Redmaxx

Thanks Kathy. Phil

OK, went to see my primary last night. He isn't concerned about the iron (right now) and said my ferritin level is high but it is a "low" high and could be linked to the possible IPMN on my pancreas. He said we will deal with the iron after I meet with the gastro doctor on Tuesday. They are on the same system so he will be able to see the results. He said that the report says cyst and if it is it will probably just need to be monitored, but if it is a tumor they may have to operate. So, now once again I sit and worry until Tuesday. Thanks for all the good thoughts, kind words and support.

Thanks. It is what it is. I will let everyone know what happens.

So I dropped off the surgical notes, blood results from the hospital, CT scan results and blood work done by my bariatric surgeon to my primary doctor's office and asked them to have him review and put in my file. I haven't heard back from my primary so I called today and talked to one of the medical assistants who said, "You need to come in for a face to face with the doctor." So now I am going to my primary on Wednesday. I know my bariatric surgeons office is looking at the blood work from a nutritional standpoint, but from what I looked up on WebMD what they told me isn't right. My iron is low and my ferritin level is very high (they said to take iron, but I shouldn't be taking iron) (and the medical assistant agreed). So now besides having a possible IPMN on my pancreas there maybe something else wrong. We shall see.

Many of my friends remain supportive. I had people that I thought were my friends say snide things to me. I really wouldn't worry about your friends, if it was meant to be it will. Those that I did lose really don't seem that important to me.

Thank you.

Tomorrow I go for my two year checkup. I found some of the notes/lab reports from my emergency surgery and even though my bariatric surgeon didn't do the emergency surgery I am going to ask him questions. What a wild ride the last two years have been, I only wish that I would have gotten the surgery sooner.

Well, my surgeon wants to see me back in 3 months instead of 12. He said the incision looks pretty good, he had them draw blood and we went over the operation notes and results of the CAT Scan. He said that everything on the CAT scan notes were ok (or what he expected) except for the 15 x 7 mm cystic structure in the pancreatic head. So now I have a referral to see a specialist. So today I have to call the hospital that did the CAT scan to get a copy of the images and make an appointment with the gastroenterologist. I am nervous.

Good luck to you. I hope they are able to take care of the issue. From the time I felt any issues (like I ate too much or too fast) and the time I had the surgery was about 24 hours or so. I never felt anything was wrong (or off) until then. I ate what I normally ate (a salad). My wife wanted to take me to the ER the first night (but me being me) and I thought whatever it was would go away. This surgery wasn't laparoscopic so they cut me wide open and I had about 35 staples holding me together. Good luck to you, please let us know how you are doing. Your weight loss journey maybe your own, but you will never be alone with your support group here.

Howdy, great to be seen, lol. It is great to see you still on the forum. I hope things are going well for you. 2018 hasn't been the greatest year for me, so I am hoping next year will be better.

It was a complication from my WLS. Apparently scar tissue had built up and blocked my bowel. It came on all of the sudden, it felt like I had eaten too fast or to much. I went to bed and woke up the next morning feeling better but still uncomfortable. I have a 35 minute or so drive into work. I was drenched in sweat when I got to work and couldn't stand up straight. One of the guys I work with forced me to go to the ER. I had to wait an hour at the ER before I even got a bed. They gave me morphine for the pain (not a big fan) and sent me for a CAT Scan. Took them about 3 hours to come back and say it looks like I had a blocked bowel. They didn't do the surgery at their hospital so they called an ambulance and had me transferred to their sister hospital about 5 miles away. My wife drove over to the other hospital so she could be there before I went into surgery. Three hours later, the ambulance finally showed up to take me to the other hospital. The other hospital called three times looking for me and my wife called twice. As soon as I got to the other hospital they took me right into pre-op and I was under the knife within 30 minutes of arriving at the hospital. It is a known complication (not a common one) and I drew the small straw and got it. They gutted me like a fish and it has taken me a while to bounce back from the surgery. I only see my surgeon once a year for checkups (unless I need to see him otherwise). This just came out of nowhere, it happens, it happened to me but I will never blame my surgeon because it happened.

UPDATE: Today I am finally feeling better, but I still really don't have an appetite to speak of. I see my surgeon for my two year check up and if things don't get better I will talk to him.

Hello everyone. It has been a while since I have been on here. Just wanted to check in an let everyone know what's going on. First things first, we found out we are going to be first time grandparents. We are very excited. Next, I blew the engine on my brand new 2018 Jeep Compass. I am fighting with FCA about trying to get rid of it. My dad was sent home with Hospice (he lives in Texas and I live in Michigan). Then on Friday (7 Sept 2018) one of the guys I work with rushed me to the emergency room. Turns out I had a blocked bowel. Scar tissue had formed and blocked the bowel. Luckily they caught it in time and the bowel did not die. They had to fillet me like a fish and I have about 30 staples holding my guts in. I am very sore and on a liquid diet. I guess it is a known complication but not a common one. Who would have thought that I would have a complication almost 2 years after my RNY. Very happy to be on the mend.

My surgeon wanted me off work for two weeks. I was driving after 3 days (wasn't supposed to for two weeks). It will take you a little while to get used to the new "diet", recover from the pain of the surgery and just be able to sit still. You will need to walk, walk and walk. Don't over extend yourself, don't overdo it. Do what your surgeon says, they know what is best for you. Good luck with your upcoming surgery.

Just over a month since the emergency surgery. The incision is still a little sore but overall I am doing great. I got sick early this morning, I was freezing (my bed was wet from all the sweating) and I ended up in the bathroom 3 times. I finally got what ever it was out of me and I was able to get about 30 minutes sleep before I had to get ready for work. I will definitely be going to bed early tonight.

St. Mary Mercy in Livonia, MI

Sorry to hear about your problems. I am almost 2 years out and had a bowel blockage (complication from my RNY surgery). I am happy to hear that you seem to be on the mend. It sucks being in the hospital.

My wife likes to go out to eat all the time (she hates to cook) and she always gets made at me because I won't tell her where to go. I always order just a salad so we can go anywhere that they make salads. Every restraint that we go to regularly already knows that I am ordering a salad.

Well yesterday (1 Oct 2018) was my first day back to work. I was very tired last night when I got home and a little sore. I am supposed to take it easy at work for the next 4 weeks and I know that I over did it yesterday. Overall I am doing great (still don't have a huge appetite) and I go back for my 2 year post bariatric surgery check up on the 24th. I am still grateful to my surgeon for giving me this tool to help me lose the weight. The only regret I have is that I didn't do it sooner.

I just ran across this article this morning. I am on Omeprazole for heartburn. (CNN) - Sometimes, solving one problem only creates another. Millions of Americans take proton pump inhibitors to treat acid reflux and heartburn. Known as PPIs, they are among the most prescribed drugs in the United States and are widely available over the counter. But according to preliminary research presented today at an American Heart Association conference in New Orleans, these medications may also increase the risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They occur when a blood clot cuts off blood flow to the brain. "PPIs have been associated with unhealthy vascular function, including heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia," said Dr. Thomas Sehested, the study's lead author and a researcher at the Danish Heart Foundation. "We wanted to see if PPIs also posed a risk for ischemic stroke, especially given their increasing use in the general population." Most serious warning yet The research was conducted in Denmark among a quarter-million patients who suffered from stomach pain and indigestion, and were taking one of four PPIs: Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid or Nexium. Overall stroke risk increased 21% among patients who were taking a PPI, according to the study. At the lowest doses, the authors found either no or minimal increased risk of stroke. At the highest doses, they found that stroke risk increased 33% for Prilosec and Prevacid patients, 50% for Nexium patients and 79% for Protonix patients. In an email to CNN, P&G, the company that makes Prilosec, said the drug is an "FDA approved, safe and effective remedy to relieve frequent heartburn symptoms. Prilosec OTC has the longest history of safe and effective consumer use of any [over the counter] PPI." Takeda, the maker of Prevacid, said it could not comment on the results and conclusions of the study until the full data is published for review. "Patient safety is a top priority ... and we continuously monitor the safety of all our medicines and collaborate with regulatory agencies to ensure this information is reflected in the respective prescribing information," a spokesman said in an email to CNN. AstraZeneca, the maker of Nexium, said, "Patient safety is an important priority ... and we believe all of our PPI medicines are generally safe and effective when used in accordance with the label." A spokeswoman said the company was not consulted during the research, so it could not comment on the data. Pfizer, the maker of Protonix, did not respond to CNN's request for comment. "At one time, PPIs were thought to be safe, without major side effects," Sehested said. "This study further questions the cardiovascular safety of these drugs." For years, doctors have questioned whether too many people are taking heartburn drugs. A pair of 2010 studies found that PPIs were associated with an increased risk of a serious bacterial infection. Stomach acid seems to play a role in killing off both good and bad bacteria in our gut. When someone is taking PPIs, their amount of stomach acid is reduced, and it creates an environment in which bacteria can flourish. "As a culture, we tend to want a pill to deal with our problems, when a lot of people could reduce their heartburn by eating smaller meals, drinking less alcohol or not smoking," Dr. Michael Katz, who wrote an editorial accompanying the studies, told CNN in 2010. In April, another study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that patients who took PPIs had a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 28% increased risk of kidney disease, compared with those who were prescribed alternative medications. What are the alternatives? Medical professionals estimate that the majority of people who suffer from acid reflux or heartburn could drastically or completely reduce their discomfort by making a few lifestyle changes: quit smoking, lose weight and cut back on spicy and fatty foods. If your doctor determines that you do need pills for your problem, pharmacist NaaDede Badger-Plange suggests starting with an antacid, such as Tums, Rolaids or Maalox. "Antacids usually would help if you have less than one incident a week," Badger-Plange said. "So, if you have heartburn very rarely -- especially people who have heartburn associated with certain foods -- they could take antacids." Antacids provide quick relief, but only for a short amount of time, said Badger-Plange, and consumers should pay close attention to the ingredients on the label. If you're pregnant, you should avoid sodium bicarbonate and magnesium trisilicate. Patients with kidney disease should avoid antacids that contain aluminum. For longer-lasting relief, H2 antagonist medications (also called H2 blockers) are also an option, but they can take a few hours to kick in. "One thing to keep in mind is, certain products that are in the H2 receptor antagonist class have drug interactions," Badger-Plange said. "So, if you have a lot of medications, you probably want to check with your pharmacist at the counter to make sure it's OK to take those medications." As always, you should talk to your doctor before starting or stopping any medication -- prescribed or over the counter. For years, Katz has been worried that PPIs "reinforce the idea that the solution to behavioral health issues is to take a pill, and that's just not how we're going to get healthier," he said in 2010. "Consumers need to ask their doctors, 'Why am I taking this? Do I still need this? Do I have an alternative?' " Copyright 2016 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/popular-heartburn-medications-linked-to-higher-risk-of-stroke

I know this isn't a weird comment, but I still love the fact that people that I have known for many years still don't recognize me 16 month post op. I have always hated (and still hate) being the center of attention.

I had one idiot say to me that he could tell that I lost weight, it isn't AIDS is it? I have had people tell me that I need to eat a cheeseburger. I have had people tell me that I don't need to lose any more weight. I have had people ask me if I intended to lose the weight. I have had people ask me if I was sick or had cancer. I have had people tell me what I can or can not eat. I have realized that people are dumb.

Mine is like that all the time. I use the VA system so they will only focus on one thing at a time and right now it is the arthritis in my shoulders. I wish I could tell you that the tailbone thing gets better, it doesn't (at least not for me). It hurts to ride in the car, it hurts to sit in my chair at night, it hurts when I sit in a chair at work. the only thing that seems to help is if I lie down. Good luck to you, I hope you can get the relief that I am currently unable to get.

In my support group we have a program called back to the beginning. Basically you start back at the beginning. You do (I believe) two days liquid diet, then go to soft food, etc, etc. I don't have the information in front of me right now, but if you want I can try to find it when I get home and let you know exactly what it is.

How do I get access to post in the veteran's forum? I am over 18 months post op.