1/29/13 - Update/Edit:

As several have inquired about the timeline and were confused when i said her surgery was in May but she's been on a feeding tube for two years. The surgery was May of 2010. I was specifying the month only as a point of reference for the point at which the issue became critical (July 2010) and how long she was in the hospital that first time (into October 2010). She was also hospitalized for a few months in January 2011 when the stomache leak/infection spread through the diaphragm and into her lungs, and again the following spring and summer of 2011 for the same issues. Sorry for the confusion.

Also - I agree that the bulk of the issues centered around follow up care - which is why I was so specific about where and by whom she was being treated. But I quickly learned that such leaks and subsequent fistulas are NOT uncommon with this type of surgery - I never said they were the majority. Additionally Physicians who are now caring for her have previously cared for individuals who suffered similar, though not quite as critical, issues after having this type of surgery. So that is legitimate.

Good point on the Hipaa item - but I'm not sure that applies to family or friends sharing information they are aware of. I have no professional or legal obligation to her or her care and am not a POA or medical care provider.

Thanks to all who have read and responded - I'm still reading through them all.

****************************************************************

Original post:

I have not had gastric sleeve, but my sister has and this is her horror story. In the month after her May surgery, by Dr. Chua of Aurora Sinai in Milwaukee, my sister (Jane) came down with flu like symptoms. Although she contacted her primary physician, who was aware of the recent surgery, and I believe she had an office visit with Dr. Chua, nobody showed any concern about infection. This is despite the fact that EVERYBODY knows that infection mimics flu like symptoms and it was nowhere near flu season. Nobody ever did any scans post surgery to determine of there was any issue with the healing of the internal surgery area - even though I have since learned that other patients had experienced similar issues to what my sister was about to go through.

It turned out (after three ER visits in three days, despite the fact that I said I was worried about infection from the very first visit) that a staple hadn't held and that food/fluid had been leaking into her abdomen from the stomach causing a MASSIVE infection. By the time Aurora Lakeland in Elkhorn paid any attention to this she was almost dead. She barely made it through and it was literally touch and go for WEEKS!! AND that hospital wouldn't even treat her because they don't do bariatric surgeries - she had to be airlifted to Milwaukee.

What followed were numerous surgeries, months in ICU and then regular hospital (from July 4th weekend into October), an induced coma with her hands strapped to the bed so she wouldn't inadvertantly pull out tubes and wires, being intubated for breathing assistance, additional infections, memory loss of that entire time, and leaving on a feeding tube. She has been on that feeding tube for over two years now.

Oh she's thin alright. woohoo. But she gets her food from a bag hanging on an iv rack and has to grind her meds and flush them through the feeding tube line, as well as a drain that collects Fluid from her abdomen and open wounds that need daily care. She has NO muscles left. She probably couldn't walk a block if she was allowed to.

She came home from that hospital stay with a GIANT open wound the length of her abdomen - I mean it was big enough for me to stick both my hands into - and a wound vac installed in it to constantly vacuum up the fluid and goop that goes along with healing. That fluid drained into a plastic container that hung from tube(s) coming out of her abdomen - which she had to have with her always. It was all very painful and really gross.

That was just the first hospitalization. By January she was back in the hospital with another massive infection that had burned through her diaphragm and into her lungs. This time she spent her time in pulmonary ICU. You see they told her to start trying to eat - that they thought the holes in her stomach had closed, but they didn't do regular scans to verify this....again! They were wrong. Again.

Only this time her primary physician, Dr. Rosol of Aurora Lake Geneva, had diagnosed her with pneumonia over the phone and had given her a prescription not even strong enough to deal with pneumonia. So when she didn't get better, by the time the Aurora ER took her seriously she was again near death. This time they had to do lung surgery AND abdominal surgery to clear out and treat the raging infection caused by fluid and matter leaking from the stomach into everywhere.

So apparently this type of thing isn't that uncommon with this surgery, nor are the "fistulas" that develop as a result of this complication from this type of surgery. If the tissue around this fistula isn't so damaged that it can heal on its own it could take years. If it's damaged - as hers was from all that infection - there is no sewing it closed and it doesn't heal on its own. Imagine being on a feeding tube for the rest of your life - never tasting food, never enjoying a meal or a drink or a dessert or a holiday with your family again. Never a chocolate bar, or a bowl of Cereal, or a salad, or a glass of juice. NOTHING. All because someone convinced you that gastric sleeve surgery was the answer.

So if you are considering this surgery, don't. It's just not worth the risk. I know, if my sister could go back, she would choose fat over this lack of a life any day of the week. I grew up thin and am now fat and I would NEVER EVER EVER have a surgery to reduce my weight. Although I haven't been able to be disciplined enough to do it I know the only solution is eat less, move more. Two steps. The only solution.

Thank you for the update and clarification. I'm very' date=' very sorry to hear about the long road to recovery your sister is and will remain on for some time. I hope it gets easier for her, but I better understand where you were coming from. I truly believe that both positive and negative feedback about the sleeve is very, very important. There are real risks. Yes, they're rare, but when you or someone you love winds up in the 1%, statistics are not reassuring. Your final input was what really hits home. I self-paid but still did a huge amount of research before having my surgery. For years I went back and forth between nutritionists and physical trainers and spent a small fortune on pills, diets and weight loss programs. I'm not saying WLS was the only solution. But I will say that there are a huge number of people that wind up on VST already sleeved with ZERO idea what to expect, what to eat, not knowing the warning signs of a leak, etc. And many of these folks are covered by insurance! It's appalling - and it's very scary that on the one hand, some of us have to fight our insurance for simple things like our kids' allergy meds but other folks are getting handed a pass for surgery after less than six weeks of working up. I realize this isn't the norm, just as I realize that your sister's very real horror story isn't the norm. But having a very active thread out there (all the nonsense and name calling in the middle aside) and almost forcing newbies and researchers to stumble upon it is important. Too many people avoid any type of posts about the complications - or even about simple things like stalls and normal post operative discomfort. The very idea your sister had, that it wouldn't happen to her, is what many with complications have - in some cases I think education would really help adjust the expectations people have. So, all that to say thanks again for posting and sharing this story. I pray your sister can eventually recover and that you will continue to advocate on her behalf and support her while she's suffering. ~Cheri[/quote']

Well said Cheri!

I honestly have to laugh at the negativity some people brought to this thread. It amazes me that grown people who come from all walks of life and varying experiences are the first to jump on a post to either refute' date=' bully or just downright be rude and then hide behind "it is a free country and I can share my opinion". I was teased immensely for being fat and I would never post such things to make anyone else feel hurt. I think some of you have forgotten how words can hurt. I have lurked on these forums for a while and it always seems like it is the same few.[/quote']

I don't visit this site as often as I do because as you noted folks are just rude, nasty, or try to bully.

I joined a wonderful group on Facebook and get much better support and creative sharing. But must importantly we don't judge others for voicing their opinions, ideas or beliefs.

It is a shame to see people arguing and causing controversy over a post that is eight months old.

Sent from my iPad using VST

To all of the new people that are reading this thread!! DO NOT LET THIS SCARE YOU!! I can't believe this thread popped up again! I do not read this site often, but I was sleeved about 3 weeks before this thread was started. I remember reading it and getting the **** scared out of me. I seriously had a thermometer in my mouth every two hours afterwards. I am now over 10 months out and that time seems like a lifetime ago. I have lost an astounding 213 lbs since then and am only 7 lbs from goal. My life is now absolutely phenomenal since I started my journey on 11/23/2012. Imagine where you will be in a year from now, work hard and it will be so. I'm serious. If you are willing to change your life, it WILL happen!

It is a shame to see people arguing and causing controversy over a post that is eight months old.

Sent from my iPad using VST

Take it down

I have been diagnosed as morbidly obese and I have considered several options. Currently I have been able to lose 100 pounds in the last 5 years. It has been slow and hard as I have an addiction to food but I am determined to do it without surgery. I am even more determined today as I am praying for a friend who is currently in ICU 2 weeks after her VSG surgery. Initially she had swelling and was unable to take in any nourishment at all. She became dehydrated and went in and out of the hospital. Yesterday they decided that she had a "leak" but could not figure out where it was. She quickly became septic. They did emergency surgery yesterday and removed 2/3 of her small intestine and planned to do more surgery this morning. I received an email from her sister at 10:30 last night that her blood pressure was very low and they were afraid she was not getting enough blood to her organs or remaining bowel. Her kidneys shut down and she is currently on dialysis. She is being sedated and is on a ventilator. Surgery today has been scrapped as she is so unstable and her B/P is so low. They fear for her life. She had this surgery because she thought she could not lose weight on her own. She has been told all her life that fat is ugly, thin is in. If she lives through this her life will be totally altered (losing 2/3 of your intestines can cause all kinds of issues). Is it worth it? Definitely not for her. This radically changing the way your body was naturally made is not something to be taken lightly. It is not just a quick and easy way to lose weight because you don't want to have to work at anything and you want now, not later. Please consider this seriously if you are thinking about any kind of surgery that alters the way your body was meant to work. I'm sure that if my friend could go back to 2 weeks ago her decision would be to not have the surgery.

I have been diagnosed as morbidly obese and I have considered several options. Currently I have been able to lose 100 pounds in the last 5 years. It has been slow and hard as I have an addiction to food but I am determined to do it without surgery. I am even more determined today as I am praying for a friend who is currently in ICU 2 weeks after her VSG surgery. Initially she had swelling and was unable to take in any nourishment at all. She became dehydrated and went in and out of the hospital. Yesterday they decided that she had a "leak" but could not figure out where it was. She quickly became septic. They did emergency surgery yesterday and removed 2/3 of her small intestine and planned to do more surgery this morning. I received an email from her sister at 10:30 last night that her blood pressure was very low and they were afraid she was not getting enough blood to her organs or remaining bowel. Her kidneys shut down and she is currently on dialysis. She is being sedated and is on a ventilator. Surgery today has been scrapped as she is so unstable and her B/P is so low. They fear for her life. She had this surgery because she thought she could not lose weight on her own. She has been told all her life that fat is ugly, thin is in. If she lives through this her life will be totally altered (losing 2/3 of your intestines can cause all kinds of issues). Is it worth it? Definitely not for her. This radically changing the way your body was naturally made is not something to be taken lightly. It is not just a quick and easy way to lose weight because you don't want to have to work at anything and you want now, not later. Please consider this seriously if you are thinking about any kind of surgery that alters the way your body was meant to work. I'm sure that if my friend could go back to 2 weeks ago her decision would be to not have the surgery.

Every situation for every person is different. I hope your friend recovers and gets better. Good luck with your continued weight loss without surgery.

I was sleeved July 22,2013 and am very happy with the decision. I did years yes years of research before having the procedure. Part of that research included knowing about risks and what could possibly happen to me.

It is sad when things go wrong. Again I hope your friend recovers.

It's a gamble. If it doesn't work out well, you can die. If it works out well, then you live thin. The odds are that everything is fine but that is not always the case. For those that had sad stories with VSG, they are entitled to their own opinions. To those that had great outcomes, then good for them too.

Zombie thread! Resurrected by a zombie person spouting third hand stories...

You're absolutely right I have a relative at the moment still in the hospital working on I believe it's 8 months now I'm losing track it's been so long. He had several leaks lost half a lung because of the leaks, has a fistula as well. This is a second attempt to fix the fistula right now that he has stitches and another which is also leaking. They're speaking about a feeding tube at this point if it doesn't heal up. It has been a complete nightmare and it has inspired me to search and look around more into this procedure of all kinds. Since I have I have found more horror stories then I found good stories. And what's weird about that is if you look at the statistics and you look online you don't hear about those stories. How are they hiding those stories and why. The only reason I post here is the hopefully help somebody else from making bad choice. There is a chance it could go well but what I have learned from my researches it's a 50-50 chance total different thing than what you're told online are on videos when your research it. Nutrition is the biggest issue with a surgery is people are so weak they don't want to live. Beware that's the only reason I'm posting if you have a good surgery good for you do not respond to me and tell me you did because I really don't care. What I care about is the people that didn't have it go well and how their suffering deeply and their families are suffering deeply it is affected there life and more than one way financially independently and their happiness if not their life. I think they need to do more research on this surgery before they do any more because they're not able to fix the problems and many cases. This is a voice type so do the best you can

You're absolutely right I have a relative at the moment still in the hospital working on I believe it's 8 months now I'm losing track it's been so long. He had several leaks lost half a lung because of the leaks, has a fistula as well. This is a second attempt to fix the fistula right now that he has stitches and another which is also leaking. They're speaking about a feeding tube at this point if it doesn't heal up. It has been a complete nightmare and it has inspired me to search and look around more into this procedure of all kinds. Since I have I have found more horror stories then I found good stories. And what's weird about that is if you look at the statistics and you look online you don't hear about those stories. How are they hiding those stories and why. The only reason I post here is the hopefully help somebody else from making bad choice. There is a chance it could go well but what I have learned from my researches it's a 50-50 chance total different thing than what you're told online are on videos when your research it. Nutrition is the biggest issue with a surgery is people are so weak they don't want to live. Beware that's the only reason I'm posting if you have a good surgery good for you do not respond to me and tell me you did because I really don't care. What I care about is the people that didn't have it go well and how their suffering deeply and their families are suffering deeply it is affected there life and more than one way financially independently and their happiness if not their life. I think they need to do more research on this surgery before they do any more because they're not able to fix the problems and many cases. This is a voice type so do the best you can

My brother was a bad outcome. But I am post o.p 14 days and doing ok. It has a ton to do with the Dr you chose and the expertise they have as well as the prior medical issues. My brother and I did 2 different hospitals. 2 different out comes. Yes I was and still am terrified I messed up. But time will tell.

Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

It's easy to understand why there are more horror stories online than not... same reason you ca find more negative yelp reveiws than not. People like to discuss, announce,complain, and/or make others aware of a negative situation/outcome than those who had a good one. It is viewed as beneficial to warn others but bragging if you "overly discuss" something good. For good outcomes you need not only the basic Internet but areas such as this dedicated to bariatric surgery, and doctors should be able to provide patient references as well as rating found with medical sites

On 8/3/2017 at 9:37 PM, Debedeb said:

You're absolutely right I have a relative at the moment still in the hospital working on I believe it's 8 months now I'm losing track it's been so long. He had several leaks lost half a lung because of the leaks, has a fistula as well. This is a second attempt to fix the fistula right now that he has stitches and another which is also leaking. They're speaking about a feeding tube at this point if it doesn't heal up. It has been a complete nightmare and it has inspired me to search and look around more into this procedure of all kinds. Since I have I have found more horror stories then I found good stories. And what's weird about that is if you look at the statistics and you look online you don't hear about those stories. How are they hiding those stories and why. The only reason I post here is the hopefully help somebody else from making bad choice. There is a chance it could go well but what I have learned from my researches it's a 50-50 chance total different thing than what you're told online are on videos when your research it. Nutrition is the biggest issue with a surgery is people are so weak they don't want to live. Beware that's the only reason I'm posting if you have a good surgery good for you do not respond to me and tell me you did because I really don't care. What I care about is the people that didn't have it go well and how their suffering deeply and their families are suffering deeply it is affected there life and more than one way financially independently and their happiness if not their life. I think they need to do more research on this surgery before they do any more because they're not able to fix the problems and many cases. This is a voice type so do the best you can

No one pay attention to this poster, she was caught on another thread for being a troll. They also found fake Fundme accounts, under her name as well.

I'm saddened to hear this. It also has me terrified. I had my sleeve done 7/31/17. I've been overweight 25 years, and have high BP, use a CPAP and show signs of prediabetes.

My sister in law had her surgery done 18 months ago and looks fabulous! My girlfriend had lapband 6 years ago and also had good results.

I was released to return home on 8/1/17. I felt fine other than the usual aches and pains. The following day (Weds) I felt achy, feverish and like I was short of breath. We drove to the local ER and were sent home with a "possible pneumonia " diagnosis and a Z-pack prescription.

By 6 am Thur I couldn't breathe and my body was filled with horrendous pain. We returned to ER, but I was kept and transported down into the hospital where my original surgery had been performed. I was promptly admitted and tested. CT with swallow test shows small pouch with a leaker. Everything I had been eating was draining into my abdomen. ☹️

Emergency surgery was scheduled that night, two drains placed and rounds and rounds of "banana bags", potassium and antibiotics! Unfortunately I do not have good veins, so my arms are taking a beating.

As of this morning, 8/12/17, I'd had enough of being in the hospital. The bed is killing my bursitis, I'm bored to tears, tired of getting poked and they had essentially disconnected me from everything. I'm even back on liquid diet x 3 days. And every day being told I'd go home tomorrow.

I left against medical advice even though they kept stating "one more day." I had enough. I came home, slept comfortably in my bed and am managing my needs with help of my family. My doctor called in some more antibiotics and home meds and stated he's not thrilled with my decision to leave, but will not leave me without care.

Truly, if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have done the surgery... Period!

***DON'T DO IT!!! ^^^