Jen Jen

Sorry about all your problems! I am researching VSG in Mexico. Who was your surgeon???

Dr. Kelly was my surgeon

So glad to hear everything is going good !!!!! Thinking of you

I've always been astounded that even those who had complications all say they would still have gone through with the surgery. That speaks volumes to me about the effectiveness of this surgery. I do hope those who have leaks will heal quickly and enjoy the rest of their journeys to thin!

If I had it to do over again..... NO, I would not do the surgery over. I am glad for the weightloss, but it was truely a horrible experience. I think my chemo, bi-lateral mastectomy, and reconstruction was less painful. I know everyone is different, but I wouldn't do it again. Yes the effectiveness of the surgery is wonderful and I love my sleeve. If I hadn't had 2 different insurance companies that payed most of my bills, I would have been out about 60K too. I can say.....my journey to thin was very interesting to say the least.

I had left shoulder pain that was terrible, I also had the left side pain off and on. No temp for me at all until I ended up with pneumonia.

I'm NPO and I've been on my feeding tube (J-tube, in my intestine) since November 7th so just over a month. I hope it heals in the next few weeks!! Can I put that on my Christmas list?!

Sure you can put it on your list. I would. I will put it on mine too. I will be thinking of you.

From the date of my surgery to having my picc line removed it was 8 weeks. I was on Clear Liquids for 2wks after that MeMeMeee

I had a sharp pain in my left side. Also I had a temperature that wouldn't stay away

I was in Mexico and didn't feel right from the start. After 2 days I told the doctors I knew something was wrong and they took me into surgery again to check it out. They said I had an ulcer that they missed while they were doing the sleeve, but I had a scope done before I left the U.S and there was no sign of anything. Butttt..... they said the ulcer caused a hole which they repaired. I felt better and returned to the U.S. I started having fever and pain, so I went to a general doc who diagnosed me as having double pneumonia so I was admitted into the hospital where they done tests and found out that I had a leak. From there everything went downhill. I was in the hospital another 2 weeks and had to do tpm at home for at least 6 wks. I thought I was in hell, but I was thankful everything was caught and fixed befofe anything even worse happened. I was lucky. My doc in the U.S. who I found on my own,( a bariatric surgeon who I begged to take my case ) took me in. He kept me on nothing through the mouth and only tpn until it healed on it's own. I had the mexico surgery video and he said it looked like it created an ulcer while being cauterized during the surgery, thus when I consumed liquids, causing infection. So I did antiboiotics through tpm. I eventually healed and was where I should have been after the initial surgery.

I hope you are doing much better now. I totally understand your pain. I had a leak and double pneumonia so I feel for you. It does get better. My thoughts are with you.

I have been looking at everyones weight loss and it seems everyone is doing great. I am still at 37lb. loss and feel so much better. The leak was a set back, but I am chugging along with everyone else now. I love hearing everyones stories, so keep them coming. Jen

Yay you !!!!!! Congrats !!!

Preliminary goal has been met. My pre-op weight was 275lbs in January. I am currently 195 pounds , the goal was 200lbs. Doctor wants me at 175, but I am comfortable in the 190’s. The new slimmer me has give me a new attitude. Overall, the surgery has been an overwhelming success.

Awesome job !!!!!

Gday all

Well I posted earlier on this and my update today at 6 1/2 weeks post op recovery has been great, my back has almost healed up from the damage from lack of blood flow due to extremely long surgery to remove lap band and be sleeved, for those who don't know it took 8 hrs to remove and repair damage and then sleeve me.

Pre op weigh in I was 435 lbs today I'm down to 366.9 lbs it's been a struggle at time no energy some days just want to be couch potato, but still managing to get 1 hr at gym per day on treadmill doing average of 3 mile in the hr, best was 3.7 miles worst was 1.4 that day just walked so slow no energy at all.

I'm drinking about 140 oz of Water a day and getting in close to 90 grams of Protein in a day also, been trying to get some fruit in but found watermelon hard to get in, been eating loads of blueberries and blackberries with yogurt .

Cheers Malcolm

I have lost 37lbs. I weighed 240 the day I took my leak test. I didn't lose much right away because of my leak and having the tpn, but as they tapered me off of it, the weight started coming off.

Thank you !! I am tube and picc free. I am feeling great and losing weight. Such a relief to be normal again. I am glad to see everyone else doing good also. This surgery can be such a blessing. The leak was a set back I don't wish on anyone, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Jen

Awesome, Jen!!!

I had a leak and went through similar experience. I had a drain tube and they tested the Fluid which came back with bacteria. I had the picc line put in for antibiotics and nutrition. It will get better I promise. Praying for you both. Jen

OK where to begin ...first off this is southern lady's husbaand My wife had surgery about 2 weeks ago. She was fine 11 days into it she had already gone home and had been back for check up and had even planed to go to work half days monday. On the12th day she started feeling bad. Day 13 was even worst..by day 14 she had high fever101.5. She is now back in the hospital.the whole experience has been very hard on her but she was coping until the 14th day..after tests and scans she has pnemonia and an abcess...she is throwing up every 3 hours or so.just almost too much for her...everyone is praying for her but not much change.

They put in a pic line so they can give strong antibiotics. They are trying to treat it without surgery. Tomorrow they are to drain some of the Fluid around the lungs and send it for testing. She has done everything by the book walking every day till she got really sick on the 13th day. She was tolerating soft liquids..everything was starting to get better. This is a major set back...has anyone had similar experiences...this has been very hard so far,...any ideas on how to stop the throwing up they give her phenigren and zofran it helps but its a crazy cycle we can't seem to stop.

I rinsed my mouth with Water alot, but wasn't allowed to swallow. We have our silava that we swallow, but my doctor said absolutely nothing by mouth. I went 4 weeks without anything. It was extremely hard to do, but I always had Water to spit since my lips were so dry.

I do hope she recovers quickly. Sounds like she is doing much better. Good luck and keep us posted.

UPDATE: So guess whose home? ha ha yep my fiancée came home yesterday with the TPN and antibiotics. A nurse comes everyday and she showed me how to equip the Vitamins with the TPN then in the morning attach her to the antibiotics. They say the leak has closed however still has a couple more follow up appointments. I couldn't be happier right now. she desperately struggles and wants to have something to drink cause she hasn't had anything in two weeks. She wanted me to ask whoever when is an appropriate time to start sipping fluids? shes been licking watermelon and has some bizarre craving for fruit. please shed some light on this and experiences. Thanks.

I too went through a leak. Just got my picc line removed and tube. I am doing much better. I spent alot of time in the hospital and regretted my surgery also. I cried most of the time.

Now I am where I should have been after my surgery. It was tough and I still regret that I did it, but mostly wish I wouldn't have had the leak. The sleeve part is what I wanted. I promise it will get better as many others told me. Finding others that have went through what your fiancee' is going through will help. I was sent home with TPN and hated that more than the hospital.

It is such a scary experience. I was terrified of losing my life and leaving my little girl without a Mom. I was lucky and had a wonderful husband to be by my side. Just as you are by her side. That is awesome. God and support from others is exactly what we need. God bless you and your fiancee'. Praying for a full recovery. Jen

I am feeling great. Since I had a leak after my surgery, which was April 8th, I am just now where I should have been after surgery.

I no longer have my picc line and tube. I did Clear Liquids for 2 wks and now I am on stage 2 with the Protein Shakes and such. I had a slight set back but now I am on my way to some weightloss and a new life. I am so excited !!!

Bless your heart. I thought my leak was bad. It seems you have been through one tough time. So glad you are doing some better. I just got my drain taken out today. My journey hasn't been as rough or long as yours, but tough all the same.

It is a scary thing and makes you think twice, but it does get better. I am praying for you and your family.

Hello Everyone,

I am a 37 year old female who had 100lbs to lose that chose Gastric Sleeving. I wish I would have never chose this procedure as its been quite a journey. I had the operation on Oct 14, 2010, this was a same day out patient surgery. I had to be kept overnight as I was not feeling well. I immediatly started vomiting blood and to my surprise had to be taken back into surgery as I had a liter of blood in my abdomen. I was given 2 pints of blood and sent home 3 days later with a clean bill of health. I went home and for the five days I was home I was sick each day running a fever and I spoke with the doctor daily who told me this was normal and just prescribed me pain medicine as I was in horrible pain. On the fifth day I could not get out of bed and my husband had to call 911. I was admitted to the local hospital and diagnosed with a septic infection through my body. If I would have waited an hour later the doctors said I would have passed away, very scary as I am a mother of four little children oldest 10. I was in ICU for 6 weeks straight. I was isolated for the infection and had to have stents put in as I developed a leak on the staple line from the septic infection. Well the stents that where given to me should have been replacable and I was inserted with non-replacable stents, what a nightmare my skin grew through these stents and 3 surgeries and numerous procedures later they finally got the stents out, they almost ripped the esophogus out while trying to remove the stents, I had 2 stents placed on my leak. Its now May 2011 and I am right were I started with a leak. I do have a drain that was inserted and have had it in since Oct 2010. The surgeons are pulling it back slowly to see if the leak will close on its own. I sure hope this works. I have a upper GI scheduled for Thursday this week to check the leak. I am sure its still open as my JP is draining anywhere from 15-20cc of Fluid a day, however much better than before it used to be 100cc of Fluid before the inched the drain out a little bit. I can go on for days about everything that happened, however I figured I would condense what happened to mte. I am still battleing the leak and hope it will heal soon. I pray for everyone that this has happened to. I would like to see if this has happened to anyone else and there is a light at the end of the tunnel they where healed.

All the best Gabriella

I had my upper gi and ct scans again today. They looked great. My doctor took my drain tube out finally and what a relief. Next week I get my picc line taken out and no more tpn.

So my leak looks healed and I am doing good. Still on Clear Liquids, but I am happy with that.

Now I can start enjoying my sleeve and losing weight.

Thanks everyone for all of your support.

Thank you for the support and so far my ins. is paying. I am thankful for that. I get my tube out Tuesday so I am excited. Next Tuesday will be the picc line. I am almost on my way to being where I need to be. Sounds like you have all of your ducks in a row and you have a good surgeon. Keep us posted on your progress and good luck. Jen

Jen, so sorry you had complications with your surgery in MX. I hope you are now on the mend and glad that you found US doctor to threat you after the complications in Mexico. I would think ins coverage kicks in for the care you are getting here in the US. Yes, it is tricky to negotiate payments in Mexico. They have their own setup for that, so it frustrates the situation more. My surgery is in 16 days, I don't have a gall bladder. Mine is revision surgery from RNY to VSG. In my case, all depends on builtup scar tissue from the RNY. Currently doing the preop diet--been good thus far. I have an excellent surgeon who is connected to Dr. OZ in LA on a case where our local young lady was 700 pounds. My dr is treating her in prep for wls about midway down the road. Exciting times!! Also, I commend your not bashing your MX doctor over your complications. My dr assures me he is going to do my surgery "right". I have that much trust in his work and expertise with me. Take care, and continued successes with this journey.

Very glad. Finally some clear liquids again. Water YES !!!!!

Really pleased to hear that Jen! U must be so relieved!

Had my ugi and ct scans today. No more leak. Yay !!!!! I get to do Clear Liquids again. My TPN is cut in half and next week I get my tube out. The week after next I get my picc line out. Whew !! Almost there. I am so relieved.

Still have nausea and my tummy feels like crap, but I am almost home free.

That is so sweet and thank you for thinking of me. I appriciate that alot.

I think of you quite a bit and keeping hoping you're feeling ok. We're all pulling for you Jen and hope you get really really good news!

xoxo

Renee`

Thank you for your support.

Yes, the closure has meant alot to me. And being able to tell my story on this forum was important to me.

We all use this forum to help make our decisions, for comfort, and comparison.

Wow, that is quite a story and I'm so thankful that you are here (alive) to tell it. I'm sorry that things went wrong and you are so right when you say that even knowing all the risks, no one wants to be that 1 or 2% of people who have complications or problems. So glad that you found a surgeon with some compassion AND the ability to explain what happened so that you could have some closure and some clarity.

I hope you continue to heal and feel better!!!

I will let everyone know how I'm doing. I go for my tests again Tues. Just ready for this to be over. Thanks for checking on me.

Update us Jen Jen! How are you doing?

Renee` xoxo