Paperwork in NOW the wait begins.... for a Revision from a FAILED LAP RNY

Hi all....  I have never posted in this forum...  haven't been 'on' OH in a long time...   Originally I had a Lap RNY but even while in the hospital doing the swallow test to check for leaks I never EVER felt restriction.  I always waited for that feeling but it was never there from the git go....I had excellent weight loss always concentrating on protein and portions...and I exercised religiously... but I always fought dumping horribly no matter what type of food I ate, even protein drinks....so I believe that my initial weight loss success was from the honeymoon period where we don't absorb as well...   

 

I started to have some other medical issues crop up from an old injury prior to my WLS and I went in to have a 4 level cervical fusion on my neck last year to stabilize my decrepit neck.  Surgery was a success.  What followed afterwards not so much.  Surgeons partner's PA discharged me and gave me some meds that I shouldn't of had.  Long story short I ended up back in the hospital days after discharge in full out Adrenal failure and close to death.  

My adrenals are non functioning still yet a year out from this mishap and I have been a super high dose steroids to replace what the Adrenal glands don't produce.  I now have the wonderful list of chemically induced Insulin injectable dependent diabetes, I have ballooned like the Michelin man on the steroids , fluid retention oy', thyroid out of whack, almost kicked the bucket again when the steroids caused two Massive Bilateral Saddle pulmonary emboli and a asteroid belt of smaller emboli in my lungs this Feb...and it goes on...  

 

BUT BUT BUT... while hospitalized in Feb with the blood clots I had to have an upper/lower GI done...and I asked the Radiologist if he would please check out my plumbing regarding the previous WLS because I didn't and never had felt restriction.. and guess what?

 

I don't!   shhoooooooooooooooooooting straight from my pouch through the attached limb my food / liquids shot.  No wonder I was always prone to dumping.  He said that my initial success at weight loss was most likely the early period where we don't absorb as well because it surely wasn't from restriction because I had none.

 

So paperwork in to Dr. Hoehn here in the KC area in Missouri.  Waiting for my appt. but I did get to talk to the counselors in his office today.  Since my insurance doesn't restrict or have to pre authorize the WLS surgery she doesn't see an issue with my having a revision.  She said that a lot of drs. who are not as comfortable doing surgery end up not making the pouch's small enough or the connections narrow enough because they are worried about strictures... she said that is where expertise comes in....  all I know is that I KNEW something wasn't right....  but right after I had my initial surgery I lost my ins. coverage and could never get it checked out til now....

So wish me luck...  I'm buckled in and ready for the wild ride again...   :)

 

Wow, you certainly have endured a lot through this process. I look very excitedly forward to hearing the good news after you have your revision. I too have gained back a large portion of the weight I lost following RNY. I'm researching ways that we in the RNY community can help each other to stay on track. If you have ideas, I would love to hear them. 

 

Vickie

Vickie...

 

Thanks for the reply....  Like I stated in my first posting.. I was always waiting for 'that' feeling that everyone talked about...the restriction and I never had it.  I was told to always sip sip sip my water and I never had to...  well now I know why... everything including the liquids (especially the liquids) just shot right through me.  I had some massive wicked episodes of dumping even on protein drinks with skim milk or even mixed with water...  so now I know what was amiss the whole time most likely.  

 

The radiologist said that it didn't look like it had stretched.  He said that while in there they can tell by the way the tissues 'look' if there has been excessive scar tissue or even stretching and he said mine looked like it was just made too large to begin with.  Thank GOODNESS I have insurance now that does not restrict WLS.  So hopefully this will not be a laborious process....

I'm looking forward to getting a better handle on the prednisone issue because I'm telling you..pred makes you balloon something fierce...  and it isn't about being hungry all the time because strangely enough I'm not.  I retain fluids like a bandit.  My PCP dr. said that she would bet money that I had at least 40+ lbs of fluid in my legs alone...   and they hurt...  looking forward to getting that gone!

 

Best of wishes to you too...  the more the merrier!

I was just recently diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency.   I am also on steroids replacement, but I only supplement what my body does not make. I suspect that you may be o too much and maybe even the wrong type. 

A lot of people are put on prednisone, and on lot of that.  My doc put me on hydrocortisone, and I take that 2-4 times a day - as needed. I found a great support website for any adrenal issue. Great people.   They helped me a lot to understand my issues and how to dose.  It si tricky. Now I am on 10mg HC am, 5mg at 12-1 pm, then at 5-6pm I take app 2.5mg. I take a bit extra if I am sick, or I exercise, or have a really bad day.  HC is very similar to what our body makes, and it does not last in our system a long time, so you can add as you need to feel OK.     It is also fast acting, so I feel the effect within 0.5-1 hr of taking my dose. 

Not sure what hormones you take now.. 

check: 

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/adrenal-insufficiency-discu ssions

BTW: I have been on HC (hydrocortisone) for 2 months now.  I did gain some weight when I started it , app 5 lbs, but that was gone within 2-3 weeks, while my BS stabilized.  I try to take as little as possible, while making sure i get enough.. 

To me - all the water retention - and BS issue - sound like you are on too much of prednisone... 

I appreciate the response and advice....  I have the best drs. in the area treating me now and they have been consulting with the Mayo Clinic Endocrinology dept. so I'm sure that I am getting the best medical care/advice possible.  

 

I was in full Adrenal failure (Addisonian crisis) and my Adrenal glands are NON functional as in they are not working PERIOD so there is no supplementing them.  I have to be fully supported.  I was initially put on Hydro but my body was way to reactive on it even though I regimented my eating/medication dosing even down to setting alarms etc.  My body just cannot take Hydro.   

Right now I have worked down to 12.5 mg. of Pred a day which is stellar considering that I was on 90 mg. a year ago when my hellish year started.  I cannot taper down further than that or I have to have rescue dosing.  At this point in time my Endos are worried that my Adrenal glands might be permanently compromised but they still have some ideas to work out and tweak and see if they might be able to make them and my life better.  Unfortunately my weight is documented and I have gained much more than 5lbs. and my eating is regimented so we know that the weight gain is from the fluid retention and Pred.  I also have alot of other medical issues that were caused by the mis medication so we aren't just dealing with Adrenal issues....  it opened a Pandora's box on me...  

But thank you for the advice I appreciate it!  Coming up almost a year that I have been dealing with the Adrenal Failure and what a year it has been.  My endos also know that I am seeking a revision and they will be working with my Bariatric drs. when the time comes so that gives me great peace of mind.

I know that some people can't tolerate HC. Some people from the MD junction used to be on pred and they either switched to HC or are on combination HC and pred. I have as secondary AI... My pituitary do not work like they suppose to. Good luck in your journey.

Hello Pixielf!! Just wondering how your revision is going? Been thinking long and hard about having one. Keep us up to date on how you are doing please!