Surgeon will be lengthening my common channel...

 Hi there, It's been quite some time since I have been on here. I have been having a lot of health issues that seemed to develop since my pregnancy. While 17 weeks pregnant I had my first bowel intussusception. Now, nearly two years later, I have them quite often and they cannot identify the cause. It does not seem to be linked in any way to the DS. The issue is that because of this chronic problem and because I cannot maintain proper vitamin levels my surgeon feels it's necessary to lengthen my common channel, while going in to search for a lead point causing the intussusceptions. I have had great success with the DS and have no regrets. It's definitely not for the weak or lazy! I am so concerned about weight regain because of lengthening the common channel, but I am also so sick all the time and in so much pain that I just want something to fix it. Again, for people looking into DS, I am not the norm and my bowel issues don't seem to have a link with the DS..the cause is unknown. I do have chronic diarhea and gas..but no doctor here will put me on flagyl as much as I beg. I still encourage people to look at this surgery and I would do it all over again! That is why I am so scared to lose this important part of it! I live on an army base away from my surgeon. I have seen numerous doctors..many who I learn are really uneducated. Some who just belittle me for getting this and say that they can't believe I let a doctor talk me into this...all this leads to no help!! So I have to always travel back to my surgeon. I have been on creon, I have actually gained a little bit of weight, though one doctor says its water based and intestinal inflammation..who knows at this point. I have been told to add carbs, add even more protein, add fiber, add fat..one thing seems to help, one thing seems to hurt my liver, and one thing seems to cause the intussesceptions..I am so frustrated because I belive in this surgery and really don't know what is best to do!
If anyone has gone through anything or has any words of advice or encouragement, I am all ears! 

Thanks!

(I also developed fluid around my liver..unsure why, but it's believed to be caused by malnutrtition.)

Hoping the best for you! 

Things like this "some" surgeons try to convince the patient that it is not due to the DS.  However, anatomically we are changed.  Malabsorption comes from the DS.  It is more common than anyone realizes or will acknowledge. 

 Thanks so much, I hope the same! I have done a lot of research tonight and it seems that intussesceptions are very common in any gastric bypass patient... so I guess it wouldn't be far fetched..I just hope it gets resolved :)

Butterfly, EVERYONE who has a DS has malabsorption---that's its purpose. There's a great deal of difference between malABSORPTION and malNOURISHMENT.

I kindly suggest that you spend more time educating YOURSELF before you start trying to educate others.

 How long is your CC now?

I believe it's a about 100cc if I remember corectly

Wishing you all the best with this surgery. Please don't be a stranger and keep us posted. Good luck.

--gina

 Thanks Gina! I will!

 Please tell me that a real DS surgeon will be doing this revision!  They are very risky and I've only seen a couple who have had them and neither went well.  I'd be having them check for internal infections (my friend took 3 docs and 3 months to diagnose hers) and colon cancer and whatever else.  Yikes!

 Yes, it will be my origianal DS surgeon doing this. He has so far done 3 surgeries on my already and I really trust him. I have heard that the revision can be very risky..I am very worried about this. Can you tell what the risks are and what happened to the 2 people you know who did this? I am trying to decide if I would rather try a different route..and really investigate my symptoms. I thought we were doing that with the doctors here, but no..they tell me they can't help me and send me to someone else who can't help me. That is why I am traveling back to MN to see my surgeon.