6 month follow up with surgeon

Yesterday, I had my 6 month follow up with my bariatric surgeon.  I've had a few episodes of epigastric pain that I thought was heart pain, but after seeing my cardiologist and a GI doctor, along with an ultrasound of my abdomen, it's decided that I have gallbladder issues.  So, my surgeon recommends that I either have my gallbladder removed (the wall of the gallbladder is thickened and there is what may be stones or polyps) or repeat the ultrasound in a few weeks.  With the changes in my insurance, I honestly cannot afford either!  I don't know what to do, at this point.  I'm just hoping I don't have that pain occur too frequently. 
As far as my weight, I've lost 71 pounds in these 6 months.  That doesn't sound as much as some have lost in the same, or shorter, amount of time.  I'm happy with it, though.  When I was concerned about the chest pain, I stopped exercising and without really being aware, I realize that I changed my eating habits AND stopped recording my intakes.  This was a huge mistake for me.  I found that I MUST record my intakes...protein and fluids, as well as times of intake...to keep myself on track. 
My labs were pretty much within norms, with the exception of a few.  My protein was low, which didn't really surprise me.  As I look back at my eating, without recording intakes, I can see where I did not get enough protein for a few weeks.  Also, the fluids weren't as they should have been.  The one thing that my PCP didn't really seem to have an answer for, but the surgeon did address just briefly, was my platelet count.  It was down to 107.  Prior lab was over 300, and the low normal is (if I remember correctly) 150.  Surgeon said that if I decide to have my gallbladder removed, we'd repeat that prior to surgery.  If no surgery, then we'd repeat in 3 months.  If it's still down, or down more, then I need to see a hematologist.  If it's not one thing, it's another. 
Good news!!  My blood pressure medicines have been cut in half!  Hopefully, I will come off of them in a few months. 
In the last few days, I feel MUCH better than I did when I wasn't compliant with diet, exercise, or recording of my intakes.  My energy level is much greater, my sleep is better, and I just feel different.  Since changing my blood pressure medicine, I feel more energy, also.  I think my blood pressure was low and making me just so tired during the day. 
As far as the gallbladder, have any of you who've had your gallbladder removed had issues with "dumping syndrome"?  Not dumping from sugars, but dumping from foods such as lettuce, fats, and other foods that cause dumping syndrome in non-RNYers, too. 

Janet

I was thinking..... maybe you can ask your doc if they have some kind of medical assistance program. I know mine does. It keeps their non profit status up. The program pays copays for people after they apply. of course I have an hmo with dr and insurance all in one. My insurance doesnt advertise this assistance but it's there.  

If they something like that, maybe it can help you to be able to have your gall bladder removed. Again, I was just thinking.......

I will ask!  Anything, at this point, is helpful.  My husband is older, and is on Medicare and has VA benefits, also.  So, the insurance that we have for myself and our daughter is WAY much more than we used to have to pay before he retired, even just after his retirement.  This year, we have much higher premiums, deductibles, out of pocket expenses and just so many changes. 
I'm sure that once I get back to work, it'll be more manageable, but for now...wow, how do people do this? 

Janet
 

Hi Janet, Congrats on your 6 months! I have been having low red blood cell count for the last few months as well, not anemic, just low, and for some reason my vitamin d keeps being low as well no matter how much I try to supplement that vitamin! Im hoping once spring is here, and I'll get more natural sunlight that will help that part. As for the gall bladder, I had mine removed about 3 years ago due to gall stones, and the dumping from that is very different then the dumping from RNY. Mostly, for me, if I ate kraft dinner, or McDonalds, or anything with way to much fat, with in 20 min I would have the runs, and it would just be like bile (not to be so graphic haha) I wouldn't get the horrible feeling of nausea, and hot tingling, and gas and just over all sick feeling that i get when i dump on too much sugar from my rny. Sinse my RNY I have never had a gall bladder dumping episode, but that makes sense as I dont eat high fatty startchy food any longer... the experiences are totally different, altho both involve the bathroom haha. But I can say I am really glad to have my gall bladder removed because it got to the point of horrible attacks that were so painful when a stone would get stuck. Also, with your blood pressure pills, now that they have lowered your dose I bet you will feel so much better. Before they took me off mine, I was so dizzy every time I went from sitting to standing, and just felt icky, and once I was off of them, i sure felt so much better! Good luck, and congrats again on your 6 month anni!

When a friend was telling me about her dumping from lettuce, after her gallbladder removal...all I could think was "wow, that would be nice".  LOL
I have had constipation since my RNY, with very little relief from most anything that I've taken.  The one thing that got things moving along was a small amount of sausage gravy.  I'm assuming it was the high fat content.  I went for nearly 4 days, almost non stop!  So, as she told me about her experience with loose stools...it went through my mind that I could use the offending foods as my laxative. 
Thank you, Calla!  I can't wait to post before and after pics like yours.  Well, not exactly like yours...you are gorgeous!  I'll be smaller, but still an old fogie! 

Janet

LOL, you are a woman after my own heart! When I havent "gone" for a few days and feel all constipated, the thought has crossed my mind several times that I should just eat some kraft dinner or an easter cream egg and that will get things loving haha

oh that must be a Freudian slip! By loving I meant moving! but I DOOOO LOVE easter cream eggs and kraft dinner LOL

LOL  Funny that the things we are "loving" now get us "moving".  I love sausage gravy and biscuits!  I really LOVE Lay's plain potato chips, but haven't tried them.  I'll bet they would make me move...hmm...I'll have to try them when it's been a few days!