Thursday March 30

Thank you. I did not want to upset you or seem insensitive, but I figured you would have an opinion on this that would be helpful. So thanks.

Yes my reflux is well controlled with PPI once a day as long as I take it and don't miss. Which is why it was weird to get in this cyclical conversation with pcp. The fact that they've done this about all maintenance meds (including asthma inhalers) leads me to believe it's about drumming up business. And I do have a gastro and may go ahead with the endoscopy--better safe than sorry. But the fact that it's unchanged and I don't have problems until I go off the meds (which started this whole thing--they just wouldn't fill the RX) leads me to believe it's just the same old problem since surgery but controlled with a PPI. I understand the PPI's do have side effects, but not worse than what could happen if reflux is untreated. But again, I'm sure you know more than me.

But to jump to the conclusion that after 6 1/2 years on prilosec (which is working, btw!) I should get RnY kinda feels like amputating my arm because of a paper cut. I honestly fail to understand. That's how crazy it seems to me. Without more information??!!

I agree, conversion to RNY without documented problems such as Barrett's would be overkill. And from the research I've done regarding esophageal cancer, even Barrett's isn't a huge predictor of risk.

From the American Gatroenterological Association:

"Early studies of Barrett's esophagus tended to overestimate cancer risk due to the size of studies and selection bias. More recent studies and large meta-analyses have reported risks of 0.5% per year. Thus, 1 in 200 patients with Barrett's esophagus will develop esophageal cancer each year. It is not known if this risk varies (either increases or decreases) as time passes from the original diagnosis. Some reports suggest a higher risk for patients with long-segment Barrett's esophagus and a greater risk in men compared with women."

Can you tell I am a research nerd???? Shel and I love this Shi*

Paula

I didn't even know that there was such a thing as silent GERD. Does that mean he didn't even experience reflux?

Yes, no reflux symptoms - at least for many years. He did have some symptoms when he was younger. The crazy thing is that the more abnormal the cells are, the less symptoms there are. The esophageal cells actually turn into cells more like the cells that line the stomach and they are resistant to the acid and therefore no pain!

Wow - you really have been doing your research. My guess is that this is both a good and bad thing as I did the same when my DD had cancer and knowing the possibilities and the odds wasn't always a good thing for my own mental health. DD explicitly told me she didn't want to know after the first go round.

Oh yeah - I have memorized the 5 year survival rates for each stage - not always a good thing to be so obsessed!

Yes I remember doing that. I think prayer may be better in the long run.

Agreed!

My, my, my... I upped the new med yesterday and while the effect didn't seem too profound as far as negative side effects, I did feel an eerie sense of mild euphoria - best I can put it is that nothing could really bother me and I had sort of a little unrealistically happy outlook on life. Sounds great, right? But it didn't feel quite right because along with it came the life is so good I don't give a **** about consequences feeling. That, of course, spilled over to my eating life. So at our uber stressful staff meeting yesterday the peanut M&Ms just kept popping into my mouth (and the mouths of so many others!). I didn't care either. It was like, yes, I'm stressed, yes they are in front of me, yes, I should eat them, and no, I don't really care that I'm eating chocolate and a binge food. BTW, would you like a candy bar with that? LOL

Shel, does this sound about right?????

I am having an issue with clothing. Not going to go into the nitty gritty, but it boils down to do I want to wear clothes that fit and are more flattering to my current form or continue to stuff my body into clothes that are now too small? Part of me wants to force myself to lose weight and fit into my summer clothes, but there is another part of me that believes I deserve to honor my current body and be comfortable. There is no right answer. I will just have to do what's right for me.

I have to laugh at myself a little because I've had a few fleeting moments lately of feeling WLS was really a bust for me, but then I remember the positives that still linger - like my fitness level, which really is quite good. I hiked up the killer hill with the kids yesterday and I was in front of all the kids and the other adults without any difficultly. My legs burned the last 50 yards up the hill and I broke a sweat, but before VSG, I literally could not physically make it up that hill.

Love your description of the med side effects. Happy you are happy but sorry it is to the expense of caring about consequences!

As far as the clothes go, get/wear some that fit you - you deserve that!

I'm glad you can see your successes too. You really do have a kick A## fitness level.

Hug that puppy for me!