How do you know if you have a leak. I have discomfort from time to time, just getting used to the sleeve. Is there a specific sensation that is associated with a leak?

Symptoms of a leak vary, but most commonly are excruciating, radiating pain across abdomen, fever, rapid heart rate, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramping, fatigue.

thanks tiffikins

I have a little pain this morning.... well....not really pain. I think I just have gas.

I can't get down the same amount of protein as I could two days ago. Only a few sips and its uncomfortable.

Try some Gas X Strips. I still have some days when my restriction is more or less.

The humidity here is treacherous today, and my first drink of coffee this morning after my Prilosec hit my stomach like a brick. I'll probably have to stick with mushy stuff today until the humidity settles. I don't know how to explain it, but you'll find that your sleeve can be cantankerous. Maybe try something warm before your Protein drink, the cold may be too much for you today.

Of course, if it persists, or you get a fever, do not hesitate to seek medical attention.

Thanks

I knew if anyone was going to have the low down on leaks it would be you:cool0:

Thanks for asking this question. I'm being sleeved on Thursday and I'm a worrier. I know that the most likely complication from the surgery (aside from dehydration) is a leak, so I was wondering what it felt like so I could tell the normal aches and pains from a leak.

It sounds like a "if you have it, you'll know it" situation -- it doesn't sound like the symptoms are at all subtle.

It sounds like a "if you have it, you'll know it" situation -- it doesn't sound like the symptoms are at all subtle.

My surgeon seemed to think you would know it for sure. Rapid heartbeat and fever almost always accompany a leak from what he said.

However, there have been isolated cases where a leak went undetected months after surgery! I don't wish to cause you undue worry but as they say it's not over until the fat lady sings? I personally, although no longer a fat lady, am not yet singing.

However, there have been isolated cases where a leak went undetected months after surgery! I don't wish to cause you undue worry but as they say it's not over until the fat lady sings? I personally, although no longer a fat lady, am not yet singing.

2 questions lis

1) when will you (the skinney lady) sing... how far out will you feel safe

2) when you have heard of people having these undetected leaks were there any symptoms at all. Maybe in hindsight people could come up with a warning sign. :thumbup1:

thanks

stacey

This is a description from Houston Surgical Specialists that I found and bookmarked before my surgery:

Stomach Leak

This is potentially a life threatening complication. Fortunately, leak after Gastric Sleeve is rare, occurring in 1 out of 100 patients. It occurs when a hole or gap develops somewhere along the staple line closure allowing stomach juice to escape into the abdominal cavity. A severe infection develops that can lead to sepsis (adverse symptoms involving all body systems) or septic shock (low blood pressure with injury to all body systems). Multiple Organ Failure can occur which is basically a shut down of many organ systems. With time this can lead to death.

Symptoms of stomach leak include: rapid heart rate, dizziness, shortness of breath, fever, worsening abdominal pain, left chest or shoulder pain, abdominal distention, the appearance of illness and a general feeling that something is very wrong. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms may be absent or could be from something else (e.g. bleeding). Diagnosing a leak is further complicated by the fact that there is no single, reliable test to definitely diagnose a leak.

2) when you have heard of people having these undetected leaks were there any symptoms at all. Maybe in hindsight people could come up with a warning sign. :thumbup1:

thanks

stacey

I can only answer #2 because I have 2 cases bookmarked on OH for patients that experienced leaks months out.

They both had symptoms, but were misdiagnosed, and a leak was not ever suspected. The symptoms were not major symptoms, but some of the symptoms were there, and medicated to relieve the symptoms temporarily. Tylenol3 will take care of a lot pain and fever temporarily until the other issues start worsening.

were the symptoms the same as with a big leak only less pronounced

were the symptoms the same as with a big leak only less pronounced

Nausea, pain and fever seemed to be the common symptoms. It was persistent, and medicated rather than properly diagnosed.

It wasn't the discomfort with eating and drinking that is pretty common for the first couple of weeks post-op especially when advancing to a new food stage.

2 questions lis

1) when will you (the skinney lady) sing... how far out will you feel safe

2) when you have heard of people having these undetected leaks were there any symptoms at all. Maybe in hindsight people could come up with a warning sign. :001_unsure:

thanks

stacey

1) I am praying for inner peace Stacey. Since losing so much weight so fast and still finding eating so tedious, I actually feel a bit vulnerable. I'm still a little freaked out when I think of how drastically my stomach was reduced. That said, had I this surgery 10 years ago I think I would have been in a better psychological frame of mind. I did undergo a major change in my long time living situation only 2 weeks prior to surgery and I really think that has played a major role in my feelings of doubt and sometimes fear.

2) You make a valid point. It seems that in the couple of instances I have read the circumstances were not so easy to decipher. I will look for the links and PM them to you. Keep in mind that they are isolated cases as most leaks happen very soon after surgery.

Hello,

Here is my experience. I was sleeved on Monday 5/20/2013. Leak tested on 5/21/13 with no leaks and cleared for release. I came home on Tuesday afternon after I could keep down ice chiips, popcicles etc. The rest of the day I slept. Wednesday night I couldn't sleep all night, I couldn't get confortable. I take meds for anxiety and thught that was the problem. At 4 am, the pain became sudden and severe and I woke my husband and told him we need to go to the hospital, and that is what we did. They did a CT Scan to make sure I didn''t have an pulmmonary embolism. Then they did a leak test, and that came out positive. So off to the OR I went. Regarding the pain it is fine. Thank you so mucfh.

Terri