JENNIFER'S STORY
(her progress journal & photos follow her story)
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.
I come from a family of obesity, and have fought it all my life. I have yo-yoed my weight for 20 years. In my 40's with a young child and a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease I knew my health was a huge concern. I was at that moment healthy with no problems. Looking for the right way to become healthy has led me down the road to such illness I don't know if I will ever be well again.
April 4,2008 marks the day that changed my life because I had the surgery. I had read and researched, been to seminars and consultations, I thought I was well informed and well prepared to have a roux n y ( gastric bypass) surgery. Initially I was pleased, I was losing weight rapidly and felt better than I had in years.
By November of 2008 I was vomiting every time I ate. It took three months to be diagnosed with gall stones and have my gall bladder removed in January of 2009. I thought my troubles were over. I followed the doctors sparse instructions, ate what I was told to and took the reccomended vitamin supplements. At this point I had lost approximately 120 pounds.
By spring the headaches started, migranes that would require trips to the ER once or twice a month. More tests and doctors revealed nothing. The gastric surgeon stopped returning my calls telling me it is "all in my head". Within months the headaches, which was now HEADACHE and never left, progressed to fainting. More doctors, more medicine that made me a zombie. Still no diagnosis.
My blood work showed I was extermely anemic, and vitamin B deficient. After weeks of B shots and IV iron infusions I was supposed to be "cured". At this point I was passing out 4-5 times a day. I could no longer drive and was afraid to be at home with my young daughter alone. As all illness progresses mine has as well. The fainting episodes now were accompanied with tremors.
Every trip to the neurologigist had the same results. EEG, MRI, Cat Scan, all clear. Heart checked out-even ended up with a heart catheterization- thats clear. Doctors cannot find anything so they tell me I need a psychiatrist! They don't know whats wrong so of course I must be nuts. I'm SICK not crazy!!!!!
April 1, 2010 was the first hospitalization for a seizure. I had grand mal seizures in the prior 5 days and had this one at work, scaring my co-workers nearly to death. An ambulance was called and I was admitted to the hospital. Again nothing was found on any tests, my meds were changed and I was sent home. Since then I have been having between 5 and 9 seizures a week. Had I known this surgery would rob me of my energy, my joy, my spirit, my Life I would have remained "fat and happy" because the alternative is misery.
The Blessing of finding Catherine and this website is I am no longer alone, and I 'm not crazy. There are others out there suffering just as I am. Maybe with the right guidance and Grace we will all get well.
HEALTH HISTORY
Seizure: Has been having seizures since March 2010 at least 5 days a week.
Headaches: On a daily basis for last 2 years.
Energy: Low energy for about 1 year.
September 13, 2010 Did not start Balanced Healthy Eating Yet
Seizure: at 7-8 pm.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 was 8
Energy: low.
September 14, 2010 Started Balanced Healthy Eating Mid-Day
Seizure: at 9am & 2:30pm. Started Balanced Healthy Eating after 2:30 seizure.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 was between a 9-10
Energy: was extremely low
September 15, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE but felt "fuzzy" feeling mid-day. This feeling typically occurs before a seizure.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 3
Energy: is overall good.
September 16, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: she had one mid-day.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 4
Energy: is good (but after seizure it was definately low).
September 17, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE.
Headache: NONE
Energy: is Very Good.
September 18, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 2 starting mid-day
Energy: Very Good
September 19, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 7
Energy: Medium - low
September 20, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE this is 4 days without seizure. Longest she has gone without seizure is 3 days
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 9
Energy: Good
September 21, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: She had one
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 9
Energy: Low
September 22, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 6
Energy: Good
September 23, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 2
Energy: Good
September 24, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: None until evening
Energy: Good
September 25, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 at about a 2
Energy: Good
September 26, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE
Headache: NONE
Energy: Good
September 27, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: NONE This is 6 days with no seizure. This is the longest she has gone with having no seizure.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 bout a 6
Energy: Good
September 28, 2010 Balanced Healthy Eating ALL DAY
Seizure: She had one.
Headache: on scale of 1-10 bout a 9
Energy: Poor
September 29, 2010
Nausea & Vomiting which means her body will not be able to get the nutrients it needs.
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 bout a 9
Energy: Poor
September 30, 2010
Nausea & Vomiting again. Dr. put her on BRAT diet for nausea & vomiting.
I begin to consider, as I have seen with another client, if the nausea is her body's way of saying I am getting healthier and I don't need as much seizure medication. This is not a diagnosis instead it is something I am wondering.
Seizure: Two
Headache: on scale of 1-10 it is a 10
Energy: Poor
October 1, 2010
Nausea & Vomiting. On BRAT diet again.
Jennifer discussed with her doctor what I was wondering about maybe her body having nausea & vomiting due to it rejecting the dose of medication she was on. Her doctor informed her to cut her dosage down today & every day after to see if that would help alleviate these symptoms.
Seizure: NONE
Headache: on scale of 1-10 bout a 7
Energy: Fair
October 2, 2010
Brat Diet til noon then after that on Balanced Healthy Eating. Had nausea in morning then it went away mid- morning. Now that Jennifer is not vomiting and again giving her body all of the nutrients it needs we will see what affect this has on her health.
Seizure: One
Headache: on scale of 1-10 it was a 6 after seizure
Energy: Poor
October 2, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: on scale of 1-10 it is a 3
Energy: Good
October 3, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: Fair
October 4, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: Good
October 5, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: Good
October 6, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: One
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 9 after seizure.
Energy: Poor
October 7, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 2
Energy: Good
October 8, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: One
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 10
Energy: Not good
October 9, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 2
Energy: Good
October 10, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 2
Energy: Good
October 11, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: one
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 10
Energy: good until seizure
October 12, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: Good
October 13, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: Low
October 14, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: one
Headache: On scale of 1-10 about a 10
Energy: low
October 15, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: low
October 16, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: low
October 17, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: little Low
October 18, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: One
Headache: None
Energy: low
October 19, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: None
Headache: None
Energy: good
October 20, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: none
Headache: about a 4
Energy: good
October 21, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: none
Headache: none
Energy: good
October 22, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: none
Headache: none
Energy: good
October 23, 2010 Did Not Follow Balanced Eating
Seizure: one
Headache: bad
Energy: low
October 24, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: none
Headache: about a 2
Energy: low
October 25, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: none
Headache: none
Energy: good
October 26, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: one
Headache: bad
Energy: low
October 24-Nov 1, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: One on Oct 27 & Oct 28 but has been doing well since then.
Nov2-Nov 8, 2010 Following Healthy Balanced Eating
Seizure: One on Nov 3 & Nov 7.
