Complications after Sleeve Surgery

[Smelly Melly 0]

Hi Bonnielass! I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow and he will give me my surgery date. I'm hoping over the Easter holidays in April because my husband will be home. I have had my band removed and it's been out for about 10 weeks now. It needs to be out for 12 weeks before they will consider doing the sleeve. I had my classes prior to the band so only have to see the dietician once. I'm really anxious about complications and also how I'm going to cope at home after surgery because I have young children. I am curious as to the recovery time compared to having the band op. Thanks for replying to my post. Australia is a great place to live

[Mary Gordon 3]

i've been very fortunate, and haven't had any complications.:thumbup1:

[LAN2k 18]

Hi Bonnielass! I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow and he will give me my surgery date. I'm hoping over the Easter holidays in April because my husband will be home. I have had my band removed and it's been out for about 10 weeks now. It needs to be out for 12 weeks before they will consider doing the sleeve. I had my classes prior to the band so only have to see the dietician once. I'm really anxious about complications and also how I'm going to cope at home after surgery because I have young children. I am curious as to the recovery time compared to having the band op. Thanks for replying to my post. Australia is a great place to live :thumbup:

I recommend you go straight away to Tiffykins and either look up her posts or PM (private message) her. She had the band revised to the sleeve and she is very knowledgeable on both.

[Tiffykins 672]

Hi Bonnielass! I'm seeing my surgeon tomorrow and he will give me my surgery date. I'm hoping over the Easter holidays in April because my husband will be home. I have had my band removed and it's been out for about 10 weeks now. It needs to be out for 12 weeks before they will consider doing the sleeve. I had my classes prior to the band so only have to see the dietician once. I'm really anxious about complications and also how I'm going to cope at home after surgery because I have young children. I am curious as to the recovery time compared to having the band op. Thanks for replying to my post. Australia is a great place to live :thumbup:

Having the band out that long, will decrease your risk of complications substantially. Of course, they can still happen, but your stomach has time to heal from the band removal. I had my revision in one procedure, and did have a leak due to the damage from the band that was not known until my surgeon got in there.

As for the recovery for the band vs. the sleeve. The band sucked recovery wise for me because of the port placement. As for the sleeve, the first 2 days post-op were pretty great, my actual pain was minimal still had the nasty gas from the CO2 gas they use, but nothing that was not manageable.

Due to my leak, and leak repair surgery, my recovery was completely different than everyone elses. But, no lifting for 6 weeks, I wasn't allowed to lift anything over 10 pounds. Incisional hernias are still an issue with lap procedures. Plus, you do not want to stress the staple line of the sleeve. Most patients experience fatigue or exhaustion for a couple of weeks post-op. Staying hydrated will be your focus, and staying on the post-op diet.

If you have any other specific questions feel free to contact me via the private message system here.

I recommend you go straight away to Tiffykins and either look up her posts or PM (private message) her. She had the band revised to the sleeve and she is very knowledgeable on both.

Thanks, Lan. I just happen to click on this thread tonight.

[LAN2k 18]

Having the band out that long, will decrease your risk of complications substantially. Of course, they can still happen, but your stomach has time to heal from the band removal. I had my revision in one procedure, and did have a leak due to the damage from the band that was not known until my surgeon got in there.

As for the recovery for the band vs. the sleeve. The band sucked recovery wise for me because of the port placement. As for the sleeve, the first 2 days post-op were pretty great, my actual pain was minimal still had the nasty gas from the CO2 gas they use, but nothing that was not manageable.

Due to my leak, and leak repair surgery, my recovery was completely different than everyone elses. But, no lifting for 6 weeks, I wasn't allowed to lift anything over 10 pounds. Incisional hernias are still an issue with lap procedures. Plus, you do not want to stress the staple line of the sleeve. Most patients experience fatigue or exhaustion for a couple of weeks post-op. Staying hydrated will be your focus, and staying on the post-op diet.

If you have any other specific questions feel free to contact me via the private message system here.

Thanks, Lan. I just happen to click on this thread tonight.

Your welcome Tiff-Thanks for being here for us you are very helpful and appreciated.

[Bonnielass 0]

Well, Smelly Melly, it looks like you're in really good hands. Tiffikins and all the people here are so very helpful. I know a few people here that have had the sleeve but not after removing the band. They are virgin sleevers. They didn't have any problems. The longest hospital stay was two days. Most were just overnight and most felt like going back to work after two to three weeks. I do know you're not to lift anything heavy for many weeks. Do you have to lift your children?

[Smelly Melly 0]

Thanks Tiffykins and Bonnielass for your replies I don't need to lift my children because they are 7 and 4. The problem for me will be that they will want me every five minutes so I will be up and down all the time. I'm going to have to work on their waiting skills prior to my admission! I'm glad that my surgeon insisted on making me wait the twelve weeks before performing the sleeve op. At the time I was disappointed but now I am grateful. I have a little hospital anxiety which I am going to have to deal with?when I had my band put in I developed post-op pneumonia with pleural effusions. I had drainage tubes coming out of my back to remove the Fluid caught between my rib cage and my lungs. My lungs went septic and one collapsed. I was in ICU for four weeks and permanently on CPAP. It was a nightmare and I honestly thought I was going to die. When I had the band removed I also got post-op pneumonia but the anesthetist gave me an IV with Kflex antibiotics to help reduce the severity. It worked well and I only had it mildly and was able to go home after 3 days. I'm hoping my sleeve op goes well. My op is on March 23rd and I'm really going to try over the next few weeks to stick to my pre-op diet and exercise as much as I can to open my lungs. I'm hoping that the fitter and healthier I am when I go in, the faster my recovery will be :thumbup1:

[thinoneday 445]

Ok guys and gals. . . here is my tidbit of advice! CHEW YOUR food AND DON'T GULP IT! I made the big mistake this weekend of eating a piece of chicken way too fast and not chewing it well enough (old habits don't die) MY GOD, i was in such pain, I thought for sure i was going to die. . .thought for sure i needed to go to the ER! the sliming was horrible. . . then i forced myself to puke and felt better. . . felt way better after about 30 minutes, but was way too afraid to eat anything anymore. . . the next day was so much better! I'll always chew very well, wait my 2 minutes between bites and eat only baby bites of food. . . good luck!

[OldAv8tor 2]

My surgery went OK and I was out of the hospital two days after. A week later I went to see the doc for a post op check and to have my drain removed. The next day I spiked a temp of 101.7 and went to the ER. I apparently developed a touch of pneumonia in my lower left lung as well as a suspicious area of Fluid and inflammation near the surgical area. I spent 4 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics and am just completing a 20 day therapy of IV antibiotics administered at home. I go for a cat scan tomorrow to determine if things have cleared up.

Other than that, I'm just learning how to eat again and trying to make sure I get the required nutrition.

[LAN2k 18]

My surgery went OK and I was out of the hospital two days after. A week later I went to see the doc for a post op check and to have my drain removed. The next day I spiked a temp of 101.7 and went to the ER. I apparently developed a touch of pneumonia in my lower left lung as well as a suspicious area of Fluid and inflammation near the surgical area. I spent 4 days in the hospital on IV antibiotics and am just completing a 20 day therapy of IV antibiotics administered at home. I go for a cat scan tomorrow to determine if things have cleared up.

Other than that, I'm just learning how to eat again and trying to make sure I get the required nutrition.

So sorry for your trouble. I appreciate you posting the details thus far. Please know that you are in my prayers for a speedy recovery and wellness. I know how hard this must be for you right now but things will get better and eventually your ability to get the nutrition will regulate. Fluids are most important as you know to prevent dehydration. I hope to know more as you progress and are up to it please keep us informed.

[swinegar 0]

Please tell me what complications you had after having the Sleeve surgery. Thanks so much

Constipation and burning in my stomach:sad0:

[Bonnielass 0]

Were you ever able to determine what was causing the burning and Constipation? How long did it last?

[p77tmey 15]

I had the sleeve 12/18/09. On 1/2/10 I was directly admitted to the ICU with bilateral DVT's and a massive pulmonary embolism.... Four doctors told me that when I passed out at home, it should have been me collapsing because I was DEAD.... Six months later, I'm on blood thinners (for life, because the IVC filter I had put in on 1/2/10 was not able to be retrieved in March due to it growing into my vein wall). If there is ONE THING I can advise to people, is to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK! I went from being overhydrated on IV fluids post-op, to about only 5 oz intake per day at home. I should have seen it coming (as a nurse), but rationalized all my symptoms to make myself think that I was ok..... sunken in eyes, little urine output, pain in the back of my leg, and a fast heartbeat.

To all future sleevers, please take my advice. I'm glad to be alive to give it...

Teri

[Bonnielass 0]

You mean everything you went through was caused by a lack of Water?

[p77tmey 15]

Yes.... I went home and wasn't able to drink more than 5 oz per day because everything filled me up so easily. I should also mention that possibly inactivity as well as the decreased Water intake could have contributed to it all. I was getting up every couple hours, so I didn't think it was a problem.

One doctor said he couldn't rule out a "clotting disorder", but I have no family history of this. I am seeing a hematologist on the 26th to determine if I have a clotting disorder or not... I'm sure I don't, but at least this will rule out the "what if" factor.

My bariatric surgeon said that now, moving forward, he is educating all sleeve patients the importance of adequate Fluid intake.