RE: Sherri

Hi Sherri,
      I have been reading your post and praying so much about your upcoming trip to Mayo.  I can understand how the "what if's" can swirl around in your head.  You have been thru at least 17 months of hell and not getting the answers that you deserve.  Being bounced around from one doctor to the next is very discouraging.  I have found out myself that we are our own best advocate.  We know our bodies better than anyone else does and we have to communicate that to our doctors.  There are many good doctors out there but unfortunately, many bad one's too that don't listen or aren't skilled enough.  So thank God for the very skilled and knowledgable doctors at Mayo.
     I have a friend that went there.  She got excellent care and treatment.  It was top notch.  There was no stone that was left unturned.  I sincerely hope you get your diagnosis there.  I believe you will.  
    Instead of dwelling on the what if's, focus on a new beginning for you and your family.  You have demonstrated what a strong and determined woman you are to have already fought all the battles you have fought thus far and you are still standing girl.  You are tough.
   You sound very well prepared for this trip and have all your medical records in order.  I've not been to Mayo thank God but I've had several complications with some prior surgeries and have a ton of medical records myself.  We become quite good at reading and understanding medical lingo, don't we? 
   I have a microcassette recorder that I have taken to Dr. appt's with me and recorded what they say...with their permission of course.  I would be glad to bring it along Sunday and you can take it with you to Mayo.  I have found it extremely useful so I don't have to write down everything they are saying and try to remember everything either.  I have not found a doctor that has objected yet to me using it.  
   I originally got it to take to college classes with me for lectures and things. It was very helpful when I could record them and play them back.  
   Send me a PM if you are interested.  Looking forward to meeting you Sunday.
hugs and prayers,
Kathy  

Kathy,

Thank you. And thank you for the offer of the recorder..but no need. I have my husband. He is so excellent at remembering every detail that I never have to take notes as long as I have him with me. That makes it kinda bad in a disagreement..

Just so you (or no one else) gets the wong idea, I'm not sitting here a nervous wreck about Mayo. I'm not dwelling on the what if's but I would be a fool if I ignored their existence especially given all I have been through. Yes, I am guardedly pestimistic abit but I think anyone who has been through the ups & downs of my journey would be. I kicked my WLS journey off with 15 endoscopies (strictures), 2 perforations, a revision due to the perfs, and hernia surgeries due to KBS..all within the first 18 months. Then I had a relatively calm WLS path for ~18 months. Good thing. I had to have each of my feet operated on and had asik eye surgery instead. And then when I had my plastics, this present nightmare began. Yes...I think 'nightmare' is a good name for something that starts off with you in a 9 day coma and keeps going until you wind up at Mayo. I have had SO many specialists look at me since 10/9/07 that I could probably staff the GI department at Mayo just with all of them. Many of them were trained at Mayo.

I would love to dream about being able to wear my jeans that are patiently hung up in the closet waiting...but I know that there is a very real possibility that it just may not happen yet. I've had a lot of doctors..and alot of tests...get my hopes up through out this thing. I'll get excited when I can stand up and my belly be just as flat in that position as it is when I'm laying down...and I don't end up back in a coma 10 days later.

While I'm not looking at this trip to Mayo as something that will definately cure me, I am looking at it as a good possiblity. This is why I am asking my friends to keep me in their prayers. I know that God is better than Mayo..and Mayo can only be improved..and my chances improved..with God being the lead surgeon. In the meantime, I'm not going to fret over what may or may not happen. No..my hopes aren't built way up..but I'm not thinking the worse is going to happen constantly either. That's just kinda me though. I'm pretty even keeled that way.

It'll be good to meet you tomorrow.

Sherri