Out of Options

I thought I'd post an update of my GBP - Post-Op Life and ask for your prayers.  My journey has been anything but what I expected or what the norm is for that matter.   I am now a month and a half out from my original GBP and a month out from my 2nd emergency revision surgery.  After seeing my surgeon today, I am now facing an Endoscope procedure on Friday where they will go in and stretch the anastomosis (stomach opening).  I'm basically out of options.   Vomiting has almost become a way of life for me.  In the past 2 weeks, I've only had 3 days where I didn't have any vomiting.  Yesterday was one of those days....a "good" day, where everything stayed down.  But my food & liquid totals were only 195 calories, 7 grams of protein and 16 oz. of liquid.  And that really was a "good day".    I've kept a food diary trying to find some rythme or reason for the vomiting, but there's no common thread.  It doesn't matter when or what I eat.  I've even been given permission to stray from the "rules" and try whatever I can that might stay down....the only thing I've found is Goldfish Crackers!  lol   Anyway....this has been a long journey for me.  I'm definitely malnourished and dehydrated.  My body has gone into starvation mode and I've only lost a pound in the past month.   Which is really depressing when all I do is vomit up everything I try to eat or drink.  Where's the justice??  LOL   I'd really appreciate your prayers on Friday.  I really need this procedure to work.  According to my surgeon, he's not sure what other options are out there if it doesn't.  So I'm counting on God to work a miracle.   Thanks for listening to me vent and Thanks for your thoughts & prayers.   PS...If anyone here has had this Endoscope procedure where they stretch the anastomosis, I hope you'll post and let me know if it helped.  Thanks. Blessings, Yvonne

 That procedure has got to work because they've tried everything else. I bet you'll come out of it feeling like a new woman!! You've been such an inspiration to me all the way through my pre-op phase and I really appreciate it.   I'll keep you in my prayers, Cheryl

Thank you for your prayers Cheryl.  I'm looking forward to the time when I will get to "enjoy" the fruits of this surgery.   Anyway....how are you doing?  From what I've read so far, you seem to be doing pretty well.  Did I read that you drank 48 oz.??   That's great!   How is the weight loss coming along?  Are you weighing yourself daily or are you waiting for your 2-week check up?    Keep up the great work!  Your in my thoughts & prayers!   Blessings, Yvonne

Yvonne-       Can I go back and ask what went wrong so you had to go in for a revision?

And your surgeon has no idea why you can't keep anything down? That happens from time to time I am sure but it still seems weird.

I hope everything will go good for you Friday. I will be thinking of you as I lay in the hospital too.

Take care........Netti

Hi Netti,     My first GBP was 8/3.  They did 3 leak tests during surgery and a Gastrographin test the day after surgery and no leaks showed up.   When I went home I was still having alot of naseau and pain in my chest and left shoulder.  They thought it was most likely from the anesthesia, which does happen.       After a week and a half, I couldn't stand the pain any longer and called my surgeon at 3:00 in the morning.  He had given me his cell phone number, so I used it.  He met me at the hospital and they did another contrast test.  That time, there was alot of contrast in my residual stomach that should have been empty, meaning there was an opening from my pouch into my residual stomach.  It ended up that one (?) of the staples hadn't gone in smoothly causing a "dimple opening".   So they went back in through the same incisions (ouch!) and fixed the issues.       They checked everything else out while they were in there again and said things looked fine.  But I've been vomiting for over a month and I'm still not able to keep much down.  The only other thing that the surgeon can think of is that the anastomosis isn't large enough inside, which is why I have to have the procedure done on Friday.       Too bad we weren't going to be in the same hospital on Friday.  If we were, I could stop by to see how your doing.  But know that my thoughts and prayers will be with you.  Do you know what time your surgery is yet?   Blessings, Yvonne

Yvonne~       What will happen if this surgery doesn't work? (Lord forbid)... After reading what one of the girls wrote, I am really hoping that this will work and you can finally enjoy the fruits of this surgery. I don't personally know you Yvonne, but you show so much kindess and caring here in this forum to everyone, I feel real bad that you are going thru all this; You really sound like a wonderful person and I bet your a great friend. Where is your hospital located? Wish I had a cell phone or calling card, I would call you Friday and see how you was doing. Take care and good luck Friday.  I will log on when I get home..      Netti

Hi Netti,     I'm not sure what will happen if this procedure doesn't work on Friday.  Dr. Trieu said it's the last option he can think of, but he planned to talk to some of his other collegues in the same field to see if they had any other ideas.   But mostly we're banking on this procedure to work.       I'll be at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta.  It's about an hour and a half away for us, so not quite as far as you have to travel.  This time I don't have to be there until 11:00am!  Yeah!  LOL       I'll be thinking of you.  I'll log on as soon as I can afterwards and I hope you'll be up and feeling well enough to post an update on your progress soon after your surgery as well.   Keep the faith!  Your new life is about to begin!!! Blessings, Yvonne   

Yvonne, I am sending my hugs and love to you. You have been through so much, in such a short time. You were and are my inspiration, my advisor and my unmet friend. You will get through this. The stretching does work.
Not first hand, but I have seen someone with your exact problems. Her doctor also said it was the 1 in 1000 problem, the ones that everyone fears and yet they rarely happen. She too was very ill for several months, yet they fixed her problems. She is now small, healthy and a much happeir woman than she was before surgery. Despite it all she would do it again. In her words: the pain and discomfort, the vomiting and dehydration all fade from memory.
My only advice is to stay in close contact with the doctor, severe dehydration is dangerous, the same friend ended up with kidney problems because she did not go to the hospital when she should have for IV fluids. She figured the doc knew she was dehydrated, so why call him (it had been 2 weeks since she saw him, he didn't know how bad she was doing.)

Blessings to you my friend,
Sheli

Hi Sheli,    Thank you for your support and encouragement.  It means alot to me.  I'm glad to hear that the Endo procedure has had good results for someone else.  It gives me hope that maybe there's a light at the end of this tunnel after all.  A few more days and I'll know for sure.      I understand too well how important hydration is.  It's pretty tough though, when I'm vomiting not just foods but the liquids too.  Today has been one of those days.  The only thing that has stayed down today has been the 3 oz. of yogurt that I had this morning.  Everything else, including liquids has just come back up.  Thank goodness this procedure is suppose to fix all this.  My throat is tired and actually all of me is tired.      Thanks again!  I really appreciate all the wonderful people on this site, including you!   Blessings, Yvonne

Yvonne, We are all praying that things go well and you are soon on the mend.  I know that this process has been rough for you and I must say that you are the most amazing woman to be able to continue to encourage others when you are having such a tough time yourself.  My thoughts will be with you Friday and please keep us updated. Kim