I haven't posted here in a very long time. An update in my inbox caught my eye. I have not experienced this myself but have witnessed this very thing happen to a close friend over a decade ago. Since my last post here, my friend is still struggling with this problem. He's checked himself into Duke Medical Center for in-patient observation (Duke weight loss clinic, I think?). He gained weight while he was in their strict program and was discharged with something like "we don't understand what is going on with you, one day medical science might catch up but we're not there yet". A year or so later he checked himself into the Mayo Clinic and his experience there was disastrous. As with so many other doctors, the one in Mayo Clinic was apparently only able to blame the patient. It seems most doctors will tell you that you are somehow at fault, diet and exercise and all that. Don't believe them, they are only covering for their own lack of understanding. The better doctors will believe you, and while it's very unlikely, some of them might actually observe you and physically probe you. In my friend's case those that did were able to confirm that he was actually quite firm all over...he just had a very bloated distended belly.
I know this is not positive but here's advice I would give to any of you suffering from this unexplained, undiagnosed condition following your gall bladder surgery:
1. Do not starve yourself, that will only make it worse.
2. Be very careful with stomach exercises, if anything you do causes you to bloat don't do it.
3. Dismiss any doctor that blames you. Have a pre-scripted (written if it helps) short description of your condition, what you've done, what you're doing. Until medical science does catch up your best doctor will be one who has enough integrity to admit they don't know what is going on with your body.
4. Keep a detailed journal which includes, foods consumed, activities, sleep, medications, progress, lack of progress, and anything else you think might help you find patterns (my friend didn't do this).
I can't think of anything else to share right now and I don't know if this post will help anyone but I wanted to let you know you are not crazy and you are not alone.
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I haven't posted here in a very long time. An update in my inbox caught my eye. I have not experienced this myself but have witnessed this very thing happen to a close friend over a decade ago. Since my last post here, my friend is still struggling with this problem. He's checked himself into Duke Medical Center for in-patient observation (Duke weight loss clinic, I think?). He gained weight while he was in their strict program and was discharged with something like "we don't understand what is going on with you, one day medical science might catch up but we're not there yet". A year or so later he checked himself into the Mayo Clinic and his experience there was disastrous. As with so many other doctors, the one in Mayo Clinic was apparently only able to blame the patient. It seems most doctors will tell you that you are somehow at fault, diet and exercise and all that. Don't believe them, they are only covering for their own lack of understanding. The better doctors will believe you, and while it's very unlikely, some of them might actually observe you and physically probe you. In my friend's case those that did were able to confirm that he was actually quite firm all over...he just had a very bloated distended belly.
February 10, 2016 - 7:04amI know this is not positive but here's advice I would give to any of you suffering from this unexplained, undiagnosed condition following your gall bladder surgery:
1. Do not starve yourself, that will only make it worse.
2. Be very careful with stomach exercises, if anything you do causes you to bloat don't do it.
3. Dismiss any doctor that blames you. Have a pre-scripted (written if it helps) short description of your condition, what you've done, what you're doing. Until medical science does catch up your best doctor will be one who has enough integrity to admit they don't know what is going on with your body.
4. Keep a detailed journal which includes, foods consumed, activities, sleep, medications, progress, lack of progress, and anything else you think might help you find patterns (my friend didn't do this).
I can't think of anything else to share right now and I don't know if this post will help anyone but I wanted to let you know you are not crazy and you are not alone.
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