NORCALRN

I know how you feel......it will get better though. I was sleeved 7/12 and within one week was admitted to my local hospital where I spent almost 7 weeks there. No leak but abcess on spleen tunneling to liver, hospital acquired pneumonia, raging infections, the worst nausea, vomiting, and nothing helped. there were more problems...and the PICC line as well as the chest tube drains JP drains all sucked!!! But I survived and do not remember too much, which my family tells me that is good. To be honest, I still vomit regardless of how little I eat or drink and generally get my calories in prior to early afternoon. I rarely eat dinner unless it is a social gathering. I did have a Jtube nasal then J tube inserted in the OR for a feeding tube - for about 18 months. My weight is still not ideal but I am weak and always tired. I am only telling you this so you can see that in the BIG picture, you will feel better. I hated when people told me that...I kept saying "when"??? Supposedly, the sleeve was "pristine" said by the GI doctors, but my surgeon still swears there had to be a leak for me to be that ill. SO, when you look at your medications and you are feeling awful, try to visualize yourself healthy, eating well and back on your feet. I know it is hard when you do not feel well. I am a nurse, working only about 20-32 hours/week and almost done with my masters (on line). I never thought I would get to this point. What I am trying to say is that even though you are wondering "why", try, please try, to focus on the new you. Keep posting so we know you are improving each day and inching towards feeling "whole" again!
Trish

i had my sleeve in mexico7-24-12 home and 10 days later or so severe complications (7 weeks in the hospital and still wit a j tube (feeding tube). i have kaiser - live 30 minutes north of the golden gate bridge...KAISER WAS EXCELLENT! MULTIPLE ambulance transports, surgeries, home health care - i paid zero! i am sure laws differ state to state, but if you are an emergent patient, it is illegal to deny care. good luck with your decision. even with problem, i am standing here smiling happy with my choices!!!

my butt is a granny ass but that is partly from hosp.x 7 weeks. someday surgery to lift and tuck! great pics btw!!!!!

sleeved 7-12, and 6 weeks ago started having partial complex seizures...on meds cannot drive either. wondering since i am weaning off my feeding tube (jejuostomy) if that had something to do with it since it is packed with so much nutrition. hhmmm, i hope your seizures get under control. in CA, i can drive after 3 months and seizure free. good luck and please, like everyone says, keep us posted.

This sounds awful and scary for you. It is my understanding that fresh blood will be bright red; older blood, likely to be seen in stool will be black and tarry -like. Do you have a home blood pressure machine? If not, see if someone can get one for you. They are around $30. Take your BP lying down write it down; sit up - wait 2 minutes and take it again; stand for 2 minutes and take it for the last time. If there are significant changes with you BP and heart rate- maybe contact an advice nurse or your doctor's office. I highly doubt that increasing anything that reduces acid will make an impact on your symptoms. Blood in vomit or in a BM - unless you have a hard stool or hemmroids, is not ok! Please follow up -go with your instinct and head to to the ER - if it happens one more time. in the meantime, get up slowly and sit a bit before getting out of bed. NO falling!!
Hang in there...you are the one that knows what is normal for your own body.
Trish

I am a provider buy not YOUR provider, however, anytime someone is having black stools and blood in their emesis (vomit) I advise go to the ER. One of the main reasons is to check a CBC (complete blood count) and your vital signs (esp heart rate and blood pressure) because the amount of blood passed can be deceiving compared to what you actually see. Please consider it.

This sounds awful and scary for you. It is my understanding that fresh blood will be bright red; older blood, likely to be seen in stool will be black and tarry -like. Do you have a home blood pressure machine? If not, see if someone can get one for you. They are around $30. Take your BP lying down write it down; sit up - wait 2 minutes and take it again; stand for 2 minutes and take it for the last time. If there are significant changes with you BP and heart rate- maybe contact an advice nurse or your doctor's office. I highly doubt that increasing anything that reduces acid will make an impact on your symptoms. Blood in vomit or in a BM - unless you have a hard stool or hemmroids, is not ok! Please follow up -go with your instinct and head to to the ER - if it happens one more time. in the meantime, get up slowly and sit a bit before getting out of bed. NO falling!!
Hang in there...you are the one that knows what is normal for your own body.
Trish

I was sleeved 7-24-12. had severe complications including splenic infart, abcesses on liver and spleen, hosp. acquired pneumonia, got septic. chest tube, drains, pleural effusion - 7 weeks in hospital. i know i am forgetting some other issues. I still have a j tube for feeding but keep trying food per my doctors. BUT YES, I would do it again. needed to lose 65# +/-. I feel terrible that i made my family worry. that is the regret. dr reyes - jeruselum hosp - TJ. The complication postings are not meant to scare anyone, just to provide information so you can make the best choice for yourself. I am lucky to be alive and i try not to dwell on what happened. I am moving on - and i know each day i will get better!!!

Hang in there. I had a NJ tube for 32 days until I was strong enough for surgery for the J tube/It sucks. I had a NG tube but pulled it out in the hospital ( bad patient as nurses tend to be)! I am so sorry that you have to go through this but it does get better. I got so tired of people telling me that, but it is true. It seems that you have everything under control regarding getting things done. I hope tests, etc show minimal issues. Heal rest breathe! Remember how strong and awesome you are!!!!!! please update us
Trish
Trish

hello there
I have been with complications since 8-2012. BUT most people do great. As far as your home treatment, instead of a PICC line, what about a feeding tube placed directly into your jejunum (intestine). leak or not, you need nutrients. A PICCl line is not the best for treatment t home. Do you have a home health nurse? That should be addressed. A stent is for strictures how many upper GI tests have you had? CTs? please ask questions... advocate for yourself. you always have an ombudsman on site who is specifically for mediating choices between patients and doctors and they generally have a lot to offer. Please post so we know how you are doing. hang in there. I have been there and still have a feeding tube although I am eating some food now. again --post please!!

when i asked what i was getting they did not respond and when i pushed for info they got upset with me i speak a bit medical spanish so i pursued my questions. i would only suggest going if one has a medical background (to jer clinic) anyway hope all is well for everyone

i had my sleeve in mexico7-24-12 home and 10 days later or so severe complications (7 weeks in the hospital and still wit a j tube (feeding tube). i have kaiser - live 30 minutes north of the golden gate bridge...KAISER WAS EXCELLENT! MULTIPLE ambulance transports, surgeries, home health care - i paid zero! i am sure laws differ state to state, but if you are an emergent patient, it is illegal to deny care. good luck with your decision. even with problem, i am standing here smiling happy with my choices!!!

i had my sleeve in mexico7-24-12 home and 10 days later or so severe complications (7 weeks in the hospital and still wit a j tube (feeding tube). i have kaiser - live 30 minutes north of the golden gate bridge...KAISER WAS EXCELLENT! MULTIPLE ambulance transports, surgeries, home health care - i paid zero! i am sure laws differ state to state, but if you are an emergent patient, it is illegal to deny care. good luck with your decision. even with problem, i am standing here smiling happy with my choices!!!

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 think everyone has covered it I think:
-emotional withdrawl/head hunger
-acidy feeling very common post op and it feels like hunger to some of us. are you on an acid inhibitor?
-nerves were cut and take time to have full sensation. first several weeks, live by the measureand weight and the clock - don't trust your tummy to tell you when yuo are on food until you are more solid foods
-except you may have a rough time first 6-8 weeks. I didnt feel human until about 12 weeks out
keep your eye on the prize and remember it does get easier

Stand back and prepare for the stampede by those of us who recognise this behaviour!
But, this time you are owning it and the weekend isn't even over yet. So maybe it's not going to be the same as what's happened before? We all get it wrong from time to time and the old ways break through. But that's life, we stay vigilant and we deal with being human.
So, put this behind you, dust yourself down and jump back on the wagon. You know what to do. And you have loads of support on here. You haven't failed, you had a moment and you will only do long term harm if you do it again tomorrow - and the day after - and the day after. You get the picture.
Good luck, you are almost half way there, well done

Just wanted to see if anyone else feels this way post surgery.
One of the things I had always done when eating out prior to surgery is that I would look at the menu and make decisions about what I would order based on how much food I thought I would get. It was the quantity that was most important. It didn't matter if it was something I might have liked the taste of as much as whether it would fill me up.
It actually took some time after surgery to get to where I was out of this mindset. But now, it is really liberating to sit down and know that I can't eat like that even if I wanted to, so I now can focus on the quality and taste when in choosing what to order. For example, my favorite item might be ceviche or something like that, but I never would have ordered it presurgery because it was a small plate of food. It's very liberating now. It was amazing when I realized that i was actually stressing about whether something was going to be enough for me.

Yep and it gets easier and easier EVERYDAY.

I am only 4'10" and had the sleeve done 7/22, down about 36 pounds....get a second opinion

I'm 5'2.5" and my sleeve is awesome. 82 pounds down at 5 months out. One of my favorite sleeved people that I am on a FB group with is just at 5' and she hit 100 pounds lost yesterday or the day before.
I call phooey on your doctor. Go with what you feel better about and if he isn't comfortable doing it, find someone who is.

I'm sorry that you are feeling sad.. You know that this is her problem and not yours. I had several friends turn on me a bit because I had surgery. One was significantly over weight. And thought that I would judge her! But I told her I did this for me and my health. I was going to die I knew it! If I hadn't had surgery. It makes me sad that it us against them now type attitudes. Because I am still them I know what it's like to be the morbidly obese girl and in some ways I'll always be that girl still. But it's really hard to explain that to someone who doesn't want to listen. She sounds like she doesn't know how to handle her feelings without lashing out.. Perhaps she will come around or perhaps not. But this is not about you or anything that you have done wrong.

Keep your chin up and think of all of the positive "side effects" of the sleeve. There are dangers in everything you do, this is about you and being the best you can be!

That is pretty typical at this stage, but more so if you are short-waisted like I am. I found that I was "slumping" forward during the first couple of weeks due to the incisions and that was causing some of the discomfort. When I realized this and started sitting as upright as I could get it helped. Even now 10 months out, if I slump forward at the table, I notice a difference.

A few years ago, my friends and I had a game. If you could smack one person without consequences, who would you smack? You only get one in a lifetime. I was so pious then and said, "I can't think of a certain person who I would want to smack." Fast forward some odd years, and I can no longer say that. Today, I found a person I could smack.
After two weeks, my case with Aetna is still pending. I called them today to see what was happening and to see if there was anything I can do to help the process. The insurance employee was kind and looked up and said it was still pending. They delved deeper and said the reason was they were missing information. Was it what type of classes I had taken or my dietitian report? Nope. Was it my report from the doctor or the exercise personnel? Nuh uh. IT WAS MY HEIGHT!!! The bleeping doctor's office failed to tell the bleeping insurance how tall I am!!!! The insurance had contacted my doctor's office and left a message several times and they had not heard back from them.
I had just contacted my doctor's insurance coordinator Friday. She said she hadn't heard anything from the insurance company and she would call them and contact me either later that day or Monday for sure. Well, I called today and she is out of the office. <insert scream here> I now have found someone I could smack!
So, here I am, insurance is still pending, because they don't have my bleeping height which they need from the doctor's insurance coordinator.
This process is so frustrating! I bow down to those who have gone through it without losing their cool. I feel like just walking away from the whole process. And finding another doctor at this point is not an option.
On a different note, anyone want a free 18 year old senior in high school? Free to good home. Yes, it has been a crappy day.

I feel for you, darlin'. You definitely need to reach out for some tangible and realistic support where you live.
Firstly and as these good people above have stated - you need to go back to the people who supplied the surgical procedure in the first instance and ask them about bariatric support mechanisms.
Secondly, go and see your local GP and in addition to getting a prescription; find out where local and free support groups for depression/anxiety are. You could even google it. A lot of these groups are often supported by local religious societies and are free. Once you find out where all the free support groups are, get yourself a little diary or create a timetable for the week and FILL IT with things to do. Even if it's a walk for an hour, a long bath, attendance at a group, attendance at a free lecture at your local library or university, go to a gallery? You need to be out and busy so you don't have to stare at your fridge and its contents. Maybe tell your partner what is going on and ask if he'd help you with it? Telling someone who is close to you, face to face, shares the burden and can make you feel lighter and more ready to face the task ahead. Besides, it's nice to have a partner in crime
You're sounding like you're in the depths of a pretty hefty depression, my love and the only way you can climb out of those depths is to reach out. You've taken the first step by being honest on here and if we could, we'd all mobilise to assist in any way we could. However, this one you're going to have to take the first tentative steps in getting a grip of yourself.
I'm not going to smother you with platitudes. You're cognizant of the downward spiral you've found yourself in and you've got clarity enough to be able to articulate it effectively. Sadly, you're going to have to grab the issue by the balls and talk to people who can actively help you...
The first step has been recognising the situation and you have done that. Just a few more steps and you will make progress and the clouds will lift.. Promise. Hang on in there, honey x