4 years post op complication, stomache directly connected to colon, need advice

My surgeon is over 4 hours away and being a poor student with an infant I am unable to make the trip. I went to my primary several months ago with several problems, she then referred me to a gastroenterologist. She performed a colonoscopy and endoscopy, finding several polyps and erosion in my esaphagus. but she said my anatomy was not "right" for the DS. So she ordered an upper GI with follow through. She didn't like the results and referred me to a local surgeon at a well respected hospital (OHSU). I went to the first visit today and they told me they think I have a fissure and that my lower stomach/upper intestine appears to be directly connected to my mid colon. I go back in 2 weeks to discuss surgery, and he says he wants to lengthen my common channel from 150cm to 200cm. I'll know more information after more testing and my next visit in 2 weeks. but has anyone else had a similar problem?  I was fine with diarrhea and such until I got pregnant. My son is almost 2 now and life has been near unbearable since then with gas and bloating and diarrhea and a complete inability to lose ANY weight!   i diet and diet and nothing happens.    just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue or any advice?

I would think if food was bypassing my intestine i would be even more malabsorbtive and lose weight?  but Im not.. i'm struggling not to gain!!! I'm 50 lbs up from my lightest and fuming mad. my vit levels are all fine?!?  very confused... I know I need to see the dr. again and will ask more questions before I agree to any procedure... I'm scared if they lengthen my common channel i'll just pack on more pounds.. hasanyone else had their common channel lengthened? is it as hard as the initial surgery? as restrictive?   will i be back on liquids for months and unable to lift my son and sit up wothou a push,,.... I'm scared and confused..

I would definitely have all your test results forwarded to Dr S and ask for opinions. Trust no one but a DS surgeon with your gut configuration. I have heard where things will shift and grow together so that is a possibility. Dr S is quite a respected DS surgeon. I don't think he would have botched your original configuration. Please don't let anyone but him touch you.

--gina

Yes, if you get a longer Common Channel you will probably gain weight.  Have you treated the diarrhea, tried probiotics and flagyl?  Have you been tested for c-diff?  Have you sent all your test results etc to Dr. Srikanth?  I think you need to do what you need to do to see him or another DS surgeon.  Some of what you are saying makes no sense.  Send your DS surgeon an email and tell him what's going on and see if he will discuss your case with your OHSU doc.

If I was in your position, no way would I let these people operate on me.  They don't even understand how your guts are put together.  Next, I would never agree to surgery without having tried all the things I listed above and probably some more stuff too.

Seriously, if your stomach was directly attached to your mid colon, you would have total malabsorbtion and would be dead.  Not still dieting to lose weight.  The DS did nothing to your colon.   If you have erosion of your esophagus, that probably means you need to take protonix or some type of GERD meds.  I'm guessing you have an anal fissure from all the diarrhea.  Does it hurt when you poop?  The best description I've heard of a fissure is that it feels like you are pooping broken glass.

There's is too much confusion here.  You need to see a DS doc to get this all sorted out.  And surgery would be my last option after I tried all the easy stuff.

Your surgeon may be 4 hours away, but he's a finger away from the phone.  Make sure they are consulting with him.  He can make it perfectly clear what he did and why, and they can team up together for the best approach.  The DS is complicated, and as well respected as they are, they are making a "best guess". 

From what I understand the surgeon I am seeing now does perform DS surgeries. I think they are mostly revisions though. I have called dr. S on several occasions, and they told me to "call the hospital and have them refer you to a local Dr.".. That theres nothing they can do for me over the phone. I asked if they could consult with my Dr, and the nurse told me thats not something they do. I was shocked and PISSED when this happened. and for me, traveling the 1 hour to OHSU is a hard acomplishment right now. I know with the gas, I need to try flagyl.. I will bring that up when I go back. and I dont have an "anul fissure"...  so.. idk...

I would definitely take the flagyl ; I really think it will be your answer.  One step at a time, deep breaths, and I truly believe this will pass before you know it.  God bless.

First, who's the surgeon you're seeing NOW, who wants to do surgery?

I think what you have is a 'fistula', not a 'fissure'. A fistula is when two organs that aren't normally connected develop a connecting tube. (That's pretty a simplified explanation, I know.) This would definitely cause problems with gas, diarrhea, bloating, etc. I'm not sure that it would affect your ability to lose weight---I'd *think* it would cause weight LOSS, not gain.

150 cms. is already a rather long common channel. I certainly wouldn't allow anyone to lengthen it to 200 until I'd exhausted every other possible treatment. If your vitamin levels are good, then you're not n need of a longer CC. Can you post your lab results here, and let the vitamin gurus give them a once-over? Are you certain you're getting everything tested that we, as DSers need tested? A full draw should be 15-20 vials of blood.

Dr deveney at ohsu is my current surgeon. Again today I called dr. S's office and after many times of being on hold was told there is nothing they can do over the phone. They will not consult with the local surgeon, and I have to make the trek to see them. If that's the case, it will have to wait for tax return season. And yes, they do take the whole gambit of blood work. The same thing that dr. S orders my primary draws every 6 months. Since low d and pottasium while I was pregnant, and iron issues followed by infusions after giving birth 2 years ago this January, I have been all in the "normal" range. You may be right about the fistula, not fissur. I was alone at the doctors yeterday, no idea why i was being reffered to see him to begin with (I know I'm having issues, but was never given the results of my tests), and a bit overwhelmed. I think I'm more upset at the idea that I can't be "normal". I had a taste of not being the fat girl for 10 seconds. And now I'm struggling so hard to not become what I once was. I sit and cry and my husband has no idea what to do b/c I don't even know why I'm upset. My life is on hold, I can't go on a date or go out dancing or work, or take lab classes (I'm a student and switched my major from chemistry to math bc I'm scared of ****ting myself in lab cus I can't make it to the bathroom... Or gassing out the whole place). Ugh. The only things that DONT make me nausios, gassy, or diareah.. is yogurt, fish, chicken, bacon (pork) and mushrooms and lettuce... No veggies, even if cooked. Cheese.. nothing. Feeling defeated.

Dr. Deveney---oh my. The ONLY person I know who's EVER revised away from a DS had her original surgery done by Deveney. His rep as a DS surgeon is VERY poor, and it's my understanding that he no longer performs it. (Thank goodness!)

Now, I AM NOT JUMPING ON YOU. I am offering the best advice I can.Stay away from Deveney. He may be a perfectly adequate RNY or Sleeve surgeon, but he is NOT a surgeon of the caliber you want for a complicated situation like yours. Deveney *may* be the reason that Dr. S refuses to consult with your local surgeon.

I understand the money thing. I've been poor and struggling most of my life. I really do understand. But this is your life we're talking about, and it's obvious that you need some seriously skilled help.