I go to see Dr. R for my follow up on the feeding tube and
the weight. At his office, I weigh 130 pounds. That’s only down 2 pounds in a
week from my visit with Dr. Frech. Not too bad. We discuss everything that Dr.
Frech told me at my last visit a week ago. He agrees that taking out the
feeding tube right now is too early. He also wants to wait at least a month and
then depending on how I do, he will take it out if I can maintain my weight.
He doesn't seem sold on the idea of the small intestine
bacterial overgrowth. He said that for the bacterial overgrowth, you usually don’t
have a positive fecal white blood cell test which is what I had. And since I have
been on a 14 day dose of antibiotics that I haven’t really responded to yet, he
thinks it could be something else. However, he wants me to finish the last 7
days of antibiotics and see if I notice any difference. The next thing would be
to proceed with the colonoscopy to see if it could be colitis. I also talk to
him about the pain I have in my stomach every time I eat. It could be related
to the possible bacterial overgrowth or it could be the anastomosis shrinking
again. He suggests doing another barium swallow or an EGD to visually see the
pouch. I tell him that I would love to hold off on any more testing and just finish
the antibiotics out first. If I have to have a colonoscopy again, I want the
scope done at the same time and to just forgo the loveliness of swallowing the
barium again. Hopefully none of this will have to be done if my body would just
decide to heal and respond to the antibiotics.
He agrees with following the FODmap diet but also agrees
with me that this is the diet I am basically already following. He says to just
keep eating the way that I am and things with my diet will turn out fine.
I also let him know that Dr. Frech cauterized the tube
opening with silver nitrate to try and get rid of the granulomas but the
granulomas are still there and it is still oozing. He says he can use silver
nitrate again to try and get rid of the granulomas and I tell him no way! That
was one of the most awful things I have had done! He kindly lets me know that when he takes the
tube out he will also use silver nitrate to close the opening. Not looking
forward to this part at all!!
The plan for now is to continue trying to maintain my weight
without doing the tube feeds. Finish out the antibiotics and then proceed with
Dr. Frech if any more testing needs to be done. Also add in a probiotic once I finish
the antibiotic. I don’t have another appointment scheduled. He wants me to call
when Dr. Frech has given his OK to take out the tube and come into the office
and he will just take the tube out.
I am slightly feeling like there may be a light at the end
of this tunnel!!
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