Kristi Favard Kristi's Team

Kristi had gastric sleeve surgery on August 3, 2015. The purpose of the surgery was weight loss, but not just to be aesthetically attractive. Kristi has been battling sleep apnea and high blood pressure for years and was ready for a life change.  


Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Shortly after surgery, Kristi discovered she could not swallow liquids or solids. Since that time, she has gone through hundreds of visits, procedures, and surgeries. As of the date this site was created, Kristi has lost 137 pounds and weighs only 108 pounds. She continues to lose weight, which is a huge concern. She suffers from a stricture in her stomach which has not allowed her to eat. She has chronic malnutrition, general overall weakness, and vitamin deficiencies in addition to dysphagia (inability to swallow). She has not worked during her illness. 


Kristi has a feeding tube in her small intestine that she uses to get nutrition. The tube has created its own set of problems though, from a staph infection, to it falling out several times, to severe abdominal cramping. 


Kristi has been enduring balloon dilation in a series of endoscopies under general anesthesia every two weeks for some time. The goal is to open up the area causing the problem. She is now up to a size 40 balloon, the biggest one her Dr. Has ever had to use and only on one other patient. This has helped somewhat but not entirely. Despite this, whenever Kristi eats or tube feeds, she experiences severe cramping throughout her digestive system. It is so painful she compares it to pregnancy labor. 


We are hopeful that Kristi is able to get some relief soon and gain some weight. This has been quite the ordeal for her and her family to endure.