Just to update and keep praying!
Several months ago and several times I have been on this site and shared my situation and would like to update you all and ask for your continued prayers and support as I know already I will have. As I have shared in the past I have had numerous complications of my RNY of April 23, 2007 that has left me with the inability to eat more than a few bites and it takes me hours literally to drink a 12 ounce ptn shake. I have an overwhelming feeling of being full as if I ate an entire turkey... and it takes hours to digest anything. Apart from the fact my pouch is shifted, too small and tilted foward, I recently found out that my esophagus is functioning only 50% making this more complicated but the bigger question is why? Well, after 20 months and a very long story my new pcp dx in 15 minutes and confirmed it within a week. The interesting thing as a nurse I have explored everything to find and answer. I even asked the surgeons if they thought my diagnosis was a possibilty over a year ago when my feeding tube was placed and which I still have and use. They both told me NO. Well, to not keep you in suspense I was diagnosed with Scleraderma a rare connective tissue disorder. It will be determined in the next few weeks when I go to Pittsburgh to the Scleraderma Clinic if this is systemic or localized... systemic is fatal,,, so more challeneges ahead. My dear poor surgeon is devastated...he knows that 2 conditions should never have a GB one is Lupus and the other is Scleraderma. I also knew this prior to my surgery but did not know that I had it, but again I suspected it a year ago when the limb completely scarred over and nothing was going down. But dismissed it because they knowing more than I said ,no. Really nothing would have changed...I am having a central line put in on 1/8 so i can run TPN along with the feedings to "beef" me up so he can do this final surgery to try and straighten the pouch etc. He really does not believe it will help in my situation and he feels the motility problem now makes sense and is of course related to the Scleraderma but, he knows I want one more shot at this before I must make a decision to have a reversal which I have absolutely kicked-up my heels in protest of...but, it is a strong possibility because of the continous problem with protein malnutrition and the very low weight, he feels I am a sitting duck if anything came along and I would catch...I continue to plug along at my job which I love... I struggle now with not being able to not feel my feet or move my toes and I have numbess to my knees. I have Raynaud's which cause my hands to be ice cold and when any circulation occurs my hands become blood red, my finges are stiff esp in the morning.I am so grateful to know. I praise God for what He has done and what He will do with this situation. I look forward to sharing with those that come my way about how great and merciful God is and that there is HOPE! I wrote my surgeon a christmas letter because he expressed to me several times that nothing good has come out of this... I strongly disagree because nothing but good has come out of this for me and one day I will list all the things I listed for him ( 4 pages full). These past 20 months have been wonderful and I hold to my life verse. " For We Know that ALL things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called accroding to His Purpose" His eye is on the sparrow everyone and I know He watches ME! Be encouraged . Please pray for Mike ( my surgeon)...he has his own health issues but he also has this guilt trip he is on for himself over this...I have tried repeatedly to let him off the hook and he still holds himself responsible... I care for him deeply and want him to celebrate my wins with me and he can't...Thanks for listening and I will keep you all posted....Patricia Patton
My goodness Pat, I am so sorry you have to go through this but you are one strong lady and if anybody can lick this thing you can. God is on your side and He will see you through and be your strength when everything seems too much. You have my prayers and you will be in my thoughts everyday. Let us know how you are doing. Love,Nancy 
I appreciate your support and prayers Nancy. I want so much to be the encourager but, sometimes we have to let our hair down and be encouraged by others and I appreciate your quick response. I marvel at what God allows a person to experience and apart from Him I can do nothing...literally and figuritively. I am not angry with Him I just continue to stand in awe of Him ...because of this God will bring an entirely new population of people into my life and I want to give them something to HOPE in... God has brought this wonderful lady into my life Alice... she has been my patient for 3 years and she has systemic scleraderma and I have watched her decline with dignity and grace and God has brought her into my life because He knew this day was approaching for me...I needed a mentor and He has provided the best... she's a dear and we had such a bond prior to my diagnosis and now we are like cement ( scleraderma is hardening of the skin) and inside joke I guess. So anyway, Nancy I aprreciate you and your support I will update this site from time to time and let you know things. You can always e-mail through my profile anytime...Patricia
I have NO clue what half of what you wrote means. These are things I've never heard of. However, I do understand.. Please pray for me and I need your support.
I will put you on my prayer list and of course you know you have my support and the loving care of the rest of us.
Know you are blessed.
Millie
Millie please let me know how I can pray for you specifically...go to my profile and e-mail me so we can keep this between us. I will help you in any capacity. I am a nurse which might help, I have 2 support groups and also an online one called Patricia's Hope through OH and I am almost finished with my Life Coaching course so I think I can help you...please write and thanks for your prayers... Patricia
My strength does not come from within me but through Christ.. I can't credit myself or others. My family and friends are supportive but my strength lies in the one who is all powerful... Jesus Christ...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phillipians 4:13Please keep in touch Annette
Please keep in touch Annette 
Hi Connie..Thanks so much for your prayers esp for Mike. He has been nothing short of wonderful to me and has been by my side through this entire thing. He never complains about his own situation and we feel each other's pain. We have so mu*****ommon and I worry about him and think of him often during the day and pray he is making it through the day ok and he often tells me I not far from his thoughts. God brought us together to support one another through our situations. I think I have abetter handle on things at this point and I want him to come along side of me and CELEBRATE my accomplishments with my GB...its been a wonderful and amazing adventure and unique to me...I appreciate your support more than you know...Patricia ..you are such an encourager....thank-you...
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