Re: window of opportunity, mechanical problem, failure, or what?...

[Guest guest]

Lorraine, I'm the same way, but I'm so glad you did. From someone

who's had a staple line disruption, being proactive in your own

health care and not just listening to your one doctor is the best

thing you can do for yourself. I've found that more often than not,

our gut feelings are correct. I know you will be well taken care of

in WA, not only by Dr. Oh, but by that whole terrific WA crew,

especially our Vitacouple.

Oh, and when my stomach was transected, I didn't go any further

distal (I'm 150 cm bypassed), but the weight loss continued, and may

still be continuing (albeit very slowly) even pushing 4 years.

Good luck, sweetie!

in NJ

***************************

> WARNING - THIS IS LONG -

>

> I have pondered long & hard about whether I would post this. I

often have difficulty talking about a problem/issue while it is

happening.

[Guest guest]

Lorraine,

Thank you so much for sharing. I suspect it wasn't easy.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

479/335/???

[Guest guest]

Lorraine,

I have added you to my prayer list and want you to know that you

will be in my thoughts and prayers in the months to come.

Please find the time to keep us all updated on your new journey and

how fruitful it is for you. We will all be very interested in

following your progress and new found success!

Thank you for sharing please continue to keep us updated. God bless

you and keep you safe

(Thanks, ...for sharing, healing, and giving when it would

be easier not to. You are all prayed up too

Love and prayers,

Carol G.

> WARNING - THIS IS LONG -

>

> I have pondered long & hard about whether I would post this. I

often

> have difficulty talking about a problem/issue while it is

happening.

> I tend to discuss it once it is more resolved. Just how I am.( &

to

> think I am a shrink - LOL) However, I have been helped so

> tremendously by questions & comments from others, I decided it

would

> help to share.

>

> Some of you who know me from the boards I occasionally post to may

> remember that I had my surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago, lost rapidly the

first

> 9 months or so & then stopped. For over a year & a half I went up

&

> down the same 8 pounds. I didn't even break 200 until late spring

of

> this year & I am sure it is because of my protein feasts. I had

> nearly accepted that I was through. Don't misunderstand, yes,

there

> has been moments of complacency, but generally I am so focused.

Even

> last year I trained for 6 months for the Honolulu marathon running

2-

> 3 mornings a week plus long runs on Sat that were minimum of 5-6

> miles to 20 miles.

>

> I have always done 4- 5 protein shakes a day from the time I " met "

> & she educated me about protein. In the early spring I

had

> slacked off to 2 shakes maybe ocasionally 1 but that was for a few

> months. I am faithful with my vit & min, water. I rarely dump.

Not

> that I am so good - I don't like sweets very much, never have - so

> when I have dumped it was usually by accident (eating papaya which

> gave me the dump from hell - was really wishing for death). The

> papaya dump happened after I was 1 1/2 yrs out. A couple of other

> dumps - again eating something that i totally didn't expect to

have

> that reaction.

>

> I have always been a protein eater. Love meats, chicken, &

fish.

> My meals consists mainly of that, some veggies, once in a while

> potatoe or rice or pasta, but very, very rarely. I also can eat

> soooo much more than I once could - though not 1/10 of pre wls.

>

> Over a year ago I suspected something was wrong. My surgeon said

it

> was me & I should " diet " - eat 2 meals a day of broiled meat &

> veggies & exercise. Well, that was while I was training for the

> marathon. Did I mention that I was also cross training 3 days a

week?

>

> As I saw the posts here & on the grad list about SLD, revisions,

> proximal vs distals,windows of opportunity, etc, I began to

privately

> email others who mentioned revisions & issues similar to mine.

> Asking them what made them have them, what was their process in

terms

> of how did they know to go this route. had suggested on

> several occasions I get scoped but my surgeon seemed to think that

my

> questions some how accused him of doing a poor surgical job. He

> never said this, it is just how he responded to my questions about

> the possibility of something being wrong, sld, or whatever. When I

> asked him if I could have an SLD he said " IMPOSSIBLE " - well - I

> wasn't transected. He said it was me.

>

> I decided my life had changed so radically for the better, I

needed

> to praise God for all that He had done in my life & move on. But

it

> kept nagging me. Since my surgeon stopped responding to me, I

> contacted the program through which I originally had my surgery &

> told the program manager my concerns & she immediately suggested a

> scope & even said I needed to look at being bypassed more &

> transected.

>

> It was the first time I didn't feel crazy. I never told my hubby

> much about this, but when I did he asked me, " what does your real

> doctor say? " I knew immediately he meant our own Vitalady. I

told

> him she had said she'd wish I'd come there for a consult. He

said,

> then why don't we go there. We trust her & she has never

> steered " us " wrong. He said you are so healthy because of the

> mentoring she gave you. He also said why would you go to some doc

we

> know nothing about? Now mind you, he has never read an email from

> her nor spoken to her. I then called her & had a wonderful,

> encouraging talk from our own Vitaguy. It was so wonderful to be

> validated & not made to feel crazy. I then had a wonderful

> encouraging talk with (who by the way has enough on her

> plate without my junk crowding in - sorry - didn't realize this at

> the time).

>

> So, I have an appt with Dr. Oh on Aug 8 to be scoped & a consult &

> then advised as what I should do. I am beginning to believe that

for

> me a proximal just isn't enough. For those that it has worked

for, I

> am happy, but I think I need more.

>

> I don't know how to tell you all how relieved I am. It wasn't

that I

> felt as if I failed, cause I know if I never lose another pound, I

> have won. But I just can't settle. I have come too far, fought

too

> hard to not go all the way.

>

> So, my daughter's wls surgery is July 29. I will go to Atlanta to

be

> with her, come home for 6 days & head to WA.

>

> I just ask for your prayers. Lord knows I do not want another

> surgery for the rest of my life (my wls was my 3rd abdominal

surgery -

> I know it is far less than some have had to endure), but I did

> develop a hernia, so since they gotta go in there I may as well

get

> fixed completely - even TT if doc Oh says it is feasible.

>

> So you WA folks, maybe I'll get to meet some of you in a couple of

> weeks. Can't figure out how to get this all done - I start

teaching

> grad school again in Sept, Treasure (my daughter who is having

wls)

> is also getting married in Oct. & I do have a private practice to

> run. & only God knows what the insurance company is gonna do.

>

> Anyway, sorry this was so long but it was weighing on me. I was

> trying to decide where to post this & decided I'd just cross post

it

> to the 3 boards I am on. Sorry if it is resundant for some of you.

>

> Thanks for listening (see that's what happens when people hold

stuff

> in too long. My clients who do that end up needing a couple of

> double sessions for a couple of weeks - LOL)

>

> Lorraine