- Dec 28, 1999
- 13,107
- 67
- 91
A lot of you know that I've lost a lot of weight over the last couple of years. What some of you don't know, is how I lost it. On January 5, 2005, I had gastric bypass. It's a very extreme measure, but a choice that I made. Because I have fibromyalgia and arthritis and other crap, it was next to impossible to lose the weight that I wanted and needed to lose. I've now lost about as much weight as I currently weigh. (Thanks to my Gay Boyfriend, GeekDrew, for coming down to help take care of me after the surgery!! :lips: )
There have been VERY few times that I've regretted having my surgery. Very few. Right now, however, is one of them. I've had pain in my lower left abdomen for quite some time. It has, however, worsened. It's hard for me to eat or even drink. I am, quite literally, starving to death. I've been in the ER twice in the past week. I have a state insurance, which is better than nothing at all, but there isn't a surgeon or GI doc yet that will see me. I've had a CT done of my stomach over a month ago. They're trying to rule out SMA Syndrome. The last doc at the ER was a little dumbfounded because my primary care doc has done so little to really do the "ruling out" part. This doc just gave me an order for an upper GI. He also gave me a pelvic. (Any other woman groan when you read that? UGH!) He said that I need the upper GI, an endoscopy, etc. . .to start ruling out the other before they want to slice me open.
My problem right now, really, is my insurance. They'll see me in the ER or my primary doc will see me to just say that she's trying to get a specialist to see me. (I've done almost all the leg work for that anyway.) I'm so fVcking irritated/mad/sad/angry because I'm barely able to eat or drink. If I was just trying to get something stupid taken care of like a hangnail or something, I could understand. But I can't eat. (Or barely) I know docs need to make money and they have malpractice insurance payments out the ass, but I'm barely hanging on. I just don't know what to do.
I have a cousin in PA that wrote me an e-mail today. She's a retired surgeon. She was trying to give me some ideas. If none of this makes a ton of sense, I apologize. I've had maybe 20 bites to eat in the past 48 hours. (I'm not exaggerating.) There are people here that might be able to give answers to questions if I'm not around because they know me. I'll be on and off as I feel like I can. Just PLEASE keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!!
Oh, and here's the read Hazel. Exposed
Hazel1
Hazel2
(My friend's.
)
EDIT:
Update:
Hi everyone.
First, I'm sorry I haven't updated, but I this is the first time I've been online in a few days. (Unfortunately, no, this wasn't an early April Fool's joke. I wouldn't do something like that.)
Second, the update:
I had to go to the ER for the third time in about a week on Friday. (I think it was Friday.) They still basically won't do anything. I'm getting so frustrated (not to mention weak) with it all. I contacted my original doc's office in Virginia this morning. (I haven't been sleeping well and woke up early again.) The nurse gave me a couple of other ideas of places to call so I'm going to be doing some research. When I was at the ER, the person I saw also suggested contacting universities to see if they could/would help me because they're usually wanting people with exotic-sounding illness. (Or something like that) I'm going to be calling surgeon's/vascular surgeon's offices a little later today after they open.
As for why I'm not eating, it's because of the pain in my stomach. (I've been eating applesauce pretty well, though.) When I eat, my stomach cramps up horribly and I get really really nauseous. I haven't thrown up, thank God, I HATE that!! lol
Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all the encouragement.
UPDATE #2
I now have an appointment later this month at Stanford. It's a drive, but at this point, I really don't care as long as I'm getting treated. I saw my doc and she gave me pill-form Morphine (Kadian), some meds for my stomach, and (ew) rectal suppositories for nausea. The Kadian helps relax my stomach (my stomach is in like one huge cramp otherwise) which, in turn, helps me eat. Since then, I've actually been able to eat a little. She suggested Ritz crackers and since then I've eaten over a sleeve of 'em. W007! I've been able to eat the liquid/stew part of beef stew along with some of the carrots as well.
Thank you for all the thoughts, I appreciate them all.
UPDATE #3
I now have an appointment later this month at Stanford. It's a drive, but at this point, I really don't care as long as I'm getting treated. I saw my doc and she gave me pill-form Morphine (Kadian), some meds for my stomach, and (ew) rectal suppositories for nausea. The Kadian helps relax my stomach (my stomach is in like one huge cramp otherwise) which, in turn, helps me eat. Since then, I've actually been able to eat a little. She suggested Ritz crackers and since then I've eaten over a sleeve of 'em. W007! I've been able to eat the liquid/stew part of beef stew along with some of the carrots as well.
Thank you for all the thoughts, I appreciate them all.
I've not had Ensure. The shakes I made were with protein powder, Sugar-Free Carnation Instant Breakfast, and fat free milk. I've been avoiding those, though, because of the milk. It can really hurt my stomach. . . .especially now. Like I said up there, though, I'm able now to munch on a little bit of beef stew. My friend got worried about me and went to the store and got me some Pedialyte lol.
My int4rw3bz got brokted for like two days, so I hadn't been online. Those of you that have my cell number are free to call. I have Verizon, so if you do too...no problem. If you don't, call after 9:00 so it's free. (I'm not a tightwad, but having to make all these calls is chewing through the minutes. Grrrrr)
There have been VERY few times that I've regretted having my surgery. Very few. Right now, however, is one of them. I've had pain in my lower left abdomen for quite some time. It has, however, worsened. It's hard for me to eat or even drink. I am, quite literally, starving to death. I've been in the ER twice in the past week. I have a state insurance, which is better than nothing at all, but there isn't a surgeon or GI doc yet that will see me. I've had a CT done of my stomach over a month ago. They're trying to rule out SMA Syndrome. The last doc at the ER was a little dumbfounded because my primary care doc has done so little to really do the "ruling out" part. This doc just gave me an order for an upper GI. He also gave me a pelvic. (Any other woman groan when you read that? UGH!) He said that I need the upper GI, an endoscopy, etc. . .to start ruling out the other before they want to slice me open.
My problem right now, really, is my insurance. They'll see me in the ER or my primary doc will see me to just say that she's trying to get a specialist to see me. (I've done almost all the leg work for that anyway.) I'm so fVcking irritated/mad/sad/angry because I'm barely able to eat or drink. If I was just trying to get something stupid taken care of like a hangnail or something, I could understand. But I can't eat. (Or barely) I know docs need to make money and they have malpractice insurance payments out the ass, but I'm barely hanging on. I just don't know what to do.
I have a cousin in PA that wrote me an e-mail today. She's a retired surgeon. She was trying to give me some ideas. If none of this makes a ton of sense, I apologize. I've had maybe 20 bites to eat in the past 48 hours. (I'm not exaggerating.) There are people here that might be able to give answers to questions if I'm not around because they know me. I'll be on and off as I feel like I can. Just PLEASE keep me in your thoughts and prayers!!!
Oh, and here's the read Hazel. Exposed
Hazel1
Hazel2
(My friend's.
) EDIT:
Update:
Hi everyone.
First, I'm sorry I haven't updated, but I this is the first time I've been online in a few days. (Unfortunately, no, this wasn't an early April Fool's joke. I wouldn't do something like that.)
Second, the update:
I had to go to the ER for the third time in about a week on Friday. (I think it was Friday.) They still basically won't do anything. I'm getting so frustrated (not to mention weak) with it all. I contacted my original doc's office in Virginia this morning. (I haven't been sleeping well and woke up early again.) The nurse gave me a couple of other ideas of places to call so I'm going to be doing some research. When I was at the ER, the person I saw also suggested contacting universities to see if they could/would help me because they're usually wanting people with exotic-sounding illness. (Or something like that) I'm going to be calling surgeon's/vascular surgeon's offices a little later today after they open.
As for why I'm not eating, it's because of the pain in my stomach. (I've been eating applesauce pretty well, though.) When I eat, my stomach cramps up horribly and I get really really nauseous. I haven't thrown up, thank God, I HATE that!! lol
Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I appreciate all the encouragement.
UPDATE #2
I now have an appointment later this month at Stanford.
It's a drive, but at this point, I really don't care as long as I'm getting treated. I saw my doc and she gave me pill-form Morphine (Kadian), some meds for my stomach, and (ew) rectal suppositories for nausea. The Kadian helps relax my stomach (my stomach is in like one huge cramp otherwise) which, in turn, helps me eat. Since then, I've actually been able to eat a little. She suggested Ritz crackers and since then I've eaten over a sleeve of 'em. W007! I've been able to eat the liquid/stew part of beef stew along with some of the carrots as well.Thank you for all the thoughts, I appreciate them all.
UPDATE #3
I now have an appointment later this month at Stanford.
It's a drive, but at this point, I really don't care as long as I'm getting treated. I saw my doc and she gave me pill-form Morphine (Kadian), some meds for my stomach, and (ew) rectal suppositories for nausea. The Kadian helps relax my stomach (my stomach is in like one huge cramp otherwise) which, in turn, helps me eat. Since then, I've actually been able to eat a little. She suggested Ritz crackers and since then I've eaten over a sleeve of 'em. W007! I've been able to eat the liquid/stew part of beef stew along with some of the carrots as well.Thank you for all the thoughts, I appreciate them all.
I've not had Ensure. The shakes I made were with protein powder, Sugar-Free Carnation Instant Breakfast, and fat free milk. I've been avoiding those, though, because of the milk. It can really hurt my stomach. . . .especially now. Like I said up there, though, I'm able now to munch on a little bit of beef stew. My friend got worried about me and went to the store and got me some Pedialyte lol.
My int4rw3bz got brokted for like two days, so I hadn't been online. Those of you that have my cell number are free to call. I have Verizon, so if you do too...no problem. If you don't, call after 9:00 so it's free. (I'm not a tightwad, but having to make all these calls is chewing through the minutes. Grrrrr)
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