N E 1 been Banded at Mt. Carmel col, oh

ndwife · May 9, 2008

So, my turn to wait for insurance approval. It was submitted on Monday and as of yesterday it was in for review. They told me it would take 4 days to review it. So, we will see what happens.

Question for the sleep apnea people: How did you get used to having that thing on your face and sleeping with it? I am having terrible anxiety with it and just can not do it. I need to in order to have the doctor sign off for surgery.

lynlynkr- just an fyi- Dr. Choban wants you on your cpap or bi-pap machine for 6 weeks before your surgery. If you do have the sleep apnea, get your follow-up appointment schedule for 4 weeks from now. This is what I did. Also, if you have to get the machine and such, make sure you get the same mask you had on the second night. I did not get the correct one and it has held me up for 4 weeks.

TIA for the sleep apnea recs.

SpecialK · May 9, 2008

So, my turn to wait for insurance approval. It was submitted on Monday and as of yesterday it was in for review. They told me it would take 4 days to review it. So, we will see what happens.
Question for the sleep apnea people: How did you get used to having that thing on your face and sleeping with it? I am having terrible anxiety with it and just can not do it. I need to in order to have the doctor sign off for surgery.

lynlynkr- just an fyi- Dr. Choban wants you on your cpap or bi-pap machine for 6 weeks before your surgery. If you do have the sleep apnea, get your follow-up appointment schedule for 4 weeks from now. This is what I did. Also, if you have to get the machine and such, make sure you get the same mask you had on the second night. I did not get the correct one and it has held me up for 4 weeks.

TIA for the sleep apnea recs.

Hi NDWife -- Yep it is an adjustment to be sure but hang in there and remember to just try it each night a little more. I found that the first week I had my own machine at home, I'd try to keep it on for at least 2 hours while laying down, then work up to 4 hours or half way thru the night before I took it off my face and gave up, and then to get to where I would wake up to the alarm going off and I had made it through the whole night. I do still know I have it on my face when I start trying to go to sleep and I do still have to deal with the hose when I turn over but I was really surprised at how fast I adjusted to the idea of having to keep my mouth closed so that the air coming into the mask could do its job.

Hope that helps. Just don't give up because they say a good percentage of people do. It was enough for me to know that the oxygen being deprived from my brain could be a cumulative effect on both my lung capacity, heart, and brain - clear mental state later in life to know that I better accept that this was something I needed to do to be healthy.

My friend who went on a cruise with me said the hum of the machine didn't bother her once she got used to it and I have friends who say their spouse likewise is very supportive and accepting of the hum of the machine at home.

lynlynkr · May 9, 2008

:thumbs_up:Thanks for the information on the apnea process, that was insightful. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I will be rewired on Sunday with the apnea mask. this is going to be tricky since I am clostrophobic.

ndwife · May 12, 2008

I heard today that I have been approved though my insurance. Wow! What a relief not having to go through a denial. Charlene said that I had all of my ducks in a row. Looking forward to getting my band date.

SpecialK · May 12, 2008

Congratulations NDWife! Hopefully you're a May-flower!

wildercrews · May 12, 2008

NDwife, congrats! Yours went smoothly. It took me 10 months to get approval. It was the physican 6 month diet notes that was the hold up. I was banded April 14 and everything is good. No problems.

suecasb · May 15, 2008

How is everyone doing with that first fill? I started out doing well but am back to being hungry again.

Thinner me · May 15, 2008

So glad to hear you got insurance approval ndwife. Not long now!

Congrats Joy!! Your just a few days away from a brand new you.

nurse niki · May 15, 2008

Congrats ND! That is such great news!

TM--any news yet? I am keeping you in my prayers!

Sue--The restriction I felt the first few days is gone. I am ready for another fill. I am hungry in the afternoon/evenings and eat way too much at dinner. I think if I could slow dinner down, I would start losing again! I go for my second fill on May 29th, and I am excited to see what that does for me!

SpecialK · May 15, 2008

Sue & Niki - yep I'm about the same place as the two of you. Able to be pretty good with just a coffee and 60 calorie Dannon yogurt or 1 pkt of Weight Control oatmeal *(about 170 calories) until about 10:30 and then I do pretty well with a low calorie lunch and then hunger builds during the day. I have to really keep an eye on things but I'm hovering around 1000 calories a day now. Not losing much but I feel it in my clothes so I'm happy. I'm also looking forward to my 2nd fill on June 10th -- I'm envious that Niki got hers faster than me... I want a full report on how its helping.

Thinner me · May 15, 2008

Hey Niki~ thanks for the prayers, Lord knows I can always use those.... I met with Dr. Miller on Tue. He is so nice. I'm just waiting on that cardio report. I know they are tired of hearing my voice everyday, but it's been 3 weeks ago today that I had the echo, and I know it doesn't take that long to get a report back!!! That clearance is the only thing holding up my submiting to insurance. ARRRGGGGG!!!

Thinner me · May 15, 2008

Kathy~ I just sent you a pm

gregw · May 15, 2008

I guess I better check in with the Shamrocks. Sounds like my fill is lasting a little longer than Sue & Kathy's. It's not quite as tight in the morning as it was initially and I'm starting to be able to eat a little more for lunch & dinner. But in general, I'm still pretty happy with it. I'm on a kick now where I get a small Wendy's chili and add one or two fat-free hot dogs (cut up). That gives me a little over 300 calories and I can go about 5 hours before starting to get hungry again. My biggest problem is the same as always - sitting around in the evenings and wanting to eat during every commercial - but that's not because I'm hungry. That's a mental thing I need to overcome - and I'm working on it. The good news - I am still losing. My 2nd fill is scheduled for June 5th.

Edited May 16, 2008 by gregw

lynlynkr · May 16, 2008

Yippie Skippy I get my Cpap stuff Friday. My follow up appointment is May 29. I see Dr. Choban on May 27th.

I am not sure how this is going to work wearing this things, but like all of you; I will do what I have to do to get to the goal!

Do anyone really see a difference in their energy after Cpap?:biggrin:

nurse niki · May 16, 2008

ya, uh, ok, so when I called for my fill appt, they asked when I wanted it...and I said that last week of May. I know I am a bad girl, but I knew I was not getting much restriction, so I went for it. Shhhh, don't tell anyone. :-)