Home... For now

Hello All, Ladies that responded to my last posting.. as always thank you for your thoughts & caring. I spent another 4 days at the Le Spa St. Francis since last Sunday. Turns out whatever took place 2 weeks ago during surgery was done too tightly.  Drink & Food (what little I did have) went past the pouch but no farther so it just sat just above the rerouted intestine FESTERING... Gross.. So had to have a lovely tube put down my nose & into my stomach for pumping.. OMG... worst experience EVER... totally awake Mt Rushmore took place absolutely miserable.. had to have the tube stay in over night... with no real pain meds because you'll forget to "swallow"... What a hell of a thing to go through.   I was extremely dehydrated & my blood count sucked once again.  Have nasty fluid build up where the gall bladder was removed.  Also a likely hood I could have Krone's disease (big no no with Gastric Bypass) but not sure yet as I have so much fluid near the gall bladder site. Sunday I was not a happy camper... Dr. Barba was out last week & I didn't see him until Wednesday & I think my husband was ready to street fight him to be honest.  Had an endoscope done while in the hospital & they still think there is a blockage below my reroute.  They let me out of the hospital for the weekend & I'm suppose to go in Monday for another GI series.  If there is a blockage remaining.. more surgery in the next week I would imagine. With Dr. B being out the GI team & his "on call" team where communicating or should I say lack of communication between the two groups.  As a patient I had absolutely no confidence in my well-being.  One kept trying to discharge me the other wanting me in the hospital. I finally "snapped politely" on Thursday... & told the PA exactly what I thought about this whole mess. got a round of applause from my room mate, her family,  & the nurse who has been taking care of me.   I am woman hear me roar.. Saw Dr. B yesterday for a follow-up to the original surgery. Spent over 1/2 hour going over exactly what I felt about my treatment.. his office... him...& his team.   I was assertive but polite.. think the message was clear.   My husband gave his opinion also. Told him straight out.. if I pulled some of the stunts & treated my "customers" the way that I was recently that I would have been fired from my job and that he needs to make changes. My husband as we were walking out of the office stated "He just gave you a whole bunch of "Bull-S*** to try to placate you.. I told Hubby.. absolutely correct and that Dr B must think I'm stupid...  So hopefully Monday or Tuesday (whenever the test will be) I can get a final resolve... If there is a blockage the GI team at St Francis will be taking care of it.   I still can't eat... it's weird my "hunger mechanism" is completely shut down.. I get a twinge now & then of hunger but it goes away.  I've been on liquids for just about 3 weeks now. Lost 20 pounds & probably will lose another 5 or so when this is all said & done.  Not a bad thing just don't feel "healthy" right now as it's so drastic.    So that's where I'm at right now.  Hopefully have a final answer early next week when all is said & done.  Crossing my fingers for no blockage.. Dr. B is insistent I don't have one... & the GI team who did the endoscope/testing says in all likely hood I do.  HMMMM PS... just celebrated my 3rd year on the 26th of WLS.  What a way to celebrate!  In the hospital 2 times in under 3 weeks...YUCK...  Hugs, Mickey      

Mickey, I am sooo sorry that you are feeling so badly and I have to say that the treatment you are getting just seems sooooo substandard.  I am completely baffled actually and I think I'd be running not walking to another surgeon who might actually know what they are doing.   Your problems have just been festering way too long and my opinion is you need to take drastic measures to find another surgeon to fix this mess before you "really" end up in trouble.    Yours is definately NOT the first St. Francis or Dr. B. nightmare that I've heard. While I know I toot my surgeons horn alot on this board, I really would recommend you see Dr. Bell at Yale for another opinion.  He is a GI and does all forms of GB and I really feel he could help you as he's helped more than a few others that have been screwed up by other surgeons.   I'll be keeping you in my prayers Mickey!!! ~Sue

Ive been thinking so much about you lately.  I am sorry you are going through this.  Like the above poster said, perhaps it is time for a second opinion....it can only help you.  I've also heard Dr Bell is awesome.  If you want to stay with St. Francis, Dr Raftopoulos is wonderful as well.  Very responsive, compassionate and knows his stuff.  Perhaps he could get you in right away for a second opinion...I know some surgeons refuse to take on other surgeon's patients but I believe he does.  The most important thing right now is getting you well....and fast....like yesterday.   No more of this half assed bull**** - know what I mean?  Your husband sounds like he is being supportive and is all over this...that's wonderful.  Keep an open mind to what he has to say.  I know that many of us have this fierce loyalty to our surgeons (myself included) but sometimes we need to listen to those that love us...because they don't have that loyalty to the surgeon...only to us.  You sound like you are in pretty good spirits for a girl whose been through hell and back over and over again.  Keep up those good spirits and keep us updated on your condition...we're all worried about you and keeping you iin our thoughts and prayers.

Oh, Mikey...what an experience you've been through and still have to endure...Know that prayers and the best of thoughts are always being sent your way. I'm SO proud that cut ripped Dr B a "new one"....he deserves it..   For the life of me, I don't know how this man can continue practicing medicine...  If you want to know what the nurses at St Francis really think of him...email me and I'll tell you what his nick name is..and it aint pretty...ie:  you buy your meat from a b*****r and add his last name... He botches up not only WLS but many other surgeries as well...the nurses dread getting one of his patients post op cause of the complications that may ensue. If you feel in your heart that he's really not the doc for you...switch, please..you don't want to be ignored when an issue comes up and have it turned into something worse. Ask for a consult with the new WLS surgeon at St Francis while you're inpatient.  Maybe he'll come in and speak to you and go over your case and be able to straighten things out. In my heart of hearts, I don't think Barba wants to be at St Francis any more.  I think he prefers the New Britain facility now. Dr Aranow is excellent...I'm sure you've heard this from a lot of us...he does't drop the ball of his patients.  Even if he's out of town.  He cut his vacation short once for a friend of mine and came back to take care of business.  It's just how he is.   Feel better, rest up...try to get your liquid protein in, so to not take it from your muscles and get weaker... Keep us posted...we're worried about you! Paula

Yoo hooo  Mickey....where are you??? We are worried, hope you will update us soon. I am seriously hoping you will get away from Dr. B and NOT let him perform any more surgeries on you.  What you really need is a GI who knows his way around an RNY, not two different surgeons with differing opinions who can't seem to find their way out of a paper bag. Here is Dr. Bell's email address.  You could at least shoot him an email and describe your problems.  I have never had to email him before but I'm told that he does respond, even after hours.  [email protected] ~Sue

 Mickey,     You've been in my thoughts and prayers since I first heard of your troubles. Stay strong. God Bless, Jim

Hi Gang, Thank you all for your support & prayers.. I greatly appreciate it.  I was suppose to have the GI test done today.. however Dr. Barba's office didn't make the appt.  So starting at 9am this morning they will hate me as I am going to keep calling until they make it.    If I don't get results from his office then I'll see if I can call myself or track down the GI Dr's that assisted me during my stay last week, since they're the ones who need/want the GI test done.   Hopefully tomorrow.  I almost passed out in my kitchen yesterday because all I'm doing is fluids. I did Email Dr. Raph's office to see if he'll give me a consult.  Dr B is his collegue at St Francis so not sure how that will play out.. we'll see.  I need to switch Dr's & at this point get a 2nd opinion.  I was pretty wiped out yesterday & took a nap.  Just trying to take it easy until I get the test done & results back.   I'm scheduled to go back to work 5/26...hopefully this mess will be cleared up by then. That's about where I'm at.. trying to get protein in as much as possible through shakes... not just to help healing but I really don't want to lose my hair again.. sigh.... Keep me in your prayers please... hoping no blockage & I can move on with my life & a new Dr. Mickey  

Hi Gang, Just an update Dr. Raft's office called me this am... Impressive.. I just emailed his dept last night late and got a call before 9am!  They are very concerned & wants to give me a consult asap.  They pulled everything they could on me from my last 2 stays at the hospital & stated I never should have been released due to my low blood count alone. They're to call me back once Dr. R gets in & goes over what files are on record for me.  I told them that I already placed a written request for my medical records 2 weeks ago & it should be there on file & if they need to help themselves to what they need. Dr B's office is getting me in for a GI series today.. just sitting by the phone waiting at this point in time.   Stay tuned for more exciting adventures.. Mickey    

Oh Thank Goodness!!!!!!  I knew Dr. Raft's office would get you in ASAP.  He really is the most caring dr I have ever come in contact with.  Most impressive....is that he gives his pager number  in case you need to contact him  - you do not contact his office's answering service etc....even during normal business hours, you page him and seriously, he calls back within minutes.  I love his office.  If you have any questions about him, feel free to PM me.  I had surgery with him in December and he's a very cautious dr - some would say overly cautious, but where my life is concerned, I do not believe in overly cautious. Dr Raft has a "stake" in your well being - he is the Medical Director of the Bariatric Center of Excellence at St. Francis. I sincerely hope they can get your squared away and back on track to being healthy. 

DAMN IT!!!!!!!!!!! I was hoping you were doing better. Guess not. Good for you for standing up for yourself! We (as in people) need to do that more often if we feel that we are not being taken care of. Good luck with everything and I hope then can find out what is wrong and you are feeling better soon.