Rachael Richardson

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Band removed October 2010. No matter what  I did, what I ate.. could not tolerate restriction.  Decided to get the Rouen Y Bypass.  Surgery June 20th.   This has to work...I can not take the weight anymore.  

My very good Surgeon decided  to send me for a Upper GI to determine why I had several months of  violent episodes of vomiting.  No matter what or how much I eat does not seem to make a difference. After a ER visit in Nov. 08 on the cruise ship that resulted in IV fluids on my 40th BD and a hellish past three months of  vomiting. I described them as acid reflux..so we cut out spicy foods etc..and surgeon prescribed me Zofran to control the vomiting, and  several strong antacids because they were suspecting acid reflux.

Results of the GI indicated I was having Esophageal Spasms. That is why most of the time I had problems eating anything while the band is tight.   

 I knew it was not acid reflux and I never had GI digestive problems in my life.

Jan. 20th I was on my second day of a violent vomiting episode..nothing would stay down..water, protein shake, and solid food was out of the question. I was weak, hungry and tired.  So surgeon told me to come in and he removed 2 cc.  

Amazingly once doctor removed 2 cc and the band was loosened the vomiting stopped, no esophageal  spasms and I could eat and drink without worrying and running to bathrooms to deal with painful and embarrassing violent episodes of vomiting.   I would be in a stall at work in the bathroom and person next to me shout are you ok!   

When the spasms would start..I would wait until every one cleared the bathroom in a restaurant..and hold it in..so other guests would not hear me.

My daughter and husband at home would say  "Mom", or "honey" are you ok..why are all ways in the bathroom  room throwing up.  One time we drove down to the mountains in Oct. and I had to have a bowl on my lap the whole trip back..I could not even keep water down..it was exhausting.

Now it is March and the sad part is I only have 1 cc left.  As it turns out..I may not be able to handle more then 1 cc and that of course is a real  bummer because the whole of purpose of me having WlS surgery and the band specifically is to loose weight!    So.... I am at the point where I am thinking was this WLS a waste of energy, money, time and emotions?!  My initial surgery was Oct. 07 and it has been a frustrating and scary at times. 

  If you read my blog.. during post op Dec. 07 I  got really sick and developed a port infection, I had a week  hospital admission was given IV antibiotics, then port removal surgery Dec. 08 to get rid of the infection, and then port replacement surgery in March 08.  I was SO  HAPPY  to have the complications ordeal behind me.   Did not expect to have had three surgeries within six months..but hey I became a pro at post op healing!!

May 08 came and Finaly surgeion began my first fills in very small increments..I was fine until I reached 3cc. in September 08

 This sucks..sorry but it does...WLS is no joke and should no be taken lightly plenty of people have no problems and they do very well.  However, I am one of the people that has had complication after  complication..I was at a point where I even asked my surgeon what I am doing wrong?  He even agreed that I am not doing anything wrong..but sometimes the band is very tricky and causes problems..that is just a fact.

Ever since my last two fills in August and October I have experienced painful frequent vomitting episodes.

 I feel that I know the band rules and I am following them in regard to portions and the obvious like no breads or dry food which almost always gets stuck as well as chewing food until it is practically liquid!

I have 3.5 cc in my band had my first fill in May 08.   After my last two fills of .5 cc and 1 cc, I had excessive vomiting and had to have the 1 cc removed within 48 hours after the fill because I could not even keep water or spit down. 

After the last vomiting episode following the 1 cc fill I decided to give fills a rest and waited  8 weeks before my next fill.  On October 4th dr. gave me 5 cc,  and I followed the 48 hour liquid diet.  When I began to try soft foods I vomited for 48 hours.   Eventually I could tolerate soft solids, however, randomly since October 4th I randomly have vomitting episodes and feel nauseas even with oatmeal, liquids or soft foods.  I tried writing down what i eat on the days I have vomitting episodes and clearly it is not the foods..because for example one day I can tolerate oatmeal, chicken or broth and two days later I can not even tolerate a tablespoon.

The big scare was while on vacation on a Caribbean cruise last week for my 40th B.D.

 The first two nights were fine but I could not eat solids until evening time. I was careful of what I ate and stuck to the band rules, however, I continued to vomit even with a tablespoon of broth or soft foods at dinner. 

On day three I ended up having a vomiting episode for 48 hours and could not eat any food or liquids.  The vomiting was mostly liquid because had no food in my body.

Then I ended up in the medical clinic on the ship for dehydration.  Dr. in the medical clinic did CBC blood work and told me I needed IV fluids due to severe dehydration from vomiting (which cost 700.00 as they do not take insurance!) Later that night I tried a clear liquid brothon a cruise ship who was convinced I was sea sick was very frustrating. At one my point she said why did you "get this band thing?"   I almost cried at her judgmental attitude. Make it worse of all days on my 40th BD here I was in the middle how folks are doing so well with the band, .and here I am with all these issues and I feel like my body is not responding to the fills very well. 

I am tired of vomiting, running to the bathroom in public places, and pretending while eating with friends everything is ok.  I do not like to attract attention and complain but this is really difficult.  One thing I learned is that the vomiting is not a result of food getting stuck.

iInstead it feels like a gastrointestinal issue because after taking a bite of food or tablespoon of liquids I feel  nauseated and then it just comes up violently.  Any thoughts or ideas from anyone would be appreciated. I feel  soup (one tablespoon) and immediately after a tablespoon of the broth I began vomiting  and could not eat or drink for the rest of the night.  I spent the rest of the night in the cabin with my husband vomitting.

I was not sea sick! and trying to explain my band to a Romania Dr. turning to my fellow bandsters is the only way to get through this.  I do have an appointment to see the doctor Thursday so I am prepared to share with him how I feel and get medical advice but I am really discouraged.  Peace~

of the caribbean sea in the ships medical clinic!!

 I did not have my protein powder (forgot to pack) however, when we docked in the port of St. Thomas the next day I found a health food store , bought protein powder, and was able to start drinking protein powder mixed with water. 

On and off until the end of the cruise I could not tolerate food or clear liquids without vomiting.  

When we arrived home yesterday I could not keep food down until 6 pm, and then had a few tablespoons of chicken with broth poured over it around 7 PM.  This is really upsetting and discouraging because I read about all the success stories and

Surgery went very well, and I stayed over one night. Fair Oaks Hospital is awesome and has very good nursing care.  I am also blessed to have an excellent surgeon who is also very nice an understanding.

During the first four days at home recovering I was sore as @#$$! 

I could not sit up, roll over or bend over without the incision area hurting like heck!

  Surgeon put the new port in a new incision area.  So now I have two medium scars one from where the old port was, and the 2nd where the new port is located.  I am putting vitamin E on the new incision when surgeon gives the ok.

Surgeon put 1 cc in the band during surgery, and at first I could feel it with all the swelling going on right after the surgery.  Now I do not feel much...I just get a little fuller faster.  I eat and then get full fast, however, I can go back a few hours later and eat again!   Good news I have not lost any more weight, however, not gained any!!  Yippee

After my infection ordeal and drama....I am just happy to be healthy, and that the surgery went well.   

Hopefully it is all up hill from here and I get my second fill in May!!  My surgeon will not do fills unless they are 8 weeks apart.  I hope that I can work this band and loose some more weight now!

Appointment with the surgeon Feb. 4th went well and I have had not problems.

Dr. Halmi scheduled the port replacement surgery for March 12th.  TOMORROW!!!!

Surgery is at Fair Oaks Hospital, and is out patient. Thank goodness because you sleep better anyway at home!

Tonight I am little nervous about tomorrow, however,  I know I will be fine. 
I am keeping busy with washing clothes, and cleaning to handle my nerves.

I have maintained my weight loss of 24 pounds, however, have not been able to loose weight.  I look forward to having some restriction, and getting this weight loss going! 

Good news is Dr. Halmi told me he will put a little saline during the surgery in the new port to give me some restriction.  I am excited!

January 3rd I was cleared by the surgeon to return to work, and my open incision where they removed the port was healing properly.   Next appointment W/ Surgeon was scheduled for Feb. 4th.

Fast Forward to February!

 On the 4th my surgeon told me he wants to schedule port replacement surgery Mid March, however, they need  approval from my insurance (Blue Cross Care First) before they schedule me in the OR.

I am waiting to hear back from surgeon's office for my exact surgery date. 

I cant' imagine that BCCF would deny the port replacement surgery! 

After all that I have been through that would just be the icing on the cake if they denied replacing the port that became infected!!

I am going to think positive, and not even go there because I deserve a chance at having this surgery. 

As far as weight loss is concerned my surgeon was happy with me because I have stayed steady and not gained any weight.

Total pounds lost is 25!!

 I find the weight loss remarkable considering I have not had any restriction or port for that matter!!

So off I go waiting to hear from the surgeons office so I can get the ball rolling with this weight loss and work this band!

The visit with surgeon went ok today, and they put in steri strips over part of the open incision.   The open whole looked pretty gross to me!

At least It was relatively pain free compared to last week's visit thank goodness! 

My surgeon waved to me and smiled, however, a different doctor actually looked at the incision, and the nurse practitioner cleaned the wound with hydrogen peroxide, and put in the steri strips.  

I asked for a clearance to return to work and the nurse practitioner said no he would not clear me to return to work until next week.  (Wednesday after my next appointment).   My appointment is not until 4:30!  So that means I can't return until Thursday! 

My leave will be exhausted by Wednesday.  Oh well what can I do!?   Again I did not expect this....so I am doing the best I can to get well and heal.

OMG Ouch Ouch Ouch!! Ahh Heck!!    The surgeon took out the gauze that was in my incision from the port removal surgery. This felt as if salt was being poured into my incision or someone was cutting me with a knife.  I yelled, and he was telling me to take deep breaths.

He then changed the dressing, and I started to cry again it hurt so bad.  NEVER in my life have I experienced pain like this.  In fact, NEVER have I been this sick, and missed work for almost three weeks.   I am exhausted emotionally and physically. 

The incision is open and they will not stitch it because of the infection.  Surgeon said they can't risk closing it up, and It will have to close on it's own.  So I have a small hole in my stomach that  I am afraid to even look at.

I can't drive so my husband has had to take off work for a week to care for me between the hospital stay last week, surgery on Monday, and driving to and from my appointments. 

Every day I ask myself how did I get an infection?!   I did not expect to have complications and end up in the hospital.  Some days I am  angry and other days I am just tired.

I have seen better days and it is so hard to stay positive, however, I am trying.

My family and friends are praying for me and are there for me so I have support thank God.

 The positive thing that happened today is my supervisor donated 80 hours of sick leave to cover the week I was in the hospital, and  this week.  God Bless her.  I could not thank her enough.

Note: I have lost 22 pounds.  

I saw my surgeon Monday (yesterday) and he told me there is not much more they can do, other then put me back in the hospital for more IV antibiotics, however, he told me the port has to come out.  I am not getting better and it is to risky to allow the infection to remain in my body. 

Surgeon was concerned  because  I ran a fever over the weekend of 103.4.  Even home on all the antibiotics I still felt sick.

 They are still perplexed as to how I got an infection because the cultures taken from the fluid in my incision did not detect any infection.  They are thinking the infection must be hiding down in the port somewhere!

The port removal surgery went ok, kind of a bitter sweet experience.   Yesterday I felt pretty depressed about being sick and then having the port removed.   Good news is the surgery was  about 30 minutes.  I am in a lot more sore then from the initial surgery, and have to take pain medication every four hours.

 On one hand I am relieved that they got the infection out.   I can feel the difference all ready  because I can breath easier, and no longer  feel feverish or pain internally.  

On the other hand I feel really down because it will be three-four months before they can try a new  port.   They sent the old port to the lab to get a culture because they still do not know what kind of infection.   

I do not mean to sound superficial, however, I am afraid of gaining back the 20 pounds I have lost.  I  feel like an emotional wreck right now, and probably drove my husband crazy yesterday because I cried like a baby when they told me the port has to come out.  I think everything is catching up with me right now being sick, loosing the port and the surgery yesterday has taken a toll on me.

 In the hospital lost 8 because I could not eat much.

I am trying to keep things in perspective, however, I feel down because I want to experience the band, and continue the journey.  I am thinking what if my body has a reaction again, and I get an infection with the new port?  I am not having good day today, and boy am I in pain!