Melodica

I've told my husband, father and friends. I've gotten reactions from happiness for me to fear and warnings to think about it a lot because it's dangerous and they know someone who had the surgery and had complications, etc etc. I guess they don't realize that I have been thinking about this for over 10 years now. None of the people that I have told are majorly overweight like me so they don't understand my decision. You would think friends and family and people who love you would want you to be healthier. I don't understand the stigma attached to it.

My surgery date (VSG) is set for 2/25 (one day before my birthday!) with Dr. Schillingford in Boca Raton, FL if all goes well with the pre-op testing the day before. It's going to be an agonizing 11 hour drive down there and back, so I really hope everything is good. My husband and I are going to go down a day before the pre-op testing so I can take a dip in the ocean. Trying to turn it into a sort of mini vacation, but I'm so nervous!

Oooh, thanks! I'll definitely have to try that! I've never been to Boca Raton (or south/eastern Florida) so we're thinking about going down a few days early and having some fun on the beach before the surgery. Definitely good to hear about the puree/liquid thing... I was NOT looking forward to that. I'll certainly contact you with any questions and I'll let you know how it goes! I'm hoping to go down near the end of next month. It's so exciting!

Is the entire $10,500 due up front or can you make payments? Call Nancy the front office manager she can fill you in. I know it had to be paid in full on the day of surgery. You could probably set a date with her and make prepayments to fit your budget and when it is paid you will have your surgery. He really is a great surgeon and Nancy is fantastic. Goodle Dr. Shillingford and you will get his number. I actually called the two cheapest options (outside of Mexico) that were posted. Here's a little info for those looking for a cheaper surgery. Dr. Borland's office (New Iberia, Louisiana) - $9,800, but doesn't include the lab work, EKG or chest x-rays. Payment is required before surgery in the form of 4 cashier's checks. The original consultation with the doctor is done over the phone - you don't see him until surgery. The lady didn't give me much more information because apparently she was busy. Dr. Schillingford's office (Boca Raton, Florida) - $10,500, but includes all the lab work, x-rays and EKG as well as a 2 night stay in the hospital. Payment is required before surgery and they take pretty much all forms of payment including credit cards and Care Credit. The consultation is directly with the doctor and after that, you can go ahead and get the lab work and such done and if all is well, they will schedule surgery for the next day, which is great for those of us coming from out of state. Nancy (who was very sweet and helpful) also said the surgery was performed at a "real" hospital and it's one of the Bariatric Centers of Excellence. After weighing the two, I'm going with Dr. Schillingford. It seems like a better value and it gives me a good chance to dip my toes in the surf before my appointment! Thanks to all for the info and suggestions!

Is the entire $10,500 due up front or can you make payments?

I actually got the sleep studies done before I decided on surgery because I was never sleeping well. I only slept for 3-4 hours the night of my first study, so they had me come back to test with the CPAP (when my husband was able to get the one night split study). I didn't sleep well either time. The only reason I slept more and somewhat better the second time is because I took three Elavil. It's so uncomfortable! I have apnea, but apparently it's very mild and the sleep doc thinks weight loss should completely resolve it. However, I just CANNOT adjust to the CPAP. I've tried and it's the most miserable sleeping time that I have. I always wake up and yank it off and gulp in air. I feel so claustrophobic with it on. My pressure was 14, so I was told I couldn't use the nasal pillows and breathing out feels so difficult. I ended up going back to the sleep doctor and he set me up to auto titrate for five nights. Problem is, I'm having trouble wearing the thing for those five nights. I wore it for 4.5 hours the other night and was miserable. I know I need to complete the other four nights to see if the pressure changes, but it's so hard because I feel awful the next day - much worse than when I don't use it. At this point, I dread going to sleep when I plan on using it. Biggest issue for me is that the surgeon I decided on REQUIRES a letter of compliance. At this point, I can't be compliant because I can't wear it. I don't know what to do. I can't not get surgery because of that stupid thing when surgery would likely cure the issue, but I just don't know if I can wear it! Anybody else having this issue? Guess another question... anyone know of doctors near Alabama that DON'T require compliance?

I was the complete same way. I was denied by my insurance(Aetna). I had my pcp to write a letter saying that I couldn't exercise or anything because of my back and she asked them to reconsider my case. I have arthritis, degenerative disc disorder, and bulging disc as well all in my lower back. I got all my medical records from her as well and sent it in. I also wrote a letter. With all that my denial was reversed to approved! My biggest worry is that I don't have any diagnosed conditions that keep me from exercise. The weight makes my knees and back hurt, so it's more difficult, but no ruptures or disc issues. Bout the only thing I have that would affect my weight is hypothyroidism. I take medication for it, but losing weight is a lot more difficult even with that. Funny thing is, I wasn't gaining weight like this before I started the diet, but I also began taking amitriptyline (a low dosage for pain) the same month I started this. I began researching the medications I was taking after I kept gaining and saw that one of the side effects of that medication is weight gain - a lot of people said they gained 20lbs or more no matter what they ate. I talked with my PCP about it, but he doesn't think my dosage is high enough for it. However, he's very supportive of my decision for surgery, so I know he'd be willing to do whatever he could if I get denied. I just hope it doesn't come to that!

Congratulations! I always love hearing the approval stories! I hope everything goes well with you. You mentioned something that I'm worried about though... I've gained weight EVERY SINGLE MONTH of my 6 month diet (I go for visit #6 this month). Thing is, I'm following the diet. Cut calories, carbs, sweets, trying to exercise (when my back/knee pain permit), but I'm gaining weight. In fact, I've hit my all time high. I talked with my PCP about it because I'm afraid it will lead to a denial for me - he understands my fear and even wrote on the note to send to the insurance company that I'm gaining despite compliance with my weight loss plan. I can only hope that helps when the insurance company is reviewing my info. Has anyone else gained weight and got approved?

Hey Woo woo, Thanks for the response! That's a bummer about the pillows, though I'm glad she wasn't telling me stories. I actually started with the mask that just goes over the nose. It's not NEARLY as claustrophobic as the full face one, but I still feel like I can't breathe out. I read some articles about the high pressure sometimes interrupting sleep and causing more issues than the apnea itself. Maybe my pressure is just too darn high. I've often wondered how I could cheat. Like wear the mask while I'm awake reading in bed for a few hours or something to trick it. Sad, isn't it? Hey Sydney Susan, Didn't get the notification that you'd posted until after I sent the last message! Thanks for all the info! I think the ramp up time on mine is 40 minutes as well. Generally when I lay down, I will read or something for a bit and then go to sleep. I don't put the mask on until then. However, three hours later (I've never been able to wear it longer than three hours), I will wake up and pull it off and gulp in air. Feels like I'm suffocating. I'll check my machine and see if there's another setting for temp. I don't *think* there is, but it's worth a look. The noise of the machine itself isn't the issue for me. It's the noise of the air blowing at my nose. I actually sleep with ear plugs all the time (light sleeper) and a box fan, so I'm used to that muffled white noise sound, but for some reason the air from the machine is highly annoying. Thankfully I usually sleep on my side (I always begin sleep on my side), though usually when I wake up and yank the mask off, I'm on my back. Unfortunately I don't know of a way to make myself stay in one position while sleeping. I really wanted the CPAP to give me a better night of sleep, but I certainly haven't seen that yet.

Woo woo, My situation is almost exactly like yours. I wake up multiple times per night for bathroom visits and have trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep with it on (even using the ramp up feature). Like you, I don't like the smell or the sound of the air. In my case it also feels like I can't breathe out through my nose. There's too much air/pressure coming in, even with it set to adjust when breathing out. I don't like that the air is warm either (whether I turn on the humidification or not). I tend to feel suffocated if the air in the room is not cool. I was interested in the nasal pillows, but when I visited for my month follow-up the tech told me that my pressure is high (14), so the pillows would give me nose bleeds. She gave me the whole face mask (like that's supposed to help with a claustrophobic feeling?) Is your pressure high? If so, I think she might have been full of crap. The thing that stumped me the most is that the doctor mentioned that I have mild apnea, yet the pressure is high. Seems kinda backwards to me. I'm also up for any suggestions. I'm supposed to wear this thing four hours per night and I can barely get past two and when I use it, I sleep even worse than I do without it! ~Melody

I have Blueshield of CA (PPO) - not sure if it's the same, but the way our plan is set up is with a high deductible ($1500 for my husband and I) and then after that is met, insurance covers 80% of the cost. It's going to cost me a pretty penny out of pocket, but it will be worth it.

My surgeon said exactly this. It's his requirement, not insurance, so I'm guessing it depends on your doctors. Personally I'm having trouble with the CPAP, because my pressure is pretty high and the masks (I've tried two different ones) make me feel really claustrophobic.