Dr. Rasmussen Appointment

I had my appointment with Dr. Rasmussen to go over the results from the esophogram and see about the possibility of having surgery to fix the hiatal hernia.

This appointment did not go as well as I was hoping it would. So there are several issues that have presented and not a whole lot of options.

• The first problem is that I don't have the part of my stomach to allow for a wrap. I don't even have a gastric remnant (leftover stomach piece) that could be used to do this either (my stomach was removed entirely from my body). In a normal Roux-en-Y surgery they leave the stomach to allow for digestion help. One again, lucky me, its gone. 
• The second problem is that I just have a crappy digestive system that doesn't want to work properly and I also have crappy luck. So there aren't a lot of surgical options. 
• So there is a procedure called Stretta. It is done by a Gastroenterologist and Dr. Rasmussen isn't sure if there is someone in Utah certified to do it. I believe that it just got approved by the FDA but we aren't sure if the insurance company will cover it or who could even do it. They basically go in and with a scope and a balloon and cauterize the bottom part of your esophagus to create scar tissue which will reduce the amount of reflux. Sounds fun.
• The other procedure is called LYNX. Also not sure if it is even FDA approved but won't be available for one or two more years. They place a magnet on the top part of your stomach and somehow this helps also reduce reflux. 
• If they go in and do anything surgically to the esophagus, Dr. Rasmussen is worried that with the swallowing problems I am having, we will only create a much bigger problem.

So right now, I am stuck in the same boat. The boat where I struggle to eat and be pain-free. The boat that doesn't give me any new options to help but to only manage symptoms. The boat where I am standing alone trying to keep it a-float by myself. The boat where I go on a trip for a weekend and loose 7 pounds cause I get sick and cant eat anything. I am very tired of  being on this boat. I would like to jump ship and find a new boat!! 

I am now also anemic and have to have an iron transfusion this week. 

So the plan for now is to keep trying these new medicines and see Dr. Rasmussen in December after I see Dr. Frech and get his opinion on these two procedures. Dr. Rasmussen will talk to some of his colleagues during this time and see if  any of them have any ideas of what to do. So basically, no new hope or resolutions. I am starting to vomit a lot more as well and that is not helping the whole situation. I am tired. Period.

Dr. Frech Esophogram Results Appointment

I had my follow up appointment with Dr. Frech this week. Wasnt a super informative or up-beat appointment. I feel like I may be on this never ending cycle of switching drugs and trying something new. Here is where things stand with Dr. Frech:

Nice View from Old Mill Office in Cottonwood Heights

• He doesn't want to sign off on me having surgery...ever again. Which I totally get. Believe me. But...if there is a way to fix a problem, I want it done. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts anymore. I am in charge!  I have to live like this. Everyday. 
• We have switched medications from Linzess to Amitiza. This is stronger but also has sucky side effects to which I have already noticed. It feels like I am having an asthma attack and it also adds to the nausea that is already out of control. Dr. Frech is hoping that if this medicine will cause a bowel movement more than every couple of weeks (I know...too much information), it will relieve some of the pressure that the stomach sphincter is under which will in turn relieve some of the severe reflux. This sounds like a long shot to me. But, we are going with it at this point. 
• I am going to try and switch myself from narcotics to just tylenol and tramadol. Also don't know if this is going to work. It is so painful to eat and I spend hours refluxing everything I ate, that it causes severe spasms into my chest. By bedtime...pain wise...I am done.
• I had labs drawn again to see why I am so tired. The labs drawn included a CBC, Vitamin B-12 and Folate, ferritin, iron, and iron/TBC. I will wait to hear from his office on results. We are also checking the B-12 levels to see if we can add another injection in and do it twice a month instead of once a month. I have to have the labs re-drawn in 3 weeks to see how much the B-12 levels drop. Maybe this will help with the energy issue.
• I am also to stay on everything else to keep other symptoms at bay. I take a daily regimen of norco, tramadol, tylenol, zofran, promethazine, miralax, dexilant, amitiza, a B-12 injection, plus all other vitamins. Some days more and some days less. I know this could be worse but it irritates me that none of this stuff is helping me to feel better. It's just survival mode at this point.
• I am to see Dr. Frech in 4 weeks and see where we stand. As far as fixing the hernia, he had no options.

So I also have an appointment to see Dr. Rasmussen this week to see if there is something he can do to fix what's going on. Maybe he will have more hope to offer. 

Here is my weekly motivation. I feel like I am rapidly loosing steam but know that there is nothing I can do, but trust in God and the plan he has for my life!!