I have my life back weight lost surgery has changed me for the positive. I have more self confidence and more outgoing and not afraid to be myself in public.
I have suffered from complications this past year and it started two months post op. I have really bad heartburn pain and nauseau and I vomit off and one depending on the food. In may it started with strictures and a oral thursh infection and I have had many EDG's to be dialted. Then in july I was rushed to the hospital with a gall bladder attack and I had my gall bladder removed and then a internal herinia repaired plus I still had my thrush and I was dehydrated. I was home from the hospital for a week then I was readmitted the following monday for dehydradtion because I passed out in my shower and almost drowned. What a way to spend the summer. I was so sick I could hardly keep any food down. I was still having problems and I have been put through every test amagined to try to find out what is causing my pain and nauseau. Then at the end of September I was readmitted to the hospital for thrush and pain and dehydration and I had emergency surgery for a kinked bowel and I had my ostimosis rebuilt and rehooked up.
After my third surgery I was still in pain and the heartburn issue was still there and I developed a major case of depression which I wanted to commit suicide because I could not eat or drink and I felt so alone and my surgeon was stating that all my problems were taken care of but I felt really sick on a daily basis. I was admitted to the hospital in December for physicological issues and treated for dehyradtion and malnutrition and stomach pain.
To this day I am still sick and hoping to have my procedure redone. I have constant pain and nauseau and acid reflux where I am miserable all day. I have problems maintaining my protein and fluid levels and have to watch what I eat due to the malnutrition issues. I have been poked and proded to figure out what is causing my pain and problems but nothing has shown up on any of the tests. So I am hoping that another surgery will fix my problem. I am happy with my weight loss for sure and have never regretted having the surgery because I am happy even with the complication.
comments here I am leaving for Mayo clinic to gets some help with my surgical complications. I have found out that I have acid reflux and gerd really bad were I am I pain all the time when I lay down flat so know I sleep sitting up which is really uncomfortable. I am praying that the doctors will be able to help me so I can get my life back and not feel sick anylonger. I pray that if I do need another surgical procedure. I know I am going to the best physcians in the world and if they have no answers then I am going to have to live with my pain or have my procedure reversed with DR Goodman in NY. Well I am happy to be going to get another oppion to see what they say because I am at a dead end with my office.
comments her
I recieved no help at Mayo Clinic they are just to busy and you can not get the appointments with the physcians that you need to see. Today I tried to reschedule appointments at Mayo and there is a 2 month wait just to see a surgeon. So I am back to square one no answers and no Surgeon to take on my case. I am starting to loose my hair again and I hurt on a continous basis and have heartburn all the time. But people have been putting doubts in my head telling me that a reversal might not take away the problems and that is probally true and I do not want a reversal because I want to make this surgery work but I am so tired of being sick and hurting and having acid because I hate reflux with a passion because that is the main source of the pain and so forth. Everyday I pray that the acid reflux would go away because I can't take acid reducer drugs like nexium and prevacid and prilosec due to my thrush and over the counter meds just do not cut it anymore. That is the story of my life for some reason and I feel like I am on a roller coaster ride and I am never going to get off anytime soon.
10-15-05
Well I tried to make another appointment at Mayo clinic to see another bariactric surgeon and all I heard from the scheduler was excuses and I am sick and tired of listening to excuses from offices. I am finally at the point of just giving up and let this sugery destroy my body. I am in a state of malnutrition that my body is in starvation mode becasue all my labs are coming back normal because my body is getting the nutruients from my organs. I think I am going to give up on trying to find a solution to my complications. I am to tired to fight any longer plus I have no way of paying for medical insurance anylonger and can't afford to drive a long distance to see another physcian just to hear I can not help you with your complications. I probally will never get another job because I look sick and tired all the time and no one wants to hire me. I am always telling myself it will get better and now I know it will not get better only worse because I have no life and no money and no friends. I kind of have mixed emotions about this surgery and still wonder if I will ever feel normal again. All I know that God is going to provide for me and I need to have faith and he will be there for me everyday. I am praying that something good will happen really soon.
A lot has happened over the past months. I was discharged from my orginal surgeons office due to my complications but that is ok because he has not taken me seriously for the past 10 months. The good news is I am going to a new surgeons office who said that he can help me and boy let me tell you I was crying tears of joy because I have heard so many sorry but we do not take other surgeons patients. I am finally going to get off this awful roller coaster which I have been on since last summer and start a new life of feeling normal again. So now I need to focus on finding a new job and that is looking promising to because I had two interviews so my life is finally turning around and I can see a bright future plus I am off my plateau because my pants are getting big and baggy and I am down another shirt size and almost out of plus size clothing and wearing normal sizes. Plus thirft shops are my friends the best place to buy cloths that look brand new for bargain prices. I will update when the ball gets rolling for surgery number 4 and hopefully the end.
I saw Dr Vanderkolk and I really like him alot. He wants to help me get the the bottom of my acid reflux problem and find the cause of my nausea. I finally have hope again. I am having some repeat tests but I can handle it but I really do hate the 24 hour ph study since it envolves a NG tube down the nose but I will grin and bare it on tuesday. I was also offered a reversal but that will be my last resort. If Dr Vanderkolk states that is the only way to stop the problem then I will proceed to the next step. I am also talking to a lawyer so my old surgeon is in for a big surprise in the next couple of months. I was told that I have a medical neglect case plus a medical malpractice case with the gallbladder surgery bile spill because I still have major pain around my upper right quadrant Well I will know more after Tuesday and hopefully the test will show acid reflux or bile reflux but I have been voimiting bile for the last 24 hours so I am trying to get better before spring so I can go back to school plus relocate to a new area so I can start over fresh where no one knows I had bypass surgery and problems with a major medical group in the Grand Rapids area and have new friends.
January 20th
Ok today I had a nuclear medicine scan of my stomach area to see if I have a defect of my billiary system because I do not have acid in my pouch but I have bile in my pouch. That showed up after my last PH study I had at the first of the month. I am starting to feel normal sometimes because the nauseau is not constant only at night and after I eat. I am trying my hardest to get in enough protein so my weight loss will start up again. I am not going to have a reversal. If the scan shows normal then I am going to live with the complications and go on with my life. I am really happy with my new surgeon he is doing alot more for me by ordering different test to try to find the problem and not dropping the ball like the other practice did. So today I am radio activce from all the chemicals that they put in my veins and I might glow in the dark. I will have my results in a week. Oh the good news is I might have a new job finally so I am keeping my fingers crossed.
02/02/06
Ok I have been spending alot of time in the Traverse city area because I have been interview for jobs at Munson medical center it is a beatuiful place to live by the water and all. Well today I called to get my results from the scan and it came back normal so know I have to make the decision if I want to have a reversal. I keep telling myself that it might not make the pain go away and I will still have the same problems. I am so frustrated I was just crying major all day. I feel like everyone just wants a piece of me and I am sick of it all. I think I am going to give it three months and then if I am still having problems then I will make the decision. I am trying for medicaid but I think I will not qualify but maybe with no income and no permant home will see what they say. Because I have more medical bills then I can pay for now with no insurance it sucks being single and no job and no hope of finding what is causing this god awful pain. Oh by the way I am having major blood sugar issues so I am developing more problems from this surgery. What can go wrong next it usually comes in three. But I am down 2 more pounds that is only good thing that has happened to me in the last few weeks. I am still trying to be positive.
02-14-06
I am so sick and tired of this surgery and I hate it with a passion. I am so tired of being pushed around and told that I am not following the rules or the program when I was never told what the program rules are when I changed offices. Well I am not going back and I am not going to have a surgeon any longer and I am to the point where I just do not care anylonger. So I guess I am on my own and I do not have to worry about my vitamin levels or having lab work because I have program rules to follow because no surgeon office wants me in there program so I will not have the aftercare and just let this surgery destroy my body.
April 11,
Today I went for a plastic sugery consult in Grand Rapids and the surgeon stated that I would be a good canadate to have my tummy tuck but I would have to have exstensive work also on my back so a bigger incision. At this point I am ok with it and I am looking to have it done maybe in May. The worst nightmare also happened and That is no where with my complications so I do not know what to do and where to turn for help. I might go back to Mayo clinic for more help. But the good news for the week is I finally have my medical records they are at the lawyers office. Know I have to make the decision of filing a suit or not.
Oh the best part I lost 2 more pounds when I stepped on the scale at the plastic surgeon office. At least I am still on the right track.
May 26th Ok well I had another appointment with My new surgeon and he has decided to go ahead and schedule my corrective surgery. I am so geeked because I have been praying for his day for a long time. I am happy with a wonderful man and know I have a new outlook on life and looking forward to be pain free and no more nauseau. I was told to put the plastics on hold because I will start to loose more weight and I am happy about that because I have stabilized and can work my butt off and nothing. I am looking forward to my first summer up north and spending time wtih my new friends and my new boyfriend. So I am counting down the days until July 12 which seems a long time away but I know that it will go by fast. The best part about this surgery is that it is at the other campus and I do not have to deal with the staff on 4C at Blogett and my old office. I am totally looking to the postive on everything and I love my new life Traverse City.
July 3rd
Ok I have a date for my revision July 12 will be the start of being being nauseau free and no more pain. I am hoping that this will be the last surgery and no complication. I have total faith in my new surgeon and I am happy. I have a new boyfriend and he treats me wonderful and I am falling in love head over heals you could say and he is going to drive me to GR for my surgery. I having it a Butterworth due to scholtens surgery schedule and I am so geeked because I did not want to have to deal with Blodgett and 4C and my old office. Well I will update after the surgery. But I have been nervous and totally praying to god and Know I am hoping that my family will support me when I have this procedure done and to god to give me the strength to keep fighting the good fight.
Well I made it throught my surgery and I was right all along surgical error. My small bowel was not made long enough when I had my original procedure and then when he tried to fix it the last time he made it a big time mess. I knew in my heart that I had a malpractice case but I will probally not find a lawyer who would want to take it on. But having a open incision really hurts and boy it has knocked me on my knees I am hopeing to go home after my two week appointment because I miss TC becasue it is alot cooler up there then down state. I am learning to do the bariatric suffle all over again and having to be on liquids all over again and boy does it suck but I think it will be all good. Oh the most shocking news was that I had a major bowel obstruction so I could of ended up in ER at Munson and having to deal with more physcians so my procedure is over and know it will be back to loosing more weight and plastics in the next six months.
Jan 16
I have to make a trip to Grand Rapids on Tues the 23rd to visit Dr Vanderkolk because I have been having alot of pain and naseau when I eat and it might be a possible hernia but who knows at this point in time I am not really a happy camper because it hurts like big time. I am scared because I think I am going to be blown off and he is going to say that I am not eating correctly when I am doing the rules to the tea. Dr Smith office submitted the paper work to Priority health for the tummy tuck so I am hopping to have it done the end of Febuary so I can get the weight off my back and middle plus the rash suck and it itches big time. Keep my fingers crossed but I will fight them and I will win,
January 27th
OK I am scheduled for my tummy tuck on Febuary 20th so I am so excited to start the new phase of my journey. I finally cleaned out my closet and I am getting rid of the plus size clothing and giving them to goodwill I am looking forward to the procedure and now I am concentrating on myself and getting my life in order. I am concentrating on loving myself and believing that I am special person.
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