Brief Update in case you are interested

Good evening to everyone out there. I just wanted to update everyone with the newest info I have going on in my "journey". After my last cancellation, Dr. Coates' office rescheduled me for April 3rd, and told me to check in about my iron. I took the first blood test about 2 weeks ago. I got the results last week when I called to ask about them and I was told that my iron (which was too low the day of surgery) was now WAY TOO high!  I was also told however that my hemoglobin looked too low and that they wanted me to come back in to do another blood test called and H&H. I did that on Friday. I got a call from Dr. Coates' office today asking me to call them back. So, on my break, I called to find out that my H&H blood tests showed that I am way TOO low, and so Dr. Coates' office faxed over the info to my PCP's office. They told me to call my PCP to get in to see a Hemotologist to see what is going on. They are holding the April 3rd date for me and told me to keep them updated. I don't really know why, because I am sure that whatever is happening won't be fixed within 3 weeks. Anyway, I am pretty discouraged and it sure seems like it is never going to happen. So, I'll keep going to the gym and I guess time will tell. I hope everyone is doing well. 

Dont give up! You are so close and I know that this will get worked out! I am predicting that you get to keep that 4/3 date too!

Get on the Dr's office and get seen asap so you can start figuring this out!


Shells

April sweetie Don't get down, it could be something that is fixable with in 3 weeks or it maybe something that will not interfer with the WLS at all. So it could still be a go for you. Your day will happen and you will be in good health to have it done. Then you will be posting post like update if your interested.... I have lost 22 lbs in 3 weeks. or something to that affect.  Like they say.."everything happens for a reason" I know I know I hate that statement also when I'm waiting for something to happen. But it's the truth. Think positive and I will do the same for you. It won't be long now. Have a beautiful evening and an even better tomorrow. OH BTW, I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED IN YOUR JOURNEY AND I'M SURE THERE IS A LOT MORE THEN JUST ME ALSO.

My Beautiful, Sweet, Friend April.. I am so sorry that you are having to go through so many hoops to get to where you want to be.  Don't be too discouraged.. I have confidence that you will make it.  Everything is not in our timing don't we all wi**** were.. but in God's timing, the one that is good for us.. So go get yourself checked out by you PCP and find out what is causing all this trouble so you can keep that April 3rd date..I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers girl.. DONT GIVE UP!!  Always interested in your journey and to Heck with the ones who arent.. share anyways.. lol I do!!  (((HUGS)))

April, First off they are trying to give your body the benefit of the doubt that maybe they will get to the bottom of the iron issues.  It may be something very simple.  Remember that we have absorption issues post surgery and that this may also cause you to continue on the low side.  I have a friend who became critically anemic after surgery hers was due to the fact that she had an ulcer and developed some bleeding and she still got very low.  As a result she almost died and went into kidney failure.  Frequently when we are working people up for surgery we find all kinds of little underlying issues that they seem to have.  Thyroidiitis and multiple other problems.  The goal is to bring you to surgery safely and last but not least out of surgery safely and to live a healthy life which is why you are doing the surgery I am sure.   Hang in there everything happens for a reason.  I am not sure what kind of insurance that you have but if you have a PPO maybe you can self refer to the hematologist.  That way you do not need to wait for a middle man.  If you have an HMO call the referrals dept of you med grp and ask who they refer to and see what the status is of your referral.   Be your advocate and rock on. Liz

Oh don't lose hope!  Look at this as a bump in the road . . . you're aware of it and you're dealing with it . . . and once it is straightened out, you'll be back on track.  Look at it as a pit stop - at least they are making sure you are in shape so your surgery can be successful!  Best of luck to you!  Hugs!

April...so sorry you are having these blood problems...have you gone to a hematologist yet? I had to do that at one point for a weird thing...  If your insurance will allow you to go to a specialist...do so!   Best wishes...hang in there!!  I know this has to be discouraging... Lori

Hi April, I hope that I can encourage you - I don't post here often, but I do read here.   I had all kinds of iron issues before surgery.  My iron would be drastically low, then very high, then my H & H (hemoglobin and hematocrit) would bounce around too.  I would take iron, and sometimes it would help, sometimes not.  The hematologist will be able to give you clearance for surgery as he can BEST analyze the numbers related to your iron and figure out what is wrong or what could be wrong.  Has anyone taken your ferritin level?  This test determines your reserved iron stores.  They should be doing this test as well as your serum iron level, and your iron saturation level.  My ferritin would be HIGH, and the other levels low or border line low, which indicated that I did NOT have true anemia or iron deficiency, but rather something called anemia of chronic disease.  No one could identify the chronic disease, but the hemotologist gave me clearance for surgery saying that my iron level was indeed OK for surgery.  Since my weight loss, my serum iron levels have been pretty good - the are slightly low by 2-3 points, but generally good.  Also my ferritin is now normal, and the thought is that the chronic inflammation I was having was due to the excess fat stored on my body and now that I do not have that fat, I don't have the problem of anemia. There is hope, and if you are truly low on iron, your hematologist can give you an iron infusion - which is not as bad as people make it out to be.  It is an iron IV -  I had 5 of them over 10 days, each taking 4-5 hours.  You can have an allergic reaction, so they always give you benedryl at the beginning of the infusion so most people sleep through the infusion.  Be encouraged that the iron issue might not be that big of a deal, but it is just another hoop.  I've also found that most doctors have a hard time decyphering iron issues and panic and the hematologists take a much calmer view on things and are not as concerned about the issue as a surgeon or PCP.  They know best how to interrupt the data. Keep up your exercise and good eating habits - stay healthy for your upcoming surgery - it will happen! HTH,

Jennie.   I am fighting Kaiser Sacramento for a Panni removal. Can you tell me what the requierd to get one where you are. Ours refuses to even consider it. They told me your Panni had to be half way to your knees before they would even think anout it.                                                                                                                                  Nancy

Hi Nancy, I remember you from the KP boards before they dropped those! I had lots of rashes under my breasts and some rashes under my panni. Mine was not down that far, but it did hand below my pubic bone by an inch or two - not much.  I had more significient sagging on the sides than the front.  The plastic surgeons in my immediate area felt it wasn't that bad, but I requested to be seen on a 2nd opinion to another area, and those plastic surgeons felt that it was significent to interfere with my life and ruled that it needed to come off.  Also, because of the amount of rashes and treatments of my upper abdomen and under breast area, it was also ruled that I HAD to have a breast lift.  The surgeon also said that I needed to make a decision on my stomach before I had the breast lift. I opted to pay additional money and have the full lower body lift instead of just the panni removal - which all the plastic surgeons said would leave me more disfigured than helped. The first step for me was that my primary referred me, even though I wasn't at my ideal BMI or weight.  I have a higher muscle mass, and I probably will never be 142lbs - which is my ideal.  RIght now, I'm in a size small to medium top and will probably be a 6  or 8 pant post plastics.  I was a 10 - 12 before and the other day, I tried to pull on a pair of 12 pants, and they were now huge on me, and I still have quite a bit of swelling in my tummy. I would keep asking for a referral, hope that you get rashes, and keep fighting!