Lost 110lbs since 8/15/17 and not doin well

[Azalea7878 0]

I had the sleeve on8/15/17, I was hospitalized in October for pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, colitis, malnutrition and dehydration. I was in there for 17 days. Got out on 11/1 and i have been off work ever since. Thanksgiving weekend i started hurting only to find out that i had 4 kidney stones, 2 in each kidney. So more surgery and dehydration. Two weeks later another kidney stone surgery. Never have i ever been able to eat and my food feel like it goes all the way to my stomach pouch. I’ve been passing out and can’t eat more than 3 tiny bites of anything! Barium swallow test shows significant hiatal hernia. So more surgery ahead. My problem is....I’m nauseated all the time. Bariatric surgeon cut me off and sent me to my general physician to deal with this aftermath. But of course he still wants me to come in and weigh for his records. My general physician is who is trying to figure out what is wrong with me and she is the one who ordered the swallow test. She said this is the reason my food gets stuck. It’s sitting at the base of my hemidiaphram and it’s causing GERD all the way to my clavicular bone which i have to take a Prevacid solutab every single day because the GERD is so bad. Saw my Bariatric dr this past week and my general dr had consulted him about the hernia and he sat there and told me i didn’t have a hernia. I am losing weight every day and i feel so terrible. I am weak. I can’t even take a shower without almost passing out. I am wondering if anyone else is experiencing any of these problems. I’m so malnourished that she sent me for an mri of my brain because of the passing out and now I’m told i have 3 hazy spots of white matter and demyelination so now i have to see a neuro dr. I feel like I’m falling apart. My kids are worried and my family is worried and i feel like i need to be hospitalized but i don’t really know what they could do for me at this point. Please help! Any advice is appreciated. I’m waiting on second opinion on the hernia. Thanks!

[LaLaDee 519]

Not sure what to say. It really sounds like you've had a terrible time. You definitely need medical advice. I would definitely get a second opinion from another bariatric surgeon. It sounds like your surgeon may have missed something (or possible even had a complication with the surgery).

I have had neuro problems and unusual MRIs that were triggered by my surgery (I basically had an immune system break down). I have a neurologist who is monitoring it. Sometimes our bodies freak out after the trauma of surgery.

Unfortunately, I think you're going to be stuck doing a lot of medical tests until they can figure it out. I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Your surgery shouldn't be like this. Describe every symptom and advocate for yourself! I think you may have a couple of different problems there which is going to make a diagnosis difficult. Make the doctors listen to you. Don't give up hope! They will figure out what is wrong with you!

[angyplus5 470]

I am so sorry that all of this is happening! Hang in there and like LaLaDee said make sure you advocate for yourself and be firm with your doctor's on how bad your really feeling. I hope that all is figured out and you get healing fast! I'll keep you in thoughts! Sending you hugs...

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[James Marusek 5,244]

I am sorry to hear about your problems.

The three most important elements after weight loss surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body.

According to the internet for RNY gastric bypass patients:

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

The gastric sleeve is different but these observations above may also apply. So the points made above are:

* Avoid NSAIDs such as aspirin, excedrin.

* Use a proton-pump inhibitor, such as Prilosec (omeprazole). [In your case Prevacid Solutab (Lansoprazole) is a proton pump inhibitor].

* Make sure you do not have a H pylori infection and if you do have it treated. (Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that causes infection in the stomach. It is found in about two-thirds of the world's population.)

As far as the kidney stones are concerned, it may be a sign that you are not getting in the required amount of fluids. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/5-steps-for-preventing-kidney-stones-201310046721 So make sure that you drink more Water.

[Mattymatt 491]

Let's look at one thing at time. First off, you need to get to the bottom of the issue. Don't wait on the bariatric surgeon as you have stated that he is contradicting your primary care doctor. When two doctors don't agree, it's time to go to a specialist and get another opinion. I know you are seeking a remedy for your current situation but this is going to take time and persistence. I would advise seeking out a specialist that is employed by a major, respected healthcare system. If you have to go out of state to do it, then do it. This is the sad story of healthcare in America. Not only must you fight to get better, you must fight the system that is supposedly helping you to get better. The specialist's diagnosis will most likely override both your primary care and surgeon's diagnoses.

Now, while you are doing this you need to take some form of action against the surgeon because it is absolutely unethical for him to behave the way he has. Your bariatric surgeon has a responsibility to you for some ongoing, post-surgical care. If were you, I would reach out to him, firmly remind him of his or her responsibility, and if they continue to neglect it, I would look for an attorney. This is a serious situation that is not to be taken lightly - your quality of life hangs in the balance. Sometimes it takes that kind of measure to end the hubris of a doctor. When their livelihood hangs in the balance, it becomes a whole different ball of wax.

[Azalea7878 0]

Let's look at one thing at time. First off, you need to get to the bottom of the issue. Don't wait on the bariatric surgeon as you have stated that he is contradicting your primary care doctor. When two doctors don't agree, it's time to go to a specialist and get another opinion. I know you are seeking a remedy for your current situation but this is going to take time and persistence. I would advise seeking out a specialist that is employed by a major, respected healthcare system. If you have to go out of state to do it, then do it. This is the sad story of healthcare in America. Not only must you fight to get better, you must fight the system that is supposedly helping you to get better. The specialist's diagnosis will most likely override both your primary care and surgeon's diagnoses.
Now, while you are doing this you need to take some form of action against the surgeon because it is absolutely unethical for him to behave the way he has. Your bariatric surgeon has a responsibility to you for some ongoing, post-surgical care. If were you, I would reach out to him, firmly remind him of his or her responsibility, and if they continue to neglect it, I would look for an attorney. This is a serious situation that is not to be taken lightly - your quality of life hangs in the balance. Sometimes it takes that kind of measure to end the hubris of a doctor. When their livelihood hangs in the balance, it becomes a whole different ball of wax.

Thank u. You are absolutely right! I am hoping for a second opinion soon. The only problem is that where i live, all the drs know each other and consult with each other and i feel like I’m never gonna get the attention i need to fix the problem. I will end up going out of state I’m sure which is not something i wanted to do but i will if i have to. This has been awful.

[Mattymatt 491]

1 hour ago, Azalea7878 said:

Thank u. You are absolutely right! I am hoping for a second opinion soon. The only problem is that where i live, all the drs know each other and consult with each other and i feel like I’m never gonna get the attention i need to fix the problem. I will end up going out of state I’m sure which is not something i wanted to do but i will if i have to. This has been awful.

Yeah, looks like out of state might be your best option. Some of the best hospital systems on the east coast are Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Penn Medicine, and Mass General. For something like this, I wouldn't trust less than the best.

[Azalea7878 0]

I’m all the way in Mississippi! UAB is the closest good place to go i guess

[sherri scheffler 10]

Sounds like a stricture

[Azalea7878 0]

Sounds like a stricture

I’ve had 2 EGD’s. Last one was in late October and they said there’s no obstruction.