Hi My Name is Florinda Carter or Renda for short...
Email Address Renda43@wk.net. I live Near Mayfield Ky.
This is My Story- My Cancer Doctors ask me to see about having this surgery because my Liver enzymes were so high...And I was having trouble with the weight.... Several medications plus steroids played a part in my weight gain over the period of 3 years not to mention eating anything I wanted. Radiation has burnt my bladder and Chemo made me feel like a 90 yr. old women. Its now Early September 2004 - I went to see Dr. Alex Argotte about having Gastric Bypass. Medicaid approved me on the first Letter just a month after applying. I went through 6 Months of learning and preparation for Open RNY. March 11th. - I weighed 291... Started Liver Shrink Diet Total weight loss in 2 weeks 11 LBS. March 25th. 2005 - Had Surgery at Lourdes Hospital Paducah Kentucky, Dr Alex Argotte Surgeon. April 22ed. I had to go back in the Hospital for Gall bladder removal. May 7th. I went in with Kidney stone attack. July 4th - Have been on home health for 8 weeks now. Could not get in enough fluids so I had IV fluids through my port. July 18th... Another Kidney Stone Attack they see 2 stones. August - I’m having lot of Dye test and X-rays to see where the stone is. One is hung and they can’t blast it for a blood vessel. Late August - I have been sick for a couple months now with about 4 different kidney stone attacks September - Went back in Hospital for a week with same kidney stone. They did surgery to remove them. Doc couldn’t reach it so put a stint in. (Hate stints). September - Doc went in and removed both the stone and stint and put in a second stint. He said I had narrow passage for fluids to flow and Said my kidneys were Burnt pretty bad from radiation. The Kidney wall is coated with calcium. He wants me to see a Kidney specialist. September - Got the second stint out and feeling better for the first time in Months. October - Another Stone Attack gosh! Am I going to Live? November 2ed 2005, Going for a colonostomy test in the Morning. Total weight loss in 7 Months 114 LBS. Nov. 3rd. More pain in Left side, Could it be another Stone? Nov. 4th Pain is gone but on heavy pain pills. Nov. 6th – I have whelps all over me. I went to Mayfield ER to get a shot to counter act the percacet they have given me for the Pain. Nov. 7th Monday ... Better Today no itch. Colon Test came back 100% OK. no sign of Cancer. I don’t have to go back for another test for 3 Years. Yay! Nov. 8th. - Pain in old stomach turns out to be bacteria. Taking antibiotics. Iron Low. Moved dosage to 4 Furious Sulfate pills a day. Says B12 is high to stop taking them. I now weigh 166.3 lbs. Total weight loss in little over 7 months 124 lbs. Nov. 11th. So tired feel like no energy at all. I’m staying at home mostly resting... Nov. 18th 2005. I really hate to give a bad report. I had to spend another 4 hours at the hospital ER last night with another attack on my left side. This is Attack no.# 2 for the left side of kidneys. I had one last Friday night on left side but took pain meds and stayed at home and the pain subsided and I just never pursued it. Then last night I about died with pain. The ER staff said they could not give me pain med till they knew for sure what was causing the pain. That was fine I understood. They said if it was a infection then they would treat it in a different way. So for 4 hours I lay in pain and misery crying as hard as the little baby across the haul from me. They ran another cat scan and in all my years of having these attacks the cat scans has NEVER SHOWN the stone but OK! . My blood test did not show any blood or signs of stones nor an infection of any kind they said. Then the doctor on call came in and said we can’t find anything wrong and so we are just going to give you some Loratabs and send you home. I was shocked!! HELLO!!! Did they just do what they said they weren’t going to do when I first walked in the ER in pain? . Geez! I was so aggravated. On Monday of this week my GB Doctor Argotte was suppose to set me up with an appointment with a specialist, to talk with me about this stone situation and what foods I can eat and so forth. But so far no one has called me about the date. My urologist did send me a letter saying my stones were Oxalate stones. OK now what? I have a list of foods My GB dietitian gave me on Friday of last week. I think it would have been much easier if she had said what I could have to eat opposed to what I cant. The pain pills keep the pain hidden for the most part now. But I can tell when it moves as it makes me so nauseous and if I let the pill wear off the pain returns. I can not believe the ER sent me home with out knowing what they were giving me pain med for or what hidden problem I might be having if its not a stone. Are they taking my word for it? . Well this all makes no since to me. I have a history of one stone a year for about the last 15 years now. I strongly feel/know that these increased attacks are stemmed from this gastric bypass surgery. I have had about 8 attacks since March 25th and 2 removed by surgery. And there is still no change in the bacteria in my old stomach. It still hurts and I'm still taking the antibiotics. That’s all for now. November 28th 2005. Went to see Dr. Argotte today and he switched me to Liquid Iron. Four doses a day. My stomach is not hurting like it was. They will do another test again in TWO more weeks. Took all my antibiotics. They still do not have an appointment set up for me to see Dr. Alie for my kidney stones. Dr Argotte however said that the hormone test all came back normal, But my calcium is highly elevated and He does not want me to take ANY type of calcium at all till Dr. Alie does some test to find out what is causing it to run so high. I have not been on any type of calcium since about 3 to 4 months post-op. I weighed 159 today. Weight Loss - 132 lbs in 8 months December 14th...I had to go to the ER for a rash and whelps all over me... Apparently it was Poison oak on the firewood and I breathed it in when it was burning. Three shots and three days of medication and I am better. December 29th 05- I have a Dr. Visit with GB doctor. I still have the Bacteria in my stomach. I go back on Medication today. Have to go pick it up in town. He’s going to go down and look in my pouch to see if there is anything causing this. He's going to do an Ex-ray of my stomach as well. Also my Labs are due before my next appointment so I will be going to get those done soon. And also a bone density test will be done. I have to remain on Flint stone vitamins, as those levels are great. Why change something if it’s working He said??? . So guess he is right as I have been on Flint stones (2 a day) for 9 months now. I was told to stop my B complex. I was already off the B 12 from last visit as they were both in very High ranges then. I still am not allowed to take any calcium for my bones and to prevent Osteoporosis in the future until I see the Kidney Specialist on the 13th of January and see what he decides. I'm also pleased to report that I have NOT had a kidney stone attack in about a month now. I ask if something were going to bottom out on me, what length of time would it take? He said that it would do it gradually and could be caught and corrected and I would have time to bring anything back up that looks like its dropping. That’s why they set the labs for every three months to keep a check. My levels are normal or a bit higher than normal on most people. Everything else was fine. I went from 291 lbs. Down to 149 lbs. That's 142 lbs. In 9 months. I feel much better these days. So for the Year 2005, I’m alive and doing fine!!. December 31st 2005. This is it Yawl! 2005 is almost gone. I have been Nauseous most the day it hits at any given time Doc says it is how this bacteria does. We went out with my oldest Brother and his wife for Supper. I watched TV till the New Year arrived while Hubby fell asleep just minutes before the new year arrived. January 1st 2006 - HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!! We went to Our Elderly Friends house for a New Year Supper about 2PM today. ...We had a Cabbage Dish. It contained, Carrots, Potatoes, Cabbage, & Ham pieces. We had Purple Hull and Black-eyed Peas Mixed with Ham pieces in it and a Baked Ham. We had Cornbread, Butter, and Un sweet Tea to Drink. We ate and then settled back on the sofa for conversation and TV. That Night about 9pm we were all chatting when I got deathly sick. I was dry heaving my socks off. I had to take a phenergan for the sickness and we left our friends shortly after. A 20-minute drive home and I was crawling into bed and fell asleep very quickly not waking up till Morning. January 2ed 2006 - Everyone was off today. We went to breakfast at Dinner Bell with Sister in Law Debbie. She and I spent the evening together and went to Radio shack and Wal-Mart’s shopping... For Supper we all 3 went to the New Oriental Restaurant. Met up with a long time schoolmate & wife of my husbands, we all 5 had conversation for about 3 hours. It was late and there were not many people in the restaurant... and they had a conference going on in the back room and the owner did not mind us hanging round. We allowed them to clear our table except for our drinks. I did fine with my meal and wasn’t sick at all the entire day. January 9th 2006 - Went to my Local Hospital for a bone density test and Lab work today... January 13th 2006 - Went to see my Kidney specialist today. He was a very Nice Man and treated my husband and I very respectable. He looked over the 8 pages of info my Bypass Doctor sent him and then decided to put me on a pill and run some more test. Two twenty-four hour pee test and will check for other type stone formation. I go back in 6 weeks. I weighed in at 145 today. January 27th 2006 - 6pm arrived at Hospital for Scope. After scope I was sent back to drink a medicine cup of stuff, then follow it with tons of water lol~ at least they didn’t mix that into a tall (gallon) jug. I think it’s a gallon. I then went down for a CAT scan of my stomach. Doc came back and said everything looked fine. Said my pouch opening was a bit bigger than it was but said there was not a real reason why it was. That has me worried. I will go back the 31st for a check up and see how all the other test came out. January 31st 2006 - Well here I am again. I went to my doctor at 3:15 this afternoon. He said my bone test shows I have Osteoporosis. I hate that thought. I know it’s the spine but not sure what can be done but anyway I still hate it. Also I have a hormone that is on the low side. He is contacting both my kidney specialist to see what I can take that wont effect my past kidney stone history. I say it like that because I haven’t had an attack in little over a Month now I guess it’s been. Iv felt great till a couple weeks ago when I started feeling tired. My Iron level is very low and I’m trying to get it up but Doc wont send me for infusions to help me get there. Don’t understand that part. I go back to see my Cancer Doc 02-07-06. And am trying to get in to see my regular Doctor Zetter. I weighed in at 142 lbs. today. That’s 149 pounds lost in 10 months. February 2006 - Just gliding along now. March 25th 2006 - Today marks the 1st Yr. Anniversary of my Gastric Bypass Surgery. YAY!! I started out at 291 a year ago and This Morning I weigh in at 131 lbs. I’m just one pound Short of my doctors Goal weight that he set for me. This is on my own scales; as I want get an Official weigh-in until the 30th. Which is next Friday. Iv dropped these last 10 pounds very S L O W. That's ok though, at least its still dropping off. I have had about 3 good months with no kidney stone attacks. Then I had two attacks last week. Darn it! . Thought I had it made. Lol~. I really can’t complain, things have been Wonderful these past few months. Life has been such a Pleasure to live. I feel like a Million Bucks just shy of a few hundred Dollars, Haha! . Only problems at this point is my Iron level is low. Hoping they will get that fixed soon. I feel drained a lot. Low energy level at times. Now on a better Note! . I Take Line Dance Classes twice a week now about 3 hours a Night. It’s a Great workout and loads of fun. I direct a small women's group every Tuesday. And 6 grand kids keep me busy and I am constantly on the Go. Dr Argotte has truly been a great Doctor; He’s Easy to talk to. He had a bit too much on his plate and just a bit slow in the Office and the Staff has not been a Steady group. (Wishing you all a stable Team there at the Wellness center). Its been a rough ride for me but I had my past Cancer to deal with that others didn't and my complications were different than most. But I have made it and I am Thankful to God. I am 160 pounds lighter today. Thanks to God and Everyone involved. I plan to have an Awesome Summer. Thanks for everyone's support through out my journey this Year. Anyone that wants or needs to write me please do at Renda43@wk.net. Good Luck & Best wishes! June 9TH 2006 - Hey Yawl! It’s been awhile. I have been living since my GB Anniversary. I take line dance classes on Mondays and Thursday Nights. I cook for Feed the sheep ministries On Wednesday and Thursdays, All day Jobs. On Tuesdays I have a group of women that get together for just a fun day from about 11:00 AM. till 2:00 PM. I fit in my grandkids ball games along the way had their graduations from one grade to the next. On weekends anything happens. I spend it with family or friends, shopping, out site seeing. All has been Good for me. They sent me to a kidney specialist and he put me on water pill and I haven’t had a stone since. Now on Sun. the 4th of June I got sick and have been down all week. Seems I have a bad bladder infection and dehydrated. A few pills and the pain finally stopped. But I am still having trouble with my fluids. I’m somewhat weak, but that is even better today, the 9th. I now weigh 112lbs. I don’t look so good. All hollered eyed. I’m very thin. My skin hangs, what little there is of it. I look pretty much Anorexic. I’m going for maintenance the 29th. Im not sure what they will want me to do to gain back some weight but I am willing to try. I’m happy with my size but underneath I look bad. I think a few pounds would not hurt me at all. Until Next time! Good Luck & Best wishes to you! June 28th 2006 - Iv been sick for 2 weeks now... bladder infection ...freezing one minute then burning up the next. Dehydration. I can’t eat. Bowels run like water at least 10 times a day. That’s stopped for the time being. But now I have constipation, which is not ever happened to me in 5 years. I go tomorrow to see what’s going on. I have lost down to 109 lbs. now. I’m still pushing to go. I feel if I stop going I will just be laying down to die. I look somewhat anorexic. I wear size 3/4 junior pants and Small shirts. Size 6 shoe down from size 7 1/2s. They want to do a TT and re-work my Ostomy, but I am holding them off for now, as I want to live and enjoy the summer. September 17th 06 – I’m 46 and feel great! Living live to the fullest. I’m Loving God and enjoying my children and grand children. I’m thankful for a new Live. October 2006 - It’s Halloween Yawl! We are having a party at my little brother’s house tonight. A cook out, and face painting. Pumpkin carving. We are going to have a hayride. There will be Lots of Food and Fun. I’m right in the middle having fun with the best of them. November 2006 – Thanksgiving is here and the turkey and ham and all the trimmings are being prepared for a wonderful dinner and gathering with all our families. We will be going to my Moms for dinner and then to my Sister in laws for supper. December 2006 – Wow its been one heck of a summer I have just had the best year. Not sick much at all. Christmas was good and the New Year is almost here… I now weigh 98 pounds but I feel good.
January 1st. 2007 - A New Year! - I feel weak and I look way to thin, my weight is currently 98 lbs. My blood pressure is running to low 88/54. I’m going to have a week of Iron infusions next week... hope to feel better soon.
January 2007 – I have finished my 3 days of iron infusions. I really don’t feel a lot better but I am up and going. Time will tell I suppose.
January 26th 2007 – My dad had to go to the ER today because he couldn’t breath. I am upset and worried as this is unlike him to go to a doctor much less a ER.
January 31st 2007 – My dad had to be admitted today to western Baptist hospital for Congestive Heart Failure. I am worried about him and my mother. I have to put my own health on the back burner for now.
February 1st 2007 – Dad had a heart cath. done today. All is clear.
February 3rd. 2007 – Daddy came home today. Gave up smoking and drinking and is eating a low sodium low salt diet. I am still worried
February 05-07 - Went to see Dr. Argotte. My blood pressure is back up and my Iron levels are back to par. Had a mishap with my blood sugar dropping to low but got that is under control now. I’m feeling pretty good but very cold these days. no FAT to keep me warm anymore. I stay under my Electric Blanket a lot. My weight was 102.7... see doctor in two weeks for a consult about my ostomy and possible TT. hopeing but dont think medicare will cover it and my doc does it for 4000... and the hospital will be covered because of my ostomy repair. All is good for now.
February 2007-
