NORCALRN

i still have enteral feedings (j tube) and i can sympathize with the back pack thing. i keep my kangaroo joey and formula plus stuff for flushing on me. this is better than the tpn in the hospital (about 7 weeks not that i have counted correctly). i do not care about what people say or stare, it is just a b++ch to lug around. i am on for 14 hours but working up to 90ml/hour so it will decrease my time down to 10hours. hoping to go back to work (nurse at san quentin state prison) but looking for a new job. will have to run my pump at night so i am practicing nowadays. cannot think i can do my duties with a mic-key feeding tube in place but i will see if my doctor will clear me in july for august work. as for hair loss, my surgery was 7-24-12 and i am still losing...but got a super cute short hair cut that i love...and it is less dramatic seeing the shorter pieces go down the drain!!!! good luck to all!!! with the high calories of tube feedings like tpn...i am still 10-15lb away from goal weight but wear a 6 or 8 and i am 5/5 ( I NEEDED TO LOSE ABOUT 65LBS OR SO) . moRE important is the nutrition. I AM SO TIRED OF BEING TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!hang in there everyone!

i had fever - pain on left side, nausea, unable to get into a comfortable position. but i had other severe complications so i presented with quite a bit of symptoms.

OK, so after all my complications, etc, I saw the bariatric surgeon who did my explor lap 3 weeks postop. he said he had 2 other surgeons review my case and they do not believe i had a leak (which they could not diagnose back then either). BUT i had a splenic infarct - likely due to the omentum being placed heavily on the splenic head.....I was never told this!!!!! My local surgeon who will replace my jejujostomy tube 2-25-13....believes i did have a leak......i was too sick not to and there was t much pus. anyway, 3 more weeks with this NJ tube - i can do it. plus my vitamin A level is 3 so that has to come up before surgery......but t least i get this tube out - the NJ placement will be on the right side this time....she cannot touch the left...adhesions, etc. so that is my update!!!

9 months out still no water for me. comes right back up. ( i do have complications though). water makes me nauseous right away and i used to drink ssoooo much h2o before.....weird. but i flush my j tube with the water so i stay hydrated.boring but hopefully temporary. i cannot locate any info on this.....once i heard it had something to do with pH but i cannot locate reputable research. hang in there!!

wow....honest, articulate, funny. i agree with you on your post....happy journey!

approved within a few days. i picked my surgery date. it was quick - no jumping through hoops..i researched for 8 months or so......i did have a hard time reaching my coordinator, so did my family (the staff said they called my mom - but did not) AND never saw my doctor after surgery..weird but my choice to go to mexico!!! always a long story with mexico topics but not gonna get into it right now...still no regrets!and i am off to get my feeding tube replaced this morning! this one will be less trouble and easier to care for. hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

as a nurse and first responder volunteer where i live, this is breaking my heart just like the rest of the world. emotions all over the place. i will think of you all. i cry for this terrible thing that happened. sure puts things in persepctive for me. so what....my complictions are nothing..shame on me for feeling sorry for myself at times. i am 44 and i cannot fathom why people are so fuc+#ng mean.

i have had the same issues for 8 months. i thought my vision was changing due to age and the fact that i spent 5 weeks in the hospital. NOPE..it was the scopalomine patch for nausea~other meds can do that, too. IE zofran. i am silent barfer..fluids just came right up. double what i took in. please be pushy with his doctor if fluids are not staying down. maybe an upper GI study or endoscopy? if he i following post op then either this is how his body is reacting to surgery.....hopefully he is just that. but follow instinct. some people just have that regurgitation thing - nothing wrong, but monitor. my situation is very different. i won't get into it - i just want you both to know everyone reacts differently.............keep us posted please......

Intubation is tricky...the anesthesiologist probably attempted but backed off. not everyone is a good canidate for anesthesia. that said, it can be done, hopefully with an extrememely skilled team. i am sorry that you had to go through all of that for nothing..just pain and confusion. i hope you have a chance to meet with your team so you get answers. it is your right as a patient to know. keep pushing for the right doctors so your journey can start!!!! i hope you fell better today!

one cup with ff milk, one splenda. as with my liquids...it often comes right back up, but i am so use to vomitting, its worth it. my fluids come from flushing my J tube mostly. and i have had a sip or two of a blended, yummy cold coffee drink. i am 7 months out.

I do not regret my sleeve...7-24-12. and i had major complications. still on tube feeding pump. i can eat a tiny bit fluids a tiny bit but 95% of nutrition is formula. I do not have a food addiction and no health issues except being about 65# over weight. I think people get scared b/c lifestyle changes are necessary. i cannot wait until i can hit the eliptical and get some cardio in. The formula is high in calories and it bothers me. I am stuck at 150 with 10-15# left BUT i need to rid of the malnutrition and get stronger. If the posts are alerting you i think that is good. that means you are smart and are taking in all the info out there. I hope that if you choose wls, it is with good intentions b/c yep, it can be difficult, but we need to remind ourselves how amazing each of us are.....we want to be healthy! as a nurse, i can be a good role model if the topic arises. good luck on your journey!!!!!!!!!!!!

my bff has said to me several times "i wish you never had the surgery". this coming from someone turning 50 and is -petite. yes, it hurts my feelings and i do not think we are being over sensitive. my complications since sleeved 7-2012 are ongoing and she avoids social situations with me ((is it my feeding tube in my backpack or is she afraid i will barf and embarrass her??!! anyway - stay strong and remember you know yourself and are amazing!!!!

one day at a time...it will get better - i spent 5 weeks in patient due to many complications and i only had about 60# to lose....but worth it. you can ask me anything...i am so sorry to hear that you are in a position that is not what you anticipated. honestly, as i sit here with my feeding tube pumping away...i can assure you - every day is different for everyone. get better, keep us notified so we can cheer you on and let you know that you have the support of so many of us!!! oooops just read your updaye. sorry for jumping in. so glad you are ok!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i take protonix every morning and have mega bottles of carafate on hand. i do not use the carafate much since 95% of my nutrition comes from tube feeding. but it does a nice job of coating the GI tract. unfortunately - i have thrown carafate up way too many times so it is on my "aversion" list!!!!!! the protonix helps - even though i have reflux that actually goes right up to the top of my esophagus - (neat to watch when having upper GI's) - i do not have any symptoms. lucky in that area i guess. hey, at this point i will take it!!! keep working on triggers, tricks and the PPI's..hope you feel better!!

I had complictions....5 weeks in hosp. i am letting ya know that you are the bomb to tolerate the NG tube. I had one and pulled it out. Much later i had 32 days with an NJ tube.....I know this is hard and you just want to be home. One day at a time..it does get better. i have my NJ tube still....i hope you get sleep..ask for something if necessary. cannot get better without recuperative sleep and that is hard to do as in-pt. i hope you feel better and get home soon. you can get through this!!!

i wish i could give you the carafate. i have so much of it. you are without insurance? follow guidelines for GERD...make sure reputable site..national institute of health, etc. long term reflux can cause problem down the road......can you get into a clinic that does sliding scale payment? not sure where you live.....you gotta find medical care!!! please keep posting......

have you tried liquid carafate? prescription.....kinda coats the GI tract and what about a proton pump inhibitor? Protonix is really good. when was your last upper GI with a barium study? just thinking out loud. i hope you feel better!

b/c i do not like the ideal of not having medical on site and/or having to make 2 trips to the clinic per day for meds, etc. plus when i began complications - i called them - just like the paperwork requests us to do and they said "call tomorrow" and then when we kept calling back- they ignored the calls and would not pick up the phone. i left messages for my coordinators and they, too, only called me 4 months later to see if i was happy with my surgery. my doctors here were unable to contact them, too. one of the main complications was a splenic infarct, vagus nerve was cut or damaged and a subclinical leak. 5 weeks in the hospital and i was sleeved 7-24-12. as i sit here with my feeding tube running (backpack modified - i am not stuck at home), i do not regret choosing mexico - i needed to lose 65-70# and not heavy enough or any co-morbidities for kaiser. i know that i will get better.every day is different.i still rest-nap every afternoon pretty much. with the TPN with my PICC line and now formula - i weigh 151....and at a big stall i know the lat 10-15# will come off. just slower than i wanted.. i lost 20# in 13 days then got sick. no cardio yet - new feeding tube 3 weeks ago (2 nite in hosp.) and i throw up fluids and any food that i get down.small steps count though!!!!!! i hope you are doing well and have success in your journey! sorry for the long post.

i was contacted from dr almanza's coordinator asking me i i want plastics and confirming hotel ticuan and no recovery house.....i will not be going back there though.

You are gonna do great!!!! Having my surgery 7-24 of last year - has made me a better nurse. Take one day at a time. You may find yourself in a holding pattern, but focus on the outcome!!!! keep posting when you can!

hi there i am a nurse in marin co CA. i will be searching for a new position come about sept although i am employed FT still.. your your group sounds. count me in! thank you! trish

if you feel that this pain is different or alarms you enough to post - check in with your doctor. and a quick temp check. not every hour.....heehee just make sure no fever. you know your body best - follow your instinct and i hope you feel better.

It must be difficult and of course scary for pre-sleevers to hear our journeys...but again, most surgeries have excellent outcomes. Iggychic - you have knowledge that has helped so many and no one should make you feel like you need to apologize for your posts. i thank you for standing firm on your medical advice. sharing situations such as what happened to you and i, are just as important as the predictive path of those who did not experience problems. so "cheers" to us all!! I am glad i chose to post my experiences and look forward to monday.."byebye" NJ tube and "hello" J tube!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! trish

I feel so much empathy for you. I know the feeling...bed, bathroom, couch, etc. It does get better. I kept being told to look back t where i was a few days ago, afew weeks ago, etc and it is only then i can see my progress. I am a bit afraid of going back in next monday for the J tube again even though it should just be for 2 nights.. not sure if i will have to have a stoma this time but last one i did not. this one will have a balloon(no falling out this time) - i think it is a MIc Key by Kimberly Clark. not 100% sure but it is a low profile which is nice. anyway, keep in mind there will be a time when you can look back and see your progress nutritionally, physically and then weight wise. I have that horrid NJ tube - on Peptide I send 1.5 for 14 hours/day. which is hard to reach and it is about 1400 kcal!! too much but i need my carotene to bump up from "3" to the twenties and increase my protein so i can have the surgery.you hugs cuz i know know it is rough but you are awesome and you must remember that.. Another thing, this has made me a better nurse that is for sure! Trish

i had a leak and a splenic infarct ( spleen not heart) from too much omentum (protects organs) being re-layered too heavily on the head of my spleen at the end of the procedure.With that came massive peritonitis with abcesses on spleen and liver, pneumonia and a bunch of other weird stuff. rare, but it happened. spend 38 days in the hospital 2 weeks after sleeve, and back on feeding tube with permanent one being placed 2-25-13 and i will be so happy to get this one out of my nose that goes down to my intestines. BUT, please, do not let those with difficulties deter you. I have no regrets but I do fee terrible that my family has had to worry, etc. I have a son (21) with challenges, and this has been hard on him especially. i needed to lose 65-70#and i have about 10-15 to go. Would have reached my goal a long time ago, but in the hosp. they feed you TPN through a PICC line, which is incredibly caloricaly dense, plus with my malnutrition, the formula i have to use takes 15 hours per day in order to get the nutrients and the calories are about 1400!!! Still, i have only gained 1.5# on it over the last 3 weeks plus i started strength training using resistance bands. on good days i walk the dog! I do nap everyday and see a therapist weekly which includes biofeedback. I have great insurance but between november and early january i had to convince my gastroenterologist that something was wrong b/c i could not keep down food or fluids regardless. it took him that long to do labs then order the NJ tube. so one surgery in 9 days and at some point another to have the feeding tube removed. maybe 6 months..who knows??? Again, you can ask me any question, and please, go into this knowing that you are educated about your surgery and the positive outcomes over ride the negative ones!!!! It is worth it and I know that I will get better. Congrats on your decision for a new you!!!!!!!!! Trish