Charla G.
I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. Gastric Bypass surgery will give me a new lease on life as long as I use the tool I have been given.
I had my orientation at MMPC on Wednesday June 2, 2004. The ladies were very informative and I had already done alot of research on my own. On this day I scheduled my 3 appts. I went back on Monday june 7th and I had my surgical consult with Dr. Kemmetter. He was very informative and very friendly. If I had any doubts about having this surgery he put my mind at ease.
My next appt at MMPC was on June 29th with Scott Glass and Doctor Dawn White. Everyone agreed that I was a good candidate for WLS. Now the waiting begins, for them to get my lab work together and to get that magical phone call.
07/13/2004 - Well, Today is that magical day that we long to hear. "You have been approved and do you want to schedule your surgery?"
I was so excited. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, August 9th. I am so excited to start my new life. I have to go in for my preop appts on July 26th and August 2nd.
Thank you all for listening to me whine while i waited for my date.
07/26/2004 Well, Today I saw the dietician and received my products for protein fast that I will be on for the next 13 days. The appointment was very informative. Then, I got to meet with the PA at MMPC Randy Brady. He was a very nice guy. Tomorrow I start the protein fast and then after my surgery I will have to be on the liquid protein products for another 4 weeks.
08/02/2004 Today was my one week preop appointment and I was happy when I got on the scale to find out that I lost 8.6 pounds. I had my lab work done and i am all set for surgery next Monday. When I got back from Grand Rapids I went straight to my husband's employee picnic. I sat and watched everyone eat and i munched on my soy nuts. I know I can do this but boy is it hard.
08/07/2004 Today was my sister's bridal shower in Detroit. This was the first time that I really mourned food. I stood there with tears in my eyes watching everyone eat the lovely looking food. I know that I only have a few days but it sure is hard when there is alot of food available. 2 More days to go.
08/09/2004 Today is the day that I have been waiting for. My arrival time at the hospital is 11:30am. We dropped my daughter off at my parents and we were on the road as it takes 2 hours to get there. We got to Blodgett early and signed in. About 20 minutes later a lady came and got me and took me to be weighed and put me in a private room. A nurse came in and took my vitals,put on my plexipluses and gave me a shot of lovenox. She said that someone would be up to get me and take me to preop holding about 1:00pm. About 12:45pm a nice little nurse came to take me down. While in the holding area my bed was between two women one that was having a bladder suspension and the other was having some type of anal sugery. The one with the anal surgery wanted to trade with me. I told her NO WAY. They had a bit of a time starting my IV. Randy and Dr. Kemmetter both came to see me in holding. They are the best. Next thing I knew they were taking me to OR. Lights out.
When I woke up in the recovery room Randy and Dr. Kemmetter were both there. They told me that I had to have a hernia repair that I didn't know I had. The pain wasn't too bad. Up to the 4th floor to a private room. I don't know how I got a private room but it was great. I had the best nursing care possible. The first night was hard to sleep. The dilaudid made me sleepy but I couldn't get comfortable with my head at a 45 degree angle. I was up to walk 3 times during the night.
1st day after surgery it was my goal to go home today. I walked every hour, and did my incentive sperometer. I had to have a upper gi due to the hernia repair. At noon the nurse heplocked my IV so I could take a shower and then I had to wait for the Dr's approval. Around 2:20pm a nurse came in and said he was taking my heplock out and as soon as I had my 2:30pm meds I was being discharged. It was a long ride home but it was so nice to be in my own bed. A special thank to Nancy Croswell who called me and kept everyone posted on my surgery.
08/19/2004 I am 10 days out today and feeling ok. I can't say great but ok works. I have had a great deal of pain post op. Every time that I have called MMPC they tell me that I should just wait it out and see how I feel in a few days. I can definately tell that I am losing weight. I am anxious to get on the scale on Tuesday to see how I have done. I can only get 3 packs of protein in a day but I have been able to get my water in without a problem. I guess I will keep on plugging on.
09/21/2004 Well it has been quite a while since I last updated. I had a wound problem about 2 weeks out. I had to treat that with kid gloves but it is healed now. For the longest time I was stuck at minus 33 lbs then all of a sudden it happened. As of yesterday I am 6 weeks out and down 45 pounds. This last week has been a struggle. On Tuesday I got a migraine and was puking from that. I continued to puke so on Thursday I called MMPC and the PA called in Phergren for me and that was it. It didn't work so Friday night I called the oncall number. Randy was on and I told him what had been going on. He told me Dr. Kemmeter was on call with him at the hospital and he would check with him and call me back. Well Dr. Kemmeter called me back and said that he thought that it was a stricture causing the vomiting. He suggested that I come down that night and be admitted and be scoped the next day. I asked if there was anything else that we could try as I had just been in GR that day. He suggested Reglan and Prevacid and called then to my pharmacy. Well Saturday I went and picked up my scripts and couldn't keep them down. So when my husband got out of work Saturday night at 11pm I called the oncall line again. Randy said that he thought Dr. Kemmeter would admit me and scope me in the morning but he would call me back. He called back and we were on our way to GR. We got to the hospital at 3am. the nursing staff was absolutely wonderful. On Sunday am Dr. Kemmeter came and took me for a scope and as he thought I had a stricture but I also have an ulcer. He put me on Carafate and Prevacid and I seem to be doing alot better. I am so happy I have the surgeon I do. Dr. Paul Kemmeter is the best.
10/07/2004
I have still been having pain and nausea. I have kept in touch with Dr.Kemmeter. Today when the nurse called me to see how I was doing I told her that I was still vomiting and in alot of pain. She told me she would check with Dr. Kemmeter and call me back. She called me and told me that the Dr was admitting me to Blodgett. So I called Kevin and he took the day off to take me to Grand Rapids. When I got there they started an IV and gave me pain meds, did labs and started to get me hydrated again.We'll see what happens.
10/20/2004
It has been almost 2 weeks since I was admitted to the hospital. I have had another endoscopy and an upper gi. They have placed a pic line in which is easier for tpn and since I have shitty veins it is great. They are talking about doing surgery to remove the ulcer or placing a g tube in to tube feed me and let my pouch rest. I should know more by the end of the week.
11/28/2004
Well, It has been a long month. On the 25th of last month i had a g-tube placed and was discharged from the hospital on the 27th. Back again on November 1-3 because of pain and nauseau. Dr. Kemmeter did a scope and said that the ulcer is gone. Leaves the g-tube in then on 11/18 I started having the most severe pain ever. I called there and also called my home care nurse and was basically told I was crazy. So, When I go to my appt on 11/21 and Dr. K goes to check the balloon in the g-tube it has no fluid in it and is out of place. No wonder I have been in pain for the last 3 days. Since the 21st I have been to my local ER as MMPC doesn't want to deal with it anymore. Finally when I called the PA last night he spoke with Dr. Baker and they have decided to scope me again this week. I think the ulcer is back. It is the same exact pain. Needless to say I am frustrated.
12/1/2004
Well believe it or not I had yet another scope done yesterday. Why is it that the doctors have to see it to believe you. Not only do I have one small ulcer I have one huge ulcer. The pain is so terrible. I called the PA last night and he had me put one of my durigesic patches back on and they will call me today. They are afraid if they resect the ulcers out of the pouch it may happen again. Still frustrated.
12/02/2004
Well, off to surgery I go again today. This time they are going to do a resection and cut the bottom portion of my pouch out where the ulcers are and connect a new piece of intestine. I was in surgery for 4 and a half hours. When I wake up i have 2 drains and a g-tube just in case. I had a terrible time with pain control. I was released from the hospital on 12/5/2004. Not going to be able to eat a whole lot for christmas.
12/21/2004 I go in for my 2 week post op appt today. Still in a great deal of pain. Dr. Kemmetter removed the g-tube. I have lost another 15 lbs since surgery. Just getting really stressed that this pain isn't going away. I am starting to wean off the durigesic patches now.
12/24/2004
Off to my local er today. Todd requested that they do a ct with contrast to figure out what the severe pain is that I am having lower abd. around my belly button. The er doc here did a flat plate xray and sent me home with mag citrate saying it was constipation. I took two drinks of that crap and I was in the bathroom for an hour. The pain was still there. It has been there since before I saw Dr. Kemmeter on 12/21/2004.
01/01/2005
Happy New Year to me. Back to my local er but this time Matt called them and requested the ct personnally. Result show that there is a bleed in the rectal sheath near my belly button. Only answer I get from anyone is wait out the pain. Your body has to absorb that hematoma. So now i am taking 2 Vicodin every 4 hours to no avail. Dr. Kemmeter believes I have another stricture so I have to go on Monday for another EGD. He is a great Dr. but I am as tired of seeing him as he is of seeing me.
1/11/2005 Dr. Kemmeter admitted me to the hospital again for abdominal pain. About one week after being in the hospital this time Dr. Foote did an EGD on me. He dialated a stricture and there were no ulcer in the pouch at all. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital this time with really no answers.
2/2/2005 Dr. Kemmeter did an EGD today. Before he even went in he asked me if I felt like it was an ulcer this time. I told him, "Unfortunately, yes I did believe it was." After I woke up I found out that I was right there were 2 huge ulcers on the roux side of my pouch. He could not believe it since Dr. Foote had only been in there 2 weeks before.
2/3/2005 Well today I contacted Dr. Kemmeter and off to the hospital I go. I have uncontrolable abdominal pain. This trip was basically a lost cause but they kept me 2 weeks and I still have ulcers. I am so close to the century club I can taste it. I am down 97 pounds today.
3/23/2005 I finally did it. I am now down a total of 100 pounds. I have felt terrible for the last week. I called the office today and they scheduled an EGD for tomorrow. Dr. Foote is going to be doing it. I have a feeling that the ulcers are still there.
3/24/2005 Went to Grand Rapids to have an EGD today. As I suspected I still have ulcers in my pouch. Dr. Foote was very nice. I also had a stricture that he dialated. Hopefully it will start feeling better soon.
3/28/2005 Another hospital admission for the continued abdominal pain. This time they are talking about doing a vagotomy to cut the nerves that makes my stomach and pouch produce acid. First they decided to test the pH of my pouch. I had to be off all of my stomach meds for 7 days. So on day 7 Dr. Rupp went in with a EGD and placed a BRAVO receiver. The test showed that there was an abnormally high amount of acid being mad in my pouch. So now I have chosen the vagotomy as my option to control the stomach acid. I met with Dr. Patzell as he is a cardio-thorasic surgeon that willl perform the surgery. This surgery is performed in the Fred & Lena Meijer Heart Tower at Butterworth so I was transferred to 7 north on Monday, April 11th. My surgery is scheduled for Thursday the 14th.
4/22/2005 I have been home 2 days and am still in a great deal of pain. Hopefully it gets better soon.
5/18/2005 Well, I am a month out from the vagotomy and I am still having a great deal of pain. I am taking Nerontin, Ultram and Loratab to no avail. I have been vomiting and I am not sure if that is due to the pain or what. Dr. Kemmeter has been really good about calling to check on me. I am a bit frustrated and not sure what to do next.
6/15/2005 Well It has been about a month since my last update. I am still having a great deal of nauseau and vomiting along with pain. I spent most of last friday evening in Munson's er. I couldn't handle the pain anymore and wasn't going to go to Grand Rapids. They checked for an obstruction and rehydrated me. They gave me morphine and I had a reaction to that so now I know I shouldn't get that again. So then they gave me phenegren and dilaudid and I felt better in no time. I hate the thought of calling the dr's office cause I doubt they can do anything for me.
7/3/2005 On Wednesday I had a revision surgery done. When the surgeon got in there the doctor found that from the reoccurant ulcers and inflammation my pouch and remnant stomach had adheised together. He removed my pouch and hooked my intestine right up to my esophogas. You would not believe how spectacular I feel. I walked 2 miled today and have been weaning myself off of the pain meds. The doctor said I would probably lose a bit more weight. I gained 13 pounds while in the hospital on TPN and lipids. Today I am at 182 only 5 pounds to get back to my preadmission weight.
7/5/2005 3 pounds till I get back to my pre surgery weight. Feeling even better every day. I walked 2 miles today. I went to my pain clinic consult today. Now I am established so if I need them when the surgical pain is gone I can call. Set up my therapy appt and post op appts also.
7/14/2005 Well as of today I am 2 weeks out of surgery. When I went to the office for an appt on Monday Dr. Kemmeter pulled my g-tube. YEAH!!! I am still having a bit of pain but hopefully it is almost over. I am continuing to walk at least one mile a day. I keep on keeping on.
09/03/2005 It has been 9 weeks since my last surgery. After my g-tube was removed I continued to have pain. I had a cat-scan done and found that there was a hematoma on my abdominal wall. I went back to the pain clinic and they have put me on loratab again. I am still having terrible pain and nausea. I had an egd yesterday and Dr. Baker found gastritis in my pouch or what is left of my pouch. I got home from GR and ended up going to my local er because I couldn't handle the pain. Basically they gave me more pain meds and sent me home. I can not live the rest of my life on pain meds. Dr.Kemmeter is on vacation so I don't know what I am going to do till he gets back. I am almost ready to tell them to reverse it and this time I am not going to change my mind.
9/15/2005 I am a bit frustrated today. I have continues to be in a great deal of pain. The pain clinic has increased my durigesic pain patch and continued the loratab. I hate the thought of continuing all of this pain med. I contacted the dr's office today to report the increased pain and nausea. First the nurse called me and told me that Dr. Kemmeter wasn't in the office till Tuesday. I refused to take Tuesday for an answer. I am so tired of being sick and miserable. She then called and said that she had gotten ahold of Dr. Kemmeter and that they were going to schedule a diagnostic laproscopy to see if they could find the cause of this pain. I just got a call and they are looking at doing this the first of next week. So I guess what does a few more days matter. I just want to be healthy and pain free.
10/18/2005 Well, I wish I could say that this was getting better. I have the nerve block last Thursday and I feel like I am in as much if not more pain than before. I can't even take a deep breath without it hurting so bad. Between the pain clinic and the Dr. I am a bit frustrated. I don't know what I am supposed to do. I think I have suffered enough.
10/30/2005 Well, now I have pneumonia. Ever since I had the celiac plexus nerve block it has hurt to take a breath. Last Tuesday I finally went to my primary care physician who diagnosed it as pneumonia. I have been off of work all week. All I do is sleep. My primary care physician is willing to treat my pain and try and get me off all of these major pain meds. I am going to speak with Dr. Kemmeter and see how he feels about that. Ultimately I want to get off of these meds and I am afraid it is going to take going to rehab to do it. My primary thinks he can get me off without rehab. I am also going to seewhat Dr. Kemmeter thinks about sending me for a second opinion at either Mayo or Cleveland Clinics. We have to find out what is causing this pain.
11/23/2004 Say old stuff just a different day. I have missed so many days of work it is unreal. They finally have my pain under control now all we have to worry about is the nausea and vomiting. They are still trying to get me into Cleveland or Mayo Clinic to see what is going on. I have been a little short with MMPC but darn it I feel like I am being thrown to the wolves.
12/08/2005 Spent the last week in the hospital in Grand Rapids due to he fact that I was dehydrated and my labs were off a bit. They discovered through some lab work that my adrenal glands were not working properly. They finally have my pain under control, now I have to give myself a shot twice a day for nausea and vomiting and wear a patch behind my ear for dizziness. They called and ordered 1 last test before Cleveland clinic will make an appointment.So probably sometime in January.
12/22/2005 I had my upper gi small bowel follow through today. I have been miserable all day. I continue to be nauseated and vomit. I have had to increase my injections to 3 shots twice a day. I have been a pain in the dr's butt I am sure but I have been miserable. I just hope to have a better new year. Now that I had the upper gi I can get scheduled for my appt at Cleveland Clinic. My onl fear is that after I go to Cleveland Clinic Dr. Kemmeter isn't going to want to treat me anymore and say you need to follow up with Cleveland Clinic. He had told me before that if Cleveland Clinic suggested surgery and I want him to do it he would. I just hope he keeps his word.
12/30/2005 Well just as predicted by many others, now that I have an appointment with Cleveland Clinic on January 26th nobody at MMPC wants to have anything to do with me. They referred me as always to my local ER. Unless they want to pay $50 for me to do that I will not be going to the ER. I was told by many people that this would happen but I defended MMPC and Dr. Kemmeter and said " OH no they won't do that to me" boy was I wrong.
01/11/2006 Well, I have my appointment scheduled at Cleveland Clinic for January 26, 2006. The staff at MMPC has been great about helping me to find housing while there. Families in the area are willing to rent out a room in there house for 1 or 2 nights. It only costs $35 for 2 people. I then went online and found a company called Lifeline Pilots. I had to run around and get a bit of paperwork filled out and faxed back to them but hopefully they will be able to help me with transportation. I appreciate of the help that Dr Kemmeter and the staff MMPC have given me in this endevor. I at times have felt that they were throwing me to the birds. My husband and I have spoken with Dr. Kemmeter and we are relieved to know that we were wrong. Dr Kemmeter does care what happens to his patients and he also does whatever is in his power too help you along the way. Now I just have to suffer with the pain and nausea a few more weeks. I only wish there was something to be done for this till then.
1/13/2006 Went to the local er yesterday. Really all they can do for me is rehydrate me and give me something for pain and nausea and send me home. That is what they did for me. I called MMPC prior to going and that is what they suggested. There is really nothing they can do for me until after I go to Cleveland Clinic to get another opinion. I am not sure what Cleveland Clinic is going to tell me but I just hope it helps.
1/27/2006 we got up bright and early yesterday to be at the Clinic by 10am. I got there, I first saw one of Dr. Schauer's fellows and went over my medical records. Then after a while Dr. Schauer's came into see me and basically he came and told me that he really didn't know what could be done for me. He said that he would never reverse anyone it just wasn't an option he felt was even there. He said maybe removing the remnant stomach would help. He suggested having a diagnostic laproscopy where I was awake while he looked around inside and I could tell him where the pain was. He said that he could do it or I could have Dr. Kemmeter do it. He also told me that Dr. Kemmeter has done every test and treatment that he would have tried. I am really feeling terrible. I have been in a lot of pain and the nausea and vomiting is driving me crazy. Thank you all for the good thoughts and prayers.
2/23/2006 Well I had an appointment today with Dr. Kemmeter to discuss my consult with Cleveland Clinic and a possible reversal of my gastric bypass. Many of you know all the problems I have had over the last year and a half. Prior to having the gastric bypass when I was just getting out of high school I suffered with Bulimia. It has been under control for about 15 years. I never told the doctor about this prior to the surgery as I didn' think that they would approve me. After a very long discussion with Dr. Kemmeter and my mom we have decided to remove the remnant stomach as that is where 90% of my pain is located. Dr. Kemmeter said that he felt that 90% of my nausea was from that. I truly believe that also. They are going to schedule it for sometime in March. I was deathly afraid that if they reversed me and I gained my weight back my bulimia would return. Dr. Schauer's at Cleveland Clinic also thought that removing the remnant stomach was the best idea. I think that is going to be the answer. Having another surgery scares me but living with this pain and nausea for the rest of my life would suck.
2/27/2006 Renee the scheduler called me today to schedule my upcoming surgery. At first she said that the soonest it could be done was 3/16/2006. She then said she would talk to Dr. Kemmeter and see if it could be done anytime sooner. About 15 minutes later she called back and said how about this Thursday. I said yes and then went about trying to get everything arranged. I had every thing all set for Thursday. About 4pm I get another call from Renee. She called to tell me that there was a scheduling error and it would have to be done on 3/16 as stated before. I was a bit angry because I had one heck of a time getting everything arranged. At least now I have time to rearrange things for the 16th.
3/11/2006 Well the surgery is getting closer and the closer it gets the more nervous I get. I know that I am doing the right thing. I know that this is going to be the magic that I have been waiting for. My husband is totally against this surgery but he is still going to be there for me and support me. Depending on whether Dr.Kemmeter can do the surgery lap or open I will bein the hospital for anywhere between 2 and 7 days. I just wish it was done and over with and was on to a new healthly happy pain free life.
3/19/2006 arrived at the hospital at 5:30am on Thursday. We had to leave our house at 2:15am. I was prepped and taken downstairs to the holding area. The doctor came in and started an IV. He gave me something to help me relax. Dr.Kemmeter came in and talked to my family then it was off we go. Dr.Kemmeter said that everything went smoothly. An hour and a half surgery turned into a 3 hour plus surgery. He removed the remnant stomach and inserted a drain. I had a bit of pain that first day after surgery but it was all incisional. None of the pain that I have been suffering for the last 6 months is there anymore. I am so excited to be on the road to recovery. While I was in the hospital I finally got to meet some of the sweetest friends a woman could have. Alicia Lee came and sat with my family during the surgery. She helped keep Jordyn occupied and was there for me too. She cameback on friday also to visit me. Thank You Alicia. Later that afternoon, Beth Lichfield came to visit me. She brought me the custest stuffed animal and flowers. They were so beautiful. Beth came back on Friday to visit also. Julie Brady came to visit me on friday. I have kept in contact with these ladies but had never met them in person. These ladies are 3 of the best friendsin the world. Tricia came down from Traverse City to pick me up and bring me home. Thank you Tricia. I AM ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY. I better not say that too loud, hey.
4/01/2006 I can not believe how incredible I feel. Other than the fact that I am suffering from a bladder infection I feel awesome. The last 2weeks have been a whirlwind. My husband has moved out. I have met a wonderful man who is incredible to me. I cannot believe I deserve to feel this good.
5/24/06 The last month has been incredible. My complications seem to have past from my gastric bypass. I decided to consult a plastic surgeon and believe it or not but I met my surgeon on a Tuesday and the following Friday, May 12th I had my tummy tuck and a particial body lift. My drains came out too soon and I have an abundance of fluid collecting in my abdomen. I have to call the physician tomorrow and see what he wants to do about it.
06/06/06 Michael came home from Virginia last night. I picked him up at the airport and had the bedroom decorated with balloons along with strawberries and champagne. Tonight I made the 2 of us a special dinner and as we were about to start eating he decided to make a proposal and pulled out a package and in it was a ruby and diamond promise ring. This man is so special and I love him so much.
06/12/06 I had breast reconstruction done today to fix a messed up breast reduction. I had the same surgeon for this as my tummy tuck. I had been collecting fluid in my abdomen so when I woke up from surgery I had 2 drains in my abdomen and 1 for the breast.
07/12/06 The breast reconstruction went great and after about a week the abd drains quit draining and I took them out. The swelling gets better every day. I have met my final goal weight of 158 and since I am 6'1" tall it looks pretty good. Sometimes I look rather boney. I have to go to MMPC tomorrow for my 2 year postop. Believe it or not it's been 2 years August 9th. My divorce will be final on Monday. Wednesday, Michael and I are moving to Virginia. I am so excited to start a new life with someone who truly loves me.
09/03/06 I got married yesterday to the most incredible man on this earth. I just put him on a plain to Virginia. I will be following him home soon. This surgery has made me a new person and I am truly thankful for that.
02/12/2007 I am finally doing a job that I really enjoy. I am a server at The Olive Garden. There is no way that I could have ever done this job as obese as I was. Thank you Dr. Kemmeter for making it possible.
