I'm home

Hi all, Yep, I'm home.  This was certainly not what I signed up for!!!!  Thanks to Rhoda for checking on me and posting what was going on.  Besides the gallbladder and twisted intestine, there was also a hernia that needed repairing, so Gibbs tapped danced around quite a bit in there.  He said the twisted bowel could happen to anyone, RNY or not, but I'm only the 3rd patient of his that it's happened to. Thank God this surgery was already scheduled because the bowel had a lack of blood flow and would have been very, very bad if it had started to die from it.  He removed about a foot of bowel and had to reroute some, so It was kind of like a revision since I will now be able to absorb more of my food. Hopefully this will help me get my weight stable. So, I'm on full liquids only for a week, then I see him on Thursday to remove the staples.  Until then, I'll be around as much as I can be depending on how I feel. Hugs to everyone

Susan!!  So glad you're home and on the road to recovery....was seriously worried about you.  Hopefully this will be the end to your troubles, medically speaking that is.  I'm sure Dr. Gibbs fixed you up good this time.  I have a friend over on the January 2007 board that had the same thing happen to her....she'd had tummy problems for months and they couldn't figure out what was going on.  She actually was diagnosed with uterine cancer, had surgery  for a hysterectomy and they discovered the twisted bowel....hers had already begun to die.  So for everyone else out there, don't ignore something that you know isn't right, get it checked and re-checked until you're satisfied! I wish I was closer to you so I could come see you.  Get lots of rest and let Gary take care of you.  Let us know how you're doing when you feel up to it.  Take care!

Well, I may have been premature about coming home.  Can't get a handle on the pain, which is so rare for me. Usually I'm up messing around the house by now, but not this time.  The doctor on call for Gibbs said to take my pain meds every 2 hours instead of 4.  Sure wish I would have stayed in the hospital. Better go lay down

Glad to see you are home and doing better. I don't mean to pry, but exactly what symptoms did you have? So that the rest of us will know what to look for just in case.

Not a problem, my life is pretty much an open book here! In the beginning of February I had severe abdominal pain in the left mid line of my belly.  Went to ER two days in a row. They initially thought it was a rupture ovarian cyst. I had a string of tests, upper/lower GI, MRI, you name it, but they couldn't find anything wrong. There is a part of our intestine that cant be seen on x-ray or MRI and the doctor suspected there might be scar tissue involvement in that area, but the only way to find out is to go in surgically. Well, they thought there could be a gallbladder situation, so that gave them a reason to "go in", and that's when he found the hernia and twisted bowel. This is nothing to fool around with.  Dr Gibbs said it is very rare and I'm only his third patient this has happened to.  So, I don't think it's much for anyone to really worry about.

I am glad they got in and fixed you all up.  I had some bad stomach ache pains for several days and began to worry if it could be serious.  But most of my pain was in my lower belly, like when you have a stomach bug or something.  If the pain had been higher up I would have called the doc.  But I am glad you are all better, and I hope the pain lets up soon.  Did they give you the good pain drugs?  Tell em you want the ones that make you clean house for 8 hours, LOL Just kidding, you don't want to be doing much of anything right now I am sure.  Hugs

According to Dr Gibbs this is VERY rare. Thank goodness, I sure don't want anyone to start worrying about every little twinge they get. The pain meds they gave me don't do the trick. I finally called the exchange and talked to the doctor *****leased me and he said to take the maximum dose every two hours instead of four. They can't call in anything stronger, but this seems to be keeping the edge off. Thanks for the good thoughts, take care of yourself!

Susan,  so glad you are home ok.  Just take it easy and let yourself heal.  You are the rock on here..sure happy to see your posts again.

Kelley

The rock?? Gee....I don't think I've ever been called that, but it's a very nice complement I try to be helpful and honest and I'm sure I'm not always everyone's cup of tea.  Thanks for lifting my spirits. Take care

Susan, glad you are home but  hate that you are in so much pain. It is a good thing they found out what was causing it. I was thinking about you and sending prayers your way. Just hang in there, hopefully the pain will get better each day. Just take it easy.