Hi everyone....I'm new

A new friend and member to this board introduced me to you all....I had WLS in 9/05 and had a leak..my doctor was new to the surgery so when I started complaining I wasn't losing weight anymore (only lost 64 lbs), I was hungry a lot & I could eat too much he just said, "you're just going to have to buckle down!". I was crushed. Finally, I cornered him at a support meeting he attended and once again said, "I CAN EAT TOO MUCH!!!" He then had me do what was called the "Cottage Cheese Test" & that finally convinced him. He sent me for a scope & by then it was too late...my bypass had shut off & everytime I ate I had to vomit after eating a small amount...then I could eat. Found out that is what would relax the fistula I had developed (a tunnel made of scar tissue from the leak that connected my pouch back to my full stomach). Anyway, 5/06 he did an open revision & now it works...to date I have now lost 150 lbs!!! woo-hooo!!! So, moral of the story, if you have just recently had WLS & something doesn't seem right, don't let your doctor ignore you!!! Get answers!! By the way....nice to meet you all!

Hi Pam welcome to the board. really good to have you on with us. Wow what a story. So your new pouch wasnt totally disconnected from the old stomach like they are done now? That is really horrible but good that it wasnt just leaking into your abdomen , you could have died from that. Hope to see you on lots more and congradulations on your weight loss. Jan

Pam...Welcome to the board!!!! And thanks for sharing your story with us. It is important for everyone wanting to have the WLS to know they should use a doctor that is experienced in doing the surgeries! And if they feel they have problems to insist on being checked out! Sounds like your doing great now...I can't wait till I can say I have lost 150lbs!!!! Keep up the good work....Hugs & Love...Tammy H.

Hi Pam! Welcome to the board. I'm new myself and all these lovely people in our group are awesome. If you have questions, they have answers or if they don't they look it up. I've been down with the flu so I haven't posted but I'm feeling better so I should be a regular now. Nice to meet you, and ohhhh, what a terrible time you went through. Thanks for sharing and I'm so happy you are doing okay now. 150 pounds - WOW!!

Hi Pam WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME....congrats on the weight loss so far. I am so sorry you had such a horrible experience, but I am glad you shared it with us. Everyone realizes that there are risks-so its nice to know what they are and some warning signs. I hope you will become an active member of our board. How far do you live from Springfield? We have an awesome support group there called Circle Of Friends and we would LOVE to meet you!!! Take care and again-congrats! Janet

Hey Pam!!! Nice to see you here!!! That IS quite a story!!!! So glad they figured it all out finally and such a good testimony that sometimes you have to keep on your Dr untill you get results you are satisfied with!!! We need to be our own advocates with this and many of these Drs are experiencing some situations for the first time and they mistake what we are dealing with for something else.....like him tellign you to "buckle down"!! How frustrating that must have been. i can't imagine. Others here can though, cause I know some have had a similar experience. Come back often!!!! Hugs, Tami

Hello Pam, I'm just as well and I really like this site. Everyone have been great and very sourceful too. I'm glad you shared that story, that will give me heads up to know what to do. So really thank you for that. Well I hope you like it here and welcome aboard!! Losing 150pds ( would luv to feel that ) take care!