Internal Hernia

I am still around although I haven't been to th LCBB meetings in awhile, but I do follow the boards. Anyway I am just getting home 10/10 from MUSC where Dr. Morgan had to repair an internal hernia that I developed. Rex and I had gone on vacation for almost a month been on a cruise and went to San Antonio and New Orleans and had a wonderful time with no problems, a little diarrhea on the cruise but the Dr. thought it was just the change in food and it passed. Wo got home last Friday night and I did some unpacking and then we went to La Hacienda for dinner, I ate about 4 bites and it was as though the food was stuck and had a huge gas bubble, well that lasted all night with two bouts a vomitting (first time since my surgery). Got Rex up at 6:30 and we went to the ER. I got to do the wonderful contrast although MUSC has a great protocol for gastric bypass pts, so everyone was very conscious of what I was going through, ended up with X-rays and 2 C-scans and then determined that I needed surgery and get this' I was too thin to do it lapascopically they needed to do it open, isn't that something. Then I got to go through the NG tube experience and oh my God Needless to say I hope I never need to have another one. Surgery was Sunday morning first thing and I just have to say that all my care was wonderful. It was just so upsetting because I have been so fortunate to have no problems at all and then to have this happen, needless to say I'm a little fearful for the future but Dr. Morgan assured me that she cleaned all the nook and crannies and we aren't going to do this again, so the tummy is a little unhappy and eating is not much fun, but I just remember what it was like after the bypass and this is better.

Hi Dona. We have missed you and Rex, but it sounds like you had a wonderful vacation. Sorry it had to end so badly, but thank goodness it waited until you were back here. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you have a quick, uneventful recovery. Susann

Hey Dona, ME TOO!!! I am having surgery on Nov 15th if I can hold out that long. I thought I had kidney stones if you remember I posted about 1 month ago, and now after the CT scan, which the doh doh's here gave me barium to take at home....major dumping, then I got to the CT place and drank the clear non sugar kind, and added my own Crystal Light peach tea to it....never want peach tea again! I got sooo sick while waiting, and had major bouts of diarrhea while I waited to go back. They did the CT scan, and with an injection too. I went back 2 days later to the Gastric bypass doc here, and (I did not know he was a gastric bypass doc) I thought he was just a gastro doc, and anyway, he said immediately I needed surgery, but the 1st possible time they can do it is Nov 15th. He has lots of cancer patients. BUT, get this, they also noticed my bile duct was HUGE and blocked. I emailed Dr. Byrne, and told him and he told me that my doc here, Dr. Nguyen, is one of the top docs in the world, and I have had several other docs here tell me the same thing. So, while I have the internal hernia/hernias repaired, and then adhesions taken care of, they also have to have another doctor in the operating room who specializes in the bile duct/pacreatis in the OR, that will go in separately. The gastric doc has to open up a hole in my old stomach to allow the bile doctor to go in with a scope and check out the bile duct and do surgery there at the same time!!!! I just can't believe all this is happening at 13 almost 14 months post op. I went from 189 to 150, and hopefully I can have my surgery done lap, as that is what they are "planning" to do. I am so sorry you are going through this, we are going through this. I have done lots of research and emailed back and forth to Dr. Byrne, and have learned that after losing lots of weight, and from our intestines being re-routed in the bypass, as we lose fat in our bellies, it makes space and our intestines can slip up or down and cause kinks, so hence the hernias. How are out are you??? How much have you lost and what are your stats?? I am glad they caught yours and did it straight away. I hope I don't have to have an emergent trip to the ER, but at the same time, I hope that I can get my surgery before the 15th because my mom and dad are coming for Thanksgiving on the 17th and I want to be home from the hospital and healed. Did you wake up with the NG tube in?? I suppose they had to do that under flouroscope?? How did they put that in your pouch?? How long did you stay in the hospital?? My post is somewhere on here about my surgery....upcoming surgery, under "bad news" Glad you are safe and sound, and hopefully that will be the last time. I am now a size 6/8, from a 22/24 Deb

YOUR EXPERIENCES, MS DEB, ARE A REMINDER THAT MOST DOCTORS DO NOT, NOT, NOT UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL NEEDS & LIMITATIONS OF GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS ... ESPECIALLY ABOUT SUGAR & THE TYPES OF MEDICATIONS WE CANNOT TAKE ... BE PROACTIVE ... GET A MEDIC ALERT BRACELET (I NEED TO DO THIS) ... NOTE THINGS LIKE "NO GLUCOSE - TREAT LIKE A DIABETIC" ... "NO BLIND NG TUBE" ... "NO NSAIDs" ... "NO ASPIRIN PRODUCTS" ... LIST YOUR ALLERGIES & MEDICAL CONDITIONS &&& LIST A PHONE # FOR YOU GASTRIC BYPASS DOC! www.elijahsmom.com HAS A MEDIC ALERT BRACELET THAT YOU CAN HAVE INFO PRINTED ON BOTH THE FRONT & THE BACK. ALSO, HAVE A FILE SET UP THAT HAS ALL YOUR FAMILY'S INFO ON ONE SHEET OF PAPER PER PERSON SO YOU CAN HAND A COPY TO EMS PERSONNEL OR TO HOSPITAL & MEDICAL PERSONNEL. WE JUST RAN INTO THIS WITH MY MOMMA ... DADDY JUST BLANKED OUT WHEN THE EMS PEOPLE BEGAN ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT MOMMA'S MEDS, SO I'M GOING TO MAKE UP A 3-RING BINDER WILL MEDICAL, DRUG & CONTACT INFORMATION ABOUT ALL 4 OF US. PLACE A COPY OF YOUR LIVING WILL, POWERS OF ATTORNEY ... LEGAL DOCUMENTS ... SO THAT NOTHING IS LEFT TO CHANCE. IF YOU ARE HOSPITALIZED ... BE SURE TO HAVE THEM MAKE A "DIABETIC DIET" NOTATION ON YOUR MEAL PREP INFO. OR, BRING YOUR OWN PROTEIN & DRINK PRODUCTS (WITH YOUR DOCTOR'S KNOWLEDGE, OF COURSE). WE DON'T WANT TO THINK OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS, BUT THE VERY QUALITY OF OUR HEALTH CARE DEPENDS ON UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION & THAT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY ... PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR FAMILY! GOD BLESS Y'ALL ... DAWN & NICK

yes we have missed you & Rex glad you had a great vacation &sorry you had to go thru another surgery tho but you will be like new when you are alll healed .miss you at LCBB maybe when you are all better you will pop back in to say hi to all.take it easy & heal for now

Hey Dona, I'm a newie, hoping to have wls soon. I'm so sorry to hear about the problems you are having. I hope everything goes fine, and you don't have any further issues. I mostly read the profiles to find out how patients are doing with their surgery. I really want to have this, but at the same time I wonder if its worth all that you have to go through. I guess I fear not knowing how things will be down the road. I guess that's why it's safer to take one day at a time. I really hope everything turns out well for you. I will keep you in my prayers.

Of course you need to do your own research, Ms Tracey, but I can't remember of anyone so far who has said "Nooooooo" don't do this" ... No matter what any of us have had to go through, we'd all do it again in a heartbeat because even with problems, life is soooooooo much better with the surgery than it ever was with obesity & all the co-morbs & limitations. I wish I could put you inside my head so you could live my experiences before & after surgery ... Ohhhhhh sweetie ... The difference in my life is nothing short of miraculous! Drop the fear at the door & don't ever look back. Take it one day at a time! Keep coming here to the board as you will be able to learn so much. God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

Lady D, Thanks so much for your honesty, kindness, and most of all the words of encouragement. I have pretty much made my mind up to have the WLS, because I feel I have tried everything else. I joined this website for support....I haven't gotten much from my family. My Husband supports me, but it hurts to no end that my mother who in blind, and had a stroke a few years ago can't understand why I want to do this. I always say "when mama hurts so do I" she has always been my dearest friend until I met my husband, now they both are. I know she alone with my 3, also overweight sisters are just afraid of the worst that could happen. They always tell me you can do it, and that I've done it in the past but I have secretly dieted since I was in grade 6. I'm now close to 40 and still haven't won the battle of the bulge. My mother is down almost 80lbs which she probably wouldn't have lost had she not had a stroke. We are all so proud of her for getting rid of most of her excess weight. I've told here I don't want to wait until the worst happens. When we fear dying most of us will kick into survival mode, which is what she did...taking off the extra weight out of fear of having another stroke. I hope she will come around soon, as I have kicked into survival mode, I want to live as long as God will allow me to. I've done all pre-opts and I'm waiting for them to be sent in for approval. I know I have to do this for myself, I just hope the rest of my family will come around. Once I'm approved I will do everything I can to prove to them that this can really work for me. Thanks for listening.

Well Ms Tracey, it sounds like you have used good judgment in coming to your decision .. What's best for your life & your health. Yes ma'am, I do understand coming to the end of yourself knowing that you have done everything you could do & find you still need something else (WLS) to help you to finally get success. The thing about obese people is just the opposite than most people think of us ... They think we are lazy but, in fact, we are some of the hardest working people trying a lifetime to overcome this condition. So, now that you understand that you "need" the extra help that WLS gives you, don't look back for any reason or for anyone. The only thing I regret about my WLS experience is that I didn't do this much earlier in my life so don't waste another day! It sounds like the issues between you & your Momma are deep & we are so sorry you are feeling that emotional distance between you. But, the one thing you can do is STILL look on your Mother as your dearest friend no matter the cir****tances & continue to treat her that way. It almost sounds like it isn't an issue of her not supporting your decision to have the surgery ... It sounds like an issue where she is facing the fact that she didn't make better decisions for herself until her very life depended on it, & is now suffering tremendously from the consequences of her own lack of change. Now, she may be overwhelmed trying to deal with the outcome (blindness & stroke issues) & the issues between the two of you are getting muddled within all that struggle she's going through. So, try to look at it as her own pain coming out ... Not that she is trying to cause you pain. You have the greatest blessing of all in the support of your husband. I'm one strong woman, but I couldn't have gotten through this without the unending support of my husband, Nick ... So, be sure to consistently let him know how much his support means to you. I wrote a story on my profile about not leaving our spouses behind in this journey. It came out of a situation with Nick & I ... Read it when you have a few minutes. I always say that THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT BUT THE HARDEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF. God bless you ... Dawn & Nick

WELL MS DONA ... SOOOOOOOO GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU CAME THROUGH WITH FLYING COLORS. WE HOPE & PRAY THAT YOU ARE UP & ABOUT IN NO TIME & FEEL WELL ENOUGH TO COME BACK TO LCBBuddies! WE HAVE MISSED YOU. THAT IS TOO FUNNY ABOUT BEING "TOO THIN" ... I GUESS THERE ARE "PROBLEMS" NO MATTER WHAT! BUT, "THIN" PROBLEMS ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN "FAT" PROBLEMS! I'LL TAKE THEM ANY DAY OVER WHAT I USED TO GO THROUGH! GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICK