Excited to be ill?

2008er · September 19, 2007

Ok, so I hope this doesn't come up when I do my psych eval, but I feel like I just got the best news yesterday - I went to a sleep disorder Dr. and he pre-diagnosed me with sleep apnea. It was all I could do to hold back a big, beaming smile!

He has to do the definitive sleep study test, but he was pretty sure I have it.

So why am I happy to be diagnosed with something so serious?

I'm a low BMI-er (36 right now) and I'vve been sooo nervous about not being approved. My ins co will, however, approve me if I have sleep apnea.

There is some seriously messed up psychological stuff that goes with this banding thing...yowza. Very strange, but real. I'm reading all these threads about being afraid to be thin, concern about not eating more of the foods that are currently killing us, all kinds of stuff (and I'm there with y'all - we have a nice roomy boat here). And now this. I feel a little nuts (well chewwed, of course!), but I guess that's just the path.

I need to accept my feelings and reactions as they are, and not try to judge them. I think that'll be a big step toward recovery for me anyway, since I'll not have food to psh those "unacceptable" reactions and feelings down once I get banded...

Sorry for the ramble - just had to get it out. :rolleyes:

~kat

bellesmommy · September 19, 2007

I went for the sleep study on my own before I tried to get approved for the lapband surgery becuase I am a low bmi-er also. I got diagnosed with apnea and ran smiling all the way to the surgeons office. My insurance approved me because of the comorbidity and i am 9 days post-op. I know exactly how you feel.

Christine

DLew · September 19, 2007

Hi...I am also a low BMI-er. I have sleep apnea (been through the entire sleep study, what an experience) and reflus. So far, my insurance has approved the nutritionist appointments and my surgeon appointments. I have the pysch testing to complete and then meet with my surgeon to get my surgery date. Hopefully it'll all come together. Do you have a surgery date yet? If not, when do you think it will happen. I am wondering about the pysch appointment. What's it all about. Nobody is answering my question to this? Hope to hear from somebody who has already had the pysch evaluation. Eager to know what to expect.

2008er · September 19, 2007

Nope, no surgery date yet - I went to the mandatory orientation last week, and I checked w/my ins to make sure I could be covered (I can, but need co-morbidities). My ins requires a PC dr referral, and I have that for both the surgeon and the sleep apnea study (I, too, pursued the sleep thing before getting official approval - I'm anxious to get going and figured they'd put me through it anyway - no time like the present).

My surgeon's office should be calling today to set up my surgical consult appt, which I have to do prior to doing the psych and nutritionist.

I'm hoping the psych is just a cursory thing, since my regular therapist supports my decision and is ready to recommend me (but I know the surgeon likes his own folks) - I'm hoping my therapist can just chat with their psychologist and make nice to save me some time (wishful thinking) :rolleyes:

I'm bummed I have to sit through the nutritionist, too, since I (and I'm sure many here feel the same way) feel like I could WRITE a book on nutrition...I just have trouble, you know, following the rules

i'm so so SO ready to rock and roll with this. I already picked a surgery date of 11/26 (NOT that I've been asked or have any idea if that's realistic, but it works with my schedule, don't you know...). I flip-flop between "hey, I've been fat for years, a few more months won't hurt me" and "LET'S GO!!!!! Not even ONE MORE DAY of this!!!".

yeah, I think I need to do some "head work" as they say...

~kat

lovekatz1975 · September 19, 2007

I did the sleep apena test back in March, 2007. Worst night's sleep of my life. I kept pulling the probes off. I don't have sleep apnea, but my doctor said that I "snore impressively".

DLew · September 19, 2007

I couldn't have agreed more. I actually go around 3 1/2 hours of sleep. I felt like I was in intensive care hooked up to everything. It took me 2 days to recover from that night. I do have sleep apnea. A like my insurance BCBS, since I have a lower BMI (35), they require an another health issue. I have been researching this surgery since the summer. It was recommended to me by my PCP. So glad he mentioned it. It's been a lot of doctors appointments and co-pays. I also have a $2,000 deductible. I'll keep you informed of my status and surgery date. Stay in touch.

DLew · September 19, 2007

I had the nutritionist appointment already. It was simple. They just explain the diet for the banding and stress the importance of following the doctors orders. I will also go back for another appointment after surgery and then one more time. My insurance approved me for 3-visits. Just waiting for pysch appointment setup. I'll share that with you becuase I am quite curious to know what they discuss. Taklk to you soon.

jenncore · September 19, 2007

Hi, i had my psych evaluation yesterday. It took about 2 1/2 hours. The first 40 minutes of the evaluation was spent going over my paper work and talking about the differant weightloss attempts that I have had and why I think the lapband will work when I failed with other weightloss attempts. The rest of the eval was spent filling out questionaires. It's really a tool that they use to make sure you are ready for the band and that you have been honest about your information i.e you don't do drugs and don't drink excessively. Your evaluation may not be as invasive but I was told that in MA. this is a standard thing they now have to do with everyone who wants to have WLS. I hope I was helpful. Just be honest when you go in and you will do great!

Jenn