Bronxbubbles

Does anybody know what the system or browser requirements are for the chat board? I click on the tab but nothing loads- it isn't even as if I've gotten to the board and nobody's on, there's just nothing- no chat room or anything. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

The stomach is situated right behind the liver. When somebody is overweight, they hold a lot of fat in the liver and it makes the liver larger. In order for the surgeon to safely access the stomach (and not nick the liver or something) it is a good idea to try and shrink it a little bit by losing some weight.... It's not the most scientific of explanations but it's what my NUT told me, LOL. -Bubbles

I'm also curious about this topic. I just had my upper GI yesterday and the report said that the Dr. found an esophageal hernia in me as well. How big does it have to be for it to need fixing?? I think mine is 1cm....

@ evelynvsg I really don't think waking up during the procedure is common at all. As the anesthesiologist explained it to me- the priority is to make sure you're "sleeping" comfy and ok. She did say that if I was showing signs of having trouble breathing or something, they would lighten up the sedative but if that happened, I would likely only hear and remember voices- if anything at all. I understand how it feels to be scared and unsure- I was positively freaking out before I had mine done yesterday- but it was so easy and quick, you'll be in and out and probably not remember a thing. Good Luck!!

So I almost feel stupid for having been so worried about the endoscopy. I was given propofol (yes, THAT propofol) and dont remember a thing! Yay for happy juice!

So I just scheduled my endoscopy and I asked the nurse on the phone if we were put under general for it- his response was that they use "mild sedation". Now I'm really pooping my pants...

Holy crap this just scared the snot out of me... I have to schedule the endoscopy and I'm worrying about the same thing. I hope to be knocked out, but now I'm wondering if they'll keep me awake too. Well anyways- congratulations on one more step of the process being done! -Bubbles

Having followed many of your posts since I joined the site, your experience actually means a lot to me. Your journey motivates me as I'm sure it motivates many other people here. I'm so glad you're doing well, I'm so happy that you're happy with the decision you made. Your journey makes me want to continue mine all the more. Congratulations and thank you!!! -Bubbles

I'm game!!

It's very nice to meet you!! I'm hoping to be sleeved some time this winter. I also live in Morris Park!!! I'm on the Westchester Square side -Bubbles

Fallen- No, my sleep study was done at I-Sleep... the specific branch is located on Boston Road on the north side of Pelham Parkway. The second round was a little easier because I knew what to expect. I did have to use the CPAP machine all night though and while it wasn't "terrible" it sure wasn't comfortable either. I made sure to schedule this appointment on a day where I had worked so I was really tired when I went in- that made it easier to fall asleep. I'm glad your experience was as good as something like this could be. It's pretty awesome you had a friend there with you. So now- I don't really know what comes next. I don't think needing a CPAP will affect the surgery as many people getting this surgery have problems with sleep apnea anyways... I just hope I don't need to do this again. DAMN YOU BEES WAX!!! Take care, Bubbles

My initial study was done on the 16th of June, and they called me to schedule the second study on the 26th. After the data is gathered, it has to be reviewed by the doctor and they put together a report. So for me, results came in ten days. My second sleep study is tonight. I took friday off of work cause im positive im not getting sleep tonight, lol. Good luck, and def report back when its all done!

It's funny that I replied to this topic today, as the sleep clinic just called me and told me I have to come back for a second study. Why you ask? Because apparently I have mild sleep apnea. I'm completely surprised... I had no idea. I would have put money on it that I didn't have it. I don't really snore, and people who have been around me while I've slept told me that I don't seem to stop breathing to them. Per my study results I stopped breathing an average of seven times per hour, LOL. I guess the sleep study is important after all! The only crummy part is now I have to deal with electrodes and bees wax all over again, pooh.

LOL, this made me laugh!!

Ok, so I was just like you, Fallen, and had no idea what to expect. It's really not that bad, but I did not sleep much. Here's how things went down... It's a bit rambly so I apologize in advance... My appointment was for 7:30. I thought that this was odd because I usually don't go to sleep until about 11:00 so I made sure I had a book with me just in case. When I got there, the room was still being cleaned so I had a seat in the waiting room and they gave me some paper work to fill out. Just like any regular doctor's appointment they need your insurance card, ID, and a copay. When my room was ready they led me down a small hallway (the clinic was not that big) and the room kind of reminded me of a motel room, only a lot cleaner with a couple of machiney looking things on one of the night stands. There was a flat screen TV on the wall (with cable!!) and a full size bed with a comforter and two pillows. The funniest part was that there was a camera aimed straight at the bed. I know that they have to moniter you when you sleep, but it just kind of made me think of an amateur porn set, LOL. On the other night stand was a granola bar and a box apple juice. I was left alone in my room to finish filling out paper work (it wasn't complicated, just a kind of survey asking you about sleep habits) and then i was told to get into my night clothes right away. At this point it was probably about 8:00. I watched tv until about 9:00 when the nurse came in to hook me up to the electrodes. They're pretty similar to EKG electrodes-little sticky pads attached to wires, you have one on your leg, one on your shoulder, a few around your face, under your chin, and on your scalp. ***IMPORTANT*** Make sure you have a hat or scarf or something to wear on your head when leaving the clinic in the morning because they stick the scalp electrodes to your head with bees wax. It's really tough and I was told that it takes about 4 washes to get out (I just saturated my hair with shampoo and let it sit for an hour before washing it out and this seemed to do the trick). They also put two stretchy straps around you, one around your chest and the other around your stomach to monitor your abdominal and chest movements while you sleep. After the electrodes are attached, they hook you up to a small box with a carrying strap. During the night, if you need to move or get up to go to the bathroom, you just carry this little box around with you. When that was all done, I was left alone again to watch tv until about 10:00. At this point the doctor came in and explained to me that if in the night, they determined that I had trouble breathing or apnea during sleep, they would put the CPAP machine on my face (it has a strap that goes around the back of your head to keep it on) but that he wanted me to practice with it before hand to get used to how it felt. He didn't strap it on, but just told me to hold it in place. (I had never used a CPAP before so I didn't know that all it does is gently force air into your nose while you breath, it's not uncomfortable or anything, just a little awkward at first) After practicing with the CPAP for a little while, the doctor came in and told me that they would begin the sleep study soon. I was a little nervous only because I was not tired AT ALL. He turned on the machinery, left the room and then spoke to me through the intercom (In the night if you need anything all you have to do is speak, and they can hear you through the intercom). He had me do a series of "tasks" I'm assuming to calibrate the machinery. For example, he asked me to kick my legs, grind my teeth, pretend to snore, look left and right, look up and down, etc. Once that was done he told me that they were beginning the study, it must have been about 11:00pm. I kept watching tv until about 1:00 because I was so NOT tired, but then decided to try and sleep lest I have to do this whole operation all over again. I tried, and tried, and tried, but I just couldn't sleep. I think it was a combination of having all this stuff attached to you and also just being away from home. The bed was comfortable and all but I just couldn't relax, LOL. I watched the clock every hour and honestly- I didn't think I slept at all. At 5:00am the next day, the doctor said "GOOD MORNING" through the intercom and had me do the same calibration tasks just as before they started the study. He then came in and asked me how I slept. "Horribly" i said, but he told me that I did sleep a bit, and that they got all the information they needed from the little while that I DID sleep. He unhooked all the electrodes, straps, etc. and told me I could get dressed and go! And that, my friend, was that! My only advice is to make sure you don't nap or sleep during the day (i made that mistake) and make sure you are as tired as you can be when you show up to your sleep study site. And because I love this site and love the support everybody gives eachother, I am including the incredibly sexy picture of me hooked up to all the electrodes etc so you can have a good laugh at my expense. I think there should be a thread JUST for sleep study electrode pics (almost like a right of passage or something). Hope this helped- feel free to ask me any questions you may still have.

Hello everybody, I just started my 6 month requirement (UHC insurance requires it) and I'm all antsy and anxious and nervous and excited. I've also become obsessed with all things sleeve- especially this site. I hope the six months goes by fast because this is the only thing I can talk about and I think my family is getting sick of me (although they are very supportive). I wish everybody luck- please check in and let us know how things are going!! -Bubbles

Hello everybody, I also live in the Bronx, Morris Park- but I'm originally from White Plains, NY. I'm in the early stages of my 6 month nutritionist supervised diet- but it's nice to know that there are others in my area going through the same thing. I hope to be getting sleeved this winter with Dr. Dakin at Weill Cornell in Manhattan. -Bubbles

I honestly feel like I've completely lost my mind. I HAVE to know if anybody else has dealt with this... I decided to go forwad with the sleeve after my PCP recommended surgery to help me achieve my long term weight loss goals. I've been overweight my whole life- obese for most of it, and right now I'm at my highest weight ever and absolutely miserable. Like all of you, I've tried other diets to no avail. During my greatest effort, I only lost 30 pounds and quickly regained it plus another 70. Because of my insurance, I have to do the 6 month supervised weight loss so I'm going to be waiting at LEAST 6 or 7 months before this surgery can even happen for me. My problem is that even though it's so far away, I'm completely obsessed with it. It's all I think about- even when I don't want to. I can't concentrate at work- I'm either on here reading posts or just day dreaming. I think of the good, the bad, the future, the past, I cry, then I'm happy... One minute I want to stuff my face and the next I can't eat because I'm so anxious. For example, today I have my first NUT appointment and for some reason I'm so nervous I couldn't even eat a few bites of Breakfast so I could take my pills. It's JUST an appointment... Tomorrow I have my sleep study and when they called me to schedule it the other day I got this huge knot in my stomach. I don't know if I'm excited or scared, I just feel like I'm going insane. I can't stay this way for the next 7 months, LOL. Will this feeling ever go away?? Please- any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bubbles

I want to thank everybody for their comments. I just came home from my first NUT appointment and it was so great!! She gave me lots of "homework" to do and included are all the suggestions people have made: Not drinking during meals, eating my protien then veggies, then carbs... etc. She even had a sample of the unjury chocolate splendor for me! I'm going to try and use my nervous/anxious/excited energy to push myself in the right direction during the months leading up to surgery. I just want to be really successful at this and I know the extra time I have with my NUT is priceless. I still can't help obsessing though- but I guess if I obsess in the right direction then all will be ok!! Thanks again!

LOL... I'm sorry- that just made me laugh out loud at work. I'm not entirely sure what you mean by your "lap"... Is it stomach skin?? And what is it clapping against?? My suggestion would be trying Spanks or something else tight to sort of hold everything in place while you run. -Bubbles

I've been doing a lot of reading and research and in everything I've come across, it says that you must quit smoking before getting any type of bariatric surgery due to the possibility of ulcers. I'm a little surprised and confused because both my doctor and surgeon know that I'm a smoker and have not said anything to me about this... Of course, I'm trying to stop anyways (I have at least 6 months to wait before I can schedule the surgery due to my insurance requiring the supervised diet) so might as well try to get completely healthy before then. I guess my question is has anybody else been told to quit smoking pre-op or has anybody just taken it upon themself to quit? I'm a little bit scared because smoking has been my crutch during other diet attempts and now I won't be able to eat or smoke my blues away, LOL. I know that my health matters more- I guess it would just help to know that others are going through this as well.

Oh good luck!!!!!! My fingers and toes are crossed for you!

Well for a long time I was just lurking around reading posts but I hadn't registered or written anything yet, LOL. Does that make me a creeper??