Redmaxx

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.

So last month (7 Sept 2018) I had an emergency surgery because I had a blocked bowel. It happens (not sure how it took almost two years after my gastric bypass, but), not to everyone, but it happened to me. So they took me to one hospital ER that was close by my work. It took them an hour to get me into a bed and they finally took me to get a CT Scan. It took two hours to get any type of information from the CT Scan and I was told that I "may possibly" have a blocked bowel. They needed to consult with a surgeon. About an hour later they came back and said that I had a blocked bowel but that the hospital I was at didn't do any type of bariatric surgery. So they said they would transfer me to their sister hospital that does this type of surgery. They called for an ambulance and my wife drove over to the other hospital (about 5 or 6 miles away). Three hours later the ambulance came for me. The other hospital kept calling because they had a surgical team waiting for me. Surgery went well (although I am not bouncing back as fast from this surgery) and I was doing ok. I was trying to get the surgical notes for my bariatric surgeon (just so he could have a record of what was done) and I ran across the CT Scan notes. It turns out I have a possible IPMN (Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm) (or possibly pancreatic cancer) in the head of my pancreas. Nobody from the hospital told me about this and if I hadn't of been looking for the reports for my surgeon I would never have known. Now I have to wait until 13 Nov 2018 to go to a specialist and see what is going on. Needless to say, I have googled this and am now pretty shaken up. I don't blame the surgeon (he was just there to unblock the bowel, (which they said if I would have waited any longer the bowel would have started to die) but I really think that some doctor from either one of the hospitals would have said, "Hey, you might want to get this checked out." Sorry for rambling on about this, just worried.

Thank you.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you.

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

Couldn't find anything.

Question: How do you get to post in the WLS Veteran's Forum? I know you need to at least be 18 months out (which I am). I messaged Alex but he never replied.