CoCo's Journey - Answers!! Finally!!!

 Today I finally got answers!!!  I do not have Cirrhosis!!!  I am Pre-Cirrhotic.  Very close to that precipice but still not falling over the edge and falling into a place that I cannot get out of.  I had seen my gastric bypass doctor a while ago - and was given the wrong information.  I think he was looking at the headline and had not read the story.  It's something I'm good at, too.  

My doctor explained that when I was overweight, the fat in my body was damaging my liver.  Then I had gastric bypass and that should have helped my fatty liver.  But, then I wasn't able to absorb the calories, so I became malnourished. My liver was not getting the proteins I needed in order to supply my body with the proper nourishment.  Every organ you have needs protein, and it starts in the liver.  So - the malnourishment started to affect my liver.  Leading to the state I'm in now.

The thing I need to work on is getting off the diuretics.  I had some blood tests today, once my doctor gets the results of those, he will have me cut the diuretics down to twice a week.  If I continue to keep the water off, then we can look at eliminating them all together.

Once I'm off the diuretics, then we can look at having the gastric bypass reversed.  I really had hoped to have it done before the end of the year, but it doesn't look like I'm going to.  But, while I'm dealing with the diuretics and such, I'm not healthy enough to have the reversal - as my doctor said, "I don't want you dieing on the table".  Plus, the gastric bypass doctor said I would have to be on TPN (my IV nutrition) at least two months after the reversal.   So, my hope of not meeting my out of pocket on my insurance in 2025, has been quashed.  <BIG SIGH>   Guess I'll figure out how to pay for all that when it comes back at me.

He wants me to work on a high protein diet.  I'm not exactly how to make it any more high protein than it is.  I do eat some carbs, but mostly what I eat is meat and cheese.  I am not crazy about protein drinks, and I keep hoping I'll figure out a way to make protein drink smoothies or something.  I was going to Jamba Juice every day at work and getting a scoop of protein powder in my drink.  But, now I'm working on the other side and it's not right outside the office anymore.  <BIG SIGH>  I guess I'll figure that out, too.  

The saddest part of my visit was that he wants me to stop eating my candy.  I eat a lot of candy.  And just a couple of things that I have an insatiable craving for.  One is Jolly Ranchers.  I literally chomp on them (no wonder I have to have another root canal).  And the other is wintergreen pink mints.  They are not available to buy anywhere.  The only place I can get them from is Amazon.  You look at my order history and it's a long line of pink mints.  I don't know where this crazy craving came from, but damn - - - I am going to have to figure out how to stop it.  First he took away my salt.  Now he's taking away my candy.  

The issues I have now that I am dealing with is itching.  The liver itchies are horrible. Wherever I have elastic or clothing stuck to my skin, I itch like crazy.  Jeans are no longer comfortable.  Bras are no longer comfortable.  I no longer wear a bra at work.  It's not really a big deal, since there isn't a lot there now.   But, there is a little more now than there was a couple of months ago.  But, I figure I wear a vest and nobody will ever know - well besides you and me.  Diarrhea - yeah, I know TMI!!!!  But, he wants to figure out why I have that happening again.  The way to figure that out is not something you really wanna know about, so we'll leave it at that.  

I started this journey at 95 pounds after all the water was taken away.  I'm now 133 pounds.  And both my nutritionist and my doctor have said - I don't think we want you gaining anymore.  Well, since IVY feeds me 1640 calories a night, and I eat on top of that, we may have some adjustments to do. 

My doctor was so cute, he was like - we are going to get you better.  Maybe you'll meet someone and want to have a life with them.  I said, boys are icky - I'm not interested in that.  He had a shocked look on his face and quietly said - would you rather have someone not male (I can't remember how he put it exactly).  I said, no, I'm just dead inside.  Not really interested in a relationship.   I just thought the look on his face was priceless.  

Thanks for following along.  I'll update when I have anything more significant to disclose. I just have to say I'm very grateful and happy for this update.  And happy to have you with me.  Love and Kisses!!

Remember my arms??  And all the horrible red
bruises and blood blisters??  And how bad
they looked??  This is how they look now!!!
So happy for them to look so much better.  It's
a great sign!!!