RoachBug

I feel for you. I have my pre-op next week and hopefully my surgery date shortly after. I am unfortunately in the same boat as you, congestive heart failure here. I am on quite a few heart meds but assume that I will be finding a way to keep up with them after surgery. My Heart Failure Specialist is the one that suggested bariatric surgery, as a means to drop the extra weight to help bump me up on the transplant list.

I met with the endocrinologist at OSU (Dr. O'Donnel). He reviewed my blood glucose logs from the past month and said everything was in the normal range. He said after surgery I would likely be off the insulin and oral meds all together, which was good news. I then had another round of blood work. Today I received a message via MyChart. My A1C had dropped from 10.1 to 7.3. The fructosomine test (shows a more current reading than the A1C) hadn't came back from the lab yet but he said that it would be even lower. He said that he had passed on his approval to move ahead with surgery. I received a call from the case manager a short time latter. She said everything was good to go and she had passed on the information to my surgeon. She said I should be getting a call this week to schedule my Pre Admission testing and surgery date. I am definitely psyched that everything is finally going forward instead of two steps back!

I was sort of surprised today when I looked at my mail. I received my approval letter from Medical Mutual. Being that I was told a couple of weeks ago that I would need to get my A1c down to 8 or below prior to surgery, I assumed that the paperwork would not be submitted until after. I started on insulin the day after the conversation with the doc and since then the blood glucose readings have gone down to a normal range. She said that the tests that they used to use prior to the current A1c, gave a more current score verses than the one that is now used (which scores over the past 3 months). I go back on the 27th of this month for the test, crossing my fingers that my score is within range. In the meantime I have been attempting to cut out all sugar and as much carbs as possible. I guess I will see how it goes!

Just waiting on my surgery date here ( everything taken care of and insurance already approved), hopefully it will be soon. Live in Marion, Ohio and going thru Ohio State (Morehouse).

Bah! You are being way to hard on yourself! You look cute as a button in your fur ushanka hat ( think that is what they are called).

I will refrain from making any snide comments on title.... I will refrain from making any snide comments on title.... Lol!

Dr. Noria, Ohio State University (Morehouse)

Nothing for you to worry about! You will be given the MMPI 2 (Minneapolis Multi Phase Personality Inventory test), then have a sit down with the Psychiatrist. Took the same test prior to the Police Academy and then again before being hired as a Deputy (many years ago). From what I remembered, seems like it has not changed a great deal. What stuck in my mind is how they would ask the same question repeatedly, just worded slightly different.

Central Ohio (OSU Morehouse)

Grats! Looking great!

Well according to the BMI charts I should be around 150-160. I have problems even thinking about being that weight! I actually have three goals that I have set for myself. First goal would be 220lbs., which is what my Heart Failure Specialist set as the weight that will move me up on the list for transplant. Second goal would be 200lbs., which is about where I was when I was in college and went through the Police Academy. Lastly would be 175lbs., which was about where I was when I was in High School. Good Lord, about 105lbs. seems like a lot to loose but I am determined!

So, today was my last Wellness class (all pre requirements met)... Well last week I was zapped by the ICD twice, at which time the doc doubled my dosage of Coreg to help the AFIB which set off the Pacemaker/Defibulator. This morning I was awoken by what I thought was my alarm but turned out to be the warning tune of the ICD. I send in a reading and wait for a response from the Pacemaker Clinic. While waiting to hear back, I receive a call from the bariatric coordinator, whom informs me that upon reviewing my labs (from December), I was Vitamin D deficient and My A1C level was at 10. She advised that I would need to have the A1C brought down to at least 8 before proceeding with the sleeve, which knocks me back another 2-3 months. Not a happy camper. Shortly after taking this call, I received the return call from the Pacemaker Clinic (also at OSU). I was asked to come in for a in-house reading and adjustment, being that they were not quite sure what the warning was for. Since I had already planned to be down at OSU for my last class, I went down a couple hours early to check in with the clinic. Just after registering, I broke out in a cold sweat, got tunnel vision, and felt like I was going to pass out. I had thought my blood sugar bottomed out, which has happened before. In the clinic they tested me and glucose was only slightly high, so they checked my BP which turned out to be 51/40 ( which explains the near passing out thing). Meanwhile the tech was also checking the ICD. I was told that the warning which woke me up was the "Low Battery" warning. I am constantly paced, so instead of the 5-7 years between replacement, I have averaged about 5 years. My current ICD which will have to be replaced is just shy of 3 years old! I was in the ER for about 8 hours before my blood pressure improved to 90/60 (which is just slightly lower than norm). The dosage increase had bottomed out the BP, which explains why I had been feeling so crappy the last couple days. I was feeling better and did not want to spend the night at the hospital, so I was eventually released. Now while waiting for my A1C to drop to the required level for surgery, I get to have the ICD replaced, and can not take my last Wellness class until this time next month....BAH! I just do not understand why the coordinator waited 3 months to tell me that the A1C reading was too high (which I agree it is), which throws me back an additional 3 months. Besides needing to loose weight to move up on the transplant list, the surgery was also a means to help control the diabetes. Has anyone else had their surgery postponed until A1C was at a certain level?

My general doc did a complete workup about a month ago. When I went for my final weigh-in, he said that the A1C was at 10. So I have started on insulin, hopefully between the diet and insulin it will get me down to where I need to be. He said that he has had a few other patients who have had bariatric surgery and that this was the first time he had heard of this requirement. BTW: I apologize for the wall of text above. Was just a frustrating day.

Anyone whom has had rotator cuff surgery can definitely tell you it is no joke. By far the most painful and slowest in terms of recovery of any surgery I have had. It took me about a year before it felt healed and doubt it will ever feel totally recovered. Scary thing is that the surgeon said, it is a surgery that often needs to be repeated down the road. Most of my damage was caused from arthritis. Bursa was detached, bicep was torn and detached, and the arthritis was scraped off. It's something that is always on the mind when working out.

Just picked up a Garmin VivoSmart, had planned on the FibitHR but had a change of heart. Really liked that the VivoSmart is Water proof and had a couple more features to boot. That being said.. Is it wrong when you are 1200 steps short of your goal, to let the chihuahua pup wear a nifty new collar for a bit?

I was directed towards bariatric surgery by my Heart Failure Specialist, as a means to drop weight and improve eligibility for transplant (which in my case is definitely in my future). Over the past 10 years I have had 2 heart attacks, 11 stents, a pacemaker/defibulator, and several caths. Though I do not think a cardiologist would deny your surgery (for the obvious benefits), I would not think that the surgery would be something that he would rush into clearing prior to establishing that you could handle the surgery and recovery first (which could take some time). I wish the best for you and hope the clearance comes in a timely manner. I will be finishing up my pre-op requirements at the end of March and hope to have surgery soon after.

The surgery was first suggested to me by my Heart Failure Specialist, as a means of getting my weight down to help "move up" on the list for transplant. When I spoke with my PCP, I was pleasantly surprised when he was also on board with the decision. I have not gone around telling everyone about my plans at this point (waiting on the surgery date, hopefully sometime in April). I have however spoken with a few friends, whom have also had bariatric surgery. With the exception of one, all have been supportive and offered help with anything needed. For me, it's a personal decision and frankly no one else's business. I am sure closer to surgery I will share the news with some more family and friends but I will cross that bridge when the time comes.

I just signed up to the forum (though I have been ghosting for the last month or so), so I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself. I'm 47 years old and have struggled with my weight for most of my life. I was a Deputy Sheriff when I had my first heart attack at the age of 37, have a history of heart related problems on both sides of the family, though you never think it will actually happen to you. History of problems or not, I know that being over weight does not help in the least. After numerous stents/caths, I ended up having a Pacemaker/Defibulator implanted about a year latter. Due to the numerous restrictions, along with the ongoing heart problems, I ended up taking medical retirement. Another heart attack and a few years latter, I was advised by my Heart Failure Specialist that I would be placed on the transplant list. Due to the amount of need versus the availability, my doctor advised that I needed to loose weight in order to move up on the list. With the heart problems (ejection fraction rating of 23), the ability of activity is limited. The doctor suggested that I possibly look into Bariatric Surgery to help loose the excess weight. I spoke with my insurance company (Medical Mutual) to learn the steps I would need to take. I met with Dr. Noria at OSU and have been working on meeting the requirements since 11/15. I should have all my requirements taken care of by 3/16, hopefully the surgery will be soon after. Had a stomache scope done last week and found that I had gerd and a hiatal hernia (last of which the doctor said would be repaired at time of surgery). As the date draws closer, I am definitely excited and a tad scared at the same time. Going through the posts on the forum has been a great source of information and has helped me figure out what to expect. I only hope I can be as successful as so many of the members here have been. I am sure in the coming weeks I will have questions for everyone. Thanks in advance for the guidance.