Re: Newbi here with questions

April 5, 2003

Cheri.......if I am understanding you correctly you have what is called a

" fistula " ......I don't know a whole lot about them.....but I do know

this.....if left untreated you WILL gain all your weight back......it will

be as though you never had the surgery at all............I would insist on

more info as to whether or not this is what he is talking about!! P.

Newbi here with questions

> Hi Everyone. My name is Cheri and I have been on the list for a few

months

> now but have never posted. Just trying to learn from all your

experiences.

> My surgery was January of 02, at Loyola near Chicago, done by Dr Brems.

> I had a hard recovery because I done heal well. I can still see the

staple

> marks from my incision. I have yet to reach the 100 mark of weight loss.

I

> started out at 268 and now weigh 180. I was done to 171 a few months ago

but

> the pounds are creeping up. I watch what I eat but I find I am able to

eat

> more larger portions lately. It feels like I am starving all the time.

> To make a long story short, I now have a hernia. I've been having pains

in

> my stomach for some time now. The hernia is up high towards the left of

my

> incision. Dr Brems ordered a cat scan and the results confimerd the

hernia.

> He also showed me the films and explained how my somache has stretched out

> and food may be going into the lower stomach because of the stretching of

the

> pouch.

> I feel like such a failure. My worst fear is to gain back all the weight

I

> lost. He is happy with my weight loss. I'm not! He said the food is

> probably going down to my lower stomach. I was in shocked state and could

> not think of any questions to ask him.

> His office is going to call with the date for the hernia repair. I asked

him

> to please zip me back up while he was in there. He explaind the risks are

> too hig for future problems. But... he will give it a look while he is in

> there.

> What exactly is a hernia? Should I insist he make my pouch smaller? What

is

> the recovery time? Is there anything I can say to him?

> My job is also in jepordy because of all the time I took off last year.

> Please give me advice. I am feeling very depaired at the moment.

> Thank you,

> Cheri

> MagicCheri@...

>

April 5, 2003