Think I have a blockage

Hey Wendy, I was just thinking about something else that Dr. Sonnanstine's patients may not realize.  Georgetown has their own website which is extremely active.  Nurses, dieticians and other staff members such as insurance coordinators watch read and post constantly.  The site is actually ran by the staff.  It was told at the meeting the other day that Dr. Sonnanstine's patients are invited to join. 
I would email Kathy Hanley who runs the program.  She will give you information about how to connect as well as advice.
hope this may help
Brenda
[email protected]
she is very nice and will help you out.

Hey Brenda,

Thanks so much I went on to the hospital just in case and the ER doc was very sad about Dr. Tom being gone. She said Saint Luke probably lost one of the best docs they will ever have.

They did x-rays a gallon of blood work and iv w/ nausea and pain meds and she said in her opinion she did think I had something stuck in there that either moved up or down and it was unfortunate that I felt that way for 3 days. I literally felt perfect from my breast bone up and my pelvic bone down it was just that space in between that I felt like someone was wringing a towel out in my guts.

We are so excited about him heading to G.town my niece is a Freshman at UK and she told me now I have even more excuses to drop in on her.

PS I left a little lengthier post to all the great people *****plied to me

Hey Wendy, I am so glad things went well for you..And let me reply to some things that were said here.  Dr. Sonnanstine wants what is best for all his patients.  He would not want anyone to suffer while waiting for him to open his doors.  It is important that anyone having problems seek medical advice immediately when having issues.  Whether you are bypass or bander.  When I refered you to Georgetown I believe you would have gotten good sound medical advice and yes there are very good bariatric surgeons there if you would have needed help.
You did the right thing going to the ER.  and I have heard from so many at the hospital they are upset about Dr. Sonnanstine leaving.  But St. Luke's loss is Georgetown's gain.  He is very happy about the move, but is very concerned about his patients.  it won't be long now.
Brenda

Wendy, as I read through the replies and advice you have received (even my own  LOL) you need to remember that ultimately the decision what to do is yours and yours alone.  If you wait you take risks; possibly risks with your health and your band....if you go seek professional (and I emphasize professional) advice sooner than later, you may not get a physician you "like".    As older bandsters know, if you have constant pain and are tossing everything you eat...there is something wrong.  Wrong means you need help.  This is a support board and we are here to help each other with our journeys and our trials and tribulations; and we all want to do that to the best of our ability.  The only people here authorized to give medical advice have MD behind their names.  I wish you luck and I hope you get this resolved.
Blessings, Sonja Racke RN

Hi Wendy, I am in Florence and a Dr. Tom lap bander too.  Is it possible that this may be related to a recent fill that may be too tight?  I ask because it sounds exactly like something that happened to me. 

Went in for a fill on Thurs., followed the fill protocol and when I got to solids I couldn't keep anything down, like you it came right back up almost immediately.  I knew something wasn't right and called first thing Mon. morning only to find out Dr. Tom had departed on Friday (day after my fill).  I knew I had to get in right away even though I wasn't thrilled about seeing someone else.  TSWL was wonderful about getting me in ASAP with Dr. Smith.  He took some fluid out and I have been peachy every since, the fill I got was just too tight for right now. 

I really don't think you should wait until Dr. Tom starts seeing patients.  I would highly recommend that you get in to one of the Dr.'s at TSWL or see if you can get in to one of the other Dr.'s at Georgetown.  I know that what you are experiencing is extremely uncomfortable and if you've been dealing with for a week now it seems even more important that you get in.  Like you, I didn't want to see anyone but Dr. Tom, but we also have to do what's best for our own health and well being.  I don't think we're being disloyal at all and I'm sure he'd agree that we need take care of ourselves first.  Please think strongly about seeing someone ASAP on Monday.  I hope it all goes great for you and I'll be thinking about you.  Feel free to message me if you want to talk some more about it.

Trish

I left a huge reply thanks so much

Thanks to all of you *****plied. I did choose to go to St. Luke just to make sure I wasn't as my husband puts it(oh you drama queen) dying the ER doc was very nice and very very sad when I told her Dr. Tom was my doc she said yeah this place really lost one heck of a dr.
So any who they did a bunch of xrays, a gallon and a half of blood work and gave me an iv with nausae and pain meds .
In her opinion it sounded like to her I had something stuck that finally either moved up or down. She didn't think it was a virus or the stomache flu because I literally felt great all over except the space between my sternum and pelvic bone.
 By the time they discharged me at 5:00 this morning I was able to eat and drink anything.

So I got lucky and I truely appreciate all of your posts

Well for anyone slightly interested I am a complete moron. Sunday my husband and I figured out what the heck happened to me and having something stuck. Thirteen months ago I resigned myself to the fact that I would never chew grape bubble gum again(a true fav). Well Weds. while Krogering I for some reason bought grape big league chew gum(yes I know very adult of me) and popped a big wad of it in my mouth and I guess I must have swallowed it or something because by Thursday morning that's when all of the trouble started. So I feel like an idiot and when I do get to make my first trip to Dr. Tom once he has had a nice chance to get settled in G.town and I tell him or if he ever happens to get a look at this forum he very well may look at me in wonder and amazement and think to himself wow I okayed her and her husband Pat to have this surgery in fact there's a good possibility the poor man may offer to remove my band right then and there.
Wendy