So Upset, don't know what to do now?

[purplefluffything]

Some of you know I am under pain clinic, I have been for more than 10 yrs!

I have an Intrathecal morphine pump. (This is a pump implanted in a pocket of fat in my tummy which is sited inbetween my left hip and belly button. From the pump is a cathter this is attatched to the pump in my tum and it is threaded from the pump around to my spine into the intrathecal space;delivering morphine and clonidiene 24/7) I also have back up break through oral meds.
I have my pump filled every 3 weeks.

I went on Friday to have my pump filled, I took the oppertunity to tell my pain consultant that I am considering wls and that I have had my first referal letter.
I e-mailed him also about this 2 days before my refil.
I told him I was considering wls and told him I was hoping for his support as no doubt my wls surgery consultant would need to correspond with himself.

Anyway I was telling him what I would like and why I would like it.
My pain consultant then BURST my BUBBLE:cry:. He said he doubts they would touch me! for one he said he did not think I was big enough and second he said that the amount of Morphine I have can cause me to have at least 5-8kgs of water retension!
I said to him so you think I should give this up? He then did not say no; but again said I don't think your big enough.

I didn't say anything to him as I was just upset inside:cry: I know a BMI of 39 is not as high as some but my argument is I cannot excersice much and my weight has and is still creeping up gradually each yr, I don't want to let this go on for a few more yrs and my weight creeps comtinually as well as my age as well..
Should I take my consultants veiw on this.
Or do has my husband suggest, which is try to keep to a low fat diet now with the aid of the pills fom my GP (Orlistat? sp?) to help myself as much as possible and carry on as though Im going to my referal which is not untill June 11th, By then I will know whether I still want to go or not?
I am very mixed up now.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Hugs x x x

 

[Sambucca]

Not sure what to say hun, but didnt want to read and run.

I'd say dont give up the fight just yet before you have even seen the consultant. People around your BMI have been granted NHS funding so never say never.

This is probably the wrong thing to say and I may get jumped on, but I wouldnt try to lose weight before your appointment just yet. The closer you get to a "normal" weight, the higher your chances of being refused.

 

[PinkyButtonz]

I wouldn't worry till you hear a yes or no from the surgeon.
They are to different specialist in their own field.

Just because a medicine make you carry more water doesn't mean you will not lose weight after having GB. I take steroids and am on list for bypass. Steriod cause weight gain and water retention.

I used Olistat many years ago and it did work, side affects (oily poo) are unpleasent. They stopped working and the weight came back.

 

[PinkyButtonz]

Not sure what to say hun, but didnt want to read and run.

I'd say dont give up the fight just yet before you have even seen the consultant. People around your BMI have been granted NHS funding so never say never.

This is probably the wrong thing to say and I may get jumped on, but I wouldnt try to lose weight before your appointment just yet. The closer you get to a "normal" weight, the higher your chances of being refused.

Not here to jump on you

I did the same, before I was my surgeon I thought I was borderline for Bypass so I didn't want to lose any weight. I just stabilised it.

 

[alberqueque]

Hi - just wanted to say that my BMI was just 40 and although i didnt have the other medical problems you have i still was lucky enough to have the operation. Please dont give up until you have seen a consultant for the surgery. they are the people who will tell you whats what rather than speculation. I cant advise you on the orlistat route as this is your personal choice but please keep your options open until you have exhausted them all. Take care xxx

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

i agree with the others wait until you see your weight loss surgeon, your pain doctor is not a weight loss surgeon and its not his decision to decide if you can or cant have surgery, i agree with sam keep your weight as it is for now until you see your wls surgeon.

 

[halve me]

so sorry you got a negative response from your pain clinc, i believe im lucky that my pain clinic were over the moon and cant wait for me to have the op. like the others have said wait and see what the experts in the bariatric field say, and like you say your bmi is relitavley low but you have health problems that would be helped by loss of weight. just try and stabalise your weight til your appointment good luck

 

[purplefluffything]

I just sat down to rest after doing a few little chores (I can manage a few household chores with rest in between, I use this as my excercise) I sat down and wondered if anyone would have looked at my post or not? when I looked I had a pleasant supprise to see not only had my post been looked at but answered too.

Thank, thank you so much for your time all of you :thankyou: when I was reading all your replys I could not help crying, one was because I did not realise there were real poeple out there that REALLY cared and another because you have now given me huge hope x x x Thank you so much.
I will take advice from all of you..
Kind regards.
Hugs xx:hug99:

 

[thinkbethin]

Hi, stick with it. You need to keep your weight as it is so you don't drop your bmi before you see your surgeon. The surgeon is the one that matters on this subject and not your pain doctor.Hang on in there and don't be down heartened untill you get an answer from the horse's mouth. Good luck xx Gaynor xx

 

[tesmaralda]

Your surgeon is the only one who can tell you if wls is possible, a lot of people in the medical field don't understand the processes or the criteria and are easily confused and give out bad information through lack of understanding, after all you wouldn't listen to a chiropodist about your pump and pain meds would you?

 

[brett30]

hiya Diana ...

well firstly i would say ignore what he said everyone is different.

i went to group meet last thurs and there was someone there who had surgery who only needed to lose 6 stone to get to ideal weight but cause they had more medical issues they got the op ..

Dr heath i was told would op on a dead horse lol as in he takes risk and operates on people high risk that other surgeons wont op on cause he is highly trained and knows what he is doing ..

i would not worry what other people have had to say ..
with ur medical problems its very doubtful that you will lose weight on the pills and get to ur ideal weight and stay there .. as u can not move much ..

so i would not worry about what he said and see the surgeon Hun.. you will be fine Hun xxxxxx

 

[purplefluffything]

Brett, You have talked a lot of sense, I only hope what you have heard is true about Mr Heath I will keep my fingers crossed..
Thing is people say to me I don't look as big has I say I am, this is because my height! people say I carry my weight well this upsets me because if they saw what I do beneath my clothes they would understand; also if they stood on the scales in front of someone at an appointment they would see my cheeks burn with embarresment when the needle on the scales shoots up just past the 19st mark! I try to hide my weight well with the clothes that I wear but without those clothes the mirrors do not lie..!

Another thing my pain consultant said was, that these weight loss surgeons forget to tell patients especialy the bigger ones is they loose the weight quickly but then end up with a candle effect skin, as though the candle wax as melted look! again I felt he was trying to put me off!

Brett, I know I won't be able to loose my weight without help, my medication and pain won't let that happen.
Hopefully I will see you at the june meeting you can then see me for yourself. Do you get a chance to speak one on one with the nurses at this meeting? is it after this meeting I then get a referal to the surgeon?

Don't get me wrong my pain consultant has always looked after me well. I just hope he will support me with this if the wls surgeon needs to chat with him.
I definatly will try to keep positive about this, I can't help feeling a little upset still.
Hugs to all xx

 

[shelbell]

Hey Diana :hug99:

When I applied for funding, my BMi was just over 39 (under 40), I got through on co-morbidities, some of which are chronic pain causing conditions. funding was approved first time. By the time I saw the surgeon I had gained a few pounds and it sent my BMI to just over 40.

I was immediately offered the bypass, my surgeon recommended it to be the right surgery for me. I had thought they would insist on the band cos of my health problems but it wasn't the case. The way I looked at it, my health risks were known, and so could be managed. Possible problems could be predicted, and so dealt with efficiently. Far safer than an unknown health problem!

I agree that your pain consultant is not a bariatric specialist, and so won't have the full knowledge of the surgery. Weight loss helps to reduce nearly all types of pain, and makes your medication more effective. I was on prescription painkillers constantly pre-op, and now I have the (very) occasional paracetemol when I need it. By the sound of it, my pain was far less intense than yours, but it still debilitated me and I am under a pain consultant too. Luckily mine was very supportive of the op!

 

[indianlight]

I agree with all that has been said, don't give up hope. Tell your pain specialist that you want his support and he can do that by agreeing that weight loss will help with your pain, it may jsut be he doesn't understand.

Anyway, don't give up hope. But don't lose weight and when you go to get weighed wear your heaviest clothes and boots with rocks in your pockets!!! lol

 

[SOON 2 B SLINKY SUE]

hi pft, just wanted to write a few words after reading your thread. I agree with everybodies replies, i think you will be just fine. I am also tall (6ft), and people say exactly the same to me "your tall, you can carry it" is a favourate . I hate it too, i just think i look even scarier , like a night club bouncer! Just to let you know my GP refered me for WLS and my BMI was only 34. When i had my first appointment 3 weeks ago, my BMI had increased to 35. Because i had co-mobidities they have agreed to do WLS on the NHS. I know i am incredibily lucky but i just wanted to put your mind at rest that they can say yes even with a relatively low BMI.

Good luck with your appointment

 

[purplefluffything]

Indian, Thank you for your support you did make me laughI think thats the first time today so thanks and yes definatly will put rocks in my socks..

Shelbel,Sue Thank you for the advice, Sue it is a comfort to know I am not alone in the 'Tall' department it is also hope.
If you don't mind me asking Shel and Sue what were your co-morbidities? and Shel what is your pain thats if you don't mind sharing with me..
By the way Shel pain is pain no matter how intense, one persons pain is different to anothers.. Thank you. I think I have met such a wonderful kind hearted lot of friends here. I have struck gold in the friend dept
Hugs x x x

 

[brett30]

you will be fine Hun and everything i have heard about Dr heath has been from his staff ,, so you have nothing to worry about you will be fine Hun .. the more things thats wrong with you the better in most case's ...

im the same as you i carry my self very well and do not look the size i am .. i always get from people ahh ur fine nothing wrong with you.

but same if i was to get on scales in front of them they wouldn't believe it .. my bmi has been going up and up and up over the months.

when you go to the support group you will have a chance to speak with the nurse yes and they also ask if you have an appointment yet with surgeon and if not they get on to it for you and get one out to you asap ..

don't worry Hun .. you will be fine xxx

 

[SOON 2 B SLINKY SUE]

:bliss:hello again,
no i don't mind sharing info! My list of co-mobidities are :
Type 2 Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
PCOS
two operations on my spine (so extra weight is not good )
DVT
My dad also passed away very young, he was 54 and died of heart disease - which also worries me.

The treads i have been reading have been fantastic - after wls peoples conditions can improve and in some cases go completely. Fingers crossed eh!! xxx

 

[purplefluffything]

Brett, Thank you again, I feel Im using the word 'Thank You' Up but I really do mean it when I say it xx You have made me feel so much better I only hope I see Mr Heath.

Sue, My disabilities are too due to spine operation It never worked and I became much worse I now use a cane and scooter. I have the morphine pump due to the intolerable pain. Due to the high amount of Morphine I am recieving it has put me through a premature Menapause. I am now under the Endiocrene to make sure I don't get Diabeties or Osteoporosis(I have Osteopenia very early 'osteoporosis') and now recieve disabilities due to my spine disabilities.

Night Night God Bless xxx

 

[quetiapina]

Hi Purple, I too am tall (my personal info is inaccurate - couldn't do a half) and I have loads of curly long hair. I look like a female version of Hagrid from Harry Potter movies. I used to get the "You carry it so well" (which stopped after I topped 20 stone!)

Well, onto your Pain Management Guy. You wouldn't ask a plumber to make you some shelves and you wouldn't ask the carpenter to mend your boiler. As everyone else has said - wait until you see the right person for the job - no doubt a Bariatric Surgeon would know little about pain management - probably did a week or so way back in Med School. The reverse is also true. As has been said, get out those heavy tweed clothes and stitch lead in the hems!
The very best of luck to you.