Date Posted:19:58:25 03/31/07 Sat Author: suzy q (happy) Subject: Re: gastroschesis
Hey,
in response to this extended train of thought, i'd like to add some things.
- i was also born with gastroschesis. I did hide my tummy and its huge scar in my teen years, in gym changeroom, at school, around my peers. but for some reason, around strangers, at the beach it was cool to wear a bikini. not everyone is going to be confident with this but the sooner you get over it, the better. the scar is much lesss embarrassing than he life time of digestive issues one with gastroschesis could suffer, such as excessive gas (and really nasty..) stomach upset and increased frequency of the urge to "go" to the bathroom. This i believe is due to the shortned gut, the food does ot have enough time to solidify and stick around in the much shortened bowel. this also is why derek mentioned being lightwieght (how does one gain weight when they "go" after every meal? And also anemis, as there are parts of the bowel that abord nutrients and usually the iron absorption parts go, and for myself, the b12 parts are gone.
- i was in the hospital for a full year in 1978. I had 5 surgeries in that year to join and rejoin my guts in the hopes that they would work. I had two more surgeris, one at 16 years and one at 21 years. these were both due to the blockages indicated in derek's posting. The anastamosis is the area where two pieces of bowel have been reattached. that is what scars and if you plug it up with unhealthy foods, lots of meat and junk, it will create painfull blockages. the surgery was to remove the scar tissue, not junk food, but certain foods probably irritate the tissue more than others.
At 24 problems started again but i refused suggested surgury ( because it sucks!!!) and decided instead to real carefully watch my diet. my advice to anyone with gastroskesis is to really pay attention to foods that make you feel bad, make sure that every food you eat has nutrition , as you need to maximize your absorption in any way you can and if you can't do your own research , get the help of a nutritionist who knows about this condition. This is not to advise anyone to ignore their own dr.'s advice. if you need surgery, you probably do. my case was specific- i was eatng mostly crap and i stopped and i feel better. but i have had 7 necessary surgeries.
regardless, i am also "relativly " healthy and i enjoy lots out of life. I am not shy as an adult about the scar as much as i was as a teen, but i bet that is different for guys. at least for girls they have breast to "redirect" people's eye gaze :)
