Reviosn On The Horizon!

everyone, Have been lurking around and adding a few comments here and there- Glad to read everyone's success stories- Keep up all the hard work. I wanted to bring everyone up to date with me. Its been two years and 2.5 months since my Gastric Bypass- Hard to beleive that it was that long ago. I am still at that 100-95 weight loss mark. I fluxuate give or take 5 lbs depending on fluid retention. I am still very pleased that I at least managed that feat, and that I have been able to maintain. Many of you know the struggles, and issues I have had- so I will not be a broken record here. I will tell you that after several consultations with my Surgeon, he concluded that I needed to have revision surgery. He suspected that my pouch was still very much intact, and so his recommendation was a revision from a Gastric Bypass to a Duodenal Switch. Apparently folks like me have major success with this route when the GB does not do what it should. The next objectives were 1. Educate myself on the subject 2. Find a qualified surgeon to perform it. 3. See if I am a candidate for the surgery. Education is as quick as the mouse on an internet toolbar. However NOTHING beats talking to someone with first hand experience. The next task is a bit more difficult- This procedure has very few Dr's who are qualified to perform it. Even worse, there are even fewer that can do the revision process. Needless to say, there are NONE in the state of Georgia. I was recommended to a Dr. In the DC/ VA area- Hazem A. Elariny, MD, PhD. Staying in a town with no family for a minimum of three weeks just did not comfort me. So I continued to search on- Just so happens that one of the few Dr's who can do this revision just happens to practice out of my Hometown (Dayton, Ohio)..Dr. John Maguire...God does work in mysterious ways does he not? My mom, brother's family, in laws, and sister in law and her family are all there- That solves the "who will watch me fear". After this, began the testing to see if I am even a candidate for this procedure. Off I went to do labs, provided path and ops lab reports, upper gi series (Which really pissed me off as they told me my pouch is so small it looks like it was just done..Go Figure) With this upper GI, I find I have a hiatal hernia, and narrowing of the esophpgus, which may explain all of the vomitting issues. Last but not least, I must have an endoscopy- which is scheduled for next Thursday... (10/26/06)... Once completed, I will forward the last of those results to Dr. Maguires office. If all is good, I will be meeting them for a consultation during the Thanksgiving Holiday's.I do fear that after all of this, I may be told that I can not have a revision, and then its back to the drawing board... We will just think positive. Of course you all know me- I am still doing my Girl Scout thing- My troop exploded from 20 girls to 45 and counting, and I am PTSA treasurer at Kelli's school and yearbook chair at Brandon's...So life for me has been crazy crazy crazy.. And in addition to all of this, our daughter Kelli has had two surgeries June/August/ and has another one scheduled for this Friday October 20th)...and my husband Craig just completed all of his steps for his approval towards a Gastric bypass. He will be submitting all of his paperwork, and then we will wait on a date for his "rebirth" With all of this said, I hope everyone understands my absence, but please know I read, and I do support you all. I will keep you all posted on my new journey and I ask you to please keep my family and me in your prayers. Much Denise

Dennis, My finger and toes are crossed and you are in my prayers! Keep us posted! Hugs, Tonya PS_ How's Kel do with her surgery?