Reversal After Sixteen Years!!!

[thecheekofgod 0]

I'm new to these forums, so bear with me. My story is long and ... complicated (pun intended).

I had an open Roux-en-Y in April of 2002 at St. Vincent Hospital in Carmel, Indiana. I lost over 200 pounds in a three year period and have maintained that loss for more than a decade.

I am a Type 2 diabetic. I am on insulin. The surgery never really helped, and my own inconsistency and occasional non-compliance (read: stubbornness) are self-made traps. I am in control at present with an a1c of 9.2 (and falling). I walk quite a bit at work and do functional lifting when needed, but am otherwise inactive other than routine daily activities.

I started smoking about two years post-op. I needed something to do with my hands as grazing was no longer an option. I have stopped a few times, once for over two years, but have yet to quit completely.

As of January, 2015, my kidneys seemed to be fine. My creatinin was 1.5. A little high, but normal for someone in my shape. By July, it has peaked above 5. I was anemic and almost dead. They direct admitted me from the doctor's office and began dialysis. Oxalate nephropathy was the diagnosis. Basically, oxalates in food that normal get absorbed and removed in the stomach and intestines instead routed through my kidneys and formed crystals that clogged up the works. I stayed on hemodialysis, both home and in-center, until September 2016, when I received a transplanted living donor kidney from my son at St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

He is my hero.

On my last visit at the Indy clinic, my lab work showed my creatinin has risen to 2.3. It had been normal at every other test post-transplant. Because of some medication issues that are getting cleared up, I am dehydrated and my heart is palpitating more than I am comfortable with. No pain, just lethargy and worry.

Basically, my new kidney is failing for the same reason as my native kidneys, but at a more alarming rate.

The solution?

Everyone is leaning toward reversing my WLS. There are enough complications to warrant this course of action, and it beats the alternative of more dialysis and a shortened life.

Is this unheard of? Can it even be done so far removed from the original surgery?

This is sort of an open topic with vague questions. I just want to spark some conversation to help clarify my thinking.

Peace . . .

[FluffyChix 17,415]

I'm so sorry you're experiencing these tough health challenges!!! ((hugs))

So I just did a quick check for you and I'm sure your transplant team have checked this out, but a low oxylate diet has little effect on changing oxylate build-up. It binds to Calcium. So are you taking your calcium supplements? Are you eating calcium rich foods? Have you had your parathyroid tests done to see if you've got a stable calcium status?

Here's the link: https://kidneystones.uchicago.edu/low-oxalate-diet/

Hope this helps spark conversations/questions with your transplant team!!!

[thecheekofgod 0]

31 minutes ago, FluffyChix said:

So are you taking your Calcium supplements?

I had been taking a Tums (750mg of calcium) daily since my transplant, but my team asked me to quit taking them about two weeks ago. We have implemented some food nutrient counts we want to monitor, including calcium, as well as planning off of a list of foods low in oxalates. My calcium has always been relatively normal per lab tests, so I don't believe it's part of the issue.

[shedo82773 1,236]

WOW!!! This is so sad!! You have worked so hard to get the weight off and now you have all of this coming up. I wish I had so kind info to share but....I really don't. Just realize you are SUCCESSFUL with your WLS. I can offer what worked for me and quitting smoking. I have quit at least 4 times. One time I quit for 20 years and when my daughter moved out at 18. (she did move in with her boyfriend) So I do have lots of experience with smoking and quitting. The last time I quit with CHANTEX (this has been 10years ago) and let me say I have no want to's!! It was amazing. They say you can use it for 3 months, but I didn't take it just for 1 month. I never looked back!! It works!! I don't want to come off as I am preaching to you and with every thing you are going thru you might think that smoking is the lesser evil. Again I am so sorry.

[thecheekofgod 0]

6 minutes ago, shedo82773 said:

I don't want to come off as I am preaching to you

No worries. My wife is very patient with me in this regard. I tried Chantix once a few years ago when it first became a viable option. It just didn't take.

I had a doctor tell me once that, with all my issues, it's a shock that smoking actually isn't the thing that's killing me . . .

:-)

Edited January 21, 2018 by thecheekofgod

[Michellekristen514 0]

i just quit smoking 2 weeks ago with the use of chantix. lifesaver.

as for your reversal... i am 7 years post op, 179lbs lost and sick is an understatement.

I want a reversal as well to extend my life. I feel like i could drop dead at any given time.