Maggie May

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I had my 2 weeks post op visit on Wednesday and told the PA how much pain I'm in when I attempt to sip anything. I'm doubled over with every sip. She ordered reglan and and EGD. I had the EGD yesterday and it shows I have an ulcer at the anastamosis and a possible fistula. I'm so pissed. I believe this was completely preventable. I have called and messaged about the pain I'm in over the past two weeks and have been told that pain after surgery is normal. I feel like it was ignored and I could have been treated sooner. I'm really not happy my surgeon or his office and what is really  upsetting is that this is a Center of Excellence. I may have to contact BLIS, no one should be in this much pain after surgery. 

Dec 2012 - contacted UHC (United Healthcare) and was referred to Optum Healthcare, Bariatric Resource Services - 1-888-936-7246

January 10, 2013 - Attended WLS seminar by surgeon

January 12 -  I received a letter from UHC, thanking me for contacting Bariatric Resource Services and explaining the services BRS provides along with a booklet explaining the different types of WLS and as well as a checklist of suggestions to get through the approval process. 

January 25, I got a phone call from my nurse case manager from Optum Health introducing herself. 

January 28, Consult with Surgeon's assistant, chest x-ray, EKG, Upper GI, and first Dietician visit for 6 month medically supervised weight loss program

February 25 - Dietician Visit

March 21 - Dietician Visit

April 22 - Dietician Visit

May 24 - Dietician Visit

June 4 - Psychological Evaluation and Testing

June 14 - Last Dietician Visit and lab/blood work (This is when I was stopped on my way out the door and told I would need cardiology clearance too)

June 21 - Cardiology consult, stress echo scheduled

June 24 - Stress test/echocardiogram - after test I was told to wait and my cardiologist came in and told me my  test showed an arrythmia (non-sustained ventricular tachycardia) and I needed to see an arrythmia specialist

July 1 - Cardiology arrythmia specialist, cleared me for surgery, said arrythmia was not dangerous. 

July 10 - Package sent to UHC for approval

July 19 - UHC approved me for RNY gastric Bypass

July 29 - Surgery scheduled for August 21, 2013 - was also told I needed PCP clearance. Really, another hoop to jump through?

August 1 - Primary Care doctor visit, obtained PCP clearance

August 6 - Bariatric Surgeon consult, pre-op dietician consult

August 21 - Surgery. Discharged next day

September 4 - Post op visit with Surgeon, Dietician, and Post-op Lab/Bloodwork. EGD scheduled for pain in pouch when sipping anything

September 5 - EGD (endoscopy) showing ulcer at the anastomasis and possible fistula. Treating with Carafate 4x daily and prilosec 2x daily. Still on fluids and greek yogurt until this thing heals. Could take 4-6 weeks. 

 

Sip, sip, sip. It's not easy getting the fluids in but I've found that flavoring my water with a small amount of apple juice helps. I've also discovered that protein powder mixed with water is simply dreadful. I feel HUNGER. I suffered through the liquid diet with the the shiny hope and promise that I would no longer be hungry after this surgery, at least not for at least another 18 or so months. The churning, burning, pangs of hunger are definitely still there. The smell of food can bring it on, or just being empty for so long. The pain with sipping is getting better. I have really suffered with pain over the past few days with putting anything in my pouch. The doc sent me home with pain meds that can't be filled as well as an antacid that is unavailable so I'm crushing pain pills and prevacid granules which is a special kind of nasty.

I tried protein powder with skim milk today and I tolerated that better than anything yet. Before I realized it, I had 4oz gone but could feel it backing back up into my esophagus and stopped, wishing I had taken it slower but it tasted so good and I was just so hungry. I got up and started moving so I could help move it through my pouch. I took a walk outside which helped tremendously.

I am full of fear that this surgery doesn't work for everyone where the hunger hormone is concerned. I called my docs office and left a message today and I guess I shouldn't be surprised I was not called back. Me being sent home with prescriptions I was unable to fill makes me very angry and upset. I supposedly went to a Center Of Excellence. I'm sorry but if this is the best, I'd really hate to see the worst. My hospital stay wasn't the best experience and I have more questions than answers now about my doctor. I wish I felt more confident.  

I am on day 4 of the liquid diet and surgery is in 4 days. I had one hell of a food funeral two nights before liquid started at Texas De Brazil, a Brazilian Steakhouse. It was fabulous. Now I'm starving,,lol   I looked out my window today to see what appeared to be a ham bone walking across my yard. Turns out it was just the UPS delivery man. Later, I saw a slice of delicious bacon headed down the street. Turns out it was a kid walking home from school.  HUNGRY I tell ya. Liquids aren't cutting it but I'm hanging in there. It's particularly hard to prepare meals for my family while unable to eat any of it. I created what I believe to be a delicious Quinoa and beef casserole for my family the night before last. Red quinoa with beef, natural pork sausage, and cheese served with pan sauteed yellow squash (my favorite). It was torture. My stomach burns with hunger pangs and I even have bouts of nausea. I feel like I'm drinking plenty of protein, I've actually gone over the docs 80-120grams per day goal. Is that a bad thing? I'm strictly drinking protein drinks from the list. A couple of notes:
Isopure drinks taste like approx. 13 different kinds of a$$. Seriously, so gross.
Those whey protein shots that come in the little tubes, just inject chemicals directly into my veins would ya? That's what it tasted like.
Lean Body, not so great.
Body Fortress (walmart powder), not so bad, especially the chocolate peanut.
Nectar chocolate truffle, yum! Can't wait to try new flavors tomorrow.
Chicken broth, Um, it's chicken broth.

4 more days,, 4 more days,,, 4 more days,,,

Wow, just wow!  One step closer. :)

 This is a new profile but I am not a new member. I've been a member of OH since 2005. My original profile was too personally identifiable and now 8 years later, I'm finally able to have surgery. I have been reading the forums for years but never participated so none of  you "know" me. I never had insurance that would cover the surgery until recent years so I've created a less personally identifiable profile and want to start documenting my progress and experience. . I've watched the site change a great deal over the years and I look forward to the "help" I will need as I make my way through this. I've waited so long for this. I had my first consult with a doctor to pursue WLS in 2004, I can't believe it's finally happening! And it's covered! What a blessing.

 

I'm a mom, a wife, a diabetic, on my way to a better life.  I'm sure my story isn't too different than most of you. I am a diabetic with severe insulin resistance. I take a potent, concentrated insulin in an insulin pump and have had high blood pressure in the past. I had my last weight loss seminar in Dec 2012, started my medically supervised weight loss program in Jan which finished in June. After an EKG, Chest X-Ray, Upper GI, Primary care clearance, Cardiology & Cardiology Specialist Clearance after a Stress-Echo, Psychological evaluation and testing, I was approved by my insurance company in 7 days and am scheduled for surgery next week!

 

My 6 month medically supervised weight loss program with the NUT from my surgeons office wasn't going great in the first few months. In May, I read a book called Wheat Belly and my family and I decided to give up wheat, gluten, grains, soy, and sugar. I lost 35 lbs in 12 weeks and was taken off of not one, but two blood pressure medications and greatly reduced the amount of insulin I was taking. What a great boost I needed for the last two months of my program to get approved and I believe life without the wheat will set me up for success with surgery and life afterward.

I hope that surgery will allow me to discontinue insulin for good, which is the goal along with the weight loss. This has been a long time coming, I am so very excited. Scared, but excited! I can't imagine what it will feel like to actually not be hungry, I am looking soooo forward to that!