Hi there,

I am new to this forum and was hoping that someone could give me a little insight to a problem I have.

I am 31 years old and had my surgery in JAN of 2006.  I have done wonderful and I am at my "perfect" weight.  However, my headaches have increased and I always feel short of breath.  I saw my Doc and she ran a panel of tests and my blood came back with a VERY high level of B-1...187 was the count.  I was advised to immediately stop taking the additional thiamin that I was originally instructed to take.

My Original surgeon is 2000 miles away, so seeing him isn't an option.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Thanks!

Hey Jules,

I can so relate to your revelation regarding how ill you were.  Almost the same thing happened to me with my husband, only we were in the garage back in May having a smoke...he started crying and said...I am so scared I am going to come home from work and find you dead.  It was at that moment, that I decided to take my health care into my own hands and demand action!  

As far as an update on myself.  I have had the TPN since Memorial day weekend, and as of today weigh 102 pounds.  I had to have the PICC line removed last week due to developing an infection in my blood.   I was so very sick...running 103 degree temp, aching, sweating, and chilling.  It was miserable.  On Thursday they pulled my PICC and started me on IV daptomycin.  I had 4 doses of that on an out patient basis and feel so much better!

Now I have to make a decision which surgeon to trust and which route to take as far as my health is concerned.  I have one surgeon wanting to do surgery immediately and change my procedure to a gastric sleeve.  I have another surgeon who would like to wait and see how I do without any intervention.  If I can maintain my weight we would do nothing.  If I cannot, then we would have to replace the PICC, start TPN, get me to 100 pounds again, and then do a surgery for complete reversal.   I honestly do not know which way to go at this point, but really would like to be given a chance to make this work on my own.  I feel really good right now and would hate to upset the apple cart on purpose.  I mean, I know if I cannot maintain my weight surgery is inevitable, but if I can get through this with no surgery, I feel that would be the best!

So, right now I am in a wait and see mode, and I will make a decision after I see the surgeon who wants to do surgery immediately on September 11.  

I hope you are doing well Jules...keep me posted!

Laura

230/102/115
preop/current/goal

Hi Pam!

Thanks so much for your reply...I have talked to many people and can't seem to find many complications..that's a geat thing, right? 

CONGRATULATIONS on your success hun and I know you will reach your goal...my surgery is Sept.15....thanks for the good wishes....

Sheilah

Thanks for your reply.  I went yesterday for another barium swallow.  I will NEVER go to local doctors again.  Within two minutes the dr doing the swallow said band is in the right place, angled perfectly, no dilation, you are just tight.......

Still frustrated that two others doctors told me I had a problem!!!!  But learned a valuable lesson that most general doctors know nothing about banding and that I will need to find a primary care in the same hospital as my surgeon!

Thanks!

I too lost the band this week... It slipped and I ended up having emergency removal surgery (I am also pregnant so that put a whole new twist on things).  I totally understand your feelings and fear for the future. I am hoping that I learned enough in the last few years to continue to lose weight after the baby is born. I was banded Dec 07