Update from Mayo....

I saw the dietician up here. She had nothing to offer really and said I was already doing everything that she could possibly suggest I do.

I saw the hernia specialist and she believes that the mesh is infected and needs to come out. She also feels that the muscle needs closed up. She said that my plastic surgeon may be able to do this so I'm going to talk with Dr. Bergman about it at my appt on next Wed. If she doesn't feel comfortable doing all of it (or any of it), then I'm going to set up an appt with Dr. Gupta.

I saw the GI. He feels that the whole diarrhea/distension is because they have never been able to get rid of all of the bacterial overgrowth. This time, he's putting me on 2 antibiotics together. He also said food is leaving my pouch WAY too quick. Within 1 hour, 97% of the food was out of it. In 2 hrs, 100% was out of it. It IS travelling through the small intestines ok though! So...add another 3 pills per meal to try to get the food to stay in the stomach longer. I will also be staying on the digestive enzymes for now (8 per meal). I think that makes ~60 pills per day now (65 with the antibiotics). He also feels that my abdominal wall needs closed up ASAP. Both doctors are going to write letters to my pcp with their summaries & recommendations. Both are very concerned about me having open wounds all this time. Me too!!

Other points of interest:
If your nails are thin and curve down, it could indicate an iron deficiency. Mine is & does but my iron tested ok.
The piece of intestine that comes from the bottom of your original stomach is an ideal place for bacterial to fester & grow. It's considered a blind loop and very hard to get antibiotics to treat it. The acids, ect ends up being like stagnan****er and bacterial forms.
Even though drinking from a straw or pop-top water bottle may not cause your pouch to hurt, it can cause air to get into your intestines, cause them to distend & obstruct. So can chewing gum or sucking on hard sf candy.

We will be flying home tomorrow. The plane doesn't get in until 9:50 tomorrow night.

Thank you all so much for your prayers. Hopefully this nightmare will be over soon.

love you all!
Sherri

Wow Sherri!  Sounds like there may be some light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not the oncoming freight train!). 

Still sending up prayers on your behalf.  Have a safe flight home.

Love ya girlfriend!

I sure hope you are finding the answers and on your way to being whole again.

Prayers and more,
Tracy

Sherri,

Sounds like you are finally getting some answers to your medical dilemmas! I hope that they are on the right track and that you are all fixed up soon, it has been long enough! I hope that you all have safe travels tomorrow! Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Hope to hear more good news soon! Hugz Dawn

I still haven't seen or heard from Jay- we still have something for him at work, k? Hugz Dawn

Sounds like closeing you up is the #1 priority thing to do AND get your antibiotics going..

Be well my friend

Linda Kay

Linda,

This is the 7th time that I'll have been on antibiotics for the same thing in 18 months. This is just the first time that the doc figured out that the antibiotic he had me on didn't do the job. I feel good that he's going to keep following up on this until it's finally gone. He thinks it's hiding at that blind loop though so it's kinda hard to get to it there.

I do appreciate all of your prayers through this....

Sherri

Sherri... you do have my prayers. and admiration... a lessor woman would not have made it thru what you have. You rarely give up... God bless you sweetie

Linda Kay

Sherri I am so happy that maybe you are finally getting the answers you need. Thanks for the add'l info for us. You have definately described my nails. I will get the results of my labs next week. I am having a scope and an upper GI in May. Dr Mattar wants to take a look at my pouch. Jana

Sherri I am hopeful you are getting the answers to all your needs.  Thanks for the information on the other stuffs.  I have recently began to use a straw, getting a XL iced tea with a straw at the end of my shift daily, I will stop that immediately.  This is the one thing I have been doing that my surgeon told me never to do again, well that and an occassional caffine.

Jeannie

At least they are starting to come up with some good answers and ideas.  Stay safe, and hopefully the end is near with all the troubles. Take care and keep us posted.