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

This isn't making sense.

First, they used to do the DS at OHSU, and don't do it anymore, which is ok because their patients got poor results. Sleeves too big and/or excessively long common channels, I don't recall which, but poor results.

Of greater importance, what they are telling you doesn't make sense. If your stomach or the proximal (early) part of your small intestine were connected to your colon, you would malabsorb just about everything, both calories and vitamins and minerals. Instead, you have good vitamin levels and you are GAINING weight! And even if this fistula story were accurate, how in the world would lengthening your common channel fix it?? It wouldn't. The common channel is much lower on the small intestine, and adjusting it would do nothing to fix a problem of your upper intestine and/or colon.

Everyone  is telling you the right thing. Contact Dr. S. He is a very experienced DS surgeon with a good reputation. I phone call and or email won't cost you anything. Your films or other test results from Oregon can be sent to him. I don't know what's going on, but then again, neither do you, and I don't think the docs at OHSU do either.

And, if you do need to see Dr. S, and can't afford it, borrow the money and get there anyway. This is your life and your future we are talking about. There are some areas of life where the cheapest route is ok, but this isn't one of them.

Larra

As a side note. I'm genuinely concerned, and I've ran into this problem here before. People are eager to jump on others, and you should really take a look at the things you say before responding. I guess weight loss doesn't change everyone's personality though... Just cus your skinny, doesn't mean your nice.... But lecturing me about borrowing money to go see the doctor that performed my surgeon isn't really being helpful. If this was a perfect world don't you think that is something I would do? I loved dr s... But my current cir****tances don't allow me the privlage of taking a stroll to the surgeon of my choice. The 1 hour trip I'm cutrently making taps my limits. Barrowing money is not an option for everyone and I'm sorry we aren't all born with silver spoons.... I'm doing the best I can with what I have, and without putting my child in danger of starving.

The other posters are telling you what you need to do.  You know what you need to do.  This is your LIFE.  Putting your life in the hands of someone inexperienced can get you DEAD.  That will not help your child.  Sorry to be blunt, but come on.  Everyone here is saying that something is not right...red flags are flying.  What you ultimately do is your own choice, but don't get all offended when people give you good advice.  You need to see your original surgeon.  Care enough about yourself to figure out a way to do it.  

No one here is trying to "jump on" you, including me. You came here with a serious problem, seeking advice. Everyone here is giving you the best advice we can, which apparently isn't what you want to hear. At this point, I can't tell what you DO want to hear. If you were completely comfortable and happy with your care in Oregon, there would be no reason to ask for advice, you would just go forward with whatever they are recommending. But it was your choice to come here and ask for opinions, and opinions were provided, and not one person here thinks that what you are being told is wrong with you makes the slightest bit of sense, or that lengthening your common channel is going to help you.

    That doesn't mean we're jumping on you, just that we don't think you are going to get the care that will actually help you where you are. You don't have to agree with our opinions if you don't want to, but you asked. and advising you to borrow money, IF POSSIBLE, to get to the right doctor does not mean that someone isn't "nice". I have given you no reason to believe that I'm either skinny or mean (I am neither) or that I didn't have your best interest at heart when I took the trouble to respond to you. If I didn't care, I could have just ignored you.

    Don't like my advice - you don't have to take my advice. Don't have the means to get to Dr. S? I'm sorry about that! I still hope you will think out of the box and find a way to get to Dr. S. Difficult, I get it, but it's far and away your best chance to get the care you need and deserve.

Larra

   

I have a question, when did your current symptoms begin? I am a master at figuring out my symptoms pertaining to GI changes. I will not possibly be able to add any medical advice because having a D.S. requires super specialists constant monitoring. I am able to e-mail all my D.S. related symptoms to my D.S. surgeons office, through the nutritionist at GHP. She refers my e-mail to the surgeon or his PA. If they think they need to see me, I travel the hour and 1/2 to their office. Since my D.S. 2 1/2 years ago, I have needed to have my gallbladder removed, and am currently in the process of having my hiatal hernia with aspirating reflux fixed by my D.S. surgeon in 2 weeks. My  D.S.surgeon told me pre D.S. I would be his patient for life. I didn't understand why I would need him at the time, but sure do now. My other Dr's say he is the best one to do any of my abdominal surgeries because he is the only one who knows where everything is,and  the configuration of my rerouted system. Every time he does surgery on me, he checks all he has done in the past  throughout my abdomen, clearing adhesions from all my past surgeries from other surgeons. His advice to me about emergent care is to avoid my local hospital because they have no idea about my rerouted system. My surgeon will meet me at the emergency room at his hospital any time I need him. 

I did have your symptoms endlessly early out for months. At first I thought the short configuration would cause the runs, with less time for digestion. At the same time I had a reaction in my mouth to something causing painful blisters on my tongue and lips. With the advice of my surgeons office and their nutritionist- a bariatric expert, we changed my shakes, analyzed my meds, and diet. My mouth was dry, and painful. Not your symptoms I know. All this led me to the allergist for testing, my idea. I was advised to try an egg based shake by my nutritionist, made my symptoms worse. My weight loss completely stopped, far from my expected goal. My allergist said the 60 skin ***** test was not completely accurate, to try an elimination diet next. I was not truly allergic to anything. I did what he said- start with eating only chicken breast and green beans( my least reactive foods) for 3 days to clear my system, then add foods or drinks one at a time, charting their effects. My allergy test gave me a few foods I reacted to most to start looking at. These are what make me react most- a complete surprise--- eggs, all seafood including shrimp, lobster, white fish, hazelnuts, pecans. Once I eliminated these and any foods with these as an ingredient, my "runs" cleared up, and my sore mouth too. My nutritionist said I may not have needed bariatric surgery after all. I was having pitting edema all over my body, now gone. 

We can always learn from each other. Try looking at all areas first for relief, rather than jumping to surgical fixes by surgeons who know nothing about our configuration.

With every stall, I made food choice changes, slow or fast system also controlled by food choices. My weight dropped with every change, leading me to normal BMI. My system is completely normal, with little reaction to the foods I have been choosing. More often than not, i need fiber supplements to keep me regular, and pruines. Trying a gluten free diet helped lots with the runs, and eliminating eating eggs and nuts. I am far from the person I was at the beginning of my D.S. I could hardly make it to the bathroom in time. Being a food detective solved all my GI issues. Hope you find some relief. Its impossible to live with these symptoms.