for LLLORY re Support Grp, Anemia, etc.

[Guest guest]

Laurie,

A while ago, we talked about meeting to discuss starting a support

group in Livermore. As I recall, you work nights and you were having

company until about now. I have also been very busy with work and

medical appts. If you still want to meet, let me know when you are

available.

I read your post about a stomach ulcer and iron deficiency.

I just had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy last Thursday. Apparently

my stomach is inflamed. They took a biopsy to rule out helicobacter.

Because they couldn't see the upper right portion of my colon, I have

to go back for a barium enema X-ray this week, and I am required to do

the same prep of no solid food and drinking a gallon of that Colyte

liquid. Ugh! It must have a lot of salt in it, because I have

swollen up more and gained 5 pounds since drinking it Wednesday.

The worst thing is that I am becoming more anemic, reportedly because

of the kidney disease. I was already taking 2 iron pills a day and

now have to double it to 4 per day PLUS get weekly injections of

Procrit. Since it sounds like many post-ops have trouble with iron,

and I haven't even had the bypass surgery yet, I am concerned about

how much worse mine will get after surgery. Actually, I am quite

discouraged that I may never get the surgery, as the changes in

medications and disease processes have made me re-gain weight in the

last 1-1/2 months and get further from my goal. The longer the wait,

the worse my health has become. I started out with two co-morbidities

(diabetes and hypertension) 10 months ago and now have at least five.

So much for my woes.........

I hope that your stomach is feeling better. Is the ulcer in the

pouch, or the larger portion of the stomach? What do you think has

caused it?

Rosemarie

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosemarie, sorry to read of all your recent

troubles. First thing that comes to mind for me is

that the iron you take may be causing your tummy and

colon troubles. Iron is known to be very hard on the

GI system. Especially ferrous sulfate. You might

want to run that past your doc. My ulcer is not in my

pouch or my stomach remnant. It is at the junction of

the bypassed intestine and the intestine that comes

from my pouch. I need to set up an appointment with

my surgeon who did my bypass, but it is virtually

impossible to get a callback from anyone in the

Fremont office. I'm taking carafate and prilosec and

it does help the pain, but has failed to heal the

ulcer.

Yep, I'd still love to get together with you and

Jeannie if she is still interested. I can get

together tomorrow or Friday or Saturday. If you want,

I'll e-mail you my number and we can discuss it on the

phone sometime. Let me know!

Laurie

7/13/05 Fremont

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