Update

October 21, 2000

--- lizbear68@... wrote:

> Dear Crystal,

> I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your

> vacation. If only you didn't

> have to come back to this! Are things going any

> better for you? I hope that

> you have found some pain relief! Take care and let

> us know how you're doing

> when you feel up to it.

>

,

No things aren't going better. My throat is killing

me because of this ng tube. My youngest daughter

won't come near me i guess it scares her and i don't

blame her. I am getting some pain relief they started

me on msir and mssr. That part seems to be doing

better except tonight i had a lot of pain i have lost

30 pounds in about 2 weeks. I am just so tired of

being sick. i just wish i could wake up and it all be

a dream as you can tell i am going through some really

tough depression. I am angry at my husband because he

didn't go to the hospital with me when i had my ercp

done it seems like he always chose's work over me and

it upsets me so much i feel like he doesn't love me.

My 5 year old daughter was crying tonight because she

thinks i am going to die i just don't know what to say

to her anymore i am all out of answers. Well, I am

sorry for the negative attitude.

Steve, tell tammy i am praying for her and i hope she

gets well soon.

Crystal

__________________________________________________

October 22, 2000

In a message dated 10/20/00 9:57:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

pratt4_2001@... writes:

<< Hello everyone! I had a wonderful vacation.>>

Hi Crystal,

First that is great that you had a good vacation. we need those days to tuck

away for times like you are having now.

<< Then when I got back everything went hay wire. I was in the hospital here

for a week got out and couldn't eat they now have me on morphine SR and Ir

for pain>>

Are you having good response to the SR and IR. Morphine. From what I remember

they have rarely given you much more for pain other than Vicoden. That's

definitely better. Don't be afraid of taking what you need to stay

comfortable.

<< after a week of not eating i called Iowa City talked to the doc there he

made me come up and have and ERCP done which he couldn't find anything >>

That is one of the frustrating things about chronic panc. We can feel so bad,

yet they can't find anything on exam. I am glad that you have your Iowa

doctor who knows you.

<<While he was in he put in a NG tube. I was only supposed to have a can an

hour on the 3 hour drive home I vomited nothing going through the tube so the

home health nurse here called Iowa and he decided that continuos would be

better so now I am hooked up to this stupid pump. Has anyone else had one my

nose and throat are very sore does anyone else had one? Crystal >>

That is a crummy situation. I can only imagine how sore your nose and throat

must be. Are you feeling better with some nutrition in you? I only had an NG

tube in after surgery. I felt like I couldn't really move or everything would

fall out.

Keep your spirits high.

Karyn

Pancreatitis Support Network

Indianapolis Symposium on Pancreatitis 2000

November 11, 2000

October 29, 2000

In a message dated 10/29/00 12:26:24 AM Eastern Standard Time,

pratt4_2001@... writes:

<< i just wnat opinoins the tube is in my small bowel

bypassing the stomach and pancrease so they don't have

to work if it is the feedings how are they causing

pain? >>

Dear Crystal, Are you asking about a feeding tube. If so then I can relate

with you about getting sick while using it. First the doctor put a feeding

tube down my nose and into my small intestines. That didn't work for me. I

was so sick from feeding that way. Then a surgeon was going to put a j-tube

in my belly sort of on the side and it would be a source of liquid feedings.

It went into my small intestines also. When I went to the surgeon and told

him that I wanted that surgery he told me that I would be sick with the

j-tube also because every thing that goes thru the intestines will stimulate

the pancreas and make me sick. I was so desperate to get some nourishment

for my body so I told him I wanted to try it anyway. The surgery was

performed and I started doing the feedings thru my j-tube. I became so sick.

I had to remove the tube. So you see Crystal it didn't work for me either.

I should have listened to the doctor. I hope you feel better. Shirley

February 5, 2002

How exciting to be so close! I hope you can shake your cold before

the baby arrives. Thanks for the update.

Crystal

> Just a little update.

>

> First of all I have a TERRIBLE cold .. anyone have any suggestions

> for relief? I'm using a cool mist humidifier at night, vics vapo rub

> on my neck, the odd tylenol ... the sore throat is gone but Im left

> with running/sneezing nose. Do I just let it run the course? Still

> taking prenatals, drinking lots of fluids and trying to rest when I

> can. I hate being sick!!

> I'm not a big medicine person to begin with but coupled with wls and

> pregnancy I don't know what to take or if I should anyway.

>

> Ok I had a midwife appt yesterday. Total weight gain now 28 lbs.

> BP/urine was normal. Baby is head down, zero station, cervix is 3 cm

> dilated & 80% effaced. Midwife said she doubts I'll go to my due

> date of 2-14 but thats so close anyway who knows I could still be

> waddling around a week after that ... I hope its sooner than later

> but I'd like to get rid of the cold first.

>

> Feeling good aside from all that

>

> =====

> Lyssa (31) Ben (34) Kassie 9/18/91 Isabelle 6/5/98 Zachary 2-14-02

>

> __________________________________________________

>

August 4, 2003

Hey ,

77 pounds is incredible! Congratulations!! I didn't think it was

possible to lose that much in four months. If you don't mind my

asking, how much did you weigh when you had the surgery?

I got a laugh out of reading that you sat by the pool with the

attitude of a princess - you go girl!

Keep up the good work,

Bridget

> Cary,

> Hi! congratulations on the new and improved you. What weight did

you start at? I am also the same age as you and my comorbs are

similiar except I have asthma. I had the open RNY on 7/7 and I

started at 270. What area are you from? Hope to hear from you soon.

> Stacey

> Update

>

> HI everyone

>

> Hope you all have been enjoying your summer. All I can say is

Wow! I

> will be 4 months out this Friday and this tool is truly amazing.

I

> have to say I am still learning the ropes, but I have been

feeling

> really good.

>

> I went in for my yearly checkup at my OB/Gyn and they were

floored.

> They knew I was having surgery, but haven't seen me since.

Everyone

> was very supportive and estatic. My blood pressure was down and

this

> time last year my doctor and I discussed putting me on blood

pressure

> medication (I'm 29). They did a full blood workup (Cholesterol,

> Glucose, you name it) and my doctor's nurse called this past

Friday

> to say everything was normal!

>

> I feel truly blessed and so very fourtunate about this whole

process.

> I walked into this surgery with no major co-morbidities, I was

not

> diabetic, no joint problems etc, although I knew it was only a

matter

> of time before I would be plagued by those things. My only

problems

> were depression/social anxiety disorder and Poly-Cystic Ovarian

> Disorder, headaches and back pain. I have always tried to stay

> active. Today, I walk for an hour at least 5 days a week, the

> anxiety attacks I would experience prior to surgery are not as

severe

> or frequent, as many days I would feel like a prisoner in my own

> body. I went on a vacation with my family this past week, and

hung

> out by the pool in a bathing suit that was skin tight last

summer. I

> didn't care if I was the biggest person out there (I wasn't) and

I

> had the attitude of a princess! I plan on joining a gym so I can

> start using free weights, and get a trainer. I have treated

myself to

> manicures and pedicures. 77 pounds ago, I didn't feel like I

deserved

> to be pampered.

>

> I have learned in the past 4 months that you have to keep

exercising

> as it is vital to making the tool work. Carbs are from the 4th

> deminsion of hell I am trying to stay away from bread. I

> experience head hunger in the worst way especially at night and

have

> been trying to go to bed earlier as it seems to hit me around 11

pm.

> I have also learned that what may work for me may not work for

others

> or vise versa. I still have much to learn.

>

> For those of you who are considering surgery or have been

approved

> and are freaking out, or are newly post-op and thinking " What

have I

> done? " I went through it. Look up " freaking out " in the

dictionary

> and you will see my picture. I had horrible panic attacks prior

to

> surgery and questioned what I was doing. The day of pre-op

testing, I

> came home and cried. The day of surgery I was the calmest I ever

was

> pre-op. When I got home I was so relieved it was over, but was

still

> so overwhelmed and had no idea if I was coming or going. This is

> normal, and I promise as each day goes by you will feel better

> physically and mentally that you made the right choice.

>

> I still have much to lose, but 77 lbs is a load off! I will

upload my

> before and after pictures.

>

> 04/08/03 open RNY

> -77 lbs

>

August 4, 2003

WOW!! That was a great testimony!! It said so much. I am considering this

surgery and your email helped alot.

Thanks

Angie

Update

HI everyone

Hope you all have been enjoying your summer. All I can say is Wow! I

will be 4 months out this Friday and this tool is truly amazing. I

have to say I am still learning the ropes, but I have been feeling

really good.

I went in for my yearly checkup at my OB/Gyn and they were floored.

They knew I was having surgery, but haven't seen me since. Everyone

was very supportive and estatic. My blood pressure was down and this

time last year my doctor and I discussed putting me on blood pressure

medication (I'm 29). They did a full blood workup (Cholesterol,

Glucose, you name it) and my doctor's nurse called this past Friday

to say everything was normal!

I feel truly blessed and so very fourtunate about this whole process.

I walked into this surgery with no major co-morbidities, I was not

diabetic, no joint problems etc, although I knew it was only a matter

of time before I would be plagued by those things. My only problems

were depression/social anxiety disorder and Poly-Cystic Ovarian

Disorder, headaches and back pain. I have always tried to stay

active. Today, I walk for an hour at least 5 days a week, the

anxiety attacks I would experience prior to surgery are not as severe

or frequent, as many days I would feel like a prisoner in my own

body. I went on a vacation with my family this past week, and hung

out by the pool in a bathing suit that was skin tight last summer. I

didn't care if I was the biggest person out there (I wasn't) and I

had the attitude of a princess! I plan on joining a gym so I can

start using free weights, and get a trainer. I have treated myself to

manicures and pedicures. 77 pounds ago, I didn't feel like I deserved

to be pampered.

I have learned in the past 4 months that you have to keep exercising

as it is vital to making the tool work. Carbs are from the 4th

deminsion of hell I am trying to stay away from bread. I

experience head hunger in the worst way especially at night and have

been trying to go to bed earlier as it seems to hit me around 11 pm.

I have also learned that what may work for me may not work for others

or vise versa. I still have much to learn.

For those of you who are considering surgery or have been approved

and are freaking out, or are newly post-op and thinking " What have I

done? " I went through it. Look up " freaking out " in the dictionary

and you will see my picture. I had horrible panic attacks prior to

surgery and questioned what I was doing. The day of pre-op testing, I

came home and cried. The day of surgery I was the calmest I ever was

pre-op. When I got home I was so relieved it was over, but was still

so overwhelmed and had no idea if I was coming or going. This is

normal, and I promise as each day goes by you will feel better

physically and mentally that you made the right choice.

I still have much to lose, but 77 lbs is a load off! I will upload my

before and after pictures.

04/08/03 open RNY

-77 lbs

August 4, 2003

Hey Bridget,

Thanks so much! Girl I did have attitude, and it was great. A lot of

my family is saying the old (but new improved me) is back! I also

have to tell you that I used the fitness room while I was out of

town, and I just had to laugh because it will filled with a bunch of

40-something men trying to out do one another on weights, or the

tredmil, or the bikes. Then I walk in, and I thought to myself, I bet

they are looking at me taking bets on how long I will last on the

tredmil. WELL!! 20 minutes would go by and they would be done, and I

would still be walking in my zone while they were gasping for air. I

dare for someone to make a look or a comment or a sniker now-- I'll

scare the hell out of them by showing them my scar!

I started out at 354 lbs and this morning I weighed in at 277. I'm

5'9 and my goal is to hit between 150-180 lbs. I know people say not

to weigh everyday, but it gives me motivation. I haven't gained any

weight, but somedays I haven't experienced any losing, and I have to

think what did I do yesterday and I can usually chalk it up to too

many carbs.

Where are you on your journey?

> Hey ,

> 77 pounds is incredible! Congratulations!! I didn't think it was

> possible to lose that much in four months. If you don't mind my

> asking, how much did you weigh when you had the surgery?

> I got a laugh out of reading that you sat by the pool with the

> attitude of a princess - you go girl!

> Keep up the good work,

> Bridget

>

August 4, 2003