have been very thorough with everything,
maybe it was in the works and I just don't know the date yet? But if I
don't feel they're being cautious enough, my PCP is EXTREMELY thorough, and
I will discuss it with him :o) BTW, if anyone in the Springfield, Mass.
area is looking for a PCP who is supportive of WLS (if he really feels it's
necessary), please E mail me and I'll give you his name :o)
Thanks again, Mea [email protected]
— Mea A.
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