Hello all!
I just joined the forum today after a bad week! I'm 32 years old and 11 years ago I had gastric bypass. It was still relatively new then and not a lot was known, or still, about the surgery unfortunately for me I was young and went with the first surgeon my doctor suggested to me as I didn't know then that I could check around.
My surgery....went wrong to say the least and when I was having massive problems and went back to my surgeon for help he refused to run tests and told me it had nothing to do with the surgery. It took me a year to find a doctor who would help me, and when I did they discovered I had ulcers from my esophagus down into my intestines, my staples were out, my vitamin levels were all way below where they should be among many other issues. On top of it I had what they were calling Crohns like symptoms. I knew about Crohns as some family members were diagnosed with it.
I have been bounced back and forth between gastric bypass surgeons and gastro doctors. My gastro doctor is the best and keeps trying to help me, but theres two many issues going on. Mechanical issues with my bypass ( I am a study case now, I have had 15 surgeries so far to repair the gastric bypass, remove the rotting tissue and try to reroot my system so I can stop getting sick), while other doctors are convinced along with that I may have Crohns. With this surgery your bacteria levels can rise, they are finding now, however no one can figure out a course of action to help me! So while all this is going on I am at my stomachs mercy sadly.
I have been hospitalized numerous times for observation and try all kinds of diets and tests, surgeries, medications ( none help me so far,or the few that do I have reactions to that make it not worth taking), to having to see therapists because they are worried all this is going to make me snap mentally.
At this point I am use to being sick, not fine with it, but use to it. The problem I am having is people thinking because its been over ten years and I "look fine" that it cant be as bad as it really is. My stomach literally controls my life daily. Decides if I can go out, or not, if I can eat or not etc.
I am set up to see a new surgeon who takes on the "hard cases" for gastric bypass patients who have had severe issues but I am not to hopefully for that anymore. After ten years and 15 surgeries I am not only tired but the last of my stomach will be removed if this does not work. As is I have already lost sections of my intestines, 90% of my stomach, parts of my esophagus, part of my liver and my gal bladder.
I am happy to see a forum like this exsists, while my issues are probably slightly different I am assuming people will understand what its like here and can help me to express whats going on with those around me. They think because I look fine, that I am and thats so far from the truth. Thanks if you have read this far, and sorry this is so jumbled its hard to condense 11 years into one entry!
I just joined the forum today after a bad week! I'm 32 years old and 11 years ago I had gastric bypass. It was still relatively new then and not a lot was known, or still, about the surgery unfortunately for me I was young and went with the first surgeon my doctor suggested to me as I didn't know then that I could check around.
My surgery....went wrong to say the least and when I was having massive problems and went back to my surgeon for help he refused to run tests and told me it had nothing to do with the surgery. It took me a year to find a doctor who would help me, and when I did they discovered I had ulcers from my esophagus down into my intestines, my staples were out, my vitamin levels were all way below where they should be among many other issues. On top of it I had what they were calling Crohns like symptoms. I knew about Crohns as some family members were diagnosed with it.
I have been bounced back and forth between gastric bypass surgeons and gastro doctors. My gastro doctor is the best and keeps trying to help me, but theres two many issues going on. Mechanical issues with my bypass ( I am a study case now, I have had 15 surgeries so far to repair the gastric bypass, remove the rotting tissue and try to reroot my system so I can stop getting sick), while other doctors are convinced along with that I may have Crohns. With this surgery your bacteria levels can rise, they are finding now, however no one can figure out a course of action to help me! So while all this is going on I am at my stomachs mercy sadly.
I have been hospitalized numerous times for observation and try all kinds of diets and tests, surgeries, medications ( none help me so far,or the few that do I have reactions to that make it not worth taking), to having to see therapists because they are worried all this is going to make me snap mentally.
At this point I am use to being sick, not fine with it, but use to it. The problem I am having is people thinking because its been over ten years and I "look fine" that it cant be as bad as it really is. My stomach literally controls my life daily. Decides if I can go out, or not, if I can eat or not etc.
I am set up to see a new surgeon who takes on the "hard cases" for gastric bypass patients who have had severe issues but I am not to hopefully for that anymore. After ten years and 15 surgeries I am not only tired but the last of my stomach will be removed if this does not work. As is I have already lost sections of my intestines, 90% of my stomach, parts of my esophagus, part of my liver and my gal bladder.
I am happy to see a forum like this exsists, while my issues are probably slightly different I am assuming people will understand what its like here and can help me to express whats going on with those around me. They think because I look fine, that I am and thats so far from the truth. Thanks if you have read this far, and sorry this is so jumbled its hard to condense 11 years into one entry!
