One year ago today......who could have known?

Kerry, you're scaring me!!! Your "misery" pictures are frightening.  Did you have complications?  What happened to you.

But certainly, congratulations!!! You've come a long way, baby!!

Sorry to scare you Janina, I did have some complications.

First off I was a revision from a 1980 RNY / Loop Bypass and the staples had torn my stomach way back in 1981 so I had tons of damage and scar tissue and adhesion's to beat the band. I was probably one of the most difficult revisions Dr. Rabkin has ever done. My revision surgery lasted 8 1/2 hours because of all the scar tissue and adhesion's and during all that, Dr. R missed a scar tissue flap in my stomach. That flap would seal off my new sleeve so nothing could get through and I had to have a second surgery 3 days after the original 8 1/2 hour surgery and the second one took 4 1/2 hours because Dr. R had to take my new stomach all apart, find the flap, remove it, fix my stomach and then put it all back together again. It was quite the ordeal.

I'm pretty sure it was because of all the time in surgery that I had such a difficult and long recovery. The thing is; my case was a very difficult one and I was older at 56, so don't be too scared, the chances of you having the same problems are pretty remote.

Besides that, I would go through it all again if I needed to; it's so worth it.

Kerry

You just sparked my interest again. So you went to Dr. Rabkin in San francisco?  I am looking into him for my revision from RNY in 2000 to a DS.  I just found out I have 2 hernias from my old incision.  Did you have any sugar level drops with the RNY and did that stop after the DS?  HOw about Anemia and lactose intolerance?

Pam in Bakersfield

Pam,

With the old RNY I would dump on anything sweet or anything with milk in it and after the dumping I would often get a hypoglycemic reaction. So I believe my blood sugar levels would crash when I dumped. I don't think I was lactose intolerant, but I would dump if I ever drank any milk or eat anything with much milk in it so maybe I was; I really don't know. 

All my Iron markers were low when they were checked before the revision and I've been getting them all raised since then; I'm almost there and have them where I want them now.

I also have no problem with milk since the revision to DS, in fact I have no food issues at all since the revision.

Kerry

Congrats, Kerry!  You look fantastic & it sounds like you feel that way, too.  Happy Surgiversary!

Thanks! I do feel great and so will you, it just takes some time...

Kerry

Kerry--Congrats on your surgiversary!  You're always so positive and encouraging--and you look FANTASTIC!  You are a great and shining example of how after surgery we all should take the bull by the horns and enjoy every minute of the time we have here.

Thanks Lolly, I feel like I'm the luckiest guy alive, I don't know anyone who has as many blessings as I do.

Kerry

 <-----------thunderous applause from Mz JOJO
Way to go Kerry..... I needed that encouragement and you always come thru. i remember your posts when i was early post op and totally miserable. Revisions are difficult and when you factor in our age ( i am 53) it really is something to think about. I am so sorry there was no DS 22 years ago and I had to go the revision route. However, I am grateful for the second chance i have been given. Keep me in your prayers and thoughts. I am 1/2 way to goal @ 7 1/2  months out. I love reading your posts.
peace
mz JOJO
ps Tell Barb  i think she is a very fortunate gal!

LOL Thanks Mz JOJO!, I tried to tell Barb how lucky she was and she just laughs at me!

I know what you mean about wishing there was a DS years ago, I could really have liked to skip the internal bleeding and Hep C, but it's all been worth it to get to where I am today.

Hang in there, you're headed in the same direction!

Kerry