[mrsvanessa]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I am taking my vitimans, water, protein like I should. I have blood work scheduled next month to be read Sept. 7th by doc staff. I hoping that in the next months all this will clear up.

[FemmeMode]

Wow girl!
You sure have gone thru a lot....I'm sorry to hear of your struggle...but I'm thankful that you've had the courage to share your story here...and hope you will consider to keep sharing it as much as you can even though you don't know whether you'd do it all over again.

It has been my experience....the hardest things that either "happen to us"...or have to go thru strengthen us! Not only that....I believe that is the main reason we go thru hard times....but then also, if you don't share it....you can't encourage or help someone else go thru a similar 'tough time!'

I don't know if you are a 'spiritual person' or not...but there is a verse in the bible in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

__________________________________________________ _________

In MY LIFE:
When I was in college...my freshman year....I was attacked....this was so traumatic. I didn't share it with ANYONE for months (other than medical doctors & nurses)....
Eventually I went to counseling...and got involved in a support group and that is where I was able to get some emotional healing...and start to share my story.
I eventually started working a 'crisis line'....and that is where I saw the verse from the bible come alive....I was able to help other girls and women thru their situations.
__________________________________________

I hope you will continue to be as brave and authentic as you have been in this post...and know that we are ALL here for YOU...and one another!
You are an amazing woman....and your story IS different from MANY of ours here....but one day, you'll find that you - and ONLY YOU - will be able to empathise with someone that no one else here will be able to...and you will be able to share, encourage and comfort like only YOU could. THIS, might give you peace and joy into the pain (physically & emotionally) that you've dealt with....and get you to the place to where you would do it all over again.

I know for me....although my attack was horrific - I would NEVER change the past....it has made me into the woman I am today...& I've met some amazing women in the process - and they have touched my life in a deeper way than I could've ever expected!

Thanks again Vanessa!!!
You are a JOY!!

[FemmeMode]

The one positive thing is that I have lost 76 lbs now and only have 33 lbs to go for my ideal weight... I do feel much better these days and my feet, ankles and my back doesn't hurt like they did.

But I do have some questions, and hopefully some of you can help me. I have found that my eye site, thought process, and being stable when walking isn't as good as before, has anyone else had these issues.

First - CONGRATS on your Fabulous weight loss....wow, you are soooo close to your goal....
I know that is exciting...I'm 29#'s away & I'm 'itching' to get there!!! I think that you will get there pretty quick b/c you are still w/in your first year! I'm hoping I can get mine off by my 2yr. anniversary.

Second - I haven't dealt w/ the eyesight thing...but the unstable walking and bumping into walls....doorways....and losing my footing - OH YEA!!
That has been me.... I think it's mostly my brain getting 'used to' my shifting weight! I've been used to carrying sooooo much more weight....and thru the first year I lost 143#'s....and it came off in shifting areas....

Now...15mos. PostOp...I've lost 154#'s...and I'm doing MUCH better. I'm not really sure when it starting getting better...b/c I remember Christmas running into walls and tripping at my MIL's house constantly...there were jokes of me drinking....(but of course I don't drink alchohol...LOL!)

Good Luck to you!!!
Can't wait to get to know you better and better thru your posts Vanessa!!!

[MsVickie]

Welcome Vanessa. Im Vickie its great to have you here with us !

[DianeB]

Welcome Vanessa, happy you are sharing a little of your history with us. You certainly have been through a tough time. I also had a rough go of it for a while, had my surgery on Mar. 29 2007, felt great, was able to drink and eat what I was suppose to, but then I started having pain in my stomach everytime I ate or drank anything. I told my doctor and he had x-rays done on me, then ordered an endoscopy only to find my lower bowel kinked up on me and it got to the point where I could not hold anything in me--I got very dehydrated and weak. On June 1st the doctor went back in and untangled the intestine and he also put a few stitches to hold the intestines in place. Everything has been great since I've had the 2nd surgery! I feel so good now, when asked if I am glad I did this surgery my answer is absolutely!!My body feels so much better now than it ever has, I can walk all over the place now. I hope you will soon feel as good as I do and that you can feel good about your decision to have the surgery done. We are all here for you Vanessa, some days may be better than others. If you feel the need to vent or just to say HI to someone, please know that's what this site is about as well as so much valuable info. Sure hope you are going to some kind of support group in your area, I find it so helpful. Good luck

[DocSanae]

Hi MrsVanessa, I'm relieved to hear you are keeping up. Having a bad experience can turn people off, so.
As I said before, though, even if you are taking all your vitamins, be sure that they do include everything (confirm the labels), and be aware that even if you are taking them, because of the change in your plumbing, you may not be absorbing the amount that your body actually needs, so even if you have been dilligent, there is a possibility that some things are deficient.
As I stated, if you think your eye sight is dropping, then go to an eye doc and have your eyes checked with the specific thought in mind that you may have vitamin A deficiency.
If you are feeling down in the dumps, then please don't hesitate to get professional help in that area, either. You are at about the time when a lot of post ops experience serious blues that may merit the help of medication.
((((((((HUGS)))))))

[MrsKitty1]

Welcome MrsVanessa!
I am so happy to hear about your weight loss & sorry to hear about your rough time. I am fairly new here myself & have not had surgery yet. I still have to meet the 6mo supervised diet for the insurance. Anyway, I am glad that you shared your story and know that what FemmeMode vbmenu_register("postmenu_43302", true); said was correct, you may not know how now, or you may not see it, but God has a purpose for everything and what you are going thru may be an experince that you may be able to use to help someone else thru it too. Please look up and cheer up, for God loves you & we love you & know that it will be better for you soon!
Be blessed my new friend,
Cat

[Chilly]

First I want to give you a BIG supportive hug ((((Vanessa))))

I am so sorry you had such a hard time in the beginning. It's funny, we realize there are risks, but we really don't "think" it will happen to us. I fortunately haven't had one problem, which I'm VERY thankful for. But, I often question my Dr.'s protocol with lab work. He said the first one happens at 6 months out (like yours) but I just don't agree with that. I understand that it may take a few months before you may be able to get an accurate reading, but at 6 months? I just hope that there's just a minor problem with you and is easily resolved. Take care of yourself, you're doing a GREAT job so far!!!

[BOOTS]

Hi And Welcome To The Boards

Im So Sorry To Hear Of Your Experience. I Had My Surgery On 7/16/07 And Just Got Out Of The Hospital This Past Thursday. I Was There For About 10 Days With Complications. The Day After My Sugery They Had Found A Leak And So We Figured Instead Of A 2nd Surgery We Would Wait For It To Close. During That Time I Was Soooo Ill For All The Meds And Antibotics They Been Giving Me That I Was Throwing Up Foam And Getting Weaker By The Day. 2 Days Later I Was So Hopeful The Catscan Would Bring Us Good News Of Couse It Didnt The Leak Did Not Close Properly Because There Was An Absess. So In Order For The Leak To Close Up They Had To Drain This Absess. Going Thru This Procedure They Had A Tougher Time Than Anticpated So When It Was All Done I Felt Like All My Ribs On My Left Side Were Broke!!!!!!!!!! During My Stay In The Hospital I Now Had 2 Different Drains Hanging Out My Tummy. Finally After All The Hell Was Done Im Home Now Still Have One Of The Tubes In My Stomach And The Bag Strapped To My Leg. Its Funny Cause The Odds Of Complications Occuring Are Pretty Low So I Said Why Did This Have To Happen To Me And Then Someone Said Why Not You. Hmmmmmmmm Made Me Think. God Knew I Could Handle This I Guess.

Its Been A Very Rough Road For Me I Was Scared To Death Especially With A Little One At Home. Im Still Scared Since Wed I Have To Get An Other Cat Scan And Follow Up With The Surgeon On The Same Day. The Last Scan He Said Looked Good But I Was On A Liquid Diet Then. I Am Now On A Puree Diet And Hope Everything Is Still Ok In There. I Also Hope They Remove This Tube On Wed But This Morning I Had Found Out That I Might Have To Keep In Me A Little Longer Since It Still Looks Like Its Draining.

Am I Glad I Did This Surgery??? Well I Said To My Mom When I Was In The Hospital Maybe I Made The Wrong Choice To Do This And I Couldnt Believe She Said No. Because I Would Be On The Road To Miserable And Unhealthy Life Without The Surgery Anyway. So Was It Worth The Risk???? Im Still Early Out But Im Already Happy With How I Eat And The Weight Im Losing So Im Probably Leaning Toward Yes. Yes I Have Been Thru A Very Risky Surgery With Lots Of Complications But God Has A Plan For Me Otherwise I Wouldnt Be Here Today!!!!! Its Time To Look Forward And Leave It Behind. So That Is What Im Trying To Do Now. Yes Im Still Scared Being So Early Out But I Have To Remind Myself To Just Think Positive And Move On And It Will Work Out. Like I Said God Def Has A Plan For Me

[Lch]

i was home one week and then had to return to the Dr. because i kept getting sick, they thought maybe i just needed my esophagus to be blown up, but really my small intestine had twisted and bound. i was in the hospital for a week. it was horrible. but i am 7 month post op, and i would do it over in a heart beat.