Hello Everyone.. 13mos roundup

Hi Everyone.. In case you haven't noticed..I have been absent from the boards for almost a month..I don't hink Ive even updated my profile yet.. Anyway.. Shortly after my 12 month anniversary..I began having 'stomach ' problems..and within 24hrs I was diagnosed with an Ulcer..first since surgery..and let me tell you- this better be the only one I have post surgery... Yup I was rescoped and although my Doc said it wan't a big one- they put me on Nexium.previously I used prevacid and had to wait 48hrs for Aetna to approve it..anyway.. a week after being on the meds- I had some indigestion- one day I got mad at work and couldn't DIGEST my lunch..that was painful..I drank fluids and walked for 30mins and finally walked it off.. then came this past Tusday 9/19..I almost wound up in the ER for a CAT Scan..Apparenlty I was taking Nexium 1x a day & had it with breakfast- at lunch I chose a salad with small veggies & viniagrette dressing..WELLLLLL this is 2 wks of being on Nexium- so I didn't expect it- and first it was indigestion..walking didn't help..I was at work. had pain from 3-6pm @ the intestional area..I was in PAIN DAMMIT..I headed straight for the pharmacy and got my surgeon on the phone..for an hour- and he was really good- he was worried that i had an internal hernia..but I have no pain or tenderness or any pain shooting anywhere and I thought it was maybe my intestines wrapped around..They had just examined me this past Thursday and I was totally FINE.. the pain continued until 9pm when I got home.. The doc gave me some powder stool softener- becuase he thinks it was "stool" related and beecause I take Iron pills- Iron pills can be a problem..and I just switched to a new type- 2 wks ago..But the pain stopped when I took Mylanta and took another nexium.. it was RELIEF..so yesterday my first 24hrs AFTER all this.. I was okay take it very easy on my pouch..and I did for the most part..and with taking stool sofgels..I did finally have a small concentrated movement..so the doc may be right..but Im still thinking it was my ulcer- because it felt irritated and painful..I was bent over for most of the 5hrs..holding my abdomen.. Anyway- this is why no one has seen me posting.. I have been away from getting my gym time in- and Im mad at myself for it..yesterday I put on my sons jeans- they fit me tighly- where they were loose in the waist 2 wks ago..I know I cant focus on the working out - until I can handle this internal stuff better- can you guys please help me? ..I need to get backto my diet basics..I need someone to help me refocus..so I can get back to feeling healthy and progressive.. I don't know anything about ulcers after surgery- I think I caused this- with taking motrin for my period a few days and then an excedrin for a headache- not even realizing it until afterwards..and then 4 days later I had to be scoped.. I feel such a mess and no one else can really understand how frustrating this is.. when my doctor weighed me in the office 9/14- I was 213- 2lbs less than the previous month and 6lbs up from my weight the week before.. Has anyone used Nexium before? Do you guys know anyone who had an ulcer post op? .. I am kicking myself because I was doing FINE for 12most post op- no complications- nothing- now @13mos I feel miserable and Tuesday I just broke down .. Its hard when you are grappling with so many things at once..like being at work everyday and dealing with all that stuff when yu have all THIS STUFF going on internally..I feel such a mess and you know I blame myself for all of it ..I wish I could take the last month back and do it over again..like when we were kids.. I hope none of you guys has a problem like this..but if you are having any problems with food irritating your stomach..jump on it... this was the most pain I had post surgery and it wasn't pretty.. Thanks for at least letting me vent this out.. Donna

Hey Sweets! Welcome back... I was gone for almost 6 weeks and I sure can't say it was for anything like yours... just not mentally in the place to be here. I'm surprised you're allowed to take anything else besides Tylenol post-op. It's all I'm allowed - specifically because everything else is so hard on our stomachs. Actually got into it with my surgeon in the pre-op meeting because Tylenol is the one pain pill I wasn't allowed due to possible liver issues. I'm not having ulcer issues, but I may be having gallbladder issues. The pain is slighly below/right of your stomach. Could that be part of your pain? Anyway... sorry to hear about the issues and I can't help with ulcer issues, but I can sympathize. Oh... go back to your basics - if you have that great book from the Bariatric Society - re-read it. You can do it and like everything - it's up to you and you can do it - you've already proven it! Feel better soon. Dawn

Dawn Hey! thanks for the supportive talk..I know Im ONLY supposed to have tylenol- thats what started this- taking the advil gelcaps about a month ago..I didnt think 3 pills over 3 days would do any harm..it was a bad monthly cycle..the gallbladder thing I totally understand..adn noi mine was removed with WLS..so thank goodness Its not that..but Im here 2 days later and feeling like myself again..its just that I guess this is really a "learn as you go" journey and even 13mos later we are still adjusting to a lifestyle.. ..So thank you for your loving concern..Im going to head to the gym tonight and take it easy and release some of this frustration.. I also can relate to the "not being here" thing..I kind of got disillusioned - with everyone else hitting their goals ( not just here - but in my groups as well) and I felt lost and beginning like not to care anymore..plus I have some issues with my son right now..and thats not great...its livable though... Hugs, Donna

Hi Donna, Must be we're connected with the same surgery date because these last few weeks I've also been feeling like crap. I had, what I believe, a gallbladder attack on September 1st & have felt BLAH ever since. Although, I can say that these past couple of days, I'm starting to feel somewhat better. This past weekend, I had the same bathroom issue that I had in Maryland back in April....UUUGGGHH it was horrible. Now I'm dealing with a few nasty hemorrhoids. OUCH... I've also gone back up to 184. Think it may be from not drinking enough water. Think both my issues (weight gain & poop issues) are coming from not drinking enough. I'm really focusing on that today. Ok, girl......lets brush ourselves off & get back to basics. You know you have the knowledge of this process & I'm sure you've given advice after advice on how to get back on track... I know I have.... So lets look in the mirror & take that advice. We'll give each other the weekend to feel a little better & Monday....right back at it. What do you say?????? I've missed you girl.... Tammy

ANOTHER OOOPSSS... FOR SOME REASON MY POST POSTED UNDER MY SISTERS NAME.... HERE IT IS AGAIN UNDER MINE Hi Donna, Must be we're connected with the same surgery date because these last few weeks I've also been feeling like crap. I had, what I believe, a gallbladder attack on September 1st & have felt BLAH ever since. Although, I can say that these past couple of days, I'm starting to feel somewhat better. This past weekend, I had the same bathroom issue that I had in Maryland back in April....UUUGGGHH it was horrible. Now I'm dealing with a few nasty hemorrhoids. OUCH... I've also gone back up to 184. Think it may be from not drinking enough water. Think both my issues (weight gain & poop issues) are coming from not drinking enough. I'm really focusing on that today. Ok, girl......lets brush ourselves off & get back to basics. You know you have the knowledge of this process & I'm sure you've given advice after advice on how to get back on track... I know I have.... So lets look in the mirror & take that advice. We'll give each other the weekend to feel a little better & Monday....right back at it. What do you say?????? I've missed you girl.... Tammy

HI!! you and Dawn with the gallbladder stuff..Im so sorry..i remember when my surgeon said he was taking it with one surgery- and I was afraid..and I had stones..and he said..If I dont do it now, you will be in a lot more pain further down the road..as you get smaller everything shrinks-but these stones..so I can imagine how bad you must be feeling..I was holding my stomach for one evening..but Im taking the Nexium 2x a day now and Ive been wathching what I eat like a baby- and today- I actually had some pizza- a client bought the office lunch..so far- NO problems.... so Im pretty sure it was the ulcer..my BM has returned to normal..and when I get home- I will check the softgel that Ive been using and email it to you- because it works better than the stuff the DOC wrote a script for.. it works within 24hrs- and Im taking Iron pills- and that usually makes matters worse.. so Im going to head to the gym tonight..and begin loosening up and getting back into my game.. and working out..for the first time in a long time.I was beginning to just accept and settle where Im at..until a few people reminded me..Thats not where I belong.. I cant accept "settling" and I need to get my mind on myself again..and not "escaping everything" TV is bad bad bad!! so lets take the time to get to feeling well and prep ourselves for moving forward? ABSOLUTELY have a good night. and hope you are feeling better too love, Donna

OMGosh, get out of my life!! ME TOO!! 13 months and I ate some no sugar, low carb ice cream thought I would die!! now I am in pain all the time and going for an ultrasound tomorrow/today now, and then a CT scan next week with contrast. I bet its an ulcer!! She wants me to take an h-pylori test, but that is not our type of ulcer is it? Saltines help some, but most foods hurt like heck! So why now?? 12 months nothing, no complications, no nothing and now pain??? YUCK!! I am nauseous all the time too, and cannot eat as much!! Well, I have had nexium before for acid reflux and right after surgery, but not in forever! I did take a little celebrex last month for my back and neck problems, but now this?? This does hurt more than surgery did!! Thanks for the clue to my life! Feel better, nexium should help, Deb