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Thanks everyone so much for the great words of advice and encouragement! I forget what a truly kind and supportive community this is... I talked with my case manager about getting a 2nd opinion and she said that I'm so close to being done, that this will probably be resolved before I have a chance to get in with another pulmonologist. She said she does want to meet with me on Tuesday for my final medical clearance appointment, in spite of the apnea issue. If it's still a hold-up when I talk to her, I'll ask the surgeon if he'd be willing to do it anyway... At this point, I've decided to just hang in there and focus on what is under my control: exercising, trying to lose weight pre-op, etc...thank you all again!!

I hope you guys don't mind if I vent for a moment. After several months of testing, specialist visits, nutrition classes, and lifestyle classes; tomorrow was supposed to be my final medical clearance. It turns out that everyone gave the go-ahead except for my pulmonologist. My lung function test was fine, but she wanted me to have a sleep study done because I have "a small throat". Well, that sleep study came back with 9 apnea episodes in an hour (which from what I can tell is barely a number worth treating), and now she won't give me clearance until I have another sleep study done and/or medical equipment approved by my insurance to treat the apnea. What's especially frustrating to me is that she's holding up my surgery due to unbelievably mild sleep apnea, when the weight loss from the surgery will probably cure the apnea. I was supposed to be done with everything and now there's nothing I can do, but be in a holding pattern until this gets resolved... Thanks for letting me get this off my chest...