Catherine's Story(her progress journal follows her story)
Picture of Catherine will be posted soon.
Note: If you are at my website because you or someone you know has experienced seizures after having gastric bypass surgery please contact me. I have talked with a physician and have some direction to give you.
After careful consideration and research I decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery. Gastric bypass surgery would be the answers to all my over weight problems. So in April of 2004 I had my gastric bypass surgery, with much success, I lost 100 pounds in a year. Losing 100 pounds can take an overweight person from invisible to visible.
After about three and a half years after my gastric bypass surgery I started to feel extremely tired, all I wanted to do is sleep. A general blood test revealed that my iron and B12 levels are incredibly low. Currently I am being treated for low iron and vitamin B12, with injecting of B12 I give to myself once a month and every three to four months I am receiving iron infusions. After these vitamin treatments my medical condition started to improve. My once tired body and mind felt alive once again.
Feeling my health problems were behind me, I started having this strange sensation, a sense of disavow. This feeling of disavow continued for about a year before my husband insisted that I go see a doctor. The spells would last only about thirty seconds and during these spells I would have a difficult time talking, it would take me about 10 minutes to get myself back together to where I felt somewhat like myself. Going to see a doctor made me nervous, I worried that he might tell me that I am crazy, but I could see in my husband’s eyes worry, so I decided to go. The doctor told me something surprising, he said I am having seizures. Seizure, how could this be, I didn’t black out or start convulsing. My condition was called Petit Mal Seizures, where the brain goes into a spasm, causing me to have a blank stare on my face. During a petit seizure my memory would be set back, I knew my name and where I lived but forgot things such as, I did water the plants, or what is my brother in-laws name.
Many medical tests are preformed such as an MRI, along with many blood tests and a brain wave test. The only test that confirmed my seizures is the brain wave test. My next question was why? The doctor really didn’t know why, but subscribed some medication to combat the seizures. The medication did combat the seizures for a little while. Within four months the seizure returned, causing my medication to be increased, and increased every time I broke through my medication.
After much research on the internet, the evidence was clear; my seizures are caused by me gastric bypass surgery. After presenting this information to the doctor about gastric bypass and the seizures he basically agreed. Now what, I will just continue to break through my medication with continued seizures until I have a grand mal seizure, leaving me without a driver’s license or job.
Catherine is a great help with helping me be mindful of the food I eat that will support my brain health.
HEALTH HISTORY
Seizure: January 2009 beginning of at least 5-6 seizures per month.
Dec 2009 put on medicine for seizures. Still had random seizures.
At various times has had to have medicine dosage increased since original
prescription.
Headaches: Have been random.
Hunger: Since May 2010 has not been able to satisfy hunger.
Reactive Hypoglycemia: Started experiencing in 2005. Catherine informed me that her GB surgeon told her to avoid grains and fats. And that he also advised her to eat high protein and suggested she consume products that have the artificial sweeetener sucralose.
NOTE: Catherine is now eating healthy fat, healthy carbohydrates, & protein in a balanced way. She does NOT consume products with artificial sweeteners such as sucralose.
September 18, 2010 Started Balanced Healthy Eating Mid Day
Seizure: 2 in the morning. Started Balanced Healthy Eating after these.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 was about a 6
Hunger: Could not satisfy.
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 19, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 20, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 21, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 22, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 23, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: Had a headache today.
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 24, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 25, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 26, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 27, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
September 28, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: Small one in morning.
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
Sep 29-Oct 18, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
Oct 19, 2010 Not on Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: One
Oct 20-Nov 9, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating All Day
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Hunger: Satisfied
Reactive Hypoglycemia: NONE
