My misery

My story starts here in November of 04. I had a RNY done in a small town in Alabama. I did my research and concluded that the surgeon I choose was one of the best in the state hell he even had it done himself and did his daughters. For the first 6 months or so I was a textbook success then I started having kidney stones. Very very painful. Well after 5 procedures three in which had to be hospitalized for. Then on Veterans Day 05 (11 November) I was down at the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) serving returning soldiers lunch. I went home to lie down a and take a nap. I started having stomach pains I didn't think too much of it at the time thought maybe I ate something I shouldn't have ate. After about 4 hours the pain was so bad that I couldn't bare it anymore my girlfriend at the time was a nursing instructor at a local university she informed me that something is defiantly wrong for me to be in that much pain. She came and took me to the hospital emergency room. After they ran test and had my pain somewhat under control. A surgeon came in and introduced himself and informed me that I had a intestinal blockage and that I had only hours to live if something wasn't done immediately, he also informed me that since the doctor that did my WLS was close by that I be moved to the hospital where he operates from since he was familiar with my insides. So I was transported by ambulance to the other hospital the surgeon met my ambulance and had his team ready to cut me. (Very pro active) So I had the intestinal surgery spent 4 days in the hospital on a liquid diet. I have had nothing but problems since then from defecating on myself to getting nauseated after I eat. In January 06, I stopped at the VFW and had a drink with some friends and went home to cook dinner I was in the kitchen and had a grandma seizure my first. When I woke up my face was all bloody and the paramedics were talking to me. I left Alabama and moved to Washington State so I could be close to family since I have so many health issues. If I die I don't want to die alone. On the drive from Alabama to Washington in a hotel room in Texas I had another grandma seizure I have no recollection of it. I didn't know what was going on it's like I woke up and my little brother was holding me. I have a little Yorkshire terrier that was crying (I'm sure he was scared) Now I get so depressed. I have even come close to committing suicide the only reason I'm still here is my little dog. What would happen to him? Like I said I did my homework and I'm a grown man and made a decision to have the surgery and I believe in the surgeon that done my surgery. If I would have known that I was going to have problems, I would have stayed fat. I have went to Gastric doctors and a neurologist, they can't find any answers. Everything on all of the test appears to be normal. I'm at the end of my rope and don't know where to go or who to turn to next and nobody will help me. I'm told to look in the phone book or look on the Internet to find a specialist.

Hi Bill I'm so sorry for everything you have gone through! I know how terrible it is to lose your health. I'm only 6 months out of WLS but have had nothing but problems. First the surgeon parades around a few women at his meetings that are a size 3. They use deception making you think you will have a 20 year old body again! They are in it for the money! They told me I would go off blood pressure meds, My back would get better, OCD would get better, Asthma would get better etc.... Everything is worse. With the malabsorption of meds I dont get enough in so I cant breathe,walk, be pain free etc.... I spent months vomiting I have never been able to go the bathroom without laxatives. I have severe stomach pain. The surgeon says my Gallbladder is now bad. He wont take it out because I lost my Insurance. I'm so disabled now that I'm having to go on social security. I'm only 40 years old and my life is over! The surgeon took out everyone's Gallbladder but mine. I have stomach pain everyday. I have to take a lot of belladonna to stand it. I have lost everything except my house. I probably will lose that next. My blood pressure is higher now than before. Now I suffer severe depression! I don't remember having that before. I never have any energy,lost most my hair and feel like crap! I lost close to 70 pounds and thats it. My body looks worse now than before. I weigh 190 so I'm still very obese. I can relate to living for your dog. I have a Red Nose Pittbull named Sweetie. She is almost 7 years old and she is what keeps me going. If I died she would quit eating and die. My dog stays in bed with me most of the time. If I have to go out I take her for protection. I'm now afraid to go out alone. She is almost human! She knows when I'm having a real bad day! You are not alone in your misery. I'm really sorry you have had so many bad things happen to you. If you ever want to talk just e-mail me at [email protected] Ps. I'm blkcloud because of all the bad things that happen to me Sincerely Karen K.

I was so touched reading your post. Have you gone to have your gallbladder out now that you are on social security and medicare? They should pay for it and medicaid will pick up the balance so, if no-one told you about this, please look into it. Janey

Hi Karen, I just read one of your replys then skipped to your profile. You have had it rough.....I can't believe your WLS physician didn't tell you all the negatives relating to the surgery. I have spent the past year checking out everything I can get my hands on regarding the surgery before I have it. My physician has been the greatest help. Even though I have a year of medical school I will not go into such a major thing blind. I am really suprised you physician would let you do this........makes me wonder how his ratings are. How are you getting along now?????? You are in my prayers. Cathy

Cathy Thanks for your concern. I'm new to the computer so I didn't know how to do the profile. I had Kasier Insurance. My Dr. didn't want me to have the surgery but she never told me why? I really thought WLS. would solve alot of my medical problems. Wrong! If you have ruined your back. It is not going to get better. My Mental Illness is far worse. I suffer from OCD,Anxeity Attacks.Post tramtic Stress syndrome,Insomnia, Now you can add depression and House bound syndrome. I don't know the proper name for it. I fought to get this surgery for 5 years. I had always been thin. So when I gained 100 pounds with my late in life baby. I was horrified. As was my faimly. Kaiser sent me to classes for months. I had been at the fat clinic several times over the years. My Instructer never had a weight problem in his life. He was actually to thin. The things I learned in class didn't seem to have anything to do with WLS. They were trying to talk us out of it. Kaiser didn't want to foot the bill for such an expensive operation. They would tell us everytime someone would die. They told us you could never drink alcohol again. Wrong! The nice man who sat next to me quit the day he was told he could never have a beer. I didn't do my homework! All I saw was the results of WLS. Some of my customers had it done. They looked so good. All I thought about was being thin again. I'm now 7 months out. Social Security has not kicked in. So I still don't have insurance. My top weight was 276. Weight at surgery 260. I now weigh 179. I'm starting to accept what life has handed me. Acceptance seems to be very important. Ive always had a low self-esteem. So I was my worst enemy. Don't ever put all your eggs in one basket. This life saving surgery doesn't fix everything. I now see that I'm at fault for having unrealistic expectations. I'm now having severe pain on my upper left hand side. I have no idea what it is. I'm worried it might be a hernia. When I get insurance back I plan on having all my issues addressed. My Surgeon didn't see me at my 6 month checkup so this website has been a life saver.Thanks for your support! Karen K from Ca.

Bill, I am so sorry that all of this is happening to you because of WLS , you may already know about OSSG-gone wrong , but just in case you don't I thought I would let you know about them....go to yahoo then groups, then health and wellness then to OSSG-gone-wrong , they have many resources and much support. Blessings, Donna Q.

Bill, please know you are not alone. I have been in the hospital too many times to count and had a total of 6 surgeries in the past 15 months. (see profile) I am sure you can imagine what this has done to me and my family. Feel free to email if you ever want to talk. I m just getting my strength back now from my last surgery and returning to the computer. Cindi

Bill, I'm sorry to hear your story. It sounds like a high price to pay for weight loss. But I wanted to ask you about your complications. It's relatively easy to explain intestinal blockage to be related to RNY...I've seen it in people post WLS and other abdominal surgieries....But Seizures? Are you so malnourished? Did you have MRI/CT scan of your head done? Could there be a cause for seizures that comes from the brain itself rather than consequences of WLS? Did you suffer a head trauma recently? I wanted to let you know that Seizures are very common....About 10% of people have them. It's less common for them to start later in life, unless there been some trauma/tumor /stroke, etc. events....or withdrawl from alcohol/drugs. I do believe that finding a GOOD Dctor is vital, so I wouldn't recommend just picking one from phone book. I'm sure there is national and local organization for people with seizures/epilepsy.... find them on-line, talk to people who are local in your are and get a referral through them. Best of luck to you, Rita

Bill Please don't give up. I have a doctor in Wildomar CA he is a great doctor. Ya I know you have hear that before. But I don't want you to give up and die. Dr. D. Suh is a wonderful man and maybe he can change your like like he changed mine. And I need you to know that besides doing WLS on me he took out by galbladder and I also had a hieana herna he had to take it apart and cut 2" off my old stomach and then start the WLS. I have not been to the doctor for other then check ups. I never get sick. So I'm telling you check out my doctor maybe he will save you life. Ok you can e-mail me anytime. Sharon Lopez [email protected]

I just stumbled onto your message and wanted to send a little encouragement from EDMONDS, WA! (We're not all that bad here!) But then, I *am* a trasplant, too. Originally from Washington, DC area. I agree it's fast paced here. I am sooo sorry that things have been so hard. Can you give us an update? Have you found a doc to help you? How are you feeling? Any more seizures? I pray you are finding health again, Nancy