Sorry I've been MIA....frustrated.

Hey everyone!  So sorry I have been MIA.  I am going to take some time this evening  to try to catch up on some of the posts.  As some of you know, I take care of my father and my grandmother.  My father was having some issues the last couple of months so things have been difficult.  I have been running around a lot. 

I am SOOOO frustrated.  I have lost only 12lbs in the last 2 months.  In the last month I have only lost 2.  I have tweaked everything.  I have added water and protein.  I have tried more calories and less calories.  Nothing is working.  I am FREAKING out.   I feel like I am done and I would like to lose at least another 58lbs.  My body just won't budge. 

I am having dizzy spells when I stand up.  I have passed out a couple of times.  Once when I had my dad on the dialysis machine...he could  not get to me. The NUt said that she has a lot of people deal with this after surgery due to low BP.  Fine.  I have always had a low BP anyway.  It's the ONE GOOD GENE I got.  But when I talked to the Nurse P. @ Cacucci's office she told me I should talk to my family doctor.  I SWEAR EVERY time I go to that EFFIN' office  with problems that are OBVIOUSLY related to my surgery they refer me to my Family doc.  He didn't even want me to have the damn surgery.  He is GREAT....he helps me.....but it's not his area of expertise if you know what I mean. He even said to me...." I guess she already got paid so now the fallout is up to me, right?"  Yep. I told him...it's me and you.  He is VERY bright and has gone out of his way for me but it's not his JOB.  I just got all the bills and all together it was a wopping $55k.  I am SO fortunate to have insurance that covered.....but come on now.....$55k I think entitles me to a little aftercare.  The NP tried to tell me the dizzy spells were probably my EARS.  What?  I'm smarter than that.  I tried to explain it but like Cacucci she just passes me off to my family doc.  He is working on it but I have to wear a monitor and there are some complications.  I'm just pissed.   Add insult to injury....I am having to take my meformin again.  I am eating mainly protein and my blood sugars are running high.  GRR.  I realize this is no one's fault it just adds to my frustration.  I talked to the St. V people about that too and you know what they said.....YEP........talk to my family doctor.  WTF?  I am considering staging a coup.   You'll see me on TV.  Dr. Cacucci trapped in the office with me....them afraid I might EAT her if she doesn't deal with  me HERSELF. 

Okay...enough whining.

Candy,

I can definately empathise. My BP tends to be low too, I've just learned to stand up slowly. I've gotten light-headed and it kinda 'swim'..but no passing out so far (knock on wood!).

Dr. Gupta is in with Dr. Cacucci. She's good at taking care of the things that are within her realm of knowledge...surgery, endoscopies, ulcers, strictures, revisions, hernias, gall bladders. But...get outside of that??? She actually admitted to 'avoiding to see me because she didn't know how to answer my questions'. honestly, I appreciated her honesty in telling me that. the frustrating thing to me is how long it took for her to refer me to someone else. And he referred me to someone else...who had suggested I go to Mayo (my pcp took care of the referral the same day it was suggested). My problems stem from my small bowel ischemia that she & Dr. Cacucci worked on together. Seems to me like Mayo might should had been referred to a little earlier than 17 months later. I'm thinking about the time that I complained about my symptoms and they weren't typical of what they normally see being experienced would had been a good time to bring in the big dogs.

I say it to anyone who listens: You have to be your own best advocate when it comes to your medical health. You have to keep your records straight so your pcp knows what your endocrinologist is doing and so that your endo knows what your stomach surgeon is doing and so that she knows what your plastics doc is doing....etc.

We go through major stalls sometimes. Try to get in 1200-1400 cal a day, at least 64 oz of WATER, ~50 g protein, ~100 g carbs (with 30 g being fiber), less than 30 g of fat. These are the guidelines the nut told me one time. It seemed to work for me. Oh..I get in closer to 120 oz of water though.

Good luck & hang in there. It'll get better.
Sherri

Jenn
I know its frustrating hang in there and stay on them.
But as far as your sugars stress will cause them to go up and it sounds as if you are stressed.
I hope it all works out for you..

Candy,

So sorry you are going through that awful stall.  I understand what you are saying about being referred to your PCP.  I am one week out and have already been referred to my PCP for a cough I had when I was in the hospital.

Sherri is right we have to be our own advocates.  If we do not keep records our care can go amuk.

I am documenting so I have records to share with any doc,  I am currently non mobile, I think I have sprung my right ankle and will be seeing an orthpedic surgeon tomorrow - just because I know he can x- ray on the spot and provide some answers, my goal is to be up walking. 

Take care.

Thanks guys!  Sorry to come back online whining.