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Topic: RE: 22 years since I "reversed" my WLS.
Actually, I moved to CA in 79'.
A UCLA surgeon, J. Roslyn (deceased) did my "take-down" in 89'.
A UCLA surgeon, J. Roslyn (deceased) did my "take-down" in 89'.
Topic: RE: List of comps. after long term (89') BPD (Long Loop RNY) reversal
Thanks for your response.
I'm still treating myself like an WLS. I take supplements.
What I have what is now described like a Billroth II with very little stomach remaining.
I went to a UCLA M.D. nutritionist who knew nada... I even had some unusual tests performed (Amino Acids-plasma: threonine, asparagine, tyrosine, phenylalanine all low), (Organic Acids-urine: malic and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic both high) I requested these tests based on research. Rest of my labs are fairly decent except for low plasma carnitine. I had low vit D, iron I have since raised with supps. There is one really weird thing, high vit B 12 without taking any supplement. There are a lot other findings possibly unrelated to nutritional deficiencies.
When I show these results to docs, they quizzically stare at them and then say they don't know what to do with them...(especially re the amino/organic acids).
At the end of this month, I'll be having a Double Balloon Enteroscopy that may be able to transverse the blind loop and all of the small bowel. We'll see... ought to be fun.
I'm still treating myself like an WLS. I take supplements.
What I have what is now described like a Billroth II with very little stomach remaining.
I went to a UCLA M.D. nutritionist who knew nada... I even had some unusual tests performed (Amino Acids-plasma: threonine, asparagine, tyrosine, phenylalanine all low), (Organic Acids-urine: malic and 3-hydroxyphenylacetic both high) I requested these tests based on research. Rest of my labs are fairly decent except for low plasma carnitine. I had low vit D, iron I have since raised with supps. There is one really weird thing, high vit B 12 without taking any supplement. There are a lot other findings possibly unrelated to nutritional deficiencies.
When I show these results to docs, they quizzically stare at them and then say they don't know what to do with them...(especially re the amino/organic acids).
At the end of this month, I'll be having a Double Balloon Enteroscopy that may be able to transverse the blind loop and all of the small bowel. We'll see... ought to be fun.
Topic: RE: HELP!!!!! I'm having Major problems...
If you can, see Dr. Greenbaum. www.southjerseybariatrics.com
I think.
I think.
Michelle
RNY, distal, 10/5/94
P.S. My year + long absence has NOTHING to do with my WLS, or my type of WLS. See my profile.
Topic: RE: 22 years since I "reversed" my WLS.
I'm so sorry you never came to the West Coast. My doc started in 1963, so by the 90's, he was revising early JIB's and the Scopinaro version of BPD to more modern procedures.
But there are many of us short common channel ppl who are doing well. However, you being 10 yrs ahead of me, well, the info wasn't out there. Heck, it's barely out there TODAY!
But there are many of us short common channel ppl who are doing well. However, you being 10 yrs ahead of me, well, the info wasn't out there. Heck, it's barely out there TODAY!
Michelle
RNY, distal, 10/5/94
P.S. My year + long absence has NOTHING to do with my WLS, or my type of WLS. See my profile.
Topic: RE: List of comps. after long term (89') BPD (Long Loop RNY) reversal
Are you supplementing your shortages? Since your surgery cannot ever be completely reversed, you'd still be treating yourself AS IF you were still an intact BPD.
Seems like someone shoulda intervened with the correct forms and doses of supplementation long ago to prevent your suffering!
I'm a distal RNY, so same intestinal arrangement as you had if Bill Marcus did your surgery. If it was a Scopinaro procedure, I have a bit more intestine functioning.
There are things we long termers do to help ourselves that are outside the medical arena.
Seems like someone shoulda intervened with the correct forms and doses of supplementation long ago to prevent your suffering!
I'm a distal RNY, so same intestinal arrangement as you had if Bill Marcus did your surgery. If it was a Scopinaro procedure, I have a bit more intestine functioning.
There are things we long termers do to help ourselves that are outside the medical arena.
Michelle
RNY, distal, 10/5/94
P.S. My year + long absence has NOTHING to do with my WLS, or my type of WLS. See my profile.
Topic: RE: Severe Stomach Pain
I would see a gastroenterologist. it could just be heartburn/reflux. You should get an endoscopy to rule out an ulcer. I would recommend you get some prevacid or prilosec instead of the ranitidine - it works much better and is stronger. They are PPI's and work great for reflux and are also used to treat ulcers. They can't hurt you - most RNY patients take them as a rule of thumb for atleast a year and if problems with heartburn, reflux or ulcers take them indefinitely. You can get them over the counter or you can get a prescription for Protonix or Nexium.
Topic: RE: Anyone had a wound vac??
my situation was different that yours. I had open surgery for a perforated colon with an illiostomy. I was septic during the surgery and they had to leave the incision open to heal from the inside out - they couldn't close it with staples like in a normal open procedure. After about 2 weeks of changing dressings, they decided it would heal faster and better with a wound vac but I was an inpatient in the hospital the entire. I Was in the hospital for 2months in total, so by time I went home, it was out. They had to change the packing for the wound vac every 2-3 days which i won't lie wasn't pleasant and they gave me a shot of morphine each time when they did it. Mine was alarge abdominal wound. When I went home, my incision was still open. It was close to being closed when I went in for another open surgery to reverse the illiostomy and thank goodness that time they were able to close it that time with staples.
When the staples came out, there was one piece that didn't close properly and did get infected - the surgeon had to open it up a little bit more and drain but I just packed it daily with a special packing material - didnt' need a wound vac for that.
I don't know how a wound vac works at home or how it gets changed when you are home, I would think a nurse would have to come and change it for you.
good luck
When the staples came out, there was one piece that didn't close properly and did get infected - the surgeon had to open it up a little bit more and drain but I just packed it daily with a special packing material - didnt' need a wound vac for that.
I don't know how a wound vac works at home or how it gets changed when you are home, I would think a nurse would have to come and change it for you.
good luck
Topic: RE: List of comps. after long term (89') BPD (Long Loop RNY) reversal
Hi Steph,
Your story sounds like mine. Yucky, huh?
I think I went to the ER at least 20 times!
Are you considering reversal?
The way you are now is no way to live... Even though I still have some bad side effects, I'm glad I had the take down. I'm still better off than I was with the surgery.
Ask your doc if you if you could have a partial obstruction, hernia and or adhesions. Persist until he answers you and orders lots of testing.
If he's a putz, go to a second doc. Take someone with you into the exam room
Best,
DJ
Your story sounds like mine. Yucky, huh?
I think I went to the ER at least 20 times!
Are you considering reversal?
The way you are now is no way to live... Even though I still have some bad side effects, I'm glad I had the take down. I'm still better off than I was with the surgery.
Ask your doc if you if you could have a partial obstruction, hernia and or adhesions. Persist until he answers you and orders lots of testing.
If he's a putz, go to a second doc. Take someone with you into the exam room
Best,
DJ
Topic: RE: List of comps. after long term (89') BPD (Long Loop RNY) reversal
I had my oringinal rny in December 2002. My revision last August basically redid the short y portion of the rny. They took out the foot of bowel thinking that would help the blind loop and the spasms that I get as a result of it. It did for about six months and then back to the same old problems. I get what I call a spasm in my gut and it feels like labor. It tightens and releases. Sometimes it only lasts for seconds other times its days. They've tried different anti spasm medications like bentyl, levsin, and levbid. When I get them and the meds don't help, I end up going to the ER. I'm sure they call me a frequent flyer, but I have no choice. i've built up a tolerance to so many pain meds already!
Most of my surgeries and my journey are listed in my profile.
Thanks,
Stephanie E
Most of my surgeries and my journey are listed in my profile.
Thanks,
Stephanie E
Topic: Anyone had a wound vac??
I had my incision open up at an intersection after a thigh lift (5/23). Yesterday my doctor opened up my dime size wound to maybe 6x the size. On monday I will be getting a wound vac placed. Anything that anyone could tell me about them would be greatly appreciated. How did you carry it around, for instance? Did you work with it? Thanks for any help.
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