Complications - Need some hope from success stories

Hi, I'm new here and looking for a little support for someone who "gets" it.  I am 3 months post op and am having some issues.  I've had a stricture witha nasty ulcer.  We've done 4 EGD's with dilations with the most recent one being this last week.  I cannot feel most of my legs or my stomach.  There is nothing in the world that sounds good to eat and I am continually naueaus.  I am getting in maybe 30 ounces of fluid a day and have managed to eat 1.5 containers of yogurt.  The doctors have said that I am litterally starving.  Oh, yeah and all my hair is falling out.  In addition to feeling awful - no energy, and just sick all of the time - I'm getting really depressed.  I'm afraid that I am either going to die or that it will never get any better.   So, here are my questions.  Will I ever be hungry again?  I knew that my tastes in food wouldchange, but will I ever want to eat anything again?  Will I feel healthy?  Where do I go to address these issues?  I feel like no one is really doing anything and I'm scared.  Do you feel like this was a mistake?  I was super positive pre-op, but am completely doubting this decision.   I'm rambling, but I would love any advice that you have am hope that it truly will get better.  Thanks for just taking to time to read this. Ang

Don't give up. I had complications for at least a year, and continue to still have some. Every month I was hospitalized for something. But, don't give up. I had a very hard time eating and never wanted to eat either. Boy, how I long for those days. I loved not being able to eat. just take it slowly. Make sure you chew you food slowly and completely. Drink the protein drinks. I got sick of them after 6 months, then discovered AchievOne and have 1 a day, which gives me a quick 20 grams of protein. I was never musch of a drinker and to this day, i have to force my 8 glasses of fluid down. I also had an ulcer and will be treated for that forever.Take your vitamins. I have nerve damge now because I was never advised about the Bs and Ds. What do you take. You must be o top of this. good luck and let me know if I can help you further.
Shar

Hey, Kid--Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well.  It isn't uncommon to have these problems with hair loss and lack of hunger at your stage.  The hair loss stops, and the lack of hunger is something you learn to deal with.  The RNY bypasses the impulses from the vagus nerve, so that is why you don't feel hungry. The nausea can be helped with an OTC antacid such as Prilosec, taken in the AM, and then eat with a schedule, because you aren't hungry so you don't know when you need to eat. Take your B12 and vitamins, and I also take a B-complex supplement once or twice a week.  This will help with the energy. Hang in there, Kiddoo--it does get better. Hugs

how much protein are you getting in whey? vites?

i'm 14 yrs, still doing lots of protein in supps.

have they given you shot of thiamine? can you get any of that down? (might help with nausea and we are prone to beri beri)

tried you on reglan, zofran?

just sip sip sip to get your fluids in it will probably feel like you are drinking constantly-wendy's chilli seems to be my comfort food i seem to be able to eat it anytime and its just as good if you pureed it as far as the hair loss have you started using nioxin shampoo, conditioner,etc it has made a big difference for me and as far as the hunger i am 1 year post op and do not have hunger yet i make myself eat on a schedule 3 meals and 3 snacks a day but you have to plan and have a variety of foods it helps you stay motivated good luck -cindy

I have to tell you about a woman I met when I was one year out. I've had absolutely no complications at all (knocks wood) and had a really easy time of it but...I ran into a poor woman who had complications, an infection, hospital stay for a month and lost her hair..Not alittle but she was nearly totally bald. I was the one to go out and give her her pay check and she was nearly crying cuz she had "buyers remorse" like crazy...And who could blame her? Here I was a year out and down below goal and living life in a mini skirt and she wanted to wear a bag over her head and crawl into a hole but was too weak...Poor dear. Well, as little as 6 weeks later she was feeling better again and was able to eat alittle more and be more normal and THEN she told me she didn't regret having the surgery either..She saw it from the other side of the complications and was still happy she had the surgery..You will feel better once the rough patch of road is past.  DO get your protein NO MATTER WHAT and DO take your vitamins NO MATTER WHAT...

Thank you all so much for just taking the time to respond.  You have NO idea how much it means to me right now.  I really have to work on vitamins and protein.  I am getting neither in right now.  I can't swallow pills without throwing them up, so there haven't been many vitamins here recently.  The nerve damage is scary and I'm a little afraid that's where I'm headed with all of the numbness.   Truly, this connection alone is enough to keep me going for a little while longer, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Never underestimate the impact of your posts.  They mean the world to someone like me who feels like she is alone in crisis. ang

I understand where you are coming from!  I too had complications after my lapband prolapse and revision to RNY.  I had 3 EGD's with dilations, but thankfully no ulcers.  I also had a g-tube for feedings and hydration for the first 6 weeks post-op.  Are you having nausea??  That was my biggest reason for not feeling like eating.  Whenever I ate or drank I got so nauseated I was miserable.  For that I took a combination of Reglan, Prilosec, Zofran and wore a Scopalamine patch.  Honestly, I got really depressed at times and felt like I didn't want to live if it was going to be that bad.  But it does get better!  I would just take it week by week, trying to see if I could see improvement from the week before.  By 4 months my meds were controlling my symptoms well enough I felt fairly normal and had somewhat of an appetite back.  By 6 months, I got off all nausea meds and was just on Prilosec.  By 8 months, I was feeling so much better I wrote my doc a thank you letter telling him I was so happy I had the surgery and would do it again if I had too. Unfortunately, somebody has to be the statistic!  And it is hard to be that person when so many sail through this without a problem.  But, keep going -- I know for me giving up was not a option -- I just kept thinking of my kids.  You have got to keep your focus on getting at least 64oz of fluid a day and as much protein as you can.  Your body is so depleted.  Being dehydrated alone will make you feel awful -- so really work on the fluids. If you are unable to do this due to nausea or other problems, work with the doctors to find a medication or other solution until you can.  If your situation gets really bad, they can always go back in and put a g-tube in the old stomach so you can get food and hydration that way until you are able to do it on your own.  Not doing this is not an option!  You can't give up on trying to make this work or you will just get worse.   Also make getting in your vitamins a priority too.  For the hair loss, I used the Nioxin shampoo and it seemed to help. Good Luck, Jennifer

Try the liquid vitaman at least for a while.   They taste horried but you need to stay healthy. Stay positvie

I wish I had some advice for you, but I was one of the lucky ones with no complications. I do know some people who had problems (mostly strictures), and they seemed to do just fine after a few months had passed. As for the hunger, I went through a period when I couldn't stand the thought of food, and I always thought that would be great, but it was horrible. That went away - in fact, I wish I could have a little taste of that back at least a day or two a week. I will keep you in my prayers, and I'm sure things will get better for you soon.