Psych Evaluation/Next Steps :-)

[Guest guest]

Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well. She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she was "impressed" with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this means she's approving me to move on! :-) So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is, and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case he needs

to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics. I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval letter, and really know I'm on the "road", KWIM? :-) I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website (gotta love that feature!), but now I have the "official" letter with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were, what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set

to my settings. My dh's comment was: "I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick you out and make you sleep on the couch." j/k LOL I felt like telling him, "It's you're turn next, buddy!" His appt. with his pcp is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms. What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night, in any position. :-( That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-) in San Lorenzo San Lorenzo, CA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down, Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF committee for review!

[Guest guest]

Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well. She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she was "impressed" with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this means she's approving me to move on! :-) So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is, and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case he needs

to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics. I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval letter, and really know I'm on the "road", KWIM? :-) I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website (gotta love that feature!), but now I have the "official" letter with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were, what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set

to my settings. My dh's comment was: "I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick you out and make you sleep on the couch." j/k LOL I felt like telling him, "It's you're turn next, buddy!" His appt. with his pcp is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms. What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night, in any position. :-( That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-) in San Lorenzo San Lorenzo, CA ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down, Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF committee for review!

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I wish you the best of luck on the journey. I have severe sleep

apnea and I have used a CPAP for twelve years now. Some people need

a week or two to become accustomed to the sensation of air blowing

into you under pressure - it triggers a gag reflex in some, panic

reactions in others. Me, I had no problems using one - I fell asleep

when they put one on me during the diagnostic sleep study, and I had

the best sleep I had in years. The CPAP was a magic bullet for me -

a simple idea and a simple machine that completely solves the apnea

problem. Your airway CANNOT close, you CANNOT snore. Your partner

should be grateful for the last, especially since the newer CPAP's

(I'm on my fourth) are virtually silent once in place on your face.

Granted, a person sleeping with a CPAP is not the most romantic

picture in the world...but while I can't speak for you, I tend to

get romantic while I am still actually awake, and my girlfriend is

HAPPY that I can put on a CPAP after we're done and live to see

another day.

A few pieces of advice: there are two basic types of CPAP delivery

systems - the mask and the ADAM circuit. The latter is the plastic

thingy with the nasal " pillows " that fit directly onto your

nostrils, usually held in place by a series of straps and velcro

fasteners. Now, most people prefer the mask - because it is familiar

and seems less obtrusive - and doctors will tell you that they both

work. This is true, but what they don't say because they are taking

the path of least resistance, is that the ADAM circuit works MUCH

better. It is at least 15% more efficient than a mask, and is in

fact much LESS obtrusive than a mask. I can even talk with a CPAP

on, which helps if the phone rings in the middle of the night. I

have rarely experienced any kind of irritation to the skin on my

nose from my ADAM, where a significant number of people experience

facial irritations from a mask. (If you do find your nostrils

irritated, the best thing to use is a water-based lubricant - the

kind intended for sex. Really! Try the pleasantly-scented Aqua Lube,

usually sold at Long's or Walgreen;s, by the condoms.) I used to

experience some scalp irritation and some dandruff or psoriasis from

the " helmet " , but since they changed the material from neoprene to a

more breathable material, that ended the problem, and I eliminated

it when I switched to using the Breeze headgear. So while the mask

seems " easier " and easier to get used to, I strongly urge you to use

an ADAM.

Second - humidifiers. There are two kinds, heated, which are usually

integrated with the CPAP unit, and " passover " , which are not heated

and where the air simply passes over the surface of the water in the

humidifer chamber to pick up the moisture. Both work great - but

heated humidifiers require more frequent cleaning and are likelier

to become reservoirs for infections, especially fungal infections.

If you tend to get dry with a CPAP, I would go for the passover

humidifier. If you fill it to the indicator line, you will only need

to refill the water every three to four days - and you can clean it

at that time. Apria, under the Kaiser contract, usually gives you a

ResMed CPAP from Respironics, Inc., with their passover humidifier -

which can be washed in the top rack of your dishwasher. You should

also disinfect with diluted white vinegar first every few times you

wash it. I also keep a squeeze bottle of diluted disinfecting

dishwashing liquid near the sink in the master bedroom's bathroom,

which makes it easy and convenient to clean my ADAM and nasal

pillows as needed - takes only a few seconds in the morning, then

let them air dry until you got to bed the next evening. If they

haven't dried completely, just shake 'em out, reattach them, and

turn on your CPAP and let the airflow dry them out in about two

minutes before you put it back on.

I can't say enough good things about the people at Apria in Menlo

Park who supply CPAP equipment for Kaiser patients. They put Kaiser

patients first and they are very knowledgable, helpful, and deliver

very promptly.

Last info - this is non-Kaiser, but anyone is welcome. There is a

support group for sleep apnea patients called AWAKE, which meets at

Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City (El Camino and Broadway) on the

second Wednesday of each month. See

http://www.sleepscene.com/awake.htm for more info. Manufacturers

representatives speak at most meetings, giving you the skinny on new

products and the opportunity to try them. I haven't been in a while,

but I found the meetings congenial and helpful.

Randy

>

> Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation

on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of

the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the

modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well.

She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors

in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she

told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she

was " impressed " with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much

research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this

means she's approving me to move on! :-)

>

> So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him

a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is,

and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case

he needs to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics.

I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval

letter, and really know I'm on the " road " , KWIM? :-)

>

> I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department

concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd

booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website

(gotta love that feature!), but now I have the " official " letter

with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being

a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were,

what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use

a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I

will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what

settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that

machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set to my

settings.

>

> My dh's comment was: " I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick

you out and make you sleep on the couch. " j/k LOL I felt like

telling him, " It's you're turn next, buddy! " His appt. with his pcp

is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be

able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm

thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms.

What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing

this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted

up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night,

in any position. :-(

>

> That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych

evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-)

>

> in San Lorenzo

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> San Lorenzo, CA

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down,

Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF

committee for review!

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I wish you the best of luck on the journey. I have severe sleep

apnea and I have used a CPAP for twelve years now. Some people need

a week or two to become accustomed to the sensation of air blowing

into you under pressure - it triggers a gag reflex in some, panic

reactions in others. Me, I had no problems using one - I fell asleep

when they put one on me during the diagnostic sleep study, and I had

the best sleep I had in years. The CPAP was a magic bullet for me -

a simple idea and a simple machine that completely solves the apnea

problem. Your airway CANNOT close, you CANNOT snore. Your partner

should be grateful for the last, especially since the newer CPAP's

(I'm on my fourth) are virtually silent once in place on your face.

Granted, a person sleeping with a CPAP is not the most romantic

picture in the world...but while I can't speak for you, I tend to

get romantic while I am still actually awake, and my girlfriend is

HAPPY that I can put on a CPAP after we're done and live to see

another day.

A few pieces of advice: there are two basic types of CPAP delivery

systems - the mask and the ADAM circuit. The latter is the plastic

thingy with the nasal " pillows " that fit directly onto your

nostrils, usually held in place by a series of straps and velcro

fasteners. Now, most people prefer the mask - because it is familiar

and seems less obtrusive - and doctors will tell you that they both

work. This is true, but what they don't say because they are taking

the path of least resistance, is that the ADAM circuit works MUCH

better. It is at least 15% more efficient than a mask, and is in

fact much LESS obtrusive than a mask. I can even talk with a CPAP

on, which helps if the phone rings in the middle of the night. I

have rarely experienced any kind of irritation to the skin on my

nose from my ADAM, where a significant number of people experience

facial irritations from a mask. (If you do find your nostrils

irritated, the best thing to use is a water-based lubricant - the

kind intended for sex. Really! Try the pleasantly-scented Aqua Lube,

usually sold at Long's or Walgreen;s, by the condoms.) I used to

experience some scalp irritation and some dandruff or psoriasis from

the " helmet " , but since they changed the material from neoprene to a

more breathable material, that ended the problem, and I eliminated

it when I switched to using the Breeze headgear. So while the mask

seems " easier " and easier to get used to, I strongly urge you to use

an ADAM.

Second - humidifiers. There are two kinds, heated, which are usually

integrated with the CPAP unit, and " passover " , which are not heated

and where the air simply passes over the surface of the water in the

humidifer chamber to pick up the moisture. Both work great - but

heated humidifiers require more frequent cleaning and are likelier

to become reservoirs for infections, especially fungal infections.

If you tend to get dry with a CPAP, I would go for the passover

humidifier. If you fill it to the indicator line, you will only need

to refill the water every three to four days - and you can clean it

at that time. Apria, under the Kaiser contract, usually gives you a

ResMed CPAP from Respironics, Inc., with their passover humidifier -

which can be washed in the top rack of your dishwasher. You should

also disinfect with diluted white vinegar first every few times you

wash it. I also keep a squeeze bottle of diluted disinfecting

dishwashing liquid near the sink in the master bedroom's bathroom,

which makes it easy and convenient to clean my ADAM and nasal

pillows as needed - takes only a few seconds in the morning, then

let them air dry until you got to bed the next evening. If they

haven't dried completely, just shake 'em out, reattach them, and

turn on your CPAP and let the airflow dry them out in about two

minutes before you put it back on.

I can't say enough good things about the people at Apria in Menlo

Park who supply CPAP equipment for Kaiser patients. They put Kaiser

patients first and they are very knowledgable, helpful, and deliver

very promptly.

Last info - this is non-Kaiser, but anyone is welcome. There is a

support group for sleep apnea patients called AWAKE, which meets at

Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City (El Camino and Broadway) on the

second Wednesday of each month. See

http://www.sleepscene.com/awake.htm for more info. Manufacturers

representatives speak at most meetings, giving you the skinny on new

products and the opportunity to try them. I haven't been in a while,

but I found the meetings congenial and helpful.

Randy

>

> Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation

on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of

the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the

modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well.

She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors

in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she

told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she

was " impressed " with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much

research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this

means she's approving me to move on! :-)

>

> So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him

a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is,

and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case

he needs to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics.

I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval

letter, and really know I'm on the " road " , KWIM? :-)

>

> I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department

concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd

booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website

(gotta love that feature!), but now I have the " official " letter

with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being

a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were,

what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use

a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I

will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what

settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that

machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set to my

settings.

>

> My dh's comment was: " I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick

you out and make you sleep on the couch. " j/k LOL I felt like

telling him, " It's you're turn next, buddy! " His appt. with his pcp

is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be

able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm

thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms.

What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing

this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted

up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night,

in any position. :-(

>

> That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych

evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-)

>

> in San Lorenzo

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> San Lorenzo, CA

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down,

Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF

committee for review!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I live in San Leandro! Maybe we can get together sometime? I'm

also pre-op. I'm working towards my 10% weight loss. It's a

struggle for me.

How are you doing?

>

> Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation

on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of

the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the

modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well.

She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors

in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she

told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she

was " impressed " with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much

research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this

means she's approving me to move on! :-)

>

> So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him

a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is,

and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case

he needs to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics.

I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval

letter, and really know I'm on the " road " , KWIM? :-)

>

> I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department

concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd

booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website

(gotta love that feature!), but now I have the " official " letter

with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being

a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were,

what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use

a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I

will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what

settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that

machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set to my

settings.

>

> My dh's comment was: " I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick

you out and make you sleep on the couch. " j/k LOL I felt like

telling him, " It's you're turn next, buddy! " His appt. with his pcp

is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be

able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm

thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms.

What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing

this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted

up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night,

in any position. :-(

>

> That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych

evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-)

>

> in San Lorenzo

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> San Lorenzo, CA

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down,

Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF

committee for review!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I live in San Leandro! Maybe we can get together sometime? I'm

also pre-op. I'm working towards my 10% weight loss. It's a

struggle for me.

How are you doing?

>

> Many thanks to everyone who gave me advice on my psych evaluation

on Wednesday. It went pretty well, I think. The lady asked most of

the questions you told me about, IE: If I understood the risks, the

modified eating after surgery, etc. and I think I answered her well.

She also asked about my childhood, and if there were any stressors

in my life that I was dealing with. At the end of the evaulation she

told me she would send her report to my pcp. She then told me she

was " impressed " with my knowledge of the surgery and of how much

research I had obviously done. That made me feel good. I hope this

means she's approving me to move on! :-)

>

> So anyways, My pcp is on vacation until March 6th, so I left him

a message on the kp.org website asking him what the next step is,

and also made an appointment for March 22nd with him, just in case

he needs to see me before he can submitt my referral to Bariatrics.

I'm starting to get excited! I can't wait until I get that approval

letter, and really know I'm on the " road " , KWIM? :-)

>

> I also finally got the letter from the Respiratory Department

concerning my Sleep Apnea diagnosis. I had already known they'd

booked me for a class about a week ago, courtesy of Kaiser's website

(gotta love that feature!), but now I have the " official " letter

with my diagnosis. They class is actually two parts, the first being

a educational thing, with an overview of what my test results were,

what Sleep Apnea is, etc. The second part I will be shown how to use

a CPAP machine by a rep from Apria Healthcare. For the first week, I

will take home a special kind of CPAP, which will determine what

settings my machine needs to be set at. Then, I will return that

machine and get my machine to keep, which will be set to my

settings.

>

> My dh's comment was: " I hope it's not too loud, or I might kick

you out and make you sleep on the couch. " j/k LOL I felt like

telling him, " It's you're turn next, buddy! " His appt. with his pcp

is on March 6th. Since my work schedule has changed, and I won't be

able to attend that appointment with him like I planned, I'm

thinking about writing his pcp a letter, describing his symptoms.

What do you guys think? A good idea? I just don't want dh poo pooing

this problem again. His Apnea is MUCH worse than mine. I've counted

up to 90 during his breathing cesations! And, he does it all night,

in any position. :-(

>

> That's my update for now. I'm so glad I've finally got my psych

evaluation under my belt. It feels like I'm one step closer now. :-)

>

> in San Lorenzo

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> San Lorenzo, CA

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> Just starting my GBS journey! PCP and Nutritionist Appt. down,

Psych Evaluation to go until paperwork submitted to Kaiser SSF

committee for review!

>