Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Severe abdominal pain
The best advice I can give you is to listen to your body. Do not worry about hurting a doctor's feelings, or feeling awkward, if you are not getting answers, then seek out the right doctor that has the most experience possible. I would suggest a major university hospital or a place like Cleveland Clinic (where I have been going). They do more of these surgeries and they have seen all of these problems, it's not a mystery or a guessing game to them. It probably sounds like I'm bitter, but it is just that I have had so many issues from the surgery and suffered much longer than I needed to, and I don't want to see this happen to others. Feel free to read my blog and email me if you have any questions. Good luck and I truly hope you feel better and get to the bottom of this :)
Jules RNY 10/30/2007
Topic: RE: WLS Problems
I agree.... This is a very personal decision. It is not to be taken lightly. I had RNY and had problems, but I have also known people to have problems with lap band. Any time that you have surgery, you are putting yourself at risk. I will not bash any surgery as it has helped so many. Even though I had to have mine reversed, having my tool for three years helped me learn how to eat. Just make sure that you weigh your problems now with the possible complications later. I hope that helped. Good luck with your decision.
-Kim T
-Kim T
Topic: RE: Stomach pains vs Kidney Stones
I had a rather large kidney stone in 2008, 4 years out of surgery, open RNY. I also had a persistent urinary tract infection, it took about a month on Macrodantin to get it knocked out. I also had several smaller stones knocking around in there.
My kidney stone caused me to have very bloody urine, so much so that it looked like coffee in the morning. The doctor treated it conservatively -- drink plenty of fluids, take Tylenol for the pain, Lortab when it was really bad -- until I began passing bright red blood in my urine, at which point I was scheduled for lithotripsy, which shattered it and it passed out in chunks. It was about 12 mm when they blasted it. Haven't had a recurrence until a week or so ago, I had the back pain that you learn isn't a pulled muscle.
I had pain with my stone, but nothing really debilitating; but I also have a very high pain threshhold. It usually felt like a pulled muscle in my back, more over the upper edge of the pelvis, and occasionally it would radiate down into my groin, following the path of the ureter. When I'd do a good bit of physical activity, I'd have blood in my urine.
I think my stones were/are (I'm growing some more) related to the amount of antacids I take on a daily basis -- I have horrible GERD which no medications have controlled.
Lorri
My kidney stone caused me to have very bloody urine, so much so that it looked like coffee in the morning. The doctor treated it conservatively -- drink plenty of fluids, take Tylenol for the pain, Lortab when it was really bad -- until I began passing bright red blood in my urine, at which point I was scheduled for lithotripsy, which shattered it and it passed out in chunks. It was about 12 mm when they blasted it. Haven't had a recurrence until a week or so ago, I had the back pain that you learn isn't a pulled muscle.
I had pain with my stone, but nothing really debilitating; but I also have a very high pain threshhold. It usually felt like a pulled muscle in my back, more over the upper edge of the pelvis, and occasionally it would radiate down into my groin, following the path of the ureter. When I'd do a good bit of physical activity, I'd have blood in my urine.
I think my stones were/are (I'm growing some more) related to the amount of antacids I take on a daily basis -- I have horrible GERD which no medications have controlled.
Lorri
Topic: New to forum, almost 6 years out, GERD
Hi everyone. I had my open RNY in November 2004, and since then I've had gradually worsening GERD, until now at almost 6 years out I'm taking 60 mg Dexilant in the morning, 300 mg Zantac at night, and still have bad enough breakthrough reflux that I eat extra strength antacids like they're candy, drink extra strength liquid antacid like it's water, and had 2 episodes of reflux aspiration in the past 6 months. They led to aspiration bronchitis, and if my internist hadn't been on top of it with clindamycin, I'd have had aspiration pneumonia.
I've had a thorough GI workup by a gastroenterologist and a surgeon, and it appears I have a rather large hiatal hernia, and my pouch is sliding up into my chest cavity then down into my abdomen. I've also had about 4 ventral hernia repairs with mesh, so I have a pretty complicated abdomen. The surgeon I saw today has referred me to an über-surgeon at Emory University in Atlanta, and has warned me that I may have to have the RNY taken down, either partially or completely.
I'm okay with that -- I've lost so much sleep, woke up with mouthfuls of acid many many times, and just generally am tired of the whole GERD experience. I don't want to eat when I wake up, because the acid pumps are asleep, and eating wakes them up. Then they stay so overactive that I have to keep bread or crackers in my stomach all the time (per the gastrodoc!) to keep the acid soaked up. Now how much sense does that make? It's probably because of that that I haven't lost but 80 lbs out of the 160 I had to lose -- I started at 343 lbs, now I'm 260. True, I regained my health, and I've kept it off for almost 6 years, but I would have liked to lose more.
I guess I just wanted to introduce myself and find out more about RNY reversals, and particularly if WLS can be done again at a later date. I'd like to look into having the DS done, since I think I'd have done better with that instead of the RNY. But in all honesty, I think I can keep my eating under control now, since I've gotten used to "normal" portions.
So. That's my story.
I've had a thorough GI workup by a gastroenterologist and a surgeon, and it appears I have a rather large hiatal hernia, and my pouch is sliding up into my chest cavity then down into my abdomen. I've also had about 4 ventral hernia repairs with mesh, so I have a pretty complicated abdomen. The surgeon I saw today has referred me to an über-surgeon at Emory University in Atlanta, and has warned me that I may have to have the RNY taken down, either partially or completely.
I'm okay with that -- I've lost so much sleep, woke up with mouthfuls of acid many many times, and just generally am tired of the whole GERD experience. I don't want to eat when I wake up, because the acid pumps are asleep, and eating wakes them up. Then they stay so overactive that I have to keep bread or crackers in my stomach all the time (per the gastrodoc!) to keep the acid soaked up. Now how much sense does that make? It's probably because of that that I haven't lost but 80 lbs out of the 160 I had to lose -- I started at 343 lbs, now I'm 260. True, I regained my health, and I've kept it off for almost 6 years, but I would have liked to lose more.
I guess I just wanted to introduce myself and find out more about RNY reversals, and particularly if WLS can be done again at a later date. I'd like to look into having the DS done, since I think I'd have done better with that instead of the RNY. But in all honesty, I think I can keep my eating under control now, since I've gotten used to "normal" portions.
So. That's my story.
Topic: Stomach pains vs Kidney Stones
I have been having stomach pains for the past couple of weeks. I was worried about dehydration from not eating or drinking as much as I should. My surgeon requested an EGD be done to see what was going on inside. They found some exposed staples and pulled 3 out, 2 had marginal ulcerations around them. I was put on prilosec twice a day and told if I didn't feel better in a week to come back. After not feeling better I went back in and had a CT Scan, the results came back today and all looks good with the exception of Kidney Stones. I was told to meet with my Primary Dr. for treatment.
I am looking for anyone else that may of had kidney stones after RNY surgery.
I am looking for anyone else that may of had kidney stones after RNY surgery.
Topic: RE: How high did your insulin go in testing r/t hypoglycemia?
185 is a very high insulin number. When I was tested, my numbers were high but my highest insulin number I believe was in the 90's.
As far as testing goes for an insulinoma, the true test is a nuclear scan called an Octreotide Scan. It is very expensive, so they dont' always order it but it is the best test for diagnosing an Insulinoma. They thought I had one many years ago, my blood sugars used to drop into the 30's and 40's. I had to eat every couple of hours to prevent this. I had the test and it was negative. I also had a fasting test - I had to fast from when I woke up in the morning and go to the doctors office. Then they took my blood sugar and insulin levels every 30 minutes. It was supposed to last for 6 hours but after 4 hours my glucose was down to 45, so they had to stop the test and they started running around getting me juice and food to eat. Within a few minutes my glucose was back up to 90.
They never figured out what caused my hypoglycemia but about 6 months later it went away.
As far as testing goes for an insulinoma, the true test is a nuclear scan called an Octreotide Scan. It is very expensive, so they dont' always order it but it is the best test for diagnosing an Insulinoma. They thought I had one many years ago, my blood sugars used to drop into the 30's and 40's. I had to eat every couple of hours to prevent this. I had the test and it was negative. I also had a fasting test - I had to fast from when I woke up in the morning and go to the doctors office. Then they took my blood sugar and insulin levels every 30 minutes. It was supposed to last for 6 hours but after 4 hours my glucose was down to 45, so they had to stop the test and they started running around getting me juice and food to eat. Within a few minutes my glucose was back up to 90.
They never figured out what caused my hypoglycemia but about 6 months later it went away.
Topic: RE: Severe abdominal pain
My wife has been going through similar episodes for about a year now. Initially, they thought she had cardiac problems. 3 days in CCU and every test under the sun ruled that out. Then they said it might be an abdominal hernia or adhesions. Back to the Bariatric Surgeon for a "look see" and the results were "nothing abnormal found". After several other visits to various doctors, she finally saw a Gastroenterologist who made a diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She's on a restricted diet as well as Citracell and an antispasmodic. His prognosis is, in about 6 weeks, all should be calm again. Hope he's right. Good luck with your situation.
Topic: RE: No More Band for Me
Jen - I'm sorry, that sounds horrible. Was there any damage to your stomach from the band? They say that port infections are the first sign of band errosion. I'm glad your doing well now.
Have you thought about having a different surgery? I'm in the process of getting insurance approval to convert to VSG from the band.
Good luck!
Have you thought about having a different surgery? I'm in the process of getting insurance approval to convert to VSG from the band.
Good luck!
Lynn C ~
Banded 9/12/2005 ~ Revision to VSG on 9/7/2010 ~ Losing again with a Keto lifestyle
Topic: How high did your insulin go in testing r/t hypoglycemia?
Hi. I am not looking for bariatric surgery, as I am about 25 lbs. overweight. However, I am having a reactive hypoglycemia problem that where I can relate to some of you that developed hyperinsulemia hypoglycemia/nesidioblastosis.
I have had reactive hypo. for about 20 years, no diabetes in my family, and just at 5 times a day. In the last year I was getting severe hypo symptoms and more frequent, so I bought a glucose monitor. My lows were getting in the 40s and 50s easily. I then started eating every 2 waking hours.
I had a GTT(5 hour) a couple of years ago, and these are the results: (going on memory here)
time glucose insulin
fast. 99 8.8
30min 140 64
1 hr 175 98
2 hr 124 185
3 hr 57 35
I then, at 3 1/2 hours got all my hypo symptoms, and asked to quit and get juice. The doctor said yes since I had been at 57 30 minutes earlier.
I would like to know if 185 insulin is abnormally high compared to you that have had the test?
I was tested for an insulinoma, where I fasted in the hospital for 72-hours, but never got below a glucose of 68. I have since read that in rare cases some insulinomas only react after the introduction of glucose. That's when I read about adult-onset of nesidioblastosis, but I have not hade any BS, but I guess it can rarely occur out of the blue.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks
I have had reactive hypo. for about 20 years, no diabetes in my family, and just at 5 times a day. In the last year I was getting severe hypo symptoms and more frequent, so I bought a glucose monitor. My lows were getting in the 40s and 50s easily. I then started eating every 2 waking hours.
I had a GTT(5 hour) a couple of years ago, and these are the results: (going on memory here)
time glucose insulin
fast. 99 8.8
30min 140 64
1 hr 175 98
2 hr 124 185
3 hr 57 35
I then, at 3 1/2 hours got all my hypo symptoms, and asked to quit and get juice. The doctor said yes since I had been at 57 30 minutes earlier.
I would like to know if 185 insulin is abnormally high compared to you that have had the test?
I was tested for an insulinoma, where I fasted in the hospital for 72-hours, but never got below a glucose of 68. I have since read that in rare cases some insulinomas only react after the introduction of glucose. That's when I read about adult-onset of nesidioblastosis, but I have not hade any BS, but I guess it can rarely occur out of the blue.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks
Topic: RE: WLS Problems
I had RNY and you can read my story on my profile! I know this surgery saves lives, I just know it is taking mine away! This is a very personal decision....Had I known all this could happen I would have run screaming! When I was fat atleast I was happy....I also had a life!
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