Erik Dutson, MD

Well I must admit my journey happened very fast. My first appt. with my surgeon's office was on June 2, 2015. This was the day I decided to take control of my weight and life. My beginning BMI was 37.4 HW:210 CW:201.9. Since my BMI was less than 40 but greater than 35 I had to have a co-morbidity in order for my insurance to approve me for the sleeve. So my next stop a few weeks later was to my sleep specialist Dr. Sharon De Cruz. We discussed my sleeping habits and she sat me up for a home sleep study (YAY). I really didn't want to have to sleep in a lab. A week later I pick up my sleeping equipment hooked myself up to everything and had a very awkward night of sleeping. Once I turned the home sleep study equipment the next day I was literally a day or two later that I received a call from Dr. de Cruz telling me I had Obstructive sleep apnea. Once I received the official diagnosis of OSA I was able to finish up the last of the requirements for my insurance which was my psych eval. On July 21st I meet with the psychologist and got my all clear on the same day. On the July 28th I had my pre-op appt with my NP and NUT (they are both AMAZING by the way. I'm seriously sad that my NP will not be in the OR with me) reviewed and signed my paperwork for surgery and then I waited. They submitted my request on Thursday July 30th, I literally stalked my HMO's website looking for it to change from pending to AUTH. On Tuesday August 4th, after many days of stalking the my UCLA health records online, I got the Authorization for the sleeve!!!! OHHHH HAPPY DAY!!!! That same day I turned in my LOA papers to my job and started finishing up my projects. My surgery date in on August 19th and I will find out the time on Tuesday the 18th. I'm so nervous but so excited at the same time. I went to Costco today to pick up a case of Premier Protein shakes. I'm trying to prepare for Post-Op life now. At first I was in doubt about doing this but after doing more research and seeing how this tool has really changed people's life I more motivated to do it right.

I will keep you all up to date on "My journey to the sleeve"