May 19, 200917 yr Author Eagerly awaiting more posts! Haven't quit praying, BF!Thank you Beachnut. That's so important! I did "okay" at the sleep lab last night, although I feel really bad today. I didn't think I was able to sleep until well after 4 A.M., but the technician said this morning that I had slept some during the first half of the study. Must have dozed off and didn't know it. She got me up at 6 A.M., so I couldn't have gotten too much sleep. On the good side, she said that I didn't snore at all. That's a very good sign. I go Thursday to get the results from the sleep doctor. If they show that I didn't desaturate (blood oxygen level), didn't show signs of apnea, and didn't have any upper airway issues, it will be up to the Pulmo. and Ear, Nose & Throat docs to decide when/if the trach comes out. They may also opt to put in a little button, which does nothing more than keep the hole in my neck open -- but I hope not. The only other issue might be my upper airway. Might need some surgery there if last night showed any obstructions. I have a Pulmo. doctor appointment on June 15. But if I can get the ENT to see me sooner, might be able to speed up things a little. I'll keep everyone posted. It's really cool that so many people have been following along on this little journey. Hopefully, it will conclude in a happy place -- and soon. :popcorn:
May 19, 200917 yr Thank you Beachnut. That's so important! I did "okay" at the sleep lab last night, although I feel really bad today. I didn't think I was able to sleep until well after 4 A.M., but the technician said this morning that I had slept some during the first half of the study. Must have dozed off and didn't know it. She got me up at 6 A.M., so I couldn't have gotten too much sleep. On the good side, she said that I didn't snore at all. That's a very good sign. I go Thursday to get the results from the sleep doctor. If they show that I didn't desaturate (blood oxygen level), didn't show signs of apnea, and didn't have any upper airway issues, it will be up to the Pulmo. and Ear, Nose & Throat docs to decide when/if the trach comes out. They may also opt to put in a little button, which does nothing more than keep the hole in my neck open -- but I hope not. The only other issue might be my upper airway. Might need some surgery there if last night showed any obstructions. I have a Pulmo. doctor appointment on June 15. But if I can get the ENT to see me sooner, might be able to speed up things a little. I'll keep everyone posted. It's really cool that so many people have been following along on this little journey. Hopefully, it will conclude in a happy place -- and soon. :popcorn: I continue to wish you the best of luck!
May 21, 200917 yr Author I've had the blessing of everyone's prayers many times since joining BGP. Never more so than in recent months. So it feels a little awkward to ask for them again; but I am. Because today may be the most important day I've ever had. Tuesday night was the Dancing results show, and last night was the Idol results show. Well, today is my results show. At 2:15 I go for the appointment with the sleep lab doctor (Corser), to see if I did well enough on my test to move on toward the trach removal. If it's a good report, they might remove it at my next lung doc appointment on June 15. There are a couple possible bumps yet, which I explained in an earlier post. But right now, everything I've been hoping and praying for hinges on today's results. I've lived with this trach tube (and various devices and accessories) for nine long years, and been in this removal process for four months. So I'm "just a little" eager to get this over with! :taz:
May 21, 200917 yr Author I passed!! The doctor said I do still have very mild sleep apnea. I stopped breathing, momentarily, about eight times an hour; and the lowest my oxygen level reached was 83. But he does not reccomend any surgery. He thinks another 20 lbs. or so of weight loss (lost 2 more today) ought to take care of it. Until then, I might use a c-pap machine. The important thing is that he's going to recommend proceeding with the trach removal! :ylsuper: Thank you Lord, and thank you to all of you! Now, on to the finale. :dancingpa :dancingpa :dancingpa
May 21, 200917 yr I passed!! The doctor said I do still have very mild sleep apnea. I stopped breathing, momentarily, about eight times an hour; and the lowest my oxygen level reached was 83. But he does not reccomend any surgery. He thinks another 20 lbs. or so of weight loss (lost 2 more today) ought to take care of it. Until then, I might use a c-pap machine. The important thing is that he's going to recommend proceeding with the trach removal! :ylsuper: Thank you Lord, and thank you to all of you! Now, on to the finale. :dancingpa :dancingpa :dancingpa WHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpaWHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpaWHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa
May 21, 200917 yr I passed!! The doctor said I do still have very mild sleep apnea. I stopped breathing, momentarily, about eight times an hour; and the lowest my oxygen level reached was 83. But he does not reccomend any surgery. He thinks another 20 lbs. or so of weight loss (lost 2 more today) ought to take care of it. Until then, I might use a c-pap machine. The important thing is that he's going to recommend proceeding with the trach removal! :ylsuper: Thank you Lord, and thank you to all of you! Now, on to the finale. :dancingpa :dancingpa :dancingpa Great news Birdsfan! Prayer works my friend.:ylsuper:
May 21, 200917 yr WHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpaWHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpaWHOOPIE:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa:dancingpa Yeah......what she said.:lol::thumb::thumb:
May 21, 200917 yr Author Great news Birdsfan! Prayer works my friend.:ylsuper:I'm finding that out in new and amazing ways every day! :thumb:
May 22, 200917 yr Great news! I think RebelK's message is loud and clear. I'll keep you in my prayer's.
May 22, 200917 yr That is AWESOME!!!!!!! I am so happy to hear that everything is going well. I will continue to pray for you, BF, and look forward to hearing more and more good news.
May 22, 200917 yr Author That is AWESOME!!!!!!! I am so happy to hear that everything is going well. I will continue to pray for you, BF, and look forward to hearing more and more good news.Thanks! Hopefully, this is close to being over with. I'll keep you posted. :thumb:
May 22, 200917 yr Author How soon could it be, BF?Yesterday, if I had my choice. My next appt. is June 15, but I'm going to try to "speed things up" if I can get away with it.
June 1, 200917 yr Author My ear, nose & throat doctor called today. He is ready for the trach removal; however, he wants the pulmonologist to sign off on it. Once that's done, I go into the ENT and out comes the trach! The bad part is that my appointment with the pulmonologist isn't until June 15. So I may have to wait at least that long...if I can stand it! I asked the nurse if I should call the other doctor, or if there was something else I could do to expedite things. She was like, "Just take it easy, be patient, it's going to happen. So try to relax." Or something to that effect. In any case, it's another step forward, and it's tantalizingly close to being a reality now -- nine long years in the waiting. :popcorn:
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