Something to be aware of Intestinal Volvulus

Please go to my site and read my story especially if you will be undergoing surgery in the future.  I am in hope that no one will have to have the problems I have been having the past year and a half.  This is totally preventable and should be brought up as a potential complication.  Good luck to all of you in your journey through this world.

I have been reading some of the posts and remembering back to before I had the surgery then after.  I had laproscopic RnY was it in 2003 I think I cannot remember...some of the things everyone is worrying about may not even be an issue so all of you relax.  It is not as bad as you think.  I have some friends that had the same procedure and had similar outcomes as I did.  Basically after ,in the very beginning you can hardly eat anything except the tiniest amounts and then no sugar, no high fat.  After some time your stomach stretches some and this is a good thing.  Just do not have it stretch too much lol...  Sensible small meals are the key and your tummy will always let you know what it will not tolerate.  You will either dump or vomit.  If you eat even one bite too much up it will come.  It is not that bad.  You learn....but it is not always the same and sometimes mistakes are made even with those of us who are the best at watching it...vomitting is not that bad because the stomach knows and up comes that extra couple bites and it is over...not pleasant but not that bad, and you watch how much you are eating a bit closer.  Relax, the process getting here causes enough stress no need to be stressing about food and other little issues, also.   The hoops insurance and some docs make one go through are sometimes ridiculous.  I went through all that changing from doc to doc to get one that would approve.  Now my daughter is dealing with this. This surgery will change your life.  You will feel better, look better and be treated better by the world.  Sorry it is that way but the world looks upon overweight people harshly.  I see the difference everywhere and am accutely aware of this because I have been on both sides of the fence.  I hate it when I meet fellas and they talk to me about that fat person over there....as if they are "perfection", who are they to talk that way...they do not know who I am and where I have been so perhaps wonder when I disc them.  My friends were "cured" of hypertension and off drugs completely for diabetes....I no longer have joint problems and before needing a cane...my knees and ankles...  I have been called the energizer bunny ... like I say it will change your life in some positive ways and there is nothing wrong in liking how well you look.

Thank you so much for posting your story!  My husband has had the same problem you have since the beginning.  He also has never had a problem with eating.  When I had the surgery, I had a problem with 1/4 teaspoon of Cream of Wheat.  He ate 9ccs right after surgery.  I had surgery in 2001, his was in 2003.  If we go to a Chinese buffet restaurant, I eat less than our 4 year old.  He eats 4 plates full. His surgery was done at Mayo in Rochester, MN.  He's worked with the surgeon, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist and dieticians.  No one as been able to pinpoint a reason other than malabsorption for this.  It's no picnic for anyone.  The only option they've offered is to reverse the surgery, which he refuses.  He's afraid if he can eat this much now, what will happen if they put it back?  Will he gain all that weight back again?  So he would have gone through two surgeries for nothing?  He already deals with PTSD and major depression.  This has made it much worse.  At least now I can tell him what causes it.  I'm just so sorry you're dealing with it, too.

Hi Sharon,   I read your post and thank you.  It has now been a year and a half since the intestinal volvulous surgery.  In some ways I deal with the original problems and other things are much much better.  It is the much much better part that is encouraging.  I am not sure where I am at nutritionally.  I deal with chronic fatigue and some muscle weakness but some of the short gut syndrome symptoms are much better and that makes so much difference socially as well as personally.  I will never be normal.  I think I accept that but others believe there will come a time when I am "healed".  I know that will never happen and that is OK as long as it does not get worse.  Way less diarrhea, way more predictability, less gas and the gas responds somewhat to products like "Beano".  Less abdominal pain after eating.  I can also eat a more normal amount of food.  I was also offered the choice to completely reverse the procedure but that would not give me back the 10 cm they took when I had the volvulous so what would be the point in my opinion.  I would rather be the way I am at least I know where I am at.  I do have bouts of depression, also, but considering the situation, quite normal and it does not last, but I am an upbeat person.   PTSD is a different story and a much more serious disorder, than the situational depression I feel.    In short, I believe it gets better.  It is a slow process, will never be gone, but it does get better.   Jennifer