Robert Hensley
Changes
Jan 06, 2009
Life marches on. I'm 20 months down the road from my Gastrectomy and 167 pounds lighter. Currently unemployed which adds a certain stress factor but managing to deal with it, get exercise, and eat right. I'm very pleased with the progress that I've made. Sagging skin is becoming an issue.
One problem cropped up as I was starting to become more active and trying to exercise. I developed shortness of breath and a full feeling in my chest, neck, and shoulders. Turns out I had coronary artery blockage and needed open heart surgery. I had 5 bypasses performed in May of 2008. That really knocked the wind out of my sails but after about 4 months I bounced back better than ever, able to exercise hard. I'm sure glad I had lost so much weight before undergoing the heart surgery.
One side effect of this process has been a vast improvement in the condition of my liver despite having Hepatitis-C. The liver has reduced to normal size, and liver functions are essentially normal. My Gastroenterologist wants to retreat me for the Hep-C (48 weeks of injections and pills). He believes that my greatly improved overall health will result in a successful treatment this time around. The need for a replacement liver has been greatly diminshed at this point in time so every effort will be made to keep the one I've got. (FYI - I got Hep-C from blood transfusions received in the mid 1970's after a motorcycle accident).
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One problem cropped up as I was starting to become more active and trying to exercise. I developed shortness of breath and a full feeling in my chest, neck, and shoulders. Turns out I had coronary artery blockage and needed open heart surgery. I had 5 bypasses performed in May of 2008. That really knocked the wind out of my sails but after about 4 months I bounced back better than ever, able to exercise hard. I'm sure glad I had lost so much weight before undergoing the heart surgery.
One side effect of this process has been a vast improvement in the condition of my liver despite having Hepatitis-C. The liver has reduced to normal size, and liver functions are essentially normal. My Gastroenterologist wants to retreat me for the Hep-C (48 weeks of injections and pills). He believes that my greatly improved overall health will result in a successful treatment this time around. The need for a replacement liver has been greatly diminshed at this point in time so every effort will be made to keep the one I've got. (FYI - I got Hep-C from blood transfusions received in the mid 1970's after a motorcycle accident).
Unusual Case
Mar 22, 2007
I was referred to Dr. Todd in Anchorage Alaska for gastric bypass by my Gastroenterologist because I may need to qualify for a liver transplant due to viral cirrhosis. After checking me out for surgery Dr. Todd decided that I needed to see a surgeon with more experience working with compromised liver. It was a difficult decision for Dr. Todd but I applaud his integrity and honesty in providing me with his best professional opinion.
I ended up at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans with the Dr. Colleen Kennedy as my surgeon. The Ochsner Med. Center has a first class liver and multi-organ transplant team which also means that they have skilled staff, technicians, anethesists, etc. who have experience working with patients with major problems.
I went through an additional set of tests including CT Scan and two upper endoscopies which took considerable time to schedule. One disappointing result was being told that I could not be retreated for Heaptitis C after losing weight using current techniques due to the severe side effects I suffered from 48 weeks of treatment that failed.
That means my gastric bypass and subsequent weight loss will be preparatory to enabling me to qualify for a possible future liver transplant.
My original insurance company (Aetna Federal) paid all my test expenses but became fussy and picky when it came time to approve surgery. 88 pages of medical information was submitted but they wanted 5 years of weight history and they wanted other items in a particular format. 5 years ago I lived overseas so getting medical records that old was impossible.
In January I changed to BlueCross BlueShield Federal and was approved for surgery within three days of document submission. I am scheduled for surgery April 23rd 2007.
For those of you out there suffering with the waiting and trying to get through your insurance bureacracies I can only say, keep plugging away. I've been on this trek for surgery for 18 months and have travelled from Alaska to Louisiana to make it happen. Hang in there.
Ochsner's does not use ObesityHelp.com though I am recommending that they do so.
I ended up at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans with the Dr. Colleen Kennedy as my surgeon. The Ochsner Med. Center has a first class liver and multi-organ transplant team which also means that they have skilled staff, technicians, anethesists, etc. who have experience working with patients with major problems.
I went through an additional set of tests including CT Scan and two upper endoscopies which took considerable time to schedule. One disappointing result was being told that I could not be retreated for Heaptitis C after losing weight using current techniques due to the severe side effects I suffered from 48 weeks of treatment that failed.
That means my gastric bypass and subsequent weight loss will be preparatory to enabling me to qualify for a possible future liver transplant.
My original insurance company (Aetna Federal) paid all my test expenses but became fussy and picky when it came time to approve surgery. 88 pages of medical information was submitted but they wanted 5 years of weight history and they wanted other items in a particular format. 5 years ago I lived overseas so getting medical records that old was impossible.
In January I changed to BlueCross BlueShield Federal and was approved for surgery within three days of document submission. I am scheduled for surgery April 23rd 2007.
For those of you out there suffering with the waiting and trying to get through your insurance bureacracies I can only say, keep plugging away. I've been on this trek for surgery for 18 months and have travelled from Alaska to Louisiana to make it happen. Hang in there.
Ochsner's does not use ObesityHelp.com though I am recommending that they do so.
