I need some support or hopeful words of encouragement.....

I am really miserable and need some encouragement. I can't eat anything without throwing it back up, I can barely drink anything, I am so weak it is hard to even get up the stairs at home--it feels like my legs want to give out from under me. I know things will get better--they possibly can't get any worse, but this just sucks!! I can't even take care of my baby anymore...he goes to a babysitter while my husband is at work. I go for my second dilation on Thursday...they are putting me under general anesthesia for it again, and they will for each one, because they said it is too risky with IV sedation---last week when they did the initial scope I almost stopped breathing, so they took me to the OR the next day. I saw my GI doctor today and he said it is going to take many surgeries to fix this thing over the course of 2 to 4 months, and he said there is a chance it might not ever be able to be fixed. He said he had a patient this year who had the same problem and 3 months after she was fully dilated the stricture came back and she needed a revision. LOL, as if that isn't enough to scare somebody who is a little over a month post-op!!!!!!! I am just feeling crappy, I have no energy to do anything. Thanks for reading!!!!

Hi Jessica, I am so sorry you are going through this. Hang in there and keep your chin up. This will soon pass and hopefully soon you will be feeling better. Try not to think to much ahead in regards to having to have more procedures, surgeries or a revision because of this set back. I have known many who have had the one procedure (dilation) and it was "fixed" and they were back on track. So lets keep our fingers crossed that after Thursday you will be back on track as well. *smile* I was reading your profile and it looks like you and I started our WLS journey in the same place. I to was hoping to have my surgery at PNH. I was on the waiting list for two years when they finally started deferring people out to civilian doctors. Thankfully I was up far enough on the list I was able to get my surgery with a wonderful surgeon in Newport News before we transfered the following summer. Jan was such an inspiration to me. I just loved her. I am 2.5 years post op and wow what a journey it has been!! I started out at 307 lbs, size 26/28 to my lowest weight of 133, size 4. I have since gained some weight (in which I am thankful for.... 133 at 5'9" was just to low!) I am currently at 146, size 6/8. Anyway, I am sharing this with you in hopes that you will stay focused on the reasons you decided to have WLS and not be discouraged by whats happening to you now. You will look back at a year post op and have no regrets. I promise you will. I have met people who have had major complications and 12-18 months afterwards when they were at goal had no regrets. Hang in there!!!! It will get better!!! Kim

Jessica, I am really sorry you are going through this. It is terrible that some Tripler doctor is putting ideas in to your head that a stricture cannot be fixed. A stricture is a minor complication that can make you feel like its alot more serious. My best advice is to contact Dr. Owens and possibly look into a flight back out there and have it fixed. I think the major issue is that these doctors here don't know how to deal withour new pouches and probably act too cautiously. Can you not even keep water or protien down? If you can keep those things down if even in small amounts then really pu**** and a liquid multi vitamin. Also see your PCP about an injectable b-12. Seems like things have deteriorated since I saw you in the hospital. At least then you were holding down liquids. Don't let the docs here get you worked up. A stricture can be fixed. It can be a recurring problem but now that you know what to look for you can get treatment sooner when you feel it coming on and not waiting till you completally close up. But seriously, contact Dr. Owens. He may want to just go back in there and redo your staple line altogether. Steffie

Hi Jessica, I am new to the area and not aware/sure of what Trippler has to offer as far as after care, but if its not much like Steffie says than I would consider a flight back to your doc. If that is out of the question (I know its expensive $$) than check to see if there is a WLS surgeon here in Hawaii that you can be referred to. I would push the referral to be seen by someone locally who knows that he or she is doing, oppose to letting some doctor at Trippler touch me who "may" know how to fix it. I hope this makes sense. But I sooo agree with Steffie on this one. I have been nothing but impressed by Trippler since I have been here. I think they are great But if there is not a doctor there that specializes in WLS than I wouldn't mess around with it. Push to see a local doctor!!! *smile* I hope your feeling better today!! Kim

Hello!! The GI docs at Tripler will get involved if you have a stricture, but as far as the general surgeons getting involved, forget it--they don't want to touch somebody else's work, if it came down to being something the surgeon needed to fix, I would have to go back to CA. There is only the one surgeon on this island who will take Tricare, and he would probably be like Tripler. I think I will be OK, it is just stressful and aggravating and annoying......I just want things to go smoothly and to have my energy back.

Hey Steffie.... The GI doctor I have at Tripler is really nice, he was just letting me know the worst case scenario, and all the risks involved. Jon called Dr. Owens when I was first admitted up there and he said it sounded like a stricture and said they needed to stretch the opening to 15mm over time, he also talked to the doctors up there, and requested to have a surgeon come and check me out. The general surgeon did come up, and said things looked OK as far as the surgery in general (they aren't the ones who will even attempt to fix a stricture), and then he said he wasn't going to get involved with somebody else's work. Yeah, things started going down hill since I saw you....I can sometimes hold down water, and the protein shakes aren't agreeing, not even the glucerna shakes they gave me in the hospital. When I talked about it with the GI doctor on Tuesday, he said that when a stricture gets dilated, it will shrink back some, and he thinks that why things aren't staying down again. I am doing OK with the B-12....I have the sublingual tablets and they haven't bothered me. I know I'm excited for tomorrow to come, and have the thing opened up more, so hopefully I can eat some things again!!!!!!! I'm nervous too of course. They made me sooooo mad today....I called the same day surgery unit this afternoon to find out what time I had to be there tomorrow....and they said we don't have you on the schedule, we have no record of you.....I flipped out on the lady---I spent 3 hours up there yesterday doing paperwork for them, talking to the anesthesia nurse and the regular nurse, doing blood work, all kinds of crap, and they want to turn around and tell me they have no record of me....I was major PO'ed. They called me back and figured things out. I hope you're doing OK since your incident. Has your hubby made it home yet?

Hey Jessica, How are you feeling now after your 2nd dialation? I am feeling much better since my fall. Mike is home now so I am trying to spend all of the time I can with him since as you know, he is leaving again in July. Gonna get off of here. We are gonna go to the pool today and get some sun. Steffie

Hi Jessica, Im just wondering how your doing since your appointment on Thursday? I hope you are resting and doing well. Sending good vibes your way!!! Kim

I'm so sorry to hear your not feeling to good and having some complications! I hope everything starts to look up for you! It has too! If you ever need to talk to someone, you can send me a message or go to www.myspace.com/notmeiswear Best wishes and Good Luck!! ~Shannon