Cross post from VSG board. Congrats to me with cautionary tale!

The week before I started my pre-op diet I was 301lbs. Day of op I was 295lbs (only 1 week pre-op diet)

This morning I am 199lbs I AM FINALLY IN ONEDERLAND!!!!!!

I cant believe how amazing this tool really is. I dont remember a time I was this light before the age of 16. I am down about 5 dress sizes or more overall tho my ass is shrinking quicker than my waist as usual.

The cautionary tale is "know thyself"

So for a while Ive had a winded feeling every now and then. Not amazingly uncomfortable so I figured I must be empty or something. About a month ago it upped the ante into severe pain, so bad I was laying on the floor at work and it didnt go for about 8 hours.

After the first hour I called my surgeon. I also had thrush (I never got this before surgery, must be the reduced diet) and constipation. He said I was run down (yep!) and constipated (yep!) and that it was acid??? He recommended high dose ant-acid Lansoprazole (also known as Fastab) and Fibregel with lactulose if bad. Acid??? I dont even get heartburn! It sure sounds like gallstones to me but Im not a doctor.

Now you cant get Fastab over the counter so I went to my gp. She agreed with my surgeon however I asked her to check my gallbladder. She did a feely test and said it all felt fine but as I was worried she'd send me for an ultrasound. Since then Ive had a bout every week and last tuesday it was so bad, like someone has kicked me in the gut with metal boots, bad. I wrote on here and a few of you lovely people said it did sound like gallbladder pain. I was so sure by now I was ready for a massive fight and to request a blood test if the ultrasound came back blank (apparently this has happended to some of you and only a Bilirubin test confirmed gallstones)

So yesterday I got another bout 2 hours before my ultrasound. I could barely stand! When lying on the table trying not to cry the ultrasound lady looks at me and says "you have LOTS of gallstones!" and apparently my biliary was dilated so I had passed one or two. She said it was akin to childbirth pain. that would explain last Tuesday. I could've kissed her! I didnt know whether to laugh or cry. I did end up crying a litte. Its obviously bad as she said she would be sending the results the next morning so Im off to my GP tomorrow and hopefully Ill be referred to a surgeon asap.

So KNOW THYSELF! If you think something is wrong push until you get the answer. If I had been my usual self I wouldnt have pushed for an ultrasound and would be in pain trying to adjust to an acid free diet which wouldnt have solved ANYTHING!

Ouch, glad you got sorted. Why is standing up for yourself when you know things aren't right so hard to do, and its even more embarrassing to say "I've been on the internet" ......... you can almost hear the proffessionals groan - but it is a good thing that we are in a better position these days to help take our health into our own hands.  I will recall your story next time I'm scared to voice my opinion.

Onederland huh! Bloody fabulous is the only way to describe it - good work, I too lurrrvvv wls - BRING IT ON

Thank GOODNESS you were your best advocate. I swear that we have to be. I cannot tell you how MANY times I have had to go into the GP with research notes in hand-to EXPLAIN first-what is wrong with me-and two-how to treat it! SCARY!!

I am glad you will be OK.

And YAY on the onederland express!! Ain't it GRAND?!?!?!!? Congrats!!!

Feel MUCH better!

T

Hi everyone

Still ongoing pain which has ended me up in A&E once already. Have to go for another test to check no stones are stuck in biliary and this is taking ages so not seeing the surgeon again til 17th Sept so god no knows when they will whip it out??? Painfree for 1 week but Ive got period pain instead...grump! I now have to go to A&E with any severe bout of pain and they might remove it then but no promises plus I just found out the appointed NHS Sugeon is now on holiday for a month. Good for him! So think this may mean my A&E trips will just end up in Tramadol and more blood tests.

Funnily enough I have stopped loosing altogether. I dont know why but Im stuck at 13 stone 12.5lbs
Not a clue why but figure the stones must be a bit heavy? Hair falling out again due to lower protein intake where Im trying to eat very low fat to avoid further pain.

Ill keep you posted but yes be your own advocate. We know our bodies so we should push for a result.