RE: [gastric-bypass-support-Kaiser-patients] Re: Thanks to Everyone

[Guest guest]

Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times.

My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara?

-----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called "The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old> because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times.

My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away.

Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara?

-----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called "The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old> because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

Hi Sun,

You are doing the right thing by pushing for that

sleep study NOW. I seem to recall some time ago that

some people on here were required to use their CPAP

for three months before their WLS. Sleep apnea causes

severe strain on the cardiovascular system. I don't

want you to suffer complications on the table or

during your immediate recovery. Push push push for

that sleep study. I had mine done through Kaiser

Walnut Creek. I had to wait ten months from the time

of referral, but it would have been eight if I had

been able to do the study during the week. Since I

work nights, I had to wait for a weekend date.

Best of luck,

Laurie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Sun,

You are doing the right thing by pushing for that

sleep study NOW. I seem to recall some time ago that

some people on here were required to use their CPAP

for three months before their WLS. Sleep apnea causes

severe strain on the cardiovascular system. I don't

want you to suffer complications on the table or

during your immediate recovery. Push push push for

that sleep study. I had mine done through Kaiser

Walnut Creek. I had to wait ten months from the time

of referral, but it would have been eight if I had

been able to do the study during the week. Since I

work nights, I had to wait for a weekend date.

Best of luck,

Laurie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Sun,

You are doing the right thing by pushing for that

sleep study NOW. I seem to recall some time ago that

some people on here were required to use their CPAP

for three months before their WLS. Sleep apnea causes

severe strain on the cardiovascular system. I don't

want you to suffer complications on the table or

during your immediate recovery. Push push push for

that sleep study. I had mine done through Kaiser

Walnut Creek. I had to wait ten months from the time

of referral, but it would have been eight if I had

been able to do the study during the week. Since I

work nights, I had to wait for a weekend date.

Best of luck,

Laurie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Sun,

You are doing the right thing by pushing for that

sleep study NOW. I seem to recall some time ago that

some people on here were required to use their CPAP

for three months before their WLS. Sleep apnea causes

severe strain on the cardiovascular system. I don't

want you to suffer complications on the table or

during your immediate recovery. Push push push for

that sleep study. I had mine done through Kaiser

Walnut Creek. I had to wait ten months from the time

of referral, but it would have been eight if I had

been able to do the study during the week. Since I

work nights, I had to wait for a weekend date.

Best of luck,

Laurie

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I don't know about Santa Clara Kaiser, Dawn, but I have a friend who went to Kaiser Pleasanton, and they gave her a "sleep study unit" for her to ake home and she was diagnosed with that. I am also going to ask for a referral. It is important that our bodies are getting enough oxygen before we undergo such major surgery. It can cause unwanted complications if we don't! Mike & Dawn wrote: Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se

la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times. My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long

road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away. Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone

have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara? -----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you

for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called

"The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal

crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was

nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you

will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old>

because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

I don't know about Santa Clara Kaiser, Dawn, but I have a friend who went to Kaiser Pleasanton, and they gave her a "sleep study unit" for her to ake home and she was diagnosed with that. I am also going to ask for a referral. It is important that our bodies are getting enough oxygen before we undergo such major surgery. It can cause unwanted complications if we don't! Mike & Dawn wrote: Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se

la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times. My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long

road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away. Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone

have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara? -----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you

for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called

"The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal

crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was

nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you

will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old>

because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

I don't know about Santa Clara Kaiser, Dawn, but I have a friend who went to Kaiser Pleasanton, and they gave her a "sleep study unit" for her to ake home and she was diagnosed with that. I am also going to ask for a referral. It is important that our bodies are getting enough oxygen before we undergo such major surgery. It can cause unwanted complications if we don't! Mike & Dawn wrote: Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se

la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times. My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long

road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away. Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone

have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara? -----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you

for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called

"The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal

crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was

nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you

will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old>

because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

I don't know about Santa Clara Kaiser, Dawn, but I have a friend who went to Kaiser Pleasanton, and they gave her a "sleep study unit" for her to ake home and she was diagnosed with that. I am also going to ask for a referral. It is important that our bodies are getting enough oxygen before we undergo such major surgery. It can cause unwanted complications if we don't! Mike & Dawn wrote: Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se

la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the lessons from those hard times. My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long

road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away. Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone

have any idea how long the wait normally is for a sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara? -----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you

for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called

"The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser> NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal

crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was

nothing that we couldn't talk about or share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you

will...was finally in a place> ...secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old>

because I am unable to function any longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .

[Guest guest]

Hi! I just went to an orientation for the sleep study out of Santa Clara about a week ago and it took about a month to get this appointment. I am scheduled to do the test on January 13th. so I guess the whole process is going to take about 2 months. MaridianaMike & Dawn wrote: Cathy, Thanks for the encouragement. They say that which does not kill us only serves to make us stronger...so I figure I qualify as one tough broad these days lol.. I think we all have our stories and personal tragedies and hardships we survive...se la vive...am just thankful I learned to try to take the

lessons from those hard times. My husband worked for years as a volunteer EMT and before we married, I worked as a Home Health Nurse...I agree that even a suspicion of sleep apnea should be handled in short order....but with an HMO one has to deal with a certain amount of hoop jumping for anything.....I first requested a sleep study from my PCP a few weeks ago; she is all ready referring me into the Gastric Program and said at that time that she felt the study was not necessary, even though I probably do have sleep apnea, because when I got into the program, had the surgery and lost weight, the apnea would be a moot issue. I know it's still a long road before the wls and the weight loss....what...even

at best say a year before enough weight lost to make that kind of a difference? In the meantime I am supposed to just deal with it? I have debilitating pain in my lower back...lack of good sleep only makes that more profound...I fall asleep during mid-sentence at times during the day/evening because my body is completely exhausted from lack of sleep...I am all too aware that this should be treated right away. Yesterday I had an appointment with the Nutritionist, and asked her to intervene with my PCP....and again I inquired via Kaisers web site from my PCP direct...this time she agrees...I don't have any idea how long it takes after ordering a sleep study, before one actually happens....but it is in the works. Anyone have any idea how long the wait normally is for a

sleep study with Kaiser Santa Clara? -----Original Message-----From: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients [mailto:gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients ]On Behalf Of Cathy Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 11:12 AMTo: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: Re: Thanks to EveryoneWow, you've come through so much - but you sound like you're making huge progress and gaining a lot of insight along the way. I'm sorry about the past, but I'm proud of you for everything you've done and how far you've come so far!One thing worries me - you mention "untreated sleep apnea". Why untreated? Have you asked your PCP to refer you for a sleep study? If you even suspect you have a

sleep disorder, you should get a referral RIGHT AWAY - you're leaving yourself at risk for a heart attack, not to mention that the lack of good sleep is probably contributing to elevated blood sugar and hypertension. Yes, your weight puts you at risk for all those things as well, but you don't need to wait for surgery to take care of sleep apnea - and getting enough sleep also helps with losing the 10% you'll need to take off before surgery.This is critical, and it's something you can do to take care of yourself NOW!Cathy C.>> Donna,> > I have not spent a lot of time in therapy/counseling with professionals, but> have spent most of my adult life working on self-healing....Most recently I> used a book/program called "The Artist's Way" recomended by my Kaiser>

NP...The book was originally designed for artists with artists block but the> exersizes and such are easily adapted to other situations...in my case my> history of obesity and abuse.> > I'm 41 now...most of my younger years I let people overstep my boundrys a> lot and seldom stood up for myself in any way. In the past 10 years or so I> have gotten quite good at drawing the figurative line in the sand with> others. My husband of the past 6 years in a healthy, whole individual and> is the Great Love of My Life. Our relationship has always been very> strongand we have a fantastic relationship all the waya round.....truely I> do not think the weight loss will change our relationship, other than to> possibly bond us together even more...Ths far, that is how we have always> dealt with personal crisis'...we hold fast to one another, rather

than> turniong on one another, which I see way too often in other relationships.> Our relationship, in itself, has served as a huge medium for my healing old> wounds and scars...a good example of what I mean...and I dont share this one> easily....> > Most of my adult life I had this fantasy image of myself as a VERY young> girl (roughly age 3)...always the fantasy was of me that age being taken(in> the bibical sense) by an adult male....I told no one about this mental image> because as a survivor of sexual abuse, I view a pedophile as the absolute> worst human ...and to admit that my own fantasy image involved me as such a> young child....I was terrified it would somehow look like pedophillia....so> I lived with it and told no one....that is until my husband came into my> world....there was nothing that we couldn't talk about or

share. When we> decided to marry, I confessed to him about this mental image I had of myself> as 3 year old...His reaction...his love for me didnt change one iota...but> he did want me to understand that for him, he saw absolutely NO attraction> to the idea if sleeping with a child, he wanted a full-grown woman in his> bed....several years into our marriage, one day it was like a major ehiany> for me that that mental image I had always had of myself as such a young> child had changed...the 3 year old didnt exist any longer, nor could i even> fathom such an idea...i relaized the child I viewed was more life a 16-17> year old girl in my fantasy life....and the 3 year old had..."grown up" It> was only after doing some serious research that I discovered wht was> happening...that my "inner child" if you will...was finally in a place>

....secure enough...safe enough...that she was being allowed to grow up. For> many years I suspected the image was locked in at that age because that> might have been when my actual abuse began (I have the actual memories of it> from age 10 on....but have 0 memories from before age 10)> > Bottom line...I will be having wls...I have hidden behind the weght all of> my adult life for emotional reasons...now the weight has become a major> health issue for me (Untreated Sleep Apnea, where i manage 1 -2 hours of> sleep sitting up in a chair nightly; pre-diabeties, borderline hypertension> and a lower back problem that has left me unable to do more than walk15-20> feet without it locking up and leaving me in excrutiating pain) We just> moved our 21 yr old son back into our home to help with the 4 year old> because I am unable to function any

longer...am I going to accept existing> like this, absolutely NOT... I am ready to start living my life, rather than> just existing in it. Monday I had my first psyc evaluation, this morning I> had my meeting with the nutritionalist...now I'm stuck waiting, but when I> get my orientation Notice....I will be ready > .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Maridiana Saucedo Goddess (hehehe) (Cell) maridianas@...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human,Failures keeps You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only God keeps You Going!

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