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...

I totally understand, I just had a setback in my journey, but I am not going to let that stop me, and you shouldn't let this get you down we will both get past our obstacles

Call your surgeon. My sleep study was similar and my surgeon went ahead with the procedure. He said I can go back if the weight loss didn't fix the problem

You haven't submitted the paperwork for approval yet........so go to a different pulmonologist.

So frustrating! Keep the faith.

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!!

Wow, I feel for you. Especially because WLS resolves sleep apnea in a huge number of cases. Sending hugs.

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...

You are not alone, I went through the same thing! I was approved without the pulmonary dr clearance, but it did hold my process! Be patient it will all work out! I was just sleeved this past Wednesday! I was so frustrated as well, but make sure you use the cpap machine, and the time will go by fast!

I don't want to scare you, but I have a friend who had sleep apnea problems, but he didn't have a cpac machine, well after waking up fine from surgery he went to a coma because lack of oxygen in his brain due to apnea or pulmonary function. So way a little more and make sure you are cleared from all the doctors.

I don't want to scare you, but I have a friend who had sleep apnea problems, but he didn't have a cpac machine, well after waking up fine from surgery he went to a coma because lack of oxygen in his brain due to apnea or pulmonary function. So way a little more and make sure you are cleared from all the doctors.

Were you're friends problems mild like the OP?

Sounds like theirs were severe.

My doc only excused mine because they were mild

They were not severe, he was never prescribed a CPac machine, but he knew he had a mild sleep apnea. I'm not sure his numbers.