What a ride I have been on...................

Hey Everyone! I have missed not joining in, but I have been lurking most of the time. For all the new folks on the board, Welcome to OH. For everyone who is loosing & moving right along with no problems, I'm happy for you. For those with problems, I'm sorry to hear about it. Your in my prayers. Now for an update on me. Where to begin??? In Dec. right before Christmas, I went to the Medical Mall for a check up. All was great. All of my levels were great. Finally things were looking up & moving forward. Or so I thought. In Jan. I got to where I was sick to my stomach all the time. I ate, but I had to make myself eat. I wasn't throwing up, but I felt like I could. There was a stomach virus going around & we assumed that was what was going on. Other family members had it & had gone to the doctor only to be told to drink plenty of fluids & that there wasn't an Rx that would help get rid of it. After a while I wasn't able to eat anything. If I forced foods down... it came right back up. Liquids stayed down. So I went to my Dr. & he thought I just had a really bad case of a stomach virus. But he ordered an Ultra Sound of my Gall Bladder to see if it was the problem. It was inconclusive so he ordered a Hydra scan. I didn't make it to that appointment. I went back to him before that apt. After 20 days (Valentines Day & My 19th wedding anniversary) of no food, my Gall Bladder was taken out. WOW!!!! I felt so much better. I was getting my appetite back. After a week....... I could not stand or walk without A LOT of help. Everything was spinning. So, back to the doctor I went. He immediately put me in the hospital. My blood work showed that my B-12 & potassium was next to nothing. So they increased my vitamins. Also, I seen every type doctor that Anderson's hospital new existed. Nobody knew what going on with me. Every test they ran showed nothing was wrong (heart, lungs, kidneys, bladder, neuro, etc.). It got to where I couldn't even get out of the bed without the orderlies moving me. I could no longer stand or walk. Most of my body was numb. I had to be fed & given stuff to drink. It was just like taking care of a baby. I was helpless. After a few weeks of being in the hospital, a Neurosurgeon came to see me. He had heard of me & what all was going on. He had WLS also & his surgery was done by Carnie Wilson's doctor. THE SAME THING I WAS GOING THROUGH, HAPPENED TO HIM ALSO!!!! So he knew what needed to be done & ordered an IV mixture of stronger vitamins & B-12 shots. Things started getting some better. After 34 days of a hospital stay I was able to go home. I still could not stand without help, or even walk at all. But I was on the way to getting better. Today I can't walk over 10 feet without the use of a walker & 2 people beside me for support & 1 behind me with my wheelchair. I am able to stand up by myself now. But not for long periods of time. I still have a numb feeling all over. I am able to manipulate my fingers for typing & pushing buttons on the remote & phone. However, I still use a headset with the phone because after 10-15 mins. my arms are "given out". Anyways...........that is my life these days. Not so grand or where I thought I'd be after WLS. But at least I'm not dead........ Yet. I'm still waiting for my "It does get better" to kick in. And I say that with "tongue in cheek". Talk soon & Love & Best wishes to All, Tammy

Yes, that is quite a ride, and I'm glad you are making it through. It is good to see you post today!! Arlies had filled us in on how bad you had been, vitamin deficiencies and not being able to get out of bed. I have really been praying for you, and God does answer prayers. We will keep praying that your strength returns and you can just get better and better. Thanks for posting today, I hope you have more days that you feel like keeping in touch. DeAnna.

Thanks DeAnna, All prayers are greatly appreciated. I know prayers are what has gotten me this far. I thank God everyday that I was taking my vitamins up until I got so sick I couldn't eat anything. There's no telling what would've been the case if I hadn't. Death I guess. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Luv N Hugs, Tammy

Thanks Donna, I sincerely appreciate you keeping me in your thoughts & prayers. Please continue to keep me in your prayers. Luv N Hugs, Tammy

WOOHOO!!!! It's the TAMS!!!! I am so glad to hear from you! smoochies Arlies

Yeah it's me. Slowly typing, but here. Luv N Hugs, Tammy

Tammy - it is so good to see you post on here! I have been worried about you and hoping that things were getting better. I try to keep up with you thru Arlies - you are such a trooper and I am so glad that you are finally on your way to working thru all this. We have missed you! Marci

Thanks Marci, I'm getting better every day. Praise God!!! It is slow, but at least I'm headed in the right direction. I have missed everyone here also. It was like a part of my family was missing. Maybe now I'll be up to taking part again. Luv N Hugs, Tammy PS: Congrats on your having surgery!!!

WOOOOHOOOOOO!! I am so happy to see you on here. I have asked about you numerous times! I hope you will be with us often. I am glad to see that you are doing better and getting even better each day. Love, Rhonda

Thanks Rhonda, I hope to be around more. Provided my fingers will let me. Typing with 2 fingers is tuff. And after a bit, they start cramping. But I have come a long way. In Feb. I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow. So, no complaining here about finger cramps. Luv N Hugs, Tammy