Roux n Y reversal - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

mistymee · 08-20-2009, 10:14 PM

Oh and my feet? *always* cold. *always*. It is Aug and I'm sitting here with my winter slippers on. And they are cold.

onastartrek · 08-20-2009, 10:55 PM

I appreciate your questions. Honestly with my memory the way it is I couldnt tell you the name of the vitamins. I did get some from a Bariatric company, chewable ones because I couldnt swallow the whole pill.
I saw my pcp about every three months and most of those times I did have blood work. I don't know if I was tested for copper, I dont think so. the whole mess is such a blur and I wish I had more definate answers for you.
my folate was prescription strength and I gave mysel fb12 injections once a week. They helped at first but that soon ended. but I kept up on the vitamins.
about 8 months before my reversal I found out that certain vitamins are made so that they are not absorbed fully. apparentlyh its easier to make a buck that way.
The one I was on was recommended my by surgeon Centrum Silver. of course I took my calcium and vit d.
but all the vomiting I did frequently negated any vitamin I would have taken.
My pcp and I had to look up micro nutrients to even see what they were.
at this point my surgeon did not offer any help beyond about 2 months post op
my diet was pretty typical, beans or chicken or cottage cheese for protein. I couldnt eat a good deal of fruits and veggies because each time I tried they just sat in my stomach and it couldnt be broken down, then sometimes 5 hours later I would have to vomit up what should have been good for me.
I was pretty vigilant with follow up care with my pcp and so he knew how I was before the surgery and watched my slow decline.
oh! folate would be a test I would ask for. I'm on prescription folate.
I'm sorry to be jumping around with my writing but I get confused easily. I used to be a writer, poems, prose short stories, so I personally find it very frustrating to have the inability to communicate in a cohesive manner.
Are you having problems now?
I did not mean to frighten you with my post, but being alert gives you and ability to take action IF something does seem out of sorts.
I hope and pray that you or anyone else for that matter never has to suffer like i did because of the lack of knowledge I had, or didnt have I guess.
take it slow and make sure you get blood work at least every six months or more often if something seems out of sorts.
Grace

FatButNotHappy · 08-20-2009, 11:24 PM

[QUOTE=onastartrek;481686]
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC NAME for the multitude of ailments. some fall under Weirnkes syndrom.

Oh my gosh, i was reading your post and thought it sounded like this. My mom acquired Wernekes after her GBS too. The memory is a huge issue for her---but now she is learning it is her hearing is shot--so it may not be that she doesnt remember....it could be that she just doesnt hear things. I guess her ears arent bad--but it is the brain damage that causes her to not be able to hear. Same with her vision. it is 20/20 but she cant see.

Ok, I am going to go back and finish your post. i just wanted to tell you that I knew what wernekes was---although I cant spell it.

Oh, and she had blood work all of the time...just normal blood work I think. CBCs? The only thing that was ever off was her potassium... and we could tell when it went low because she became pretty crazy acting. But, her blood work was always perfect so the docs refused to believe there was anything wrong with her--or it would show up in her blood work...right?

How are your eyes or your processing of what you see? My moms teeth are shot to hell too. She also has neuropathy in just the distal sections of her limbs. Balance is totally out of whack. she is going to go to a vestibular physical therapist next week. she has just been seeing a typical PT for four years, without much success...but we have high hopes for the vestibular one. Maybe you should look one of them up to.

onastartrek · 08-21-2009, 10:34 AM

My blood work was normal too. But I wasn't and I didn't give up until I found someone who would listen.
Blood work values are really a guideline for normality but our lives and sometimes blood level are framed by a different guideline.
That's interesting you say her hearing is going because i find myself asking my children to repeat what they say and when I watch tv its on much louder than what the rest of my family would put it on.
I used to be so, sharp. Now I'm just happy that I can at least read books again and retain the information.
The reversal was THE best thing that has happened to me since the surgery. I was/am blessed to have an amazing supportive husband and children. Without them I just may have given up
Grace

Ashley · 08-21-2009, 10:44 AM

Question--

How much weight did you lose with the surgery, and have you gained any of it back?

Girlygirl · 08-21-2009, 10:58 AM

THANK YOU!! especially Gracie, for being so up front, and open about what you've gone thru. I am thinking about RNY, but need to read EVERYTHING about it. your right, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!! I'm sorry you've had to go thru so much. My best to you!, Brenny

onastartrek · 08-21-2009, 11:11 AM

I lost the weight of being able to work for a living. I lost the weight of having fun with my family on vacations or even being able to go on vacations with my family. I lost the weight of being able to go back to school now that my kids are older. I lost the weight of health in its most basic form. I lost the weight of being able to say I have never had to file for bankruptcy but recently did because of almost 80k in medical debt...WITH INSURANCE. I lost the weight of being able to write and have the kind of imagination I used to. I lost the weight of intelligence and clarity of thought. I lost the weight of taking my dogs for a hike or even a walk for almost 3.5 years. I lost the weight of feeling great after a good work out.
I lost a whopping 40 lbs.
I have happily gained back my weight and 70% of the health I lost.
why is a number so important? More important than health and living life?
I wll never get it

onastartrek · 08-21-2009, 11:13 AM

My best to you too Brenny!
While my hope is that no one else makes the decision for weight loss surgery without first being aware OF ALL the possible side effects. If then the surgery is felt like the best or only option I have all the best hope and prayers for each and every person.
Grace

onastartrek · 08-21-2009, 11:38 AM

How did we get to the point that vomiting is acceptable?
Where giving advice on the best bag to puke in is common place?
Don't get me wrong, I was there. Accepting my fate to scan everywhere I went to find the best place to hurl.
I look back now and I'm so grateful my eyes were opened but personally sorry that my husband, children and myself had to get educated the hard way.
If I would have been educated on the REAL stats of vomiting. Vomiting wasn't a side effect but a part of my life for 3.5 years until I got my surgery reversed.
I still have no tolerance for certain foods, sweet stuff, anything carbonated, protein shakes and other things I can't think of. I am still significantly limited to the amount of food I can take in. I'm ok with that!
sometimes I think we as a people have lost it. The Biggest Loser is an amaingly dangerous and unrealistic show. All the diet pill commercials. heck I even saw my original surgeon on a commercial for a diet product! it was a product that supposedly mimics gastric bypass. insane
it makes me so sad to know people are actually listening and gaining hope from a commercial about a pill yet they wouldn't buy a used car from the person in the next commercial. Lets not forget the latest technology that includes BRAIN SURGERY.
if i would have been informed or even read in all my research anywhere that I could submit my intelligence in exchange for some thigh meat. well coulda woulda, you know the story.
I have been through so much in my life and never regretted any of it because it made me the person I was but this roux en y has been on my lonly list of regrets from the moment I found out how it was affecting my brain and nervous system.
I just don't want anyone EVER to suffer the way I and some of my weight loss cousins have.
Grace

Ashley · 08-21-2009, 11:54 AM

I wasn't implying that your reversal wasn't necessary, or that your weight loss was more important than your health. It was a question about what happens when the surgery is reversed, not about the events leading up to said reversal.

I'm glad you are feeling better.