6 years post...HELP!!!

So...who has been in for obstructions?  Since my surgery, I have have suffered with abdominal pain.  They never found anything and finally determined i was having GI spasms.  Treatment plan consisted of an antispasm, pain pills, etc. when these attacks flared up.  In July, treatment regiment was not helping and went into ER.  Ended up having surgery to repair an internal hernia, a small hole in my small intestine and they had to physically unkink and straighten out my bowels.  They had wrapped themselves up in knots.  They stated I should not have any more problems.  I went back to ER this week, 5 weeks after surgery...again with severl abdominal pain.  CT scan on Thursday night...while in severe pain...showed a bowel obstruction.  The ER doc admitted me.  Friday, my DS surgeon came to see me and sent me down for a small bowel follow through that came back all clear and sent me home.  ARGH!!!I am disappointed my surgeon did not follow through with exploratory surgery because something is going on, even if not clearly defined on imaging.

Any similar experiences or thoughts?

Oh, best part...during her brief visit before imaging...the surgeon states, if i am still having problems we should just reverse the surgery.  Besides, "your mesentary looks bad.  It shows signs of chronic malnutrition, your body is eating is stored fat. You won't have to worry about old age or dying of things like CA, this will kill you if you don't let me reverse the surgery." This was stated as she walked out.  So thoughts on that?  Ironic this other 'severe' concern was not cited or noted in previous visits...i mean they were just elbow deep in my guts a month ago when they told me I was, "cured..."  My gut tells me that she just wants to be done with me.  But that is another post :)

So any thoughts on obstructions and treatments for malnutrition is appreciated.  I have always ate tons and did my supplements.  i will be adding back in my shakes.  I can do more just did not know I needed to do more because my labs have been ok.  But apparently...i am not doing enough to get above my threshold for malabsorbtion.

Thanks :)

ldz

Scary stuff. I'm sorry your surgeon is so callous. I hope you don't have any recurrence after this last battle.

What I would do to get back on track is to get a good set of labs and start Vitalady's vitamin plan; less anything you might be too high in. B6 can get too high for us if we aren't careful. I would also go with 5 to 6 protein shakes a day, spread throughout the day. You want your albumin lab to be in the 4s and prealbumin to be top of the range.

--gina

Thanks Gina!

I will start the shakes today.  Any suggestions on types of protein..

Leslie

My favorites are the Sytrax Nectars. I use vanilla with my coffee and the chocolate and strawberry mousse in lunchtime shakes. They are 100% whey protein isolate. Vitalady carries them, as does Amazon, VitaminShoppe and other online sites.

--g

thanks

Interesting that you are suffering from malabsorbtion, yet your labs have been good for the last 6 years. Are you underweight?  As in below normal BMI?

I am a little confused by the comment that your body is eating it's stored fat.  Isn't that the point of this surgery?

I do see lots of medical professionals, from PCPs to dieticians to surgeons, saying my surgery should be reversed.  They just can't get their heads wrapped around the concepts of it - nor why it works so well.  But then they told me I was killing myself when I was MO and had raging diabetes and sleep apnea. Now that is all gone, and I still hear I'm killing myself.

THANK YOU!!!  My point too.  That was my surgeons take this last ER visit.  I plan on seeing my GP (that I am blessed has had a great grasp on bari stuff), My GI doctor, the dietician and I just found out our center has a weight loss 'physician' (non surgeon) that follows bari patients that are several years out.  I have not checked my BMI in a long while.  I am smaller than I had hoped.  Lost 10 pounds this summer, but stress and tummy achy (i believe), vs malnutrition.  I am 5'9 and 150lbs.  Day of surgery, I was 295lbs. I loaded up on ensure, protein bars, etc.  Thanks to major mom, adding in several shakes per day again :)

Thanks again to all for the input, advice and encouragement.