*****UPDATE****** feb 2nd, 2012

i now have a leak & a stent was placed in. feeling horrible!!! the below post is the least of my worries now!

im going crazy..

i was sleeved dec 20th. everything was ok until maybe a week after coming home from the hospital. i realized that i was extremely exhausted and always felt faint. it didnt really start hitting me hard until last week. everyone keeps telling me that it will get better but it feels like its getting worse! i keep trying to "stay positive" but how much more of this can i take? i want to feel normal again!!!!

i noticed that when i walk, im like dragging my feet. im so weak and faint. almost like my thighs might just give out.

i also have excessive gas which i think is making me really nauseous. the burps are just crazy. i cant eat or sip without burping.. then it wont stop until i take some gas x chewables. i live off those chewables.

as far as shakes, i cant tolerate them. ive tried so many different ones & i throw them up. they absolutely repulse me!

i do eat but i have to be "in the mood" to eat whatever is in front of me or i will just throw it up. my stomach is extremely weak! i cant even tolerate Soups. they turn my stomach too.

i called my surgeon & told him how im feeling & he told me im dehydrated. told me to get on gatorade for a week & see how i feel then. im going in thursday morning to see the nurse practioner.

the gas & the gatorade mixed is making me very nauseous.

i take 20mg of prilosec in the morning, 2- Multivitamins & 1- B12.

im so so so so so so tired of this! i truly regret surgery. i never thought id feel like this but i do.

I am really sorry you are having these troubles. Try to keep the faith - they will get this leak resolved and you can get on with the business of getting healthy! Are you on a no food by mouth, getting your nutrition via IV?

no.. i am able to eat whatever i want as long as i chew it well but with the acid.. i dont want to eat anything.

I am really sorry you are having these troubles. Try to keep the faith - they will get this leak resolved and you can get on with the business of getting healthy! Are you on a no food by mouth, getting your nutrition via IV?

I pray for your strengh and endurance while you go through this. Stay focused and encouraged that this too shall pass. Blessings2u--BJ

i woke up throwing up green bile on an empty stomach. lord knows im soooo over this. what i would give to undo all of this.... u guys have no idea!!!

i dont want to discourage people from having surgery because not all ppl have complications but then again... i went ahead with surgery because i thought id be lucky & not have complications! ive heard patients call my surgeon a GOD! although i know this wasnt his fault because i had no leak when i left the hospital post surgery but damn!!! had i known that i would be doing this 6 weeks post op, i wouldve did it the old fashion way & went back to a gym & cut my portions!

ppl keep asking me how much ive lost & they say well thats great! atleast u lost x amount. NO!!! screw that. i rather have put that much weight on & not be going through this rather than be going through this & lost that weight! this is torture!!!

im venting here & sorry if im scaring anyone but this is MY STORY & MY TRUTH!!!!

Your reaction of anger and regret is completely normal and I think most of us would share that. The only comfort I can offer is noting that there are people on this forum who completely recovered from a leak and went on to be very successful and healthy with their sleeve. In the meantime, this totally sucks.

I don't know about you, but I tried the eat less, work out more then about 1000 times before resorting to surgery. I used to lose weight and gain it back, but in recent years the losing has gotten harder and the regarin faster and furious. I personally had pretty much given up hope of being able to lose and maintain weigh loss without the surgery.

I want to say a couple things, based on my research and what my surgeon told me. First, if you had a leak at time of surgery it may have been missed on the initial leak test. The swelling right after surgery can mask leaks, this is one of the reason that some surgeons are no longer doing the initial leak tests (they do it if symptoms arise). It is of course possible something occurred during those first 3-4 weeks when it is possible to aggravate the incision, but don't rule out that it was there from the very beginning - you will probably never know.

The second thing is more of a question. I always thought that while waiting for a leak to heal, people are not allowed food and drink by mouth. Am I misinformed on this point?

Anyway, prayers for your very quick recovery.

im aware that it may have been missed which is very true but thats not the case in everyone. only symptom i had post op was throwing up the last 2weeks. i was doing great those 2weeks besidees throwing up 2x.

as far as eating & such... with the stent, u can eat & drink & etc. when u have other corrective procedures, u are NPO

Your reaction of anger and regret is completely normal and I think most of us would share that. The only comfort I can offer is noting that there are people on this forum who completely recovered from a leak and went on to be very successful and healthy with their sleeve. In the meantime, this totally sucks.

I don't know about you, but I tried the eat less, work out more then about 1000 times before resorting to surgery. I used to lose weight and gain it back, but in recent years the losing has gotten harder and the regarin faster and furious. I personally had pretty much given up hope of being able to lose and maintain weigh loss without the surgery.

I want to say a couple things, based on my research and what my surgeon told me. First, if you had a leak at time of surgery it may have been missed on the initial leak test. The swelling right after surgery can mask leaks, this is one of the reason that some surgeons are no longer doing the initial leak tests (they do it if symptoms arise). It is of course possible something occurred during those first 3-4 weeks when it is possible to aggravate the incision, but don't rule out that it was there from the very beginning - you will probably never know.

The second thing is more of a question. I always thought that while waiting for a leak to heal, people are not allowed food and drink by mouth. Am I misinformed on this point?

Anyway, prayers for your very quick recovery.

Dear JaSleeve,

Am so sorry to hear about your leak!!! BUT on the other hand, now that the doctor has discovered a problem, maybe you are finally on the road to recovery. I hope and pray this is the end to your problems!!! I think it would be SO frustrating to have the problems you have had, and never be able to find out why, or what to do about it!

I don't mean to sound like Pollyanna No Problems, BUT diagnosing the problem is the first step to correcting it! I Hope and Pray that this will be your final problem and it will be quickly resolved!When I read about all you have been through, it makes my problems with fatigue and hair loss sound SO trivial!

Unfortunately, nothing is without risk. All medications, even over the counter meds have some degree of risk. Just the way that surgery, whether it is a small outpatient procedure, or something more major, like Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy also has it's risks. Risk for the majority of surgeries is very minute, but there is still a risk. I try to explain this to my patients who decide (while they are in labor and in pain) that they want to have a Cesarean Section instead of continuing to labor. But the sad fact is, medicine is as much art as science. No two bodies are "exactly" the same, no two surgeries are "exactly" the same. There are always minute differences, there is ALWAYS the chance, no matter how minute, of a problem or complication.

So my Prayers and Hugs go out to you today. I Hope and Pray that you are firmly on the road to recovery, with the chance to make this a postiive experience, finally! Love and Hugs and Prayers coming your way today!!!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

today i thought to myself...

first i felt faint. i had no energy & just felt horrible! & i got over it. i was doing GREAT for 2 weeks.. & then they find a leak. i get admitted & was still doing GREAT until they put this stent in me. now im doing horrible. i know ill get better & be relieved that im doing better but then soon after, ill begin losing my beautiful long hair which is my security blanket. lol. like damn, DOES IT EVER END????

dont get me wrong... i knew all the possible complications. i knew what i would be getting myself into but i didnt prepare myself for a possible leak, especially not after doing so good!!!

i find it hard to eat & hard to drink. my stomach feels so messed up that i just want to sleep! i know this is a recipe for disaster! in the last 2 days, ive drank about 3oz of Water & thats it. my urine is still light & i guess its from the week of IV but i know soon, its going to go down hill. im praying to god that hehelps me

Dear JaSleeve,

Am so sorry to hear about your leak!!! BUT on the other hand, now that the doctor has discovered a problem, maybe you are finally on the road to recovery. I hope and pray this is the end to your problems!!! I think it would be SO frustrating to have the problems you have had, and never be able to find out why, or what to do about it!

I don't mean to sound like Pollyanna No Problems, BUT diagnosing the problem is the first step to correcting it! I Hope and Pray that this will be your final problem and it will be quickly resolved!When I read about all you have been through, it makes my problems with fatigue and hair loss sound SO trivial!

Unfortunately, nothing is without risk. All medications, even over the counter meds have some degree of risk. Just the way that surgery, whether it is a small outpatient procedure, or something more major, like Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy also has it's risks. Risk for the majority of surgeries is very minute, but there is still a risk. I try to explain this to my patients who decide (while they are in labor and in pain) that they want to have a Cesarean Section instead of continuing to labor. But the sad fact is, medicine is as much art as science. No two bodies are "exactly" the same, no two surgeries are "exactly" the same. There are always minute differences, there is ALWAYS the chance, no matter how minute, of a problem or complication.

So my Prayers and Hugs go out to you today. I Hope and Pray that you are firmly on the road to recovery, with the chance to make this a postiive experience, finally! Love and Hugs and Prayers coming your way today!!!

Kathy D (alias Helen the Cat)

Don't be afraid to ask them for IV fluids. Maybe they can give you a picc line for fluids until you don't feel so raw and are able to get them on your own. I know through it all with me everyone kept telling me "you'll feel better and forget all of this" and no way could I believe that. I felt the same, would rather be fat than go through everything I went through. I am still not happy by any means but I do feel better about my decision than I did 3 months ago. Thinking of you and sending prayers for healing, sooner rather than later!

God is still in control...

they said im doing great & dont need a picc line. im holding down fluids but just was choosing not to drink cuz the acid. i stepped up some of my liquids & im trying to nibble on stuff. hopefully ill keep advancing!

Don't be afraid to ask them for IV fluids. Maybe they can give you a picc line for fluids until you don't feel so raw and are able to get them on your own. I know through it all with me everyone kept telling me "you'll feel better and forget all of this" and no way could I believe that. I felt the same, would rather be fat than go through everything I went through. I am still not happy by any means but I do feel better about my decision than I did 3 months ago. Thinking of you and sending prayers for healing, sooner rather than later!

I was mostly worried where you mentioned you had 3 oz of Fluid the other day - you don't want to get dehydrated. Good that you are advancing

they said im doing great & dont need a picc line. im holding down fluids but just was choosing not to drink cuz the acid. i stepped up some of my liquids & im trying to nibble on stuff. hopefully ill keep advancing!

the 3oz was more by choice. the feeling is gross but i need to stay hydrated to stay out the hospital :/

I was mostly worried where you mentioned you had 3 oz of fluid the other day - you don't want to get dehydrated. Good that you are advancing

woke up at 3am feeling nauseous & not good. by 320, i jumped out of bed & didnt make it to the bathroom in time before i started throwing up bile. thank god i was on my way to the bathroom or it wouldve gotten everywhere!

in a few hrs, im going to make my way to the ER. i dont know how much more i can take, seriously!!

lol i thought thesamething preop but now that im post op, im a little jealous! it was asports restaurant (buffalo wild wings) & everyone was downing beers (UFC FIGHT NIGHT) and were screaming & eating wings! i was sitting there looking over everything on the menu! i even got jealous cuz i couldnt drink soda! i was sipping on my Water but very little because i knew i was about to eat. i truly miss eating & drinking. some ppl can do it (i think u have to keep doing it and just get used to it) & i think its a habit that i may want to participate in. lol. one day i will gain the balls to try & eat & drink at thesametime. i know unlike others, i can drink and then eat right after. a lot of ppl experience pain if they do so. i can also drink within 10mins of finishing eating when others have to wait a hr or they experience pain. i can also finish my food within 10mins where others have to eat slower or they experience pain. i think my sleeve is weird! lol. i wanted my sleeve so i could cut my portions. i ate like a man before! i had no problem downing 5 REGULAR slices (not tiny ones like dominos) with 2 tall glasses of pepsi. i probably wouldnt be able to finish a dominos slice if i wanted to right now. i havent tried bread or anything yet. although im dying to, im going to wait awhile.

Glad to hear you are doing better. Here are a couple of pointers for you:

- Drinking after eating is not OK - not because it causes you pain - because it washes the food out of your stomach before it has been there long enough for you to feel satisfied and for digestion to start. Even if it doesn't cause you pain - it is best not to drink within 30 minutes of eating.

- Even if it doesn't cause you pain to eat fast, try to slow down. You should try to make your meal last 20 minutes. Again, this is to help you feel satisfied. Somehow our brains want us to be eating for 20 minutes before they think "enough!" So you may need to eat a bite or two, wait a few minutes, eat a bit or two, etc.

Good Luck!