So, I went to a doctor's appointment, and my Hg A1C has gone up to an unacceptable level. My pcp wanted to start me on a diabetes medication that also causes some weight loss. As I did more research into this drug, I saw that it can cause debilitating nausea. It is also pretty short acting, and would not deal with my high fasting blood sugars.
As I thought about the prospect in years to come of trying medication after medication to control my diabetes, I went back to the idea of CURING this disease - via the lap-band surgery. I am right at a 35 BMI with comorbidities and I want to do this for my health.
I got up my courage and made an appointment to see the surgeon on Friday. I am excited and nervous, and ready to begin the long haul of satisfying the requirements of my health insurance company. My husband is going to the appointment with me, and will learn all about this with me.
I have put off a decision about which diabetes medication to use until I talk to the surgeon. In the meantime, I am drinking lots of water, trying to eat low carb, and getting out on my bicycle. I had really let my blood sugar get out of control.
I am being compliant. I went and had an esophogram, and just to top the day off, went and had my first mammogram in a couple of years too.
THEN - I had a sleep study. I have been sleeping 11 or so hours a day, and still not having any energy. My FP kept saying that most people don't get enough sleep. He kept asking me all the sleepiness questions. I am not abnormally sleepy during the day (most of the time) but that's because of how much time I give myself to sleep.
Anyhow, they wired me up like Frankenstein, and surprisingly, I fell asleep. Had the A/C down to 65 deg. but fell asleep on my side. Eventually, I felt a touch and I startled awake. It was the tech, saying she had called me a couple times, but I didn't wake up. She said I had been sleeping really well on my side, without any real apnea. She wanted me to sleep on my back. I tried, but couldn't get back to sleep. She asked if I wanted a pillow under my knees or a drink of water. I said water would be good (I had been really thirsty). Also, my bladder was bursting, it actually hurt, so I got up and pee'd. Then tried to sleep on my back again. I kept wondering how long it would be before she popped in again and - sure enough - she was back, offering me a sleeping pill, which I took gladly since I was not on call. Then I slept.
She took mercy on me and let me sleep until 7AM (I think that meant she worked overtime), then got me up and told me that I had had a LOT of hypopneas (decreased breathing, then decreased O2 sats) and that she wasn't the one to decide, but she thought I would be called back for another study and CPAP titration.
A couple days later I got the call, and I am scheduled for another sleep study in June. I can't say I'm looking forward to all the masks and machines, but I am looking forward to being rested during the day.
I also hope that the lap-band surgery and weight loss will make it so that I don't need to be on CPAP for a terribly long time.
I sucked it up, and called my FP's office for the first "physician supervised weight loss" visit, and made a seperate appt. for a Pap smear. I have to practice what I preach.
