My Health

I'm in a strange place right now with my health - I'm simultaneously more healthy and less healthy than I've ever been. I'm trying to figure out if I can see a gastroenterologist as a PCP through my insurance since I haven't seen anyone since having my surgery. I'm worried that seeing someone who does not specialize in WLS will be not useful to me. I'm also scared of being judged for having WLS in Mexico. My issues:

1. A couple of months ago I had what I thought was a gallbladder attack, but it turns out to more likely be a sensitivity to eating too many nuts and seeds. So maybe diverticulitis or SIBO or just my stomach not being ready for nuts and seeds.
2. I'm not taking anything regularly for GERD and I feel it every day.
3. I've only had 2 menstrual periods since surgery 10 months ago. This could be any combination of PCOS (I never had normal periods even at a normal weight), continuing to breastfeed, rapid weight loss, and being a lower body fat percentage than I've ever been. I'm not worried but should probably take some progesterone and give myself a withdrawal bleed to clean out my uterus.
4. My hair fell out copiously from months 2-8, then the hair loss slowed to a normal rate. Now for the last 3 weeks or so it is falling out just as intensely as the first few months. And suddenly I have dandruff which I've never had before. I can't afford to lose a single strand more!
5. I've had almost non-stop respiratory infections for the last 3 months ever since having to take antibiotics for a month. It's gotten to the point where I seem to have lost some of my sense of smell even when I'm not sick.

Honestly, I feel like I'm falling apart a bit. I need to rebuild my immune system and figure out why my hair is falling out again. I need an endoscopy. I need an ultrasound and a rx for progesterone. Mostly, I need to live in a country that actually cares about it's people enough to provide basic health care for all.

When was the last time you had a full blood panel done? That could tell you some things.

You mention breastfeeding and that you are 10 months post-op. I'm sure that could also be draining your system, especially the fact that you have had no period. Not having a period is fairly common after WLS and rapid weight loss and with the combination of breastfeeding I'm sure that's a factor. Your body has been through trauma (the WLS) and it takes time to recover. Same with your hair falling out. Blood work could explain why it's falling out again. Certain deficiencies can cause hair loss.

The "dandruff" could simply be dry skin (or not)

Who diagnosed your sensitivity to nuts and seeds?

Not sure where you live (Canada??). Stop worrying about being judged or what they think. Obviously you are having some medical issues and need a doctor. Not sure how long you've had these symptoms but the longer you wait the longer it could take to diagnose and treat whatever may be wrong.

She's definitely not in Canada, or she wouldn't be feeling that she lived in a country that didn't provide decent health care for it's citizens as a matter of course.

Are you taking your vitamins as you should and getting in 60-80g of protein minimum per day?

Yup.

Did you get full labs at 6 months post op?

The only lab I've had since surgery is Hct a couple of months ago just to make sure I wasn't anemic. I ordered it through walkinlab.com. Once I find a PCP I'll be sure to ask for more labs.

Finding a PCP is your best first step - they tend to be easier to find openings with than specialists anyway.

Seeing a PCP is a good idea. If possible, see if you can get a referral for a bariatric surgeon instead of a GI doctor. (If you need referrals with your insurance.)

Ditto Erin's question - what's your vitamin regimen? How much protein are you getting? When was your last full panel for blood work?

Mahonia,

It sounds like you are very stressed out amongst all these issues you list. Stress alone can lower your immune system. When you get stressed and worried, your body changes from normal functioning to fight/flight/freeze mode, and it puts all the important bodily functions like immunity on the back burner until the perceived crisis is over. If you are stressed out all the time and worrying a lot, it will continually put your body into this mode and you will not heal/get better.

Like others have said, I would try not to think about what others think, judge or say. If a doctor makes a comment, get a different doctor, that's your right. Try mindfulness, meditation, prayer, breathing exercises and self-compassion to get those stress levels done. Just giving yourself 20 min in the morning and late afternoon per day can help heal your body and relax your mind.

When it comes to hair loss, that will slow down as you get farther out, but the only way to help it is to keep your protein up and try to reduce stress. Itching and dandruff could indicate psoriasis, which is also an auto-immune disorder made worse by stress. Get it checked out by your doctor if you can to determine if it is dry skin or psoriasis.

The period thing can just be because of the fact you had a baby not too long ago (last year?) and lost body/fat fast. You need to give your body time to catch up with all the changes.

I would also see mental health support from a counselor or group for stress and the effects of the surgery. You would be surprised how much health issues can go away or diminish when we have good support, adequate rest (make sure you are getting good sleep), and our minds are focused on the now.

Take care,

Mary K.