My WLS Complication Update

Many of you OH peeps know that for almost 2 full years, I've had SEVERE abdominal pain where I've had to be rushed to ER.  Since April 2007 I've had to go to ER well over 7 times for severe abdominal pain where I'm curled up yelling for help

Throughout this whole time, I've seen my PCP a number of times and have also been in contact with my surgeon at Pac Bar.  The last ER visit was about 2 weeks ago and I just said that's it   Enough is enough!  I seen my PCP about a week ago to discuss the next steps with my condition.  My surgeon believes it's a "kink" where the intestines may be twisted (bowel obstruction) but by the time they do X-Rays and a CT Scan, the intestines untwist and it's not reading anywhere in the film.  So what's next for me?

Today at 9am I'm going to Kaiser in Baldwin Park.  I'm going to drink this barium liquid and the radiologist is going to follow the liquid to try detect where that "kink" is.  If the kink is identified, that means surgery for me   Where the surgeon will have to go back in and fix the "kink" (bowel obstruction).

If this test I'm going to do does not pick up anything, plan B is to swallow a pill like camera and a radiologist will be reviewing every step as it travels through my intestines.  If plan B does not work then my PCP has plan C.....exploratory surgery! 

At this time, I want this test I'm going to do to be the only one. I'm getting sick and tired of making trips to the ER (as they know me so well). 

Other than the PAIN I go through every now and then, my blood work is perfect and my weight has stabalized.  Would I go through WLS surgery again? YES...I've learned that with any abdominal surgery, complications may come up since scar tissue may develop and who knows what other things can come up.

I'll keep you posted on today's findings....Happy Holidays!

I hope they figure it out!!! Keep us posted!


Shells

Best of luck to you Gus!  Sure hope this first test works and they find the culprit!

Keep us posted!

Chris

Gus,
You know sometimes these kinks are intermittent.  Also if they do not see anything on the upper gi with small bowel follow thru, insist that someone orders a CT scan. I am sorry that you are going thru this. there are two things that can happen with this.. One is an internal hernia and the other one is that you have developed adhesions and the bowels thru normal movement get stuck in the adhesions ( which is scar tissue).  We have perastalsis and so our bowels do have a slight movement to them to help move our food thru.  
Good Luck to you
Liz 

Yup...You're right...Sometimes these kinks are intermittent.  They've done CT Scans but by the time they get me in there, the kink is gone...grrrrrrr

Gus,
You know that happened to me one time.  They told me I was FOS.  But, i kno that when I wold send pt for ct frequently the pt would she to be constipated. The thing is that the oral contrast sometimes has a laxative effect.  I feel your pain.
Liz

Hello Gus, I am so sorry to hear that you have been having troubles, Yikes, I hope you can find out what the heck the problem is. Please keep us posted, I will be praying for you. Melody

Hi Gus,

I am so sorry to hear about the problems you have had. 2 years is a long time to go through so much.  I will pray that they find the problem on the first test so they can get you fixed. 


Linda

Hi Gus,

I am so sorry to hear that you have been going through pain (in your body and with Kaiser).  I hope that they get to the bottom of the problem.

 

Kim

Gus,

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that they fingure this out quickly for you.
 

Barb