My Story and struggles

Jan 27, 2010

Where do I start?  I've had in my life, what I deem as normal "skinny" times, and then the rest has been abnormal "fat" times.   Yo-Yoing.  Tried every diet, weight loss systems, pills, liquids, starvation, excersizing excessively .... anything.  Always succeeded in taking it off to an extent, but then slowly, the poundage would come back and then some.  

Looked into weight loss surgery out of desperation.  Was afraid of gastric bypass.  Didn't want to be in that very small percentage to die, because I was a single mom, and didn't want to leave my son behind because of my  choice of surgery.   I opted to have the lapband surgery done in 2004.   Which went very well.  I went in the hospital in the morning, and was released that evening.  Actually I walked out of the hospital with very little discomfort.  Lost weight in the first few months and basically had no issues other then a few times, found out what that feeling of something getting stuck felt like.   That is awful.  Luckily, I learned quickly what triggered that, and was more aware of what I was chewing and how much I was chewing. 

Total weight lost from prior to surgery to the time I stopped losing weight was 68 pounds.  Which was nice, but was no where near what I wanted as the end result.  

I was maintaining my weight, which, to me seemed to be ideal.  Normally I would have started going up in numbers on the scale after a couple of years.  Maintained weight loss for about 3.5 years, then ever so slowly I started to gain weight back, and noticed that the restriction was getting less and less. 

I started once again into looking for weight loss surgery.  This time I was looking at the gastric bypass and the duodenal switch.  Due to the years that have passed by, there were more studies done, and more people were being followed and more surgeons were getting much better with their procedures.  Less deaths, which kind of eased my worries.  I decided, after all the research I did to educate myself on both surgeries, the best option for me would be to have the DS done.  My own personal decision.  I know both surgeries have their successes.  Now I needed to find a surgeon that has experience with the DS and I didn't want it done open.  So my search was on.   I found one, and have been in contact with him through several emails this past year.  He was in the process of moving from his current state to a hospital closer to my state.  So I decided to wait for him to move. I figured I've waited this long, whats a few more months.

Then, due to partial thryoid surgery, I put off my weight loss surgery for a few months.  I wanted to heal from that. My thyroid is function just fine.  I have bloodwork done every three months, no meds are needed.  YAY.

Last year I started experiencing fevers, randomly.  Anywhere from 100 to 103.5 degrees.  Took a couple of fever reducers, and the fever would disappear.  Then a few times the fever was for a few days.  I took fever reducers that would bring down the fever for a few hours, and the fevers would come back.  I went to my regular MD (who I've had for about 15 years) and they prescribed antibiotics.  I just attributed the fevers from catching a bug from my office.  I work in an enclosed environment with recycled air.  Few people were getting colds, the flu etc... so I figured I must have caught something.  The antibiotics seems to get rid of the fever. 

I noticed I started getting a small bump near the area where the port was located.  Not really any horrific pain, however I noticed that once in a while the skin around that area was warmer than other areas.  So I started to monitor it.  As time went on, I spoke to my future DS surgeon, told him what I was experiencing, he told me that I may have a band erosion and/or port infection. I would need to have a few tests done to verify this.  So, off I went to my MD, who gave me a gastro specialist to have an endoscopy done that would accept my insurance.    I went in for the consultation, explained everything to them, they put me in for an endoscopy in a couple of weeks.

As I was waiting for that endoscopy date, the bump became redder and hotter, then one day, a tiny blister opened up.  That area had become sensitive to the touch, never mind applying any pressure there.   I had been putting gauze patches on there, because this blister was oozing very tiny amounts of liquids.  I just assumed that it was an infection as my DS surgeon said I might have.  So I applied some over the counter antibiotic ointment on it and covered it with gauze, and counting the days for the endoscopy.   The thoughts in my head were just chaotic.   Then the date for the endoscopy came.  Everyone there was extremely nice, and nothing seemed to surprise them, even when I showed them the leaking blister.  They called it a fistula.  I was wheeled into the OR, hooked up to some IV's, and then I felt the meds working.  The doctor said that he would speak to me after I wake up.   The next thing I was waking up in my own room, and the nurses were taking my vitals.  They said the doctor will be in shortly to speak with me.

He came in, sat down and proceeded to tell me that the lapband had eroded into my stomach, showed me the photos of the band inside my stomach,  and said it would need to be removed.  The fistula that I had was located at the port site and came through where the old incision was for the port.  He said the band's hose leading to the port had most likely leaked bacteria, which has traveled up the tube to the port area.  I would need to have all of this surgically removed.  All I could think of was what has happened to me.  I asked him how serious was this?  He said well, it needs to be done.  the sooner the better. 

I went home, cried and thought to myself, all this for just wanting to lose weight.   Now, I was on a mission.  I sent another email to my DS surgeon, explained to him the results of the endoscopy, and he said I needed to have this done as soon as possible.  He wasn't doing clinical in my area until a few more months, and felt I couldn't wait that long to have this procedure.  He gave me a name of a Bariatric surgeon in my area that took my insurance.   I called them, explained to them what was going on, the tests I had done, which surgeon referred me to him, and that office apologized, but would not be taking any new patients.  My heart sank. 

I looked up on my health insurance website for bariatric surgeons in northern NJ.  Found a few, looked on Obesity Help to do some research on these surgeons and searched the internet for any complaints etc.... I found one that wasn't that far, specialized in lapbands, revisions, and gastric bypass.  I called his office an explained everything.  They were so helpful and accomodating, I was so relieved.

Made my appointment for a consultation.  This was Dec 22nd of 2009.  Dr. Vadim Gritsus, he's a blessing.   He listened to everything that I said and passed no judgements whatsoever.   I gave him a copy of my endoscopy results of the band erosion, and told him about the possible DS surgery in the future and the surgeon that I was waiting for.  He knew of him by name.  He took a look at the fistula and said this needs to be taken care of immediately. 

I was scheduled for surgery on the 28th at Chilton.  I was wheeled in to OR, everyone there was great.  Dr. Gritsus said don't worry, he won't do it open.  I woke up in recovery, feeling pain, coughing and the nurse in recovery quickly started giving me morphine.   She said I was doing fine, Dr. Gritsus will be here in a few minutes.  He came by, explained what was done.  My stomach needed to be cut to get the band out, and also had to have an incision where the fistula was to cut that out, and the port and clean out all the bacterial infection.   I had a serious infection going on and that I would be here a few days.  He also said that the ID (infectious disease DR), would be stopping by once I am out of recovery and into a room.

They had me up and walking in a few hours.  Felt pain, but not excruciating.  Where the fistula was, they had to leave that incision open and packed.  They had me on two different antibiotics.  They sent me for an upper gi to see if there was any leakage in the stomach, and I passed.... no leaks.  On to liquids now.  I was so thirsty. 

I was in the hospital for 5 days and I say now, I'm very lucky that I healed well and look forward to my DS surgery in about 6 months.  I already had my first follow up visit with Dr. Gritsus since coming home from the hospital, and he said I was healing very well.  My next visit is in February.  I'm sure everything will be fine.

I have my consult with the DS Surgeon in April.  Hopefully my DS surgery will be done soon after that.  I know my insurance covers it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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