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?

I am so sorry to hear about your unexpected trip to ER and the A1C stuff, but I think you need to be heart healthy as well for the surgery. I had tachycardia post-op and was held late the day after surgery. The doctor checked me out thoroughly before sending me home to ensure I didn't have a blood clot. Everything happens for a reason.

I do agree though about the A1C stuff - that was the office not following up with you and you could've been working on getting it lower the last 3 months.

Did they check your A1Cs while you were there?

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.

Edited March 24, 201610 yr by RoachBug