It's just the flu

WEll everyone I am still sick. I can not eat anything and if I drink something I have a BM(which is the consistancy of water) about 5 minutes later. I went to the ER today and got some fluids and the doctor there told me that I will absorb 90% of the water(fluids) that I am taking in. I asked if because of the bypass if that was not true. Make a long story short he told me that they just made me a pouch and didn't do anything to my intestines. This is untrue correct? I have lost 6 pounds since Wed. I am not 139 pounds and I am 5'10. I am just kind of scared. I don't know if I could even make a ride to Saranac, where my surgeon is, without having a bowel movement in my pants ten times. I really feel like crap and I am getting scared, any ideas? Christine

Hi Christine, I am so sorry you are having this problem. I know you're scared honey and I can understand why. It sounds like you got some doctor *****ally doesn't understand bypass all that much. Here's what I would suggest - call your surgeon, I am sure he/she has an answering service. At least you can talk to him and tell him what's going on. I have heard some cases where the surgeon will actually meet the person in the ER room. That might not be something that will happen to you if the distance is too great, but I would feel so much better having talked to him. And yes, our intestines were rerouted. I've copied something actually from the little blurb on the side 'aboyt Gastric Bypass' that might be itneresting to you. Anyway, i wouldn't worry too much about losing the weight as being permanet because I am sure that once you start eating and stop pooping you'll get that back on. But please, consider calling the doctor. I know you probably hate to do that, but I think you'll feel better and they expect that. Let us know! love donna How Does Bariatric Surgery Work? There are two basic ways that bariatric surgery works to help patients lose weight and improve or resolve co-morbidities: One way is malabsorption and the other is restriction. The most common bariatric surgery performed today, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, uses both. 1. Restrictive procedures limit food intake: Procedures that use restriction limit the amount of food patients can eat. This is accomplished surgically by creating a small stomach pouch. When eating, the pouch fills quickly and gives a feeling of fullness much sooner. Because patients feel satisfied and full sooner, they eat less. 2. Malabsorptive procedures alter digestion: Procedures that use malabsorption change the body's ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food. The surgeon changes the way food travels through the patient's system. By rerouting food past a large part of the stomach and a portion of the small intestine, much of the calories and nutrients pass through without being absorbed.

Christine, When I got my ulcer in late July, my surgeon was out on vacation and his covering surgeon had me go to the ER. Total waste of time. I had tons of diarrahea too, everything I ate just went right through me. I had an ulcer on top, but was having a horrible case of irritable bowel at the same time. My entire GI system was messed up. It may have been a virus, we'll never know. Once my surgeon was back, I took the hour's drive to see him (after calling him on a Sunday and getting started on the ulcer meds) and he told me to NEVER go to the ER. He said the doctors there just have NO clue as to how we've been rerouted and he almost always has to call in to give them instructions on what they should do. In my case, he was out of town and the on call surgeon wasn't thorough enough to help, either. Call your surgeon on Monday to at least let them know what's going on. I know my surgeon wants to be let know of everything that goes on. Do you still have the upper pain? It may be two different things going on. Maybe they can start you on something for the upper, and you can take some Immodium to slow things down in the lower intestines in the meantime until you feel you can make it in. Get some of the Immodium today and start taking it. My surgeon had me do so. The ER doc was wrong. Yes, if you drink fluids, it goes right through your pouch into your small intestines. But, if you're having lower intestine spasms that is pushing it right out, you'll get dehydrated. In the old days, the stomach could hold the liquid for some time and absorb into the tissues, in our case, it flows straight through. To give you added insurance during your ride, take someone along with you, and get some depends to wear "just in case". The Immodium should stop the diarrahea. Follow the box's instructions for use. Hang in there. Try to take in as many fluids as possible and do broth as well. It's soothing. Keep on a liquid diet for a while to calm things down all around. Don't worry about the nutrition aspect. You'll follow up with that when you feel better. Keep us posted. paula