I was just wondering, If a leak were going to happen, when is it most likely to be? My nurse said that if there was a leak or bleed it usually in the first 72 hrs...Anyone have any input???

Dr Aceves says it happens most often with in the first few days, but he said it can happen with in the first couple of months.

Thank you! I've also heard that you would "KNOW" if you had one!?! Is that the same as what you heard?

Thank you! I've also heard that you would "KNOW" if you had one!?! Is that the same as what you heard?

I was told first two weeks but clearly highest risk first few days. Someone who's had a leak hopefully will post but yes I've read one will have terrific pain and I think run fever but not sure about fever

I had bleeding from the staple line 7 days post-op. I had to have emergency surgery...I don't live in the same city where I had my surgery so it involved two different hospitals and two long ambulance rides. Initially it was uncertain whether i had a leak or bleeding; thank goodness it was bleeding...after surgery I was in ICU for several days and then moved to another room. I went home after a week. I am now 4weeks post-op and I'm doing fine, I have lost 28 lbs. I t was a very scary situation for my family and me.

My doctor specifically said I could have a leak up until day 14. He said after day 14, the chance of a leak is less than 1%. That is why he uses a drain and allows only clears for the first 2 weeks.

Signs of a leak is that the drain fills up with dark Fluid and a fever. If you have a drain, you would see the fluid even before you would get the fever symptoms. This is what my doc told me.

Most doctors now either sew or glue over the staple line.

My doc said if I didn't get a leak in the first 2 weeks I would never have a leak. He said one of the main things I would notice would be a racing heart rate and fever. He said following the instructions during those 2 weeks post op and not overfilling the sleeve would usually prevent a leak. He said there is rarely a leak at the beginning of the staple line but yes they do glue in addition to the stqaples.

My doctor said that after 10 days there wasn't anything to worry about in terms of leaks.