How Time Flies!
- Shonna L. Tropf
- Jul 23, 2019
- 12 min read
Oh my goodness! I cannot believe how long it's been since I've been able to sit down and write to you friends. This year has just gotten away from me. Time truly goes faster and faster as we age. I remember as a child how it seemed to take forever to get from one Christmas to the next. My Granny Dot always told me to not wish time away because it would slip through my fingers one day. She was hands down the wisest person I've ever known and definitely knew what she was talking about with most things, but most especially with time. She passed away in 2009 and no one has or will ever fill the hole she left in the lives of our family. She was our angel on earth. I miss her every single day; we all do.
So, what have I been doing with my time since I last wrote to you? Good question - I
don't really know! I've been busy working, recuperating from the last surgery and just trying to figure out where my life's journey is heading. It snowed here in SoCo well in to June. The St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup and the Womens' soccer team won the World Cup. I visited Missouri in late June and as always it tried to kill me with its humidity and moldy climate. I smashed my car on July 5, but thankfully no one was seriously hurt and I've already settled with the insurance company and replaced it. I started working with a two new ESL companies where I'm still teaching children, but will now also work with adults. I'm pretty excited about that. I think that's about it!
Lets' focus on the surgery, shall we? Several months ago I told you that I was to undergo yet another surgery to fix my "little" reflux issue. On May 7th I went in for a Rowen Y Gastric Bypass. It is most commonly used for and known as a weight loss surgery, but one of the key secondary fixes is for reflux. In fact, it is hands down the best fix for reflux as it totally eliminates reflux - forever! The acid producing glands are located in the old portion of the stomach and sealed off from the newly created pouch; hence, no more reflux. Insurances just have not caught on to this and still make people go through all of the hoops as if their main reason for having this particular surgery was for weight loss.
When my doctors came to the conclusion that we had maxed out all of the acid reflux medications and surgery was the only way to resolve my reflux problem they immediately mentioned the gastric bypass. I was not a fan. In fact, I went home and researched all of my options for myself and was still not convinced that this was the right option for me. I had to be "sold" on this surgery. I think I've mentioned before when I met with the first surgeon she thoroughly reviews all of the surgical options with me and then told me that due to all of my other comorbidities (Dang TBM!) I had no choice in the matter. Gastric bypass it was - sold or not. I was reassured time and time again that this was the absolute best option for me and that I would not regret it. I would lose all of the weight I had gained from being so sick over the last several years and I would no longer have reflux. It was a win win. I confess, that so far, yet again, my ace medical team was right and I am glad I "bought" this surgery.
The surgery itself was supposed to take approximately 2.5-3 hours. Mine took nearly four. Once Dr. Rothchild got in there he saw that what was supposed to be a relatively "small" hiatal hernia was actually a fairly large, gaping hole that turned inward, making it hard to see on all of the various imaging I'd had done over the years. He told me that he felt like this hole was the primary reason my reflux had gotten so badly out of control, but that it was fixed now and I should never be bothered by reflux again. Hallelujah!!!
They do the gastric bypass laproscopically using a robotic arm. Thank goodness for that. I now have six new puncture scars that dot my abdomen. So in conjunction with the huge scar wrapping around my should blade and under my breast, the puncture scars from my appendectomy and gall bladder removal one could play a very interesting game of connect the dots on me! :)
The healing and recovery time was not nearly as long as with the tracheobronchoplasty. I only took a week and a half off from teaching, but in hind sight probably should have taken a full two weeks just so my energy level was a little higher for the kiddos I work with. The pain level was not nearly as severe either. In fact, I stopped taking the pain medication within two or three days of being home. I truly hate Oxy and do not understand how anyone could find themselves addicted to it. It totally knocks me out, rendering me useless for hours, and constipates me. I do not see the fun in that.
I was in the hospital for two nights, the first of which was horrendous! I was utterly miserable. Have I mentioned that I'm allergic to morphine - or at least it makes me itch
from the inside out to the point of being painful? So, in my own words from my Facebook update, "I had very, very, very little sleep b/c they gave me Dilaudid. I am itching like I walked through a field of poison oak, poison ivy, tall decorative grass & then got chicken pox on top. They've given me a shot of something & then a shot of Benadryl & I'm STILL itching & just switched my pain meds." By the way, I do not even remember writing that post, but it was a very accurate description of how I felt that first night. They actually gave me as many shots of everything that they could to try to ease the itching, but nothing worked. If I ever have to under go another surgery you can be that I will be far more insistent that I NOT be given morphine or any of its derivatives.
On top of the incessant itching, one of the nurses blew out my vein when switching out my IV (I do not remember why she was doing that, but it did have to be done). This caused my hand to fill with fluid and swell up to twice its size. I could not bend it or flex my fingers at all for hours. The nurse said it would eventually go down as the saline moved through my body. That was nice.
For a gastric bypass they fill your abdomen area with air, lots and lots of air. That air has to go someplace. One of the very first things I remember saying upon waking up from how badly my shoulder hurt. The post op nurse said it was from the air they filled me with. It often gets trapped up in and around the shoulder blade area. It would take a few days to escape. Speaking of air in the tummy, I looked like I was seven or eight months pregnant, which last for a week or two after I got home. (Look through the pictures in the above gallery of my puncture wounds above to see how bloated I still nearly a week after surgery.)
For three weeks after the gastric bypass (GB from here on) I was on a liquid diet, which included sugar free jello and pop cycles, broth, and protein drinks. For the most part wasn't too bad. I actually wasn't very hungry and had to force myself to keep drinking in order to meet my liquid intake quota for the day. The worst part was that most of the things I was allowed to ingest were so incredibly sweet. I could have different broths, but the protein drinks were syrupy sweet. Dr. Rothchild, my most excellent surgeon, said that was one of the chief complaints that he heard from his patients. Someone should really do something about that!
I did get an excellent report for my three week post op visit. Healing was right on track
or maybe even a little ahead of schedule. By that time I had lost right at 20 pounds, but most importantly, I had stopped aspirating into my lungs so the constant tightness and nagging cough had all but subsided. That in and of itself was so worth putting my body through another major surgery - just as my fantastic medical team had said it would be. Have I mentioned how blessed I am to have such phenomenal healthcare providers who take excellent care of me!!! Props to Nationa Jewish and UCHealth Denver.
My energy supply was still very low at this point, which was completely normal. The only concern Dr. Rothchild had was that at the end of week two I had managed to contract a stomach bug of all things and was violently ill for about three days and man oh man did it hurt! I ended up in the ER with it so that should tell you something. He said he hated it for me, but it wasn't at all out of the realm of possibilities because my body was too busy trying to heal from the surgery that it can't keep up with every little bug that tries to sneak in - and you all know how much my body loves to take in every little bug it encounters!
The other issue I noticed around this time was my hair was losing its luster. The shine had faded to dull, dry brittleness. My once fun, bouncy curls no longer had the energy to curl around either layed flat and lifeless against my head or stuck straight out; there was no in between. Now, I'm not an arrogant person or one who overly concerned with my appearance. Don't get me wrong, I do like to look as nice, or as nice as I'm going to, and would much rather be overdressed than underdressed for any occasion. However, I do not make much of a fuss over my appearance, except for my hair. I've always prided myself on my hair and been extremely picky about they way that it looked. (Just ask my mom who just so happens to be my hairdresser!).
Seeing it looking so badly due to this surgery, it's one of the common side effects at first due to not eating, had a pretty large emotional impact on me. I hated when the time came as I was getting dressed for me to try to figure out what to do with it. I knew it was going to be a futile effort no matter what I tried. I really could not handle it. Seriously! In fact, when I visited Missouri I had my mom cut several inches off of it even though it was just getting to the length where I liked it best. Having that damaged hair off of my head did indeed lift a weight off of me and made me feel so better - even with it being considerably shorter than I wanted it to be.
Isn't funny how much stock we put into our hair? On good hair days we can feel like we can touch the moon and nothing can bring us down. But boy, on a bad hair day, we just want to crawl under the covers and hide away from the world; not wanting anyone to see us. Or at least that's how I am. I'm happy to report that my shiny, bouncy curls are coming back and that my hair grow very fast, so it should regain those lost inches in just a few months. Whew!
With my healing going so well I was able to actually start introducing pureed foods into my diet a couple of days early. Woot woot!! The next several weeks consisted of pureed foods, broths, yogurt and very soft flaky foods such as canned chicken, tuna, turkey, etc. My mom had made me a lot of pureed veggies with added protein in them when she was here, so I had those as well. Protein waters and shakes were still my main source of nutrients, though.
At five weeks my weight loss had slowed to a more normal pace and I was down 22 pounds. This was putting me very close to my pre-TBM weight. I'd spent over two years battling TBM and all that it brought with it - round after round of steroids, days with absolutely no energy due to not being able to breathe, a four month battle with RSV,
and many days where I did not have the strength to get out of bed let alone try to get up and exercise. Praying those days are long gone (or at least for years and years to come!). At this time was able to begin walking and trying to reincorporate some yoga moves. Dr. Rothchild told me to be careful with yoga for a few more weeks because he did not want me to pull/stretch anything in my abdomen area too much. When you're as in tune with my body as I am you know your stretching limitations, so I don't go too far.
I began reintroducing soft foods, like actual food at this time and by week six it was time to begin experimenting with all types of foods at an easy pace. I was pretty excited to get to start eating real meals again. However, I have to be honest, it was not as easy of a transition as I thought it was going to be and still is not. I have spent quite a lot of time standing over my kitchen sink or at the toilet vomiting. Sorry, but that's what happens!
Chicken seems to be the most problematic. About 97% of the time it comes right back
up. However, I think I've narrowed that issue down to how moist the chicken is; dryer chicken is the enemy! When I mentioned this to Dr. Rothchild, he said again that that was completely normal. Chicken is one of the hardest foods to reintroduce and digest. He said to give it a few more weeks or months and there's a real chance I may not be able to eat it again. Aw man, chicken had always been a mainstay in my diet so keep your fingers crossed! I have been able to eat some vegetables and half a banana at a time (1/2 is actually 1 full serving by the way!) as well as red meats and fish. I've also started eating vegetarian "meat" quite a bit because it just goes down easier and seems to stay put. So onward we go with food experimentation. To ensure that I am getting all of the necessary nutrients I now take an absurd amount of vitamins everyday as well as still drink protein shakes and/or waters daily. This will be my routine from here to eternity!
I just had my three month post op visit on July 12. Yet again I got an excellent report.
As of today I've now lost in the neighborhood of 28 - 30 pounds - depending on the day
and taking into account I got a horrid ear/sinus/upper respiratory infection when I went to Missouri and had to have a round of my favorite Prednisone. Not too bad for three months. I don't think I'd really want to loose the weight much faster. This feels more realistic and permanent. I am happy with where I am on the weight loss portion of this journey. Now, if I could just stay off of the ol' Prednisone! Speaking of that, I almost forgot that from now on when I have to take a steroid I'll also have to take a special medication that coats the lining of my stomach making the steroid less harsh on my stomach and protecting it from ultimately creating an ulcer. It's good stuff right there!!
I did have a punch in the gut reality check in the middle of June, though. I had been so excited that my chest didn't feel like it was on fire and my nagging, sometimes TBMish cough had all but disappeared that I almost forgot that I still had TBM. Almost. However, TBM will not ever let one of its victims become complacent or rest on our laurels for very long. It does not like to be ignored and will eventually rear its ugly head and demand attention. On Sunday, June 16, I woke up and BAM! There. It. Was. My chest felt as tight as if I were wearing a lace up corset trying to synch my waist in to an unrealistic 18"; yeah, it was that tight. With the least little exertion my cough was back. OI!
My soul hurt and my spirit lay openly wounded. Those few short weeks of not having to deal with or think about the realities of TBM were heavenly; they were normal. I felt almost normal again. "Damn! I still have it," is the thought that actually went through my mind and kept replaying itself over and over like a broken record. I ruminated on that thought and how badly I felt for several hours that day until I decided that TBM was not going to take away my joy. So, I did the only reasonable thing that made sense to me and went for a hike! I was determined to kick some TBM ass that day. Before you question my sanity - I picked a lowerish altitude hike that did not have much of an elevation gain. You all know I am stubborn, but have learned a lesson or two along the way. I'm not gonna lie, it was a little tough at times even with my oxygen on, but the important thing is that I got out there and did it. My mantra from now on is, "Not today TBM, not today!" (Well unless it's a really bad breathing day and then I just have to be smart and safe.)
Overall I am doing well! My energy level is still slowly making its comeback, but it is coming back. I've actually had a few days over the last week or so that I can honestly say that I felt pretty good. Can I get an amen!?!? I'm looking forward to having more energy and many more new adventures in the future. As always thank you for taking the time to follow my health journey and for all of your love and support. You all mean the world to me!
Love and Blessings,
Shonna
PS. Did you know stomach acid is exactly the same thing as any other chemical acid? Hence all of the damage it can do to your body once it's allowed to escape you stomach. If you have constant, uncontrolled reflux see your doctor and get it taken care of ASAP!
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