To all my friends and family,
I wanted to let you all know what is going on with my health. They have finally, after 10 months figured out what is going on with my body. I hope I can explain this well enough so you understand what I am saying.
Last Wednesday I had a colonoscpopy and endoscopy done. During it the Doctor found a bacterial infection that was pretty bad in my small intestine. He started me on a really strong antibiotic that has just made me very sick and tired. I am almost done with taking it, so thank goodness! I'm hoping I won't ever have to take them again. During the scope's he also found some other really bad problems. He found that where my gastric bypass was originally done 5 years ago is leaking into the bypassed small intestine and old stomach. It has caused an extreme bacterial build up of bile and that is causing the nausea, pain, and vomiting. It is slowly killing me to be honest. He basically said that if we don't do something about it, I would just have a slow death. It would soon take over my immune system and my organs would start shutting down. He found that I was extremely anemic as well. So he found quite a few bad things to say the least, but they also know how to fix it (or we hope so).
I met with Doctor Mckinley (my surgeon) today and he explained to me what he believes the best option would is, and what would hopefully relieve all the symptoms. He's about 85% sure that this option would fix all the symptoms and illness that I am having.
It is major surgery; a gastric bypass revision. What does that mean? I will basically go through a gastric bypass again. My old gastric bypass was not done very well and that is what is causing all of this. He would go in and remove about 3 feet of my small intestine that is full of scar tissue, blocking me up, and overall too ruined to work. He would also do an entire new gastric pouch.
They would take a pouch from the stomach I have and make an entire new stomach pouch. He would do everything that was done the first time, but do it correctly. He would undo the current closure and close it again. He would then with my new stomach take fresh intestine that has not been damaged with surgery and reconnect it to my stomach. So I would basically get an entire new digestion system. A new intestine without any scarring and a new pouch that doesn't leak. I know this sounds drastic, but he said that it is really my last option. There is nothing else he can do for me that we haven't already tried. Since my first gastric bypass was done so poorly he has to go in and fix it, or I die a slow death at 25. :P
I know if I go through this that I will be watched over and protected. Dave and I trust this doctor with my life, and we know that he will do an amazing job. He truly does have my best interest at heart.
So if this is all good news where is the bad? Here it is.....it is going to cost a little over $25,000 which I have to pay up front in cash. Insurance will not cover this procedure even though I have to have it to save my life, so this will have to come from somewhere else. I am telling you this because Dave and I really need some help and guidance about what to do.
If you would please continue to pray for us specifically that something will come along where we can get money to help me, we would appreciate it. We just can't do this alone and we need a little extra help. We know I will be taken care of and that Heavenly Father will help us through this, but if you could just keep me in your thoughts and prayers I would appreciate it.
Thanks for all your love and support! You all mean the world to me and I love each of you so much! Thank you again for all you do for me!
Love always,
Jilly Roberts Strasburg
I wanted to let you all know what is going on with my health. They have finally, after 10 months figured out what is going on with my body. I hope I can explain this well enough so you understand what I am saying.
Last Wednesday I had a colonoscpopy and endoscopy done. During it the Doctor found a bacterial infection that was pretty bad in my small intestine. He started me on a really strong antibiotic that has just made me very sick and tired. I am almost done with taking it, so thank goodness! I'm hoping I won't ever have to take them again. During the scope's he also found some other really bad problems. He found that where my gastric bypass was originally done 5 years ago is leaking into the bypassed small intestine and old stomach. It has caused an extreme bacterial build up of bile and that is causing the nausea, pain, and vomiting. It is slowly killing me to be honest. He basically said that if we don't do something about it, I would just have a slow death. It would soon take over my immune system and my organs would start shutting down. He found that I was extremely anemic as well. So he found quite a few bad things to say the least, but they also know how to fix it (or we hope so).
I met with Doctor Mckinley (my surgeon) today and he explained to me what he believes the best option would is, and what would hopefully relieve all the symptoms. He's about 85% sure that this option would fix all the symptoms and illness that I am having.
It is major surgery; a gastric bypass revision. What does that mean? I will basically go through a gastric bypass again. My old gastric bypass was not done very well and that is what is causing all of this. He would go in and remove about 3 feet of my small intestine that is full of scar tissue, blocking me up, and overall too ruined to work. He would also do an entire new gastric pouch.
They would take a pouch from the stomach I have and make an entire new stomach pouch. He would do everything that was done the first time, but do it correctly. He would undo the current closure and close it again. He would then with my new stomach take fresh intestine that has not been damaged with surgery and reconnect it to my stomach. So I would basically get an entire new digestion system. A new intestine without any scarring and a new pouch that doesn't leak. I know this sounds drastic, but he said that it is really my last option. There is nothing else he can do for me that we haven't already tried. Since my first gastric bypass was done so poorly he has to go in and fix it, or I die a slow death at 25. :P
I know if I go through this that I will be watched over and protected. Dave and I trust this doctor with my life, and we know that he will do an amazing job. He truly does have my best interest at heart.
So if this is all good news where is the bad? Here it is.....it is going to cost a little over $25,000 which I have to pay up front in cash. Insurance will not cover this procedure even though I have to have it to save my life, so this will have to come from somewhere else. I am telling you this because Dave and I really need some help and guidance about what to do.
If you would please continue to pray for us specifically that something will come along where we can get money to help me, we would appreciate it. We just can't do this alone and we need a little extra help. We know I will be taken care of and that Heavenly Father will help us through this, but if you could just keep me in your thoughts and prayers I would appreciate it.
Thanks for all your love and support! You all mean the world to me and I love each of you so much! Thank you again for all you do for me!
Love always,
Jilly Roberts Strasburg
3 comments:
Well, it's great that they know what is wrong and how to fix it but not so fun that it costs so much to save your life! We will keep you in our prayers.
I am glad that they know what is wrong, but sad that it is that big of a problem. Curt was so funny when he read your post. It made him all mad about the health care system and how you have to pay that much to fight for your life. Sorry sweetie we will keep you in our prayers.
Hi I just stumbled onto your blog. So sorry for what you are going through. I just wanted to let you know that Capital One has great loan programs for stuff like this that insurance doesn't cover. We had to get one to do IVF to have a baby. It is similar to an auto loan. They have low interest rates and you can choose how long you want to pay it off. It worked great for us, maybe it would work for you. Good luck.
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