My story is not meant to scare or discourage anyone from the VSG. I just want to share my experience with everyone.

I am a breast cancer survivor of 2 years now and have been through, bi-lateral mastectomy, reconstruction, and chemo. After my cancer I started taking my HR medications and started to gain weight and became depressed. I had other issues due to the breast cancer but won't go into them.

I gained at least 60lbs after starting the medication, which I have to take for 5yrs. I weighed 180 when diagnosed and got up to 240.

With alot of fatigue, nausea, and weakness from my meds, I knew I had to do something about my weight before I got worse. A friend of mine had the VSG done and I thought what a perfect solution. I did my research for almost a year and knew I would be a self pay patient. My ins. didn't cover bariatric, plus I didn't have the health issues to appeal.

Now that I am not currently working, I needed something I could afford but felt comfortable with. So I searched Mexico and the surgeons there. Like I said I researched for almost a year. I picked out my surgeon and set my date. One of my close friends was more than excited to go with me, so I planned it all out and off we went.

I arrived in Mexico and was greeted by my coordinator, who is an absolute lovely person. We were settled into our room and I was immediately sent for testing. As I waited with my friend for my turn at surgery, I was not at all nervous. My time came and when I woke up my friend was there and I was feeling fine. Sore, tired, and groggy, but fine.

For the next few days I was extrememly sore and my sides hurt really bad. I was running a temp., had a high heart rate, and I knew something wasn't right. I told the nurses I needed my doctor. The doctor came in late that night and agreed something wasn't right, so he wanted to take me back into the operating room and put the scope back in to see what the problem was. My friend who was extrememly worried about me asked the doctor if I could just be driven over the border to San Diago to have a hospital look at me where my insurance would cover me, but he assured her I would be taken care of and couldn't wait. When I woke up in my room again, my friend was there telling me my surgeon found a ruptured ulcer just below the suture line and had to clean and repair it but I was going to be ok. My surgeon also wanted to keep me for a couple of more days. He assured me I wouldn't have to pay anymore than maybe a $600 fee from another surgeon.

First of all I thought.......NO..... there could not have been an ulcer or they would have seen it to begin with, but ok even if they didnt, I had a scope done a month before I left the states for the nausea I have due to my meds. (my oncologist didn't think it was due to meds but gallbaldder). I had no signs of ulcers. No signs of anything. But my surgeon didn't know I had this test already done. Besides the tests, I just felt wrongness about it. I just felt that ulcer was not the issue.

Wanting to get better and go home, I didn't say much. My best friend had begged my surgeon to let me go home as scheduled with her, but he felt I needed more time in the hospital. She knew I didn't have the extra money, but the doc insisted I wouldn't have to pay more than the $600.

So my friend had to leave me there since she had to return to work. I was fine with being alone but when my surgeon said I looked well enough to leave, the hospital addmisnistration was trying to get me to pay 2300.00 before I could leave. I tried explaining I didn't have but 700.00 in my bank account and I had to already pay extra fees to change my flight around. The man in the office became very rude and demanding.

When it was finally time to leave, I was taken to do the leak test with the rest of the patients who were there at the hospital with me. My test came out good, and I was rushed to the airport.

I made it home safe but very weak and sick. I slept for one whole day. I continued to run low grade temps the rest of the week and didn't feel quite right. Still very sore on my sides. Sharp pains. So I went to my primary doctor where she took xrays and had a ct scan done.

Behold......... double pneumonia. She said for me to check into ER. Which I did. The next day a surgeon came around to my room and told me my CT scan showed a leak and it needed to be repaired asap. WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!! NO !!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and while we are in there why don't we take out that gallbladder. Gotta lot of stones in there.

Needless to say I was freaking out. This surgeon was more than ammused that I went to Mexico for this surgery and now I was all messed up looking at him for help.

I was not at all going to let this man go diggin inside of me for a leak, much less take out my gallbladder when I had enough to worry about. So I looked up a Bariatric surgeon in my area and gave the Bariatric Clinic a call. Out of 4 surgeons, only one called me back. But.... he listened. He offered to take me in and see what he could do. So I transferred hospitals.

He looked at my scans and my videos from my surgeries in mexico and concluded that my Mexico surgeon tried to repair a leak or some sort of tear. He didn't want to say anything bad about my surgeon in Mexico, but I knew he didn't believe there was an ulcer either. All he said was "don't worry, we will get this fixed and you will be fine".

He opted on no surgery and putting a tube in my belly to drain any bacteria, plus started me on IV with nothing by mouth. I spent a week in the hospital on heavy antibiotics and fluids then I was sent home on TPN where I am today.

Hoping the leak will heal on it's own and I will be back to normal soon.

I loved my surgeon in Mexico and his coordinator. They are precious people and I do not blame anyone. This is just a chance I took. I do understand the doctor wanting to keep his record clean, but I also believe no one is perfect.

My surgeon in Mexico and the coordiantor kept in close touch with me and tried to give the surgeon here as much info as possible.

I just feel I was one of the few percent who end up with a leak. Lucky me.

Anyhow, I wanted to share this with everyone and let you know, we have to follow our gutt, or at least what is left of it. If you don't feel right, get it checked out and don't worry about it being nothing. Glad I listened to myself and hollered when I needed to.

Regrets.....Hmmmmm So far it's been a rough ride, but I am hoping I will be saying it was all worth it.

Thanks Tiff for giving me the courage to share this story.

Had my tests today and I think they turned out good. I haven't heard from the doc yet, but the tech said he couldn't see anymore leak. Yay !!!!!!! Now all I have to do is wait on the doc to let me know.

That's great Jen. I hope the dr agrees with the tech!!

So glad to hear the news! Let us know what the doc says.

YAY YAY Jen ! ! ! I'm so elated for you. Let me know what's going on. I'll be at a ball game tonight, but message me on FB and let me know.

Wow, you are just the strongest person! I'm so glad you are getting good care now and it sounds like things are going in the right direction.

All of my tests turned out good. There is no more leaking. I still have to remain on TPN another week to make sure I continue to heal. I also asked my doc to show me what he felt went wrong with my surgery. So he did a diagram for me. After the staples and the sutures for my sleeve were put in place they had to cauterize the arteries that lined the stomach just below the suture line. He said while doing so it got too hot and the heat caused an ulcer. So it wasn't an ulcer I already had but one created during surgery. He also said when my surgeon went back in to fix it, it would have probably been fine if I would have stayed off of liquids longer. Enough for it to have healed more.

So when I came back to the states and started doing the liquids, it started to leak.

All in all, I feel like I have some closure on the true "Ulcer" word.

My surgeon wasn't actually lying, but not actually telling the truth. Except when he said that the cancer meds I take usually cause ulcers. I told him I discontinued my HR med to prepare for my surgery. So I had already been off for a bit.

Anyhow, all of this has been one heck of and adventure I wouldn't wish on anyone else.

Good note is, I am on my way to recovery. Yay !!!!!

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Wow, you are just the strongest person! I'm so glad you are getting good care now and it sounds like things are going in the right direction.

Jen Jen ... Thanks so much for sharing your story... My heart goes out to you ... And I'm praying for your speedy recovery...

Actually I'd like to know who the surgeon is, just in case others are considering going there, myself included. I think it would help more in our continual research to find the best surgeon we can afford. just my thoughts. Feeling any better today?

I am so glad to hear your leak is healed and that there was an ulcer - just wish he had been more straightforward with you.

I am feeling much better. Thank you for asking.

I'm just ready to get this pic line and tube out so I can start being somewhat normal again. lol

Actually I'd like to know who the surgeon is, just in case others are considering going there, myself included. I think it would help more in our continual research to find the best surgeon we can afford. just my thoughts. Feeling any better today?

Jen, I just found this post.

Although u emailed me, i had no idea how bad the situation was. Or of your previous health trouble. You are so strong and brave, I dont know what i would have done in your situation apart from crumble!

I am soooo sorry it had to happen to you, i bet you feel that you are being tested just now. Although ive not had serious health problems, ive been tested in other areas: lost my parents at young age, horrific upbringing with adoptive auntie etc. so i can relate to how you must be feeling. This is just something else here to test what an amazing person you must be. You have proved it!! The only way is up.

Hugs, here if you need me.

xxx

I didn't want to believe the situation was as bad as it was.

Trying to figure out what went wrong was the hardest part. No one wants to be the 1% that leaks. I know my surgeon didn't want to believe there was a leak either. But it is what it is. I am grateful your surgery came out good and I will be right there with you soon.

God only gives us what we can handle and I am handling it.

Each day gets better.

Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Cheers to the "only way is up"

By losing your parents and being brought up horrificly, I know you can relate. That is tough, if not tougher. Hugs to you too !!

Jen, I just found this post.

Although u emailed me, i had no idea how bad the situation was. Or of your previous health trouble. You are so strong and brave, I dont know what i would have done in your situation apart from crumble!

I am soooo sorry it had to happen to you, i bet you feel that you are being tested just now. Although ive not had serious health problems, ive been tested in other areas: lost my parents at young age, horrific upbringing with adoptive auntie etc. so i can relate to how you must be feeling. This is just something else here to test what an amazing person you must be. You have proved it!! The only way is up.

Hugs, here if you need me.

xxx

Hi Jen, well I just read this entire thread, and not something I do normally. I'm so very glad to hear you are doing much better than you were a few weeks ago!! I pray you continue to get healthier and this scare can be behind you soon. I also pray that someday you can still come to truly love your sleeve, regardless of your setbacks.

You surely are a very strong lady!! Big hugs to you!!

Thank you for your thoughts. Yes I'm sure I will love my sleeve one day. Right now it is hard to see past my picc line, tube, and discomfort. lol.

Things can always be worse, so I shouldn't complain. This forum has given me support and lots of info. I know it has helped me.

Cheers to you for running in the Komen 5k. Awesome and good luck !!!!!

Hi Jen, well I just read this entire thread, and not something I do normally. I'm so very glad to hear you are doing much better than you were a few weeks ago!! I pray you continue to get healthier and this scare can be behind you soon. I also pray that someday you can still come to truly love your sleeve, regardless of your setbacks.

You surely are a very strong lady!! Big hugs to you!!