Erica Alikchihoo

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Well, it's been an experience!  Not a bad one, just interesting.  I had been planning to go back to work 7 days after the surgery, but the incision site around my JP Drain (which they didn't remove until 10 days after surgery) became infected, and it was constantly draining unsightly fluids onto my clothing.  And where they removed the penrose drain had already closed up, but after a couple of weeks, it opened and began draining copious amounts of serum drainage (the watery red stuff).  So, we had to deal with that stuff and I was constantly toting bandages and tape with me where ever I went.  But, I did go back to work the day after they pulled the JP Drain.  Getting through the transitions to solid food has also been an interesting journey.  In the beginning, I had no problems whatsoever, but starting at about 4 weeks, I had some reflux problems, and then, I started having times where I felt "stuck".  That's the only way I can describe it.  I'd eat my one-ounce volume of food, cutting it in small pieces and chewing it until it was nearly liquid in my mouth, and I'd be fine.  But then, when I would try to drink after my 45 minutes, I'd take a couple of sips and know I was in trouble.  The food hadn't gone down.  So, I wouldn't be able to drink anything else or put anything else in my mouth, and the feeling would get more and more uncomfortable, until I'd finally vomit.  Now mind you, this was just plain vomiting, NOT dumping syndrome.  It was such a relief.  I let this go on for about 4 weeks before I told the doctor, and he said it sounded like I had a stricture... which was easily fixed with an EGD Dilation procedure.  So, finally, I made an appointment and had one done last Friday at the outpatient surgical center.  I made sure they put me completely out, because I have panic attacks if they try to put something down my throat, and it only took about 15 minutes.  It was neat, they sent me home with pictures of before and after (I did indeed have a moderate stricture - that hole looked teeny tiny to me), and now it is big enough to allow food through.

The weight has not been coming off as quickly as I think it should, but my surgeon's PA said she thinks that since I haven't been able to get food into my system, my body has gone into starvation mode and is holding on to everything it can, and lowering my metabolism to as slow as it can go.  Well, that should change here very soon, as I'm now able to eat, and hopefully after this Friday, will be able to exercise more.

I have severe arthritis in my back, along with spinal stenosis and other stuff, which makes it really hard to walk.... so I generally get on my stationary bike and ride it for a while to get my heart and metabolic rate up.  But a couple of weeks ago, my pain changed radically, and now I'm needing either a cane or a walker to get around - depending on my pain level - and I've decided to go in and get an epidural pain control shot this coming Friday.  I'm hoping that by the next day, I'm able to walk without pain, because I'll be going out to California to visit my daughter and her family, and she is getting me a two week pass to her gym and wants me to work out with her....

Anyway, I'm down a total of 58 pounds since I started this journey last October.  Since surgery, only 34 pounds.  But I've got time.  And I'm doing all the right stuff, not eating the wrong things, not overfilling my pouch (especially when I was getting "stuck"), and not eating all day.  I'm trying to be good about getting my liquids in....but that's really hard for me.  I generally only get in about 48 ounces, and I know I need more, but I begin to feel like I'm drowning.

Oh, and one really important thing....I quit my job.  Took a buyout.  I figure I'm changing my life with this surgery, and I might as well change my job, too.... because I knew it was only a matter of time before they start laying people off with NO severance packages.  I'll get 27 weeks pay, 4 weeks vacation pay, and then after that, unemployment.  And my partner put me on her insurance through her work, so I'm still covered.  Very good thing, too....

So, that's it in a nutshell for right now!

Hugs to everyone!
Erica