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Topic: Unexplained Pain....what to do now?
I am 4 1/2 years post op. I had lap RNY.
I have had pain just below my breast bone and to the right (gallbladder removed in 07). I have been to the ER 4 times in 6 weeks. I have seen my surgeon who thinks it is not bypass related and refferred me to a GI doc. I have had 3 CT scans, 2 X-Rays, an Endoscopy, and I am having a colonoscopy on Thursday. The colonoscopy was supposed to be today but the bowel prep didn't clean me out well enough. The pain is bad and I have had nausea. I have very mild gastritis but the doc doesn't think it is bad enough to be causing my pain. I have no ulcers. I am starting to think I am crazy. I had surgery in March to fix adhesions, a twisted bowel, and an umbillical hernia. The docs seems to be throwing their hands up and are at a loss. All the tests, films, scans, bloodwork, ect come back fine. I have also had an upper GI.
I can't live with the pain and I don't know what to do next. My surgeon's office doesn't want me and the GI doc doesn't know what to do either. My stomach is moving, I can feel it with my hand and it is making loud loud noises. I am passing a lot of gas, too.
Brandi
I have had pain just below my breast bone and to the right (gallbladder removed in 07). I have been to the ER 4 times in 6 weeks. I have seen my surgeon who thinks it is not bypass related and refferred me to a GI doc. I have had 3 CT scans, 2 X-Rays, an Endoscopy, and I am having a colonoscopy on Thursday. The colonoscopy was supposed to be today but the bowel prep didn't clean me out well enough. The pain is bad and I have had nausea. I have very mild gastritis but the doc doesn't think it is bad enough to be causing my pain. I have no ulcers. I am starting to think I am crazy. I had surgery in March to fix adhesions, a twisted bowel, and an umbillical hernia. The docs seems to be throwing their hands up and are at a loss. All the tests, films, scans, bloodwork, ect come back fine. I have also had an upper GI.
I can't live with the pain and I don't know what to do next. My surgeon's office doesn't want me and the GI doc doesn't know what to do either. My stomach is moving, I can feel it with my hand and it is making loud loud noises. I am passing a lot of gas, too.
Brandi
Topic: Update on job/health
Well, I still lost my position in the ER (heart is breaking here), but overall the compromise couldn't have been better under the cir****tances. I am still employed by the hospital, they advised me to stay on short term leave for the full time, which brings me to the end of January, then I can either try and come back to the ER if there is an open position, or apply for another position in the hospital, and if I am not ready to return, they can set me up for long term disability.
I have been trying to avoid being a patient, so much is going on with school/clinical time, but it was inevitable. I ended up in the local ER/admitted for 2 days for pain/fluids/nausea control. I really didn't feel any better when I went home, I just needed to be home, more soothing environment for sure, and at least I had a couple of days with lessened pain.
I'm going to continue to take the antibiotic regimen that my surgeon/primary put me on, but according to the surgeon, if it was going to cure me, it would have worked by now, but I am going to give it until the end of the week before I waive the white flag. They are two pretty caustic antibiotics and in high doses that would wreak havoc on the most cast iron variety of GI systems, so you can imagine what it is doing to mine. I think by the end of the week I will be asking the doc to write me the "Golden Ticket" to the Mayo Clinic. I have to do something. Thanks for listening, and for all of your support!
I have been trying to avoid being a patient, so much is going on with school/clinical time, but it was inevitable. I ended up in the local ER/admitted for 2 days for pain/fluids/nausea control. I really didn't feel any better when I went home, I just needed to be home, more soothing environment for sure, and at least I had a couple of days with lessened pain.
I'm going to continue to take the antibiotic regimen that my surgeon/primary put me on, but according to the surgeon, if it was going to cure me, it would have worked by now, but I am going to give it until the end of the week before I waive the white flag. They are two pretty caustic antibiotics and in high doses that would wreak havoc on the most cast iron variety of GI systems, so you can imagine what it is doing to mine. I think by the end of the week I will be asking the doc to write me the "Golden Ticket" to the Mayo Clinic. I have to do something. Thanks for listening, and for all of your support!
Jules RNY 10/30/2007
Topic: RE: Excess B-1 in my system...any thoughts?
My problem was too much B6. I thought I had ALS or MS. Pretty scary. Just stop the B1 and you should be good. Hopefully, your doc is monitoring it. My B1 was low so I have to take more. Go figure.
Topic: RE: Tell the truth....Complications
Pre Rny I only had issues with sleep apnea. Now, at over 5 years, I have nesidioblastosis (low blood sugar), had to have 60% of my pancreas removed because of that, they also took my spleen. Since then, I have developed small bowel bacterial overgrowth and iron deficiency anemia.
I still have issues with low blood sugars, plus now, my fasting blood sugars are going up.
Would I do it again? I'm not sure I would. I am more fatigued now that when I weighed 100 pounds more. I have always been religious about getting enough protein, water and taking my supplements. So I am proof that you can do things right and still have issues.
The majority of people will not have these issues. I am one of the unlucky ones.
I still have issues with low blood sugars, plus now, my fasting blood sugars are going up.
Would I do it again? I'm not sure I would. I am more fatigued now that when I weighed 100 pounds more. I have always been religious about getting enough protein, water and taking my supplements. So I am proof that you can do things right and still have issues.
The majority of people will not have these issues. I am one of the unlucky ones.
Topic: RE: Lots and Lots of trouble....need help finding the answer.
*high* *wls date* *current* *dr's goal* *mine*
320 293 214 190 170
Dawn, I'm so sorry for you and your dh! I hope you find the answer soon and he starts feeling better. I have a leak in my stomach and I've been on a feeding tube since July 9th. I haven't experienced a lot of your husband's symptoms, but your comments on the nausea, PICC line, continued weight loss struck a chord with me.
They put in a feeding tube (connected at my upper intestine, below my stomach) and a stomach stent to stabilize and "rest" my stomach. I am on Nestle's Nutren 1.0 (7 cans = 1750 calories) from 9pm to 12 noon, and my weight is stable at 265. (They're not interested in me losing weight right now -- just in getting better.) ... I don't know about PICC lines -- I had one during a hospitalization -- do they provide calories in addition to the fluids and vit/minerals?
I only sip water with pills and to occasionally wet my throat, but putting anything (even H20 and pills) in my stomach leads to some pain and nausea. I also throw up a foamy, white spit when throw up (which I do most days, a little.) There's a suppository that helps the nausea (phenergen) and Tylenol helps the pain. I take 2 prilosec per day, too, and I think that helps the throat foam problem.
To me, it sounds like maybe you need a 2nd opinion consultation and some more pro-active care? My surgeon does a whole lot of "well, let's wait and see what happens" stuff, but he's also kept me stable and moving forward. My heart goes out to you, and I hope things turn around soon.
Take care,
Laura
They put in a feeding tube (connected at my upper intestine, below my stomach) and a stomach stent to stabilize and "rest" my stomach. I am on Nestle's Nutren 1.0 (7 cans = 1750 calories) from 9pm to 12 noon, and my weight is stable at 265. (They're not interested in me losing weight right now -- just in getting better.) ... I don't know about PICC lines -- I had one during a hospitalization -- do they provide calories in addition to the fluids and vit/minerals?
I only sip water with pills and to occasionally wet my throat, but putting anything (even H20 and pills) in my stomach leads to some pain and nausea. I also throw up a foamy, white spit when throw up (which I do most days, a little.) There's a suppository that helps the nausea (phenergen) and Tylenol helps the pain. I take 2 prilosec per day, too, and I think that helps the throat foam problem.
To me, it sounds like maybe you need a 2nd opinion consultation and some more pro-active care? My surgeon does a whole lot of "well, let's wait and see what happens" stuff, but he's also kept me stable and moving forward. My heart goes out to you, and I hope things turn around soon.
Take care,
Laura
*high* *wls date* *current* *dr's goal* *mine* 320 293 214 190 170
Topic: RE: Tell the truth....Complications
*high* *wls date* *current* *dr's goal* *mine*
320 293 214 190 170
Good question. I didn't have pre-op conditions other than pre-diabetes glucose levels, but I had had 3 previous surgeries -- gall bladder, partial colon removal, and a temporary colostomy. Because of internal scarring concerns, my surgeon recommended the gastric sleeve. I don't think, though, that my previous surgeries contributed to my complication -- I developed a stomach leak (ugh!) and had a tough recovery. I followed all the directions and I had a good surgeon -- very rarely and without clear reasons things happen. Truly, though, complications are rare, and there's good reason for so many to be so positive. Good luck to you!
*high* *wls date* *current* *dr's goal* *mine* 320 293 214 190 170
Topic: RE: Tell the truth....Complications
I had lapband surgery, so maybe my cir****tances don't apply, but I had no pre-existing comorbidities other than arthritis in my left ankle.
I almost Bit It from my stupid surgeon not knowing what he was doing, apparently. I don't know if it was his first day on the job or if he was drunk or what, but he certainly didn't know what the hell he was doing when he sliced and diced me.
Make sure you have as much confidence in your surgeon as is humanly possible. THAT is the most important factor, in my opinion. If you have a crappy surgeon, you're pretty much doomed from the start.
Good luck. I think you're very smart to ask as many questions as you can BEFORE your surgery! If you have any doubts about the abilities of your surgeon, cancel and find a new one. It's important, believe me.
Wishing you well,
Nicci
I almost Bit It from my stupid surgeon not knowing what he was doing, apparently. I don't know if it was his first day on the job or if he was drunk or what, but he certainly didn't know what the hell he was doing when he sliced and diced me.
Make sure you have as much confidence in your surgeon as is humanly possible. THAT is the most important factor, in my opinion. If you have a crappy surgeon, you're pretty much doomed from the start.
Good luck. I think you're very smart to ask as many questions as you can BEFORE your surgery! If you have any doubts about the abilities of your surgeon, cancel and find a new one. It's important, believe me.
Wishing you well,
Nicci
Topic: RE: Tell the truth....Complications
Very good question! I'm glad your checking out this forum. My highest weight was 368, today I am 153. Before my first surgery (I had to have a revision due to complications) I did have hypertension, major back problems, knee problems, sleep apnea, controlled diabetes, thyroid problems. Today I do not have the sleep apnea, but I am on double my blood pressure medication, my doctor tells me it is hereditary in my case. I have 2 sisters and 2 cousins who have had weight loss surgery with no complications at all. As you know the surgery carries a risk, their is a percentage of us who will have these unfortunate complications, due to no error on our part. I wish you the VERY best, its so good to be informed of all the risks involved. Katrina
Topic: Tell the truth....Complications
For those of you that have had complications, what kind of pre existing health problems did you have (ie...diabetes, hypertension, weight, etc). I know that anyone is at risk of having complications but I was really wondering what kind of other health problems you may have had that could have contributed to the complications. As or right now I have weight, hypertension controlled, diabetes (just diagnosed) and asthma but everything is really in decent condition compared to many. I know I am just getting nervous because my date is getting near. I know my question doesn't look like it make sense....but please do tell!
HW: 284 SW: 273 1st Goal: 200 2nd Goal (PCP): 150 Surgeon's goal 140 
Topic: RE: Pain Pain Pain
Hey Sara,
I don't know of a doctor in your area but I do understand what your going through. Pain is NOT normal. I too have had all the tests above, its kind of hit or miss and the IBS story is getting old. I am going to have exploratory surgery to get to the bottom of my pain. The people on the boards who have had complications and share their stories are so real and its a good reminder of what can happen. My sister had RNY 5 years ago and has not had any complication/pain of any kind, the way its should be. Do you have a good PCP or GI doc? I would make an appointment and tell them you have done your research and request exploratory surgery so you know for sure what is happening to your body. There is a special person on the boards who has helped me so much, she has been through so much that anything she has to say holds more then a grain of salt to me! Make an appointment today! Its our life and we deserve and PAY for our doctors knowledge. Keep me posted as I will also on the boards, take care! Katrina
I don't know of a doctor in your area but I do understand what your going through. Pain is NOT normal. I too have had all the tests above, its kind of hit or miss and the IBS story is getting old. I am going to have exploratory surgery to get to the bottom of my pain. The people on the boards who have had complications and share their stories are so real and its a good reminder of what can happen. My sister had RNY 5 years ago and has not had any complication/pain of any kind, the way its should be. Do you have a good PCP or GI doc? I would make an appointment and tell them you have done your research and request exploratory surgery so you know for sure what is happening to your body. There is a special person on the boards who has helped me so much, she has been through so much that anything she has to say holds more then a grain of salt to me! Make an appointment today! Its our life and we deserve and PAY for our doctors knowledge. Keep me posted as I will also on the boards, take care! Katrina
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