cyndirene

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I know it has been a long time since I have posted. I had my hernia repair done and had a complication with that.  An artery was nicked and I had to be taken back to surgery to repair that 30 minutes after my original surgery.  I had alot of pain from that surgery and I did not have my tummy tuck done.  I am hoping to have it done after the first of the year.  My isurance covers it so I just have to get with my employer to get the time off. Dr. Argotte, who did my surgery will be doing this and he is moving his practice to Herrin, IL which is closer to me so it will be easier for me to see him.  I am deficient in vitimans right now and need to get my blood work done to see what I need to take.  My hair is thin and hopefully Boitin will help with that.  Well, that is all for nw

10/26/07 - I know it has been a long time since I have posted.  Since last time, I went back to see Dr. Argotte, thinking that my abscess was back but it was NOT!  However, my hidascan (for the gall bladder) showed that my gall bladder was not functioning and I had to have my gall bladder removed.  This was the easiest operation I have ever had.  It was removed on a Friday and I was out shopping on Monday.  I did not have much pain and was finally able to eat.  Solid foods are staying down.  Oh yea, I still throw up every once in a while.  I find that if I have something to help the food slide down, like ketchup, it is much easier.  I am down to 158 now.  On Monday, I have an appointment with Dr. Argotte to address my final surgery.  I have a ventral hernia.  He is going to surgically repair this and do a tummy tuck.  My insurance said they will cover the whole procedure as the tummy tuck will help with the hernia repair.  I am so excited to have this apron of skin removed.  I plan to return to work after this and start saving for a breast lift w/implants and have my arms done.  I am so happy with my results.  Yea, sure I had a rough ride but I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  My surgeon is so gifted.  He has given me the tools to get the weight off and get healthy again.  I would highly recommend him to anyone in this area.  He really cares about his patients and treats them with the respect they deserve.  I thank him from the bottom of my heart.  For without his gifted hands, I would not be healthy again.  Thank you Dr. Argotte.

I will update after I see him on Monday to post my surgery date for the hernia repair and tummy tuck.

September 11, 2007 - 

Wow, so much has happened since I have posted last.  My ulcer progressively became worse and my pouch ruptured.  I was admitted  to Lourdes because Dr. Argotte was going to do an EGD because of my excessive nausea. I have had and EGD monthly up to May.  When he did the EGD, he found that my pouch had ruptured and attached itself to my liver. He woke me up from the EGD and told me that he had to take me to surgery to repair the pouch.  I asked him when he would be doing this, thinking maybe the next day and he told me "NOW".  This was at about 1:00 PM.  So, he gave me 2mg of Dilaudid and I passed out!Anyway, I woke up at about 9:30 PM on a ventilator.  I was in surgery for approximately 6 hours.  He repaired my pouch with only a 1.5 ounce capacity after removing my ulcer.  He removed the remaining stomach that just sits in your abdomen and produces gastric juices and he clipped my vagus nerve which tells the digestive system to produce more digestive juices.  I had a central line in my chest, and On-Q catheter in my incision with numbing medication, two JP drains in my abdomen and a tube down my throat.  But I made it and Dr. Argotte had saved me.  I remained in the hospital for about 7 days.  So basically, I was a new post-op gastric bypass patient.  I had to start everything over, with the liquids for 10 days and progressively move my diet along.  I kept having pain around my incision and Cleo and I thought maybe it was a neuritis from the surgery. It was so painful but I just kept going. In July, I went to Ohio to visit my parents and family and my abdomen began to swell under the incision, the pain was almost unbearable.  It was hot to the touch.  I called Dr.Argotte's office and spoke with Cleo and she advised me to come to the office when I got in on the 19th from Ohio. Thank goodness my aunt had a bottle of Vicodin (pain meds) from a previous surgery.  That is was got me through my visit.  It did not make all of the pain go away but it helped.  I got off the plane in St. Louis and my daughter and son-in-law drove me to Dr. Argotte's office.  He admitted me immediately to Lourdes hospital.  A lab person came in my room to draw blood, could not get it, sent someone else in to try but my veins are not too good from all the IV's and surgery that I have had in the past 9 months. So, she said, we will leave it to the midnight shift to try.  In the meantime, my fever was 101.5 and on the rise.  My nurse came in and I had a high speed come apart and told her that I hurt so she gives me 50mg of Demerol which would usually knock anyone out.  All it did was make me feel drunk and it did not help my pain.  So a different nurse came in and I was furious.  I told him that I was hurting so bad and was so sick.  The pain meds were not working, they have not drawn blood and Dr. Argotte was waiting on my bloodwork to see what my white count was.  By this time I was crying.  So, he got on the phone to Dr. Argotte who ordered me a Dilaudid PCA pain pump and immediately someone came in and drew my blood.  At last, my pain was under control.  Dr. Argotte came in and told me he was going to aspirate (remove the fluid from my abdomen).  So, I said okay, go for it.  I withdrew about 160cc's of pus from my abdomen and then ordered 6mg of Dilaudid.  He told me that he had to open my abdomen and clean it out.  The pain medication was given and by that time I didn't care about anything.  He injected my abdomen with Lidocaine to numb it and cut open my incision.  He totally cleaned out my infection which thank god was only in the subcutaneous tissues, not in the abdominal cavity.  Well,with this infection, the incision cannot be closed so it was packed with a wet to dry dressing which is gauze soaked in saline and then pack it in the open wound, then placing dry gauze over that and tape it down.  I was in the hospital for 9 days, on Vancomycin ( which by the way blows your veins and makes everything smell like crap) and another type of IV antibiotic. I was so lonely in the hospital and was going stir crazy.  I am thankful for Dr. Argotte's skills.  He said that this infection was bizarre, his words, because they do not know how I got this.  Beats me buckwheat.  So, I am sent home with the instructions of how to pack this wound.  Home health came 2x a week and the rest of the time, I was packing this wound 2x a day.  Well, it is finally closed.  However, it is swelling back up again and sore.  I had a follow-up CT scan this past Thursday and I am seeing Dr. Argotte on this Thursday.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the abscess is back.  I don't know why I am getting this.  I am a germaphobe.  I use dial soap to bath with and wash my hands a gazillion times a day.  As Dr. Argotte says - "It's bizarre".  

Anyway, on a lighter note, I have gone from 278 to 163.  I'm loving it.  I am stuck right now and not losing but I believe it is because I am not getting enough protein in and not exercising at the health club.  I hope to be able to get back and lose another 30 pounds.  Lots of loose skin but that can be dealt with in another year.  I need to get healthy first.  I can honestly say that I don't regret my surgery.  I would have never been able to lose the weight without it.  Unfortunately, there is that small percentage of patients that have postoperative complications.  But I will make it through it and get well.  I love the fact that my husband tells me how pretty I am and that I look so much healthier.  I am looking forward to going back to work and buying lots of new clothes.  I love the fact that I don't have to go to the plus size department anymore.  I no longer have diabetes or hypertension either.    So, that's what has been going on with me.  I'll update after my visit to Dr. Argotte on Thursday.  115 pounds lost so far -

3/23/07 - Well, here I am almost 3 months out and I cannot eat food that has to be chewed.  I am able to eat cream soups, yogurt, sugar free pudding and protein drinks.  If I try to eat any food that has to be chewed, I throw it up.  It is very frustrating!!!!!  I have having a hard time healing this ulcer that I have.  Dr. Argotte said for me to wait two weeks from my appointment last Thursday and have an EGD.  However, when his office manager called me she had scheduled my EGD for 4/6/07 which is three weeks out.  I told her that he wanted it in two weeks but she said he was booked up for next Friday.  I explained to her that I could not eat other than liquids and she said she would talk to him today and see if he would add me on for next Friday.  I am so sick of going in the hospital but I am afraid that the opening to my intestines is closing down again.  However, I have lost 65 pounds now and look and feel better on that subject.  However, I would like to be able to eat!!!!!!!!  I miss salads and fruits.  Hopefully I will hear something on Monday about whether or not I have the EGD on Friday.

3/17/07

Well, here I am back to square one.  I cannot hold down solid foods.  I can drink Crystal Light, eat sugar free pudding and no sugar added applesauce and Ritz crackers.  I saw Dr. Argotte this past Thursday and he said my opening to the intestine may be closing up again because of my ulcer healing or that the ulcer is the cause of me throwing up solids.  Anyway, he wants to do an EGD in two weeks to check how the ulcer is healing and if, in fact, the opening is closing.  Of course, he told me if it gets worse this coming week, to call the office and have the EGD scheduled for the 23rd.  I have lost 60 pounds now.  It feels so good to have this weight off!!!!  I am excited because I have gone from a 4X to a 1X in 2 and 1/2 months!!!  Hopefully, this ulcer is healing and I will be able to eat soon. I am not getting in enough protein and fluids.  I am trying with the protein shakes but it came back up on me yesterday.  I tried 1/3 of a South Beach protein bar, which was a big mistake!!!!  That really made my stomach hurt and I threw it up.  Dr. Argotte told me to imagine that I put on a 60 pound long vest and walked all day, up and down stairs, go to the grocery store, etc...  that it was it was like before the weight loss.  I could not walk far or shop for long because of my feet, ankles, knees and hips hurting from carrying around that 60 pounds.  I am able to walk pretty well now.  I have gone from 278 to 218!!!!!  My goal is 135 so I still have a way to go but I'm working on it.  My husband is noticing the changes in my body also and is very happy that I have done this.  No more insulin shots, no hypertension meds - it's great!!!  I'll update soon about my ulcer situation. Hopefully it will be good news!

3/7/07 - Well, I went to the support meeting last night at Lourdes and it was about how to choose your food when eating out.  Well, I was surprised that these people could eat out.  I can't even eat in!!!!!
Today, I tried a piece of sausage to try to get a little bit of meat in me and boy that did not stay for more than 20 minutes.  I'm so tired of throwing up. Basically I am surviving on yogurt, Cheerios, crackers and applesauce.  I am about 9 weeks out from surgery and it is really hard for me to eat.  I am told though that it will get better.  I certainly hope so. On the lighter side, I have lost a total of 55 pounds as of today - yeah!!!!!  I can really tell the difference when looking in the mirror.  That's what is keeping my attitude somewhat positive.  I am just hoping for the day when  I can actually eat a small meal and keep it down.  That's all for now.

3/6/07 - Well, I have been back in the hospital.  Last Wednesday I began throwing up blood so I was re-admitted to Lourdes.  I had an EGD and Hida Scan on Friday.  The bleeding had stopped and my gallbladder was great!  So I was discharged on Saturday.  I slept for 16 hours after coming home and I am feeling better.  Sunday I was feeling kinda yuk, but on Monday I decided that I was not going to let this rule me.  So, I got myself dressed and proceeded to clean house and get the wash caught up.  I think that was a big help to my psyche.  Anyway, today I am feeling good, have gone through the house and opened all the curtains to let the sunshine in and have several projects to do today.  I am going to the Support Meeting tonight at Lourdes.  Last night, I was able to eat okay and it stayed down so I think I am on the mend.  My ulcer still is not healed but I am faithfully taking my medicine and hoping that it is working.  I am down to 225 lbs now.  That is a weight loss of 53 pounds!  I sometimes wonder if this is a dream and I will wake up and not lose any more weight.  Isn't that strange?  Well, it's time to go get on the treadmill so I will post more later.

2/27/07 - I had my EGD on 2/23/07.  My ulcer is not yet healed.  Dr. Argotte had to dilate the opening to my intestines because is was closing up. That is why I was throwing up.  That night I made the mistake of eating two pieces of popcorn chicken and was throwing up alot.  Then I had a small glass of skim milk and I threw that up as it soured on my stomach.  That was a first.  So, on Saturday and Sunday, I ate very little and had alot of stomach pain.  I have had some bleeding of the ulcer evident with black tarry stools.  I spoke to Heather in Dr. Argotte's office and she said that it could be from him dilating the opening.  Today I am feeling good.  No stomach pain and I was able to eat yogurt.  It is staying down so I feel that maybe I am on the road to a good recovery.  My weight is now at 225.  That is 53 pounds that I have lost in barely 8 weeks!!!!!  I can really tell the difference now and will have to update my pictures.  I have not tried to eat meat or fish yet.  I may wait a little longer to try that.  I ordered a new pair of jeans.  I used to wear a size 28.  I ordered a size 24 and they are too big!!!! Yeah!  It is so nice to see myself shrinking!!!!   Well, I'll keep you updated on my progress.  It looks like I am turning the corner and things are going to be much better!!  Thank you Dr. Argotte!

Well, today is much better.  Yesterday, I was able to eat a very small bowl of Cheerios and it stayed down. Yeah!  No episodes of vomiting.  The Phenergan is really helping.  Today I am going to try to get in a protein shake and for lunch I will try a very small amount of food.  I am hoping I am getting over the hump and on my way to getting better.  I walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes yesterday. I am down to 230 pounds as of yesterday afternoon.  I love to see the scales moving in the downward direction.  EGD is Friday the 23rd.  Hope all goes well.  I'll update again soon.

Hello everyone - well, I am not doing too good.  I had developed an ulcer that started bleeding alot on 1/25/07.  I was hospitalized, had an EGD and was sent home on Carafate tablets, Pepcid and Protonix.  I have steadily gotten worse and now cannot eat any food due to vomiting.  Dr. Argotte told me on 2/15/07 that he needs to do another EGD to see what is going on.  He feels that the swelling in my pouch is blocking the food from going into my intestines so I guess he will have to dilate that opening.  I am pretty miserable but am now down to 232 pounds.  I weighed 278 when I began my journey so that is 46 pounds!  I hope we can get this ulcer resolved.  I have also developed an abdominal wall hernia.  Maybe my insurance will cover my tummy tuck when he fixes it when I lose alot more weight.  Anyway, I am trying to stay positive and I totally trust Dr. Argotte to get me on the road again.  That's all for now.  I will update again after my EGD this Friday, 2/23/07.