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I'm Always Nauseous

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Posted 8/15/2008 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
I am finally home again after being admitted to the hospital in May with ulcerative colitis.  Nothin medically worked and I had a total colectomy in June.  It was a very rocky time and I went home but had to be readmitted because of an abscess and collapsed lung.  I was discharged but still had my PICC line and was getting TPN feedings at home.  After a week, my temperature went to 103 degrees and I was re-admitted a third time because of an infection in the PICC line. 

 

Now I'm home again, still on TPN feedings.  I cannot eat or drink...nothing.  I am always nauseated and the doctor prescribed Pepcid.  That isn't helping and I am so weak and disgusted and sad.  I don't know what to do anymore.  I asked the surgeon if I should see a GI doctor and he laughed and said just take the Pepcid. 

 

Does anyone have any similar problems to this?  I won't to be well again.  I can't stand this feeling anymore.  Luckily my job is being very nice by letting me sit and do easy work at the computer...because I'm so afraid of losing my health insurance.  Thank goodness my sister works at the same school and drives me to work!

 

 

Posted 8/15/2008 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Mitzi I'm so sorry to hear this.. It sounds like you're having such a horrible experience. How frustrating it must be after finally being rid of your UC to be feeling even worse. I think it sounds like you should get a second opinion, from a GI doctor or another surgeon. It doesn't make sense that you're in such serious condition and your surgeon is just giving you Pepcid. I mean, that doesn't even touch my heartburn. You shouldn't have to be suffering like this, and I'm sure there's got to be a better solution.

Good luck and I really hope you start recovering soon.
Posted 8/16/2008 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Mitzi, I'm bothered by your surgeon's response to your continued suffering. Especially since you're unable to take nourishment and you're weak and nauseated. Where in GA are you located? I had my TC done at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta last October and my reversal this past May. I have a wonderful surgeon who responded to all of my millions of questions and concerns throughout this whole process and even called me back at home a couple of times to ease my mind or help me with problems. I would be glad to refer you for a 2nd opinion if you're interested. You shouldn't have to suffer like this without a plan of action. You should be able to count on your doctor!    -Laura

Posted 8/19/2008 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I had my TC last Oct at Piedmont hospital too. My surgeon was Dr. Singh. He is absolutely terrific!

I'm so sorry you're having such a difficult time. The only problem I developed after the surgery was I had a reaction to the staples where they reconnected my small intestine and I developed bleeding ulcers around the area. They just have me taking iron supplements. Hopefully it'll heal on their own.

Your body is trying to heal. It does concern me about your nutrition. If you can get the proper nutrition your body will eventually heal. I didn't have any of the complications you have had and it took me a good five months to feel like I was coming out of it.

Even now if I eat something that is hard on my GI tract I pay for it. I ate pizza yesterday and had to take a Xanax today to help w/ the intestinal pain.
Posted 8/19/2008 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Mitzi,

We haven't heard back from you since your last post and I'm concerned. How are you feeling? Is your doctor responding to your needs? Like Kim (ME!), my surgeon is Dr. Jay Singh at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. This man is wonderful!!!  He is one of the top colo-rectal surgeons in the Atlanta area (if not THE top surgeon) with tons of experience. He practically owns 5-South at Piedmont! Even the nurses like him and his looks don't hurt either. yeah   I had virtually no problems with my TC/J-pouch surgery last October and when he did my reversal in May, I experienced a stricture which he identified immediately and dilated with an outpatient procedure. Since then, things have been improving dramatically. 

Please let us know how you're doing.

-Laura

Posted 8/21/2008 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Ediekristen, Candyland and ME for the posts with advice.  I live in Gwinnett and my surgeons are with Georgia Colo-rectal Surgeons.  They have offices throughout Atlanta and Gwinnett.  My original surgeon was Dr. Ferguson and she is now on maternity leave and due back in November.  I am seeing the other associate, and the last time I saw him was yesterday.  When I mentioned seeing a Gastroenterologist but he said that I had so many CT scans of every part of my body over the time from May to August I spent in the hospital...that everything is looking fine...I even had another exploratory surgery to make sure everything looked okay on the inside.  

 

He prescribed Emend for the nausea, but the pharmacy told me it was $30 a pill.  It is used for nausea for chemo patients.  I can't pay that co-pay for each pill.  He then prescribed Prevacid, and I am feeling somewhat better.  I was able to eat a half a donut, two bowls of sherbet and quite a few ice pops.  I tried a fruit smoothy at Einstein's this weekend and I threw it up within minutes.  I've been able to keep junk food down.  I'm going to try Stonyfield full fat yogurt tomorrow.  At least I can look at food without gagging.  And I'm still getting my TPN at home.  I hook myself up to the IV every night, so the doctor said I was getting nourishment from that.  Hopefully, with the Prevacid I can keep down more and more.  I'm not at work this week...last week was just too much and I'm glad I didn't go since I think it was just too much to put in a full day's work.

 

Thank you all for being so concerned about me.

 

 

Posted 8/22/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Mitzi- I have found that there is sometimes a love/hate relationship between surgeons and GIs. I live in Fayette County! I go to Atlanta Gastroenterolgy in Dunwoody. My doctor is Dr.Wolf, but they have several other very good GIs there as well. If your interested their phone number is 404 257-9000. I've used several GIs here in Georgia and was disgusted with some of their incompetence. However, Dr. Wolf was highly recommended to me and I have been extremely satisfied with him. Remember, it's your body...do what YOU think is best for you....not some laughing nonempatheic surgeon!
Posted 10/4/2008 8:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Mitzi, I have severe nausea on a regular basis. One thing that helps a lot and pretty quickly is Zofran. It can be taken in little tablets that dissolve and they taste like cotton candy kind of. Which actually makes me NOT want to put it in my mouth because the nausea is usually so terrible that the thought of any flavor makes me want to hurl, BUT it takes honestly like 10 seconds to dissolve and works instantly. They are a savior. Ask your doc about getting a R/X to try them. And I totally agree with the others on getting a second opinion from another doctor. I have been through way too many doctors that just thought they knew everything and really could have killed me. I finally after like a a decade found such an amazing doctor, I trust him with every inch of my being. SO RARE, in my experience.
Good Luck!
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