Well, the surgeon has a good idea about what's been going on. You see, I still have a bit of the sleeve hanging around, connected further down into my intestines, to supply a tiny bit of digestive juices. Kind of like what they do in a normal RnY procedure, but much smaller since so many of the complications have each taken a chunk of said stomach tissue. It's basically the remnants of the sleeving procedure. My surgeon thinks that the small lengeth of intestines trailing from my leftover sleeve has become impassable, therefore kinking the line. This may be causing a backup of digestive juices over a long period, thus causing my rain to always regster that I am "full" even though this bit of nonsense is no longer used as my actual "stomach." Since the line is kinked, but not closed, the spasms will let the fluid release into my operation intestines, causing an overflow to backup into my new stomach pouch, thus causing more pain and spasms.
Okay, sounds plausible. It makes more sense once you see it on a chart and a bunch of random scribbled innards like he had when he explained it to me...
He still wants to get a gastro specialist on board, but every one he has spoken with wants to take my case on as a primary. My surgeon does not want to give up his primary status on my case. He said that he wants to see this through until I'm healthy. So until we can find a specialist that will take on my case as a "consult only" position, we're still searching. For some reason, most specialist don't want to consult, they want to take over...
Regardless, we're definitely planning another surgery, but aiming for Novemberish. Hoping to get a specialist on board before surgery number six begins. My instructions are still the same... heavily medicated, keep taking vitamins, keep attempting solid foods.
My diet is still mainly liquids and cheese. For some reason cheese sits pretty well... at least it's high in protein and kind of good for me. I'm still drinking the Syntrax Nectar Sweets protein shakes. I got crazy and went for variety and ordered their Cappuccino flavor to go along with the Strawberry Mousse and my much beloved Double Stuffed Cookie. Most days are still two protein shakes and random snacks in between. On good days, I can eat an individual pack of Just The Cheese chips (Grilled Cheese flavored), or a few almonds (if I spend five minutes chewing). Those are my solids of choice. Meats are still not nice to me. Very, very moist soft chicken will stay down every now and then. I love days like today when I can eat almost a whole naked chicken nugget (they're unbreaded, roasted chicken chunks that I bake in the oven with some gravy or cream of mushroom soup).
This past Monday I went to see my new shrink. For those of you just joining us, my stoopid new primary doctor thinks I need a shrink eval, so she won't approve a refill of my anxiety meds until I went to see a shrink. I made an appointment with the same psychiatrist that did my pre-surg evaluation since she seemed tolerable.
The appointment went well. I am apparently "very well ajusted and capable of dealing with things on a rational level." We spent an hour chatting about my surgeries, my complications, my food intake, and my daily routine. We spoke about pain management and how I'd like to get completely off of my pain meds as soon as possible. This is when she asked if I had heard of self hypnosis to regulate pain. What? Huh? I can do that?? So, feeling like a complete mook, I sat there while she guided me through the process. I must say, I felt silly sitting there with my eyes shut listening to her talk about envisioning my breath moving through my body, but it actually seemed to help. I got pointers on how to practice doing this by myself, and sent home with a new appreciation of breathing.
I've been practicing daily at home and I think I'm getting the hang of it. I have another appointment this coming Monday as a follow up, but the doc said I really don't NEED to continue seeing her if I don't feel it's necessary. She said I'm dealing rather well with all of my issues, and that my sarcasm and wit are actually a good coping mechanism, and seem to be working for me. She did suggest that I explain to future new doctors about said coping mechanism, and to try and avoid any references to jumping in front of busses, even if said in jest.
Good advise, methinks.
I'm going to go take my meds and envision my breath now. My apologies in the update delay. I still suck at blogging.
Okay, sounds plausible. It makes more sense once you see it on a chart and a bunch of random scribbled innards like he had when he explained it to me...
He still wants to get a gastro specialist on board, but every one he has spoken with wants to take my case on as a primary. My surgeon does not want to give up his primary status on my case. He said that he wants to see this through until I'm healthy. So until we can find a specialist that will take on my case as a "consult only" position, we're still searching. For some reason, most specialist don't want to consult, they want to take over...
Regardless, we're definitely planning another surgery, but aiming for Novemberish. Hoping to get a specialist on board before surgery number six begins. My instructions are still the same... heavily medicated, keep taking vitamins, keep attempting solid foods.
My diet is still mainly liquids and cheese. For some reason cheese sits pretty well... at least it's high in protein and kind of good for me. I'm still drinking the Syntrax Nectar Sweets protein shakes. I got crazy and went for variety and ordered their Cappuccino flavor to go along with the Strawberry Mousse and my much beloved Double Stuffed Cookie. Most days are still two protein shakes and random snacks in between. On good days, I can eat an individual pack of Just The Cheese chips (Grilled Cheese flavored), or a few almonds (if I spend five minutes chewing). Those are my solids of choice. Meats are still not nice to me. Very, very moist soft chicken will stay down every now and then. I love days like today when I can eat almost a whole naked chicken nugget (they're unbreaded, roasted chicken chunks that I bake in the oven with some gravy or cream of mushroom soup).
This past Monday I went to see my new shrink. For those of you just joining us, my stoopid new primary doctor thinks I need a shrink eval, so she won't approve a refill of my anxiety meds until I went to see a shrink. I made an appointment with the same psychiatrist that did my pre-surg evaluation since she seemed tolerable.
The appointment went well. I am apparently "very well ajusted and capable of dealing with things on a rational level." We spent an hour chatting about my surgeries, my complications, my food intake, and my daily routine. We spoke about pain management and how I'd like to get completely off of my pain meds as soon as possible. This is when she asked if I had heard of self hypnosis to regulate pain. What? Huh? I can do that?? So, feeling like a complete mook, I sat there while she guided me through the process. I must say, I felt silly sitting there with my eyes shut listening to her talk about envisioning my breath moving through my body, but it actually seemed to help. I got pointers on how to practice doing this by myself, and sent home with a new appreciation of breathing.
I've been practicing daily at home and I think I'm getting the hang of it. I have another appointment this coming Monday as a follow up, but the doc said I really don't NEED to continue seeing her if I don't feel it's necessary. She said I'm dealing rather well with all of my issues, and that my sarcasm and wit are actually a good coping mechanism, and seem to be working for me. She did suggest that I explain to future new doctors about said coping mechanism, and to try and avoid any references to jumping in front of busses, even if said in jest.
Good advise, methinks.
I'm going to go take my meds and envision my breath now. My apologies in the update delay. I still suck at blogging.
I totally "get" and appreciate your humor. lololol. I have an appt with a head-shrinker next month - that should be shits and giggles. Oh, I still suck at blogging too.
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