A Good News/Bad News Sort of Things

Good News/Bad News...well, maybe Fabulous New/News that really bites it - might be a better title or perhaps Amazing News/News That Sucks, WhooHoo News/BooHoo News, Yea News/Nay News, etc. First of all, the Good News. Last week I saw glimmers of my weight seeming to settle into th 160s after skirting there a few times over the past couple of months but never lingering there for long. Last Friday, my weekly weigh-in was 168 and that was the lowest weigh-in yet, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then, of course, I had my bowel prep Sunday and nothing to eat but clear liquids and then Monday morning nada to eat or drink so the scale showed 164. I knew that to be an obvious fluke due to the cleansing so I've watched the scale go up from there but it went up and now is down a bit so I think after 2.5 days of eating again... I'm back to an even keel. So, I can honestly post that I weigh 166. That is indeed my lowest weight EVER as an adult. The last time I weighed this was probably when I was 1973-74ish when I was in 8th grade - so I was 13! As for the Bad News... I saw my surgeon today. He is at a complete loss as to the source of my pain. He has another patient that sounds like she has the same issue. All tests were negative/normal. He went in surgically and found nothing. He referred her to another bariatric surgeon for a consult and that doctor could shed no light either and she has even been sent to Georgetown University Hospital for a consult. Nothing thus far. Sadly, I wonder if I am following down the same road. In the meantime, he wants one more test just to be sure. An MRI angiogram to make sure blood flow to the bowel is good. He is going to put me on Zelnorm just to see if that changes anything. That is for bowel irritation - mine seems to work okay but it is worth a try. I'm on ulcer meds which has helped my pouch but made no change in my side pain. Other thought it is make sure it isn't referred pain from my back but my back issues are lumbar not thoractic. So perhaps I need to see a neurologist to rule that out. Other than that... surgery, I guess. I'm so afraid of him going in and finding nothing. Kathy

hugs kathy!!! so sorry you are going through all of this! I hope the doc's find out what's causing all of this soon! All the best! Marla

Thanks, Marla! Hugs, Kathy

Congrats on being at your lowest adult weight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't it a great feeling?! You sure are keeping your doctors on their toes here. I pray they figure out what's going on very soon for you. Hugs, laurie - in awe that it's been almost a year already!!!

Thanks, Laurie! Yup, a year will be here before we know it! Kathy

Kathy congratulations on your weight and hope they find whats bothering you. Take care. Geniene

Hi Kathy, Congrats on the drop in weight. I know that is a boost! About the health issues...I am wishing I had words to comfort or encourage you. I know it is hard and very frustrating. I went thru a very similar issue 3 yrs ago and after multiple tests they went in and adhesions were growing everywhere and binding me up something awful. Doc said it was like saran wrap wrapped around intestines etc. It took them almost 2 yrs. to remedy the situation. Apparently they do not show up in xrays and cat scans I feel the frustration w/ ya. The one thing that is a bright spot in the saga is that, with you no longer being morbidly obese, you may be treated a little better and possibly your pain taken more seriously. I hate to say it but when you are MO even the medical community treats you differently. Maybe not intentionally. ( I never believed they meant to ) I'm not going to get on my soapbox about that... I wish you well. btw I read a wonderful book a few yrs. back called " You are not your illness". It was a powerful tool in helping me cope with and yet, not be {defined} by my illness. When things drag on and on and on...it wears you out so much. It can captivate and consume so much time and attention and almost become an obsession. ( at least it did w/me ) This was such a delightful gift to me to help me formulate a different perspective on the illness/pain as I awaited remedy. Wishing this soon passes. I'm praying for ya, often. Mary