Kimberly B
Member
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2014
- Messages
- 18
I'm new here, but old to the DS. I had it done in 1999 by Dr Robert Rabkin. There was no lap done then, and it was a long time ago...I have been relatively blissfully unaware most of the time that I had had the DS, I got yearly labs done, adjusted the vitamins accordingly, and I was fine. Or so I thought.
Over the last 3-4 years I've gained about 50 pounds back of the 230 I lost. When I buckle down, log my food, and eat high protein very carefully and low carb, I do drop weight. It takes paying attention to myself. a few years back by doing this I lost 20 pounds over 6 months and felt much better.
However, I didn't do that for long. I will not go into the exact stressors, but there have been many, four kids, all with odd and serious medical problems to resolve involving surgery, a divorce, and before that an incredibly conflict laden marriage and home life, and a career of managing my own business led to self neglect. I was able to do that before. But now, I can't.
And then I found the DS board on Facebook. And found Diana Cox.
Diana Cox should be sainted. I first named this thread small bowel intestinal overgrowth, because that's what I have, but I changed it, I'll post that niex. It took four months, GI tests, colonoscopies, two ER visits, barium studies, and pain and a 6 month pregnant bloated belly this whole time to finally come back around to what Diana suspected it was back in October when I posted on the FB board. And it's being treated with Flagyl and Keflex, and Diana personally messaged me the doses, time, etc.
Diana also created a fabulous document of what to tell your PCP that I brought in with me today to my new doctor. She'd never seen a DS patient before, but I gave her my postoperative notes from 15 years ago, all my lab work for that time period, Diana's letter, and she's so excited to treat me, and to learn. My new PCP wants to meet with me every week until we figure out how to help me feel good again, not have GI problems, digest food, maintain my normal weight.
Diana is a very very bright woman, and a very qualified attorney. I'm sure she bills out at 500 an hour or something, but she is so amazing about giving back to the DS community, and I have to recognize that here.
And as an aside, Diana and I first got in a HUGE facebook message fight, the biggest one I've ever had. She claimed I was from the "land of the perpetually offended" because I didn't like the harsh tones some of the vets used on me when I first stated my GI problems, rather clumsily, I might add, because like many long term DSers I had no real clue what I had. They didn't even give me any info on how to eat or anything after my surgery, it was just basically "wing It" (not literally, but that was the casual attitude)
I got booted off of the FB board, and still am. And that's a bummer, because I'm not the best at computers, and even remembering places like bariatric facts.org. But Diana invited me to join you guys here. Diana has been the only good source of medical info I've had, and one of my biggest supports when I don't have a lot of friends or doctors and am going through a divorce with full custody of 4 kids. She even helped me drink my bowel prep for the colonoscopy more easily.
Diana, if I am the only one in your life that you have influenced this dramatically, for me, you are a Savior. You give, and yes, you are very upfront and blunt about the actions we should take as DSers as well as the reverence we should have for the surgery. But you are amazing. THANK YOU so much!
Over the last 3-4 years I've gained about 50 pounds back of the 230 I lost. When I buckle down, log my food, and eat high protein very carefully and low carb, I do drop weight. It takes paying attention to myself. a few years back by doing this I lost 20 pounds over 6 months and felt much better.
However, I didn't do that for long. I will not go into the exact stressors, but there have been many, four kids, all with odd and serious medical problems to resolve involving surgery, a divorce, and before that an incredibly conflict laden marriage and home life, and a career of managing my own business led to self neglect. I was able to do that before. But now, I can't.
And then I found the DS board on Facebook. And found Diana Cox.
Diana Cox should be sainted. I first named this thread small bowel intestinal overgrowth, because that's what I have, but I changed it, I'll post that niex. It took four months, GI tests, colonoscopies, two ER visits, barium studies, and pain and a 6 month pregnant bloated belly this whole time to finally come back around to what Diana suspected it was back in October when I posted on the FB board. And it's being treated with Flagyl and Keflex, and Diana personally messaged me the doses, time, etc.
Diana also created a fabulous document of what to tell your PCP that I brought in with me today to my new doctor. She'd never seen a DS patient before, but I gave her my postoperative notes from 15 years ago, all my lab work for that time period, Diana's letter, and she's so excited to treat me, and to learn. My new PCP wants to meet with me every week until we figure out how to help me feel good again, not have GI problems, digest food, maintain my normal weight.
Diana is a very very bright woman, and a very qualified attorney. I'm sure she bills out at 500 an hour or something, but she is so amazing about giving back to the DS community, and I have to recognize that here.
And as an aside, Diana and I first got in a HUGE facebook message fight, the biggest one I've ever had. She claimed I was from the "land of the perpetually offended" because I didn't like the harsh tones some of the vets used on me when I first stated my GI problems, rather clumsily, I might add, because like many long term DSers I had no real clue what I had. They didn't even give me any info on how to eat or anything after my surgery, it was just basically "wing It" (not literally, but that was the casual attitude)
I got booted off of the FB board, and still am. And that's a bummer, because I'm not the best at computers, and even remembering places like bariatric facts.org. But Diana invited me to join you guys here. Diana has been the only good source of medical info I've had, and one of my biggest supports when I don't have a lot of friends or doctors and am going through a divorce with full custody of 4 kids. She even helped me drink my bowel prep for the colonoscopy more easily.
Diana, if I am the only one in your life that you have influenced this dramatically, for me, you are a Savior. You give, and yes, you are very upfront and blunt about the actions we should take as DSers as well as the reverence we should have for the surgery. But you are amazing. THANK YOU so much!