Listen To Your Body !!!

Thanks to Michelle J (my Angel) for always listening to my rants and whines 

If you are having pain, log the problems and call your surgeon...always.

My surgeon tripled the Carafate and Prevacid...he was convinced that I had an ulcer...NOT!!!

I have a gastro-gastric fistula. I had a CAT scan (with/without contrast)  two weeks ago and an EGD last Friday. I was still pretty foggy (I was heavily sedated for the procedure...I don't remember ANYTHING) when my surgeon told me that my pouch had started to have a "relationship" with my old stomach....aaaarrggghh.

I'm having an upper GI in two days.
I see my surgeon next week.

Surgery will be NOT be outpatient and OPEN. WTF??? I'm seriously stressing over this. My RNY was LAP and recovery was smooth. I was back to work after a week. This time recovery will be slower but hopefully not as painful. I have no more explanations until I see my surgeon next week. DID I SAY I WAS STRESSING OUT???

Other Issues:

I did have a minor issue with acid reflux. Prevacid Solutabs took care of that. 
On Carafate since earlier this year. No ulcer was detected on CAT or EGD.
My Vitamin D levels did tank down to 12 but with 50,000 IUs a day, my labs are now at 98. I'm currently taking 50,000 3/week.
My gall bladder was removed 09/09. No longer able to take Vicodin or Tylenol 3.

Don't take no for an answer. Work the hell out of your surgeon until an answer is found.

I'm glad they finally found out what was wrong, but I totally understand you not being thrilled over having an open procedure.

I'll share something with you.  I chose open RNY over a lap procedure.  I wanted my surgeon to have the best possible view and room to do with her hands what she needed to do safely.  I knew there would be a bigger scar and it would take me a bit longer to recover, but I have no regrets about that decision. 

You're going to be sore and may feel a little bit weak for a while, but it will pass.  Try to avoid bending and wearing any restrictive clothing while you're healing.  They should give you a binder to help support your tummy. 

  Take good care of yourself and please let us know how things are going for you.

SB,

The thing that REALLY worries me is the recovery time. I had my LAP RNY and was back to work after one week. I'm still unemployed and my husband has good insurance. My only concern is home care. He travels A LOT so carefully planning will ensure his presence. I'm going to look into home health care (I think it's covered at 100%) to help get through this. I have family for support, but knowing my family, they will probably insist I set up shop at their home and leave my own.  I did this after RNY and living with my folks was overwhelming.

This news still hasn't set in and I'm still numb. Thanks for your kind words of support.

I was living alone when I had my surgery and did fine.  It takes some advance preparation though. 

Before I went into the hospital, I made sure my house was in order.  I stocked my pantry and refrigerator with easy-to-fix foods and placed things that I use a lot at waist level or higher so I wouldn't have to bend to reach them.  My surgeon gave me my post op prescriptions so I could have them filled and waiting for me at home.  I kept my cell phone in my pocket just in case of emergency.  

If at all possible, it is a good idea to have someone around, especially for those first few days, but try not to stress over it.   Everything will be all right. 

Glad you gound it before regain started.  One of my wls support group leaders has been gaining and re loosing five pounds for some time now.  She pressed on about this and a few months back they discovered her pouch and stomach had reunited. 

Anyone would be stressing but you will get through this just fine.  Thankfully you are persistent.  Otherwise who knows what could have happened. 

 Thanks Ms. Zero!

Did she lose weight after the revision? That's my biggest concern. I don't want to lose anymore. I was threatened with a feeding tube if my weight dropped down under 120lb 

OMG!! Sweetie..I am so sorry you are going through this. I am praying for you, just know that.  Don't stress because it will only make it worse, you know that.  You are so right that we have to keep pursuing the answer. We can't just stay in pain and think it's okay.  ((((((((((huggs))))))))). 

 Glam....I'm trying my best not to stress...it's in His hands now. But I'm so scared that this will retrigger my weight loss. 

If so, they can always give you an appetite stimulant for a short period so that you have the desire to eat and you will just have to make calorie rich/dense choices. As far as the open proceedure, yes it will take longer to recover but you are strong and healthy and you will do very well.  Not to mention, you've got your sweet hubby by your side. Between him and God, you are in best hands!!! Lean back and rest in God's arms.

Juanita, I'm still having issues. I take protonix for GERD daily and zofran twice a day for the nausea and  amitiza a rx for constipation. I still bloat and have pain when I eat. I usually eat once a day and do protein shakes and high protein yogurt the rest of the time. I've had a colonoscopy, an endooscopy in Feb. and a contrast CT Scan in May. My surgeon says they only found spasms while I'm trying to eat and IBS but I keep thinking it's something more but I've had all of the tests.

I'll be praying for you sweetie. Take care of yourself.