Monday, May 30, 2011
My experience with my bariatric surgeon's support group is that it was useful in preparing me pre-surgery and for a short-term post-op in managing my new anatomy. However, it did little to educate me on how to maintain lifetime obesity disease management. My surgeon told me, "I do the surg...
I want to thank you for sharing, Pouch rules for dummies. I had Gastric bypass in 2003, with a total weightloss of 155 lbs. I was NEVER explained to about pouch rules. My Bariatric surgeon seemed to be the best. However, shortly after my WLS, my surgeon moved to another state. No explanation! (Later found out he had a malpractice lawsuit against him and was put on probation due to failure of disclosing information!) Therefore, leaving me with absolutely No follow-up care! My family doctor has tried her best to help me, but she doesn't specialize in WLS so she mainly checks my vitamin deficiencies, treats me with vitamins and thats all she knows to do. I have tried to receive followup care at other bariatric surgeons, but because they did not do my procedure, they want NOTHING to do with me. I have had to have numerous surgeries following my WLS. None of which were directly related to my WLS. However, I feel that if I had adequate follow-up care, I feel I may not have had all of the deficiencies which I think may have led to some of the health problems I have endured over the years. I developed what doctors thought was fibromyalgia, migraines and MANY other health issues. One of those health issues being, addiction to pain medicines because of the numerous surgeries that I have endured. I am glad to say that I am no longer on any pain medicines and my quality of life has improved more than I could have ever imagined! I no longer have issues with what the doctor believed to be fibromyalgia. Due to all of the surgeries, vitamin deficiencies, pain medicine addiction and lack of follow-up care, I have regained a little more than half of the weight that I lost. I have struggled alot since my healing of addiction with the fact that I have regained so much of my weight. During the time of addiction, I was so ill that I didn't care awhole lot. However, I now look at my weight gain in disgust. If I had proper followup care and had known that there are rules for pouches, I feel I would not have gained so much weight back. I am going to try to incorporate these pouch rules into my daily life and see what happens! I really appreciate you sharing!
Paula,
I can empathise with how difficult it has been for you. And I'd like to thank you so very much for sharing your journey. It is obvious that you are a fighter! Good for you!! I am proud of you for not giving in and lifting yourself up. I so admire people who can overcome their health challenges and you have overcome quite a lot. I am glad that the sharepost was helpful to you and may assist you along the rest of your journey.
I was delighted to find "The Pouch Rules for Dummies" during my research because I had long forgotten about them. I was even more delighted when I saw that I was losing weight quite nicely by following them! I hope that you become an expert on using the tool and drop off your excess weight! (((hugs)))
Might you share more with me about the vitamin deficiencies you had? I ask because for a long time I have been struggling with exhaustion. It came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks. At the time, I had been active in the community, and was taking excellent care of myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So, on my own (not under medical advice), I began taking tons of vitamins and supplements and it was the only way that I would have any energy to function. However, I was never tested for vitamin deficiencies.
Thank you again for sharing and I wish you many blessings.
P.S. It is very disheartening to hear that no other bariatric surgeon would work with you. Patients just can't be left "hanging." While there are many good resources of information on the internet, we still need the advice of a medical professional. I am glad that your primary is trying to help you. I myself have been searching for good primary care since I moved, and have not yet found the right doctor for me.
I am deficient in many vitamins due to the gastric bypass. Iron, vitamin Bs, vitamin D, Potassium. I take vitamins daily to try to keep up with life.