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Please please please track any left shoulder pain!! This was the ONLY symptom of my leak! I never had gas pains, the shoulder pain was intermittent from about 3 weeks out until it got unbearable at around 6 weeks out. My leak was discovered around 9 weeks out. I went to my chiropractor, had massages, took vicodin, upped my PPI (I was told it was acid reflux). FINALLY at 8 weeks they discovered an abscess while doing a CT scan of my chest which finally got their attention - I had exploratory surgery and they put in a drain for the abscess and a feeding tube incase it was confirmed a leak. The second leak test they did showed the leak, only when I rolled on my side. As soon as they started treating it, the shoulder pain went away. It was referred pain from my diaphragm which the abscess was pushing on.

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I can't help but ask. I read a lot of the threads to prepare myself . So I know what to expect when my day comes. I have heard a lot about the gas pains. However, this is the first I heard of drains? Does everyone get a drain? How many days is it in? Where is coming out of exactly? Do you go home with it? If any of you can explain this part to me, I would appreciate it.

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Please please please track any left shoulder pain!! This was the ONLY symptom of my leak! I never had gas pains' date=' the shoulder pain was intermittent from about 3 weeks out until it got unbearable at around 6 weeks out. My leak was discovered around 9 weeks out. I went to my chiropractor, had massages, took vicodin, upped my PPI (I was told it was acid reflux). FINALLY at 8 weeks they discovered an abscess while doing a CT scan of my chest which finally got their attention - I had exploratory surgery and they put in a drain for the abscess and a feeding tube incase it was confirmed a leak. The second leak test they did showed the leak, only when I rolled on my side. As soon as they started treating it, the shoulder pain went away. It was referred pain from my diaphragm which the abscess was pushing on.[/quote']

sorry you had this experience. was the leak there all along or did something happen to make it develop? ive been out walking and trying to stay actve, as im feeling pretty good ( was sleeved 4/3) and wonder if i shd let off and wait.. i dont want to cause myself a problem. thankfully my sharp shoulder pain ended a ffew days ago. thanks for sharing yr story... good to be aware of.

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They think that it was there from the beginning, that when my swelling went down it opened up (the swelling held it closed). Honestly, I never felt better from surgery, everyone kept telling me it would get better and it didn't. I was relieved to find out I wasn't just a wimp! LOL I think you are fine if you are feeling good, keep on being active, but be concious of how you feel! I am 3 months out from my healed leak, 2 months out from all the tubes gone and being on solid food and I feel AWESOME!

sorry you had this experience. was the leak there all along or did something happen to make it develop? ive been out walking and trying to stay actve, as im feeling pretty good ( was sleeved 4/3) and wonder if i shd let off and wait.. i dont want to cause myself a problem. thankfully my sharp shoulder pain ended a ffew days ago. thanks for sharing yr story... good to be aware of.

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Not everyone has a drain, my surgeon does them only with bypass (mine was from my leak, not my original surgery). Some go home with it and some don't. It seems to be surgeon preference. I would ask you surgeon.

I can't help but ask. I read a lot of the threads to prepare myself . So I know what to expect when my day comes. I have heard a lot about the gas pains. However, this is the first I heard of drains? Does everyone get a drain? How many days is it in? Where is coming out of exactly? Do you go home with it? If any of you can explain this part to me, I would appreciate it.

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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