May 1,2007

Where do I begin?  Well, last Wed. April 25, I went up to B'ham to Carraway Hospital to have an outpatient EGD done.  I'd been having some stomach pain for quite some time and really believed I had an ulcer.  Dr. Dewitt scheduled the EGD first thing that Wed. morning.  They found nothing out of the ordinary and I went over to Dr. Dewitt's office next to the hospital to see what else he had planned for me.  I did the H-Pylori test and it too was negative.  He wanted to admit me to the hospital to run some more tests.  Those that I can remember was a CTscan, MRI, KUB and a couple of others.  They found a lower hernia with the CTscan but that didn't seem to be the source of the problem at all.  He decided to do exploratory LAP with possible hernia repair and take a look in there to see what he could find.  There was definitely something wrong with me.  After surgery I found out that I had not one, but two hernias, one internal and my intestines had worked up and entertwined and kinked into that hernia that was up near my sternum.  I also had lots of adhesions which wasn't hard to believe since I've had so many surgeries on my tummy in the past.  Dr. Dewitt placed mesh on my lower hernia and unkinked my intestines, repaired the other hernia and removed the adhesions. I couldn't believe it didn't hurt to drink anymore after surgery.  It's taken me a few days to be able to eat anything, but my tummy is finally waking up.  I feel like a newly post-op WLS patient.  Dr. Dewitt said my pouch looked great and my stoma was good too and not stretched or anything.  I am so happy to know I still have my tool working for me.  I've lost 10 pounds since I was in the hospital last week and if I could get off 5 more I would be estatic.  That's to get to my PCP's goal, but I would really love to loose 20 pounds to get to my personal goal, but I would be extremely happy with 5 more pounds.  I still have lots of swelling in my tummy so I'm hoping I will get off a few more pounds.  God is so good.  I am so happy to have Dr. Dewitt as my surgeon and his skillful knowledge to find and fix my problems.  His bariatric coordinator Stefanie was incredible.  She's an awesome friend and I don't know what I'd have done without her.  She was there for me and my husband all the way.  My friends Lisa G. and Amy M. came up to visit one night and Kat C. came by everyday.  My WLS friends are the BEST!  I didn't even get visits or calls from my family or church family.  I don't know what I'd have done without my WLS family.  I praise the Lord for them and thank God for placing them in my life.  Thank you all my friends for being there for me during this difficult time for me. It's been a bit lonely and depressing but you all have pulled me through.  I give God all the glory, honor and praise for his faithfulness.

Elle