Help and a really BIG vent!

I had WLS  on July 27,2010. This post is  not a flame or complaint about my surgeon, just about  my situation.

Since then I feel like I have had nothing but problems - I had a removable IVC filter put in pre-op - and when it came time to remove it, it took 4 attempts because it was "stuck". I had been complaining to my surgeon for several weeks that food was not staying down - finally after I started vomiting blood he decided to do an endoscopy. We did that last week and he said that I had a bit of a narrowing, but that he "stretched" it out and that I should be good to go.

So far, I'm not "good to go" I haven't eaten solid food really since July - I tried ensure the other day and managed to keep about 2 ounces down. Once I throw something up I am very resistant to try it again.

At this point, I'm unable to keep vitamins or calcium down - B12 is ok because I chose to do injections.

I am down 104 lbs since surgery - I am happy about that, but I'm seriously questioning whether or not WLS was the right thing for me to do. It's too late to turn back, and I'm posting here because I'm hoping SOMEONE has gone through something similar and might have some suggestions as to what I can do to somewhat improve my situation. I don't like the way I feel now - very low energy, always tired, rarely hungry and unable to keep anything down.

I feel like my situation hasn't been "text" book and everything I can find online, etc. is for "textbook" patients.

Any help that anyone can give me is appreciated - some family members think I have a mental block - and maybe that is partially the case, but I really just need some help right now dealing with this.

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Is there any way you can get a second opinion with another surgeon experienced with bariatric surgery?  Other than that, my only suggestion would be to get more assertive with your current surgeon....be insistant and stick to your guns...make him listen! 

Wow, I hope you can find some answers and hope you feel better soon.  I have the same doc and I am in the very beginning stages, I hope I am not making a mistake with him.  I did not care for his personality too much but was hoping his expertise was better.  I don't need a nice doc but I do need a good one that knows what he is doing and do it well.  What was the rest of your experience with him like?  Have you heard other things about him?

Robyn

HI Again,

I'm out of state for a few days for the holidays - thanks to my wonderful mother in law I'm trying liquid vitamins and liquid calcium - and pedialyte to see if that helps with some of the smaller issues I am having. I just started drinking some pedialyte and maybe it's just in my head but I feel a little better already :)

I see my surgeon again on December 2 - I am going to be forceful and let him know that I still don't feel OK (assuming that I don't have a major turning point before then) and see what else can be done.

Mom in law suggested that I maybe start on a "baby" diet - rice cereal, et****il my tummy starts liking food again - does anyone have any experience with that? I sounds like a reasonable plan to my, but it's not one that's ever been suggested to me by one of my doctors.

@Robyn - Dr Moen is a GREAT surgeon. Please don't let my current experience cause you to shy away from him. I don't know that anything I'm dealing with now is a result of something that could have been prevented, rather I think it's something similar to Murphy's Law - whatever CAN go wrong for me just might =) The one thing I can say is that he's very "by the book" in my opinion - and while I should be further along with my progress as far as food, etc. goes, I don't think he takes into consideration the surgeries I had to have to remove the filter, the surgery to "stretch" things, etc. I think that all of the trauma that my body has gone through because of these additional surgeries are partially to blame for the problems I'm having now. Someone else also suggested that I may be having problems now because of all of the anesthesia I've had in the last few months. I'm not sure if that is the case but it's definitely something I am going to ask him about.

I am sorry you are having issues. I know it must be tough and I see your weight loss is wonderful. I do hope that you can get to feeling better. If you are uneasy about your Doc I would try to get another opinion,. Good luck & I hope you feel better really soon. Hang in there better days are coming.  I guess it takes the body time to adjust.     Julie

(((Erica))). You already know what I think, but I wanted to say that I'm really glad you posted on here. Did you also post on RNY board? I hope you get some advice from those who may have experienced the same thing. Thinking of you.

i am so sorry to hear about what you are going through. it is definitely not typical. you should be able to eat normally (most things) and feel more energy, not less. you definitely need to get this figured out w/ your surgeon. I would not leave the office until there was a plan set up to figure out what is going on, tests to be done, how you will follow up with him, possibly talking w/ a nutritionist, get all your blood work done. be a ***** if you have to. good luck!