Still ongoing issues

[Fairyklg 2]

Well, after much soul searching, I decided that I wanted to have gastric sleeve to help me prevent diabetes and all those other lovely health complications that come with obesity. So sept 21, 2012 I had my surgery. All good next day, went home. Over the next few days had pain swallowing, which I assumed was due to the surgery. Well after a week, it was getting bad. It felt like I was swallowing razor blades. So i called the surgeon who sent me to go do an upper gi.

At the hospital, it was discovered that I had a leak that was realllly bad. He did an emergency repair surgery same October 4, 2012. Spent the next 12 days in the hospital on tpn. During the first 2 days i blew the centeal line they placed and had PICC line placed. He had placed 2 drains an a feeding tube. The feeding tube never worked. It just blocked up my intestines and sent them into spasms. Got released october 16, 2012 to go home npo on home health deliveries of tpn, weekly nurse visits until the leak was repaired.

October 22 sat straight up in bed at 2am in intense pain. Called surgeon who sent me to ER. After sonogram and upper GI, they admitted me not knowing what was going on. Surgeon came in after his clinic hours and took one look at the films, walked over and pulled one of the drains out. It apparently broke loose and was wreaking havoc in my abdomen. Went home the next day.

October 25, 2012 did EGD to see if leak was clear. Surgeon said area was red but leak looked gone. He released me to restart post op diet of Clear liquids. Did ok for about a week, and finally went back to work after a month off. Was back about a week and pain started. Did another upper GI and the leak was back, but contained this time. At surgeons recommendation, saw a gastroenterologist who said the stent was not a good option for me.

November 13, 2012 had the PICC line put back in and went back to npo and TPN. Have been NPO since then. Had to have the PICC placed in the other arm December 11, 2012 because I got phlebitis and contact dermatitis due to a new allergy to chloraprep. Lost my job November 29, 2012 due to all the time off.

January 2, 2013 went in for upper GI and it was inconclusive. January 11, 2013 had another EGD which looked good, but area around leak was still red, so January 17, 2013 (yesterday) had upper GI and leak is still present.

Now next Wednesday they will be putting some sort of clip on the leak.

Not sure many details on that yet. Has anyone had this much trouble with their surgery? Considering the revision to bypass, but the surgeon wants to try this first so it's not another surgery, if possible.

[chitowngirl 884]

Wow that sounds horrible. I'm so sorry that you are going through this. My prayers and thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery.

[franken05 7]

I had a leak too and spent a week in the hospital. Mine was not as bad as yours. I had a stent placed and went home later that week. I'm Hopi g to have it taken out in a week or two but I'm leaving it up to the surgeon.

The first few days I had a lot of muscle spasms around the stent but they have eased up. Now I just have a dull chest pain. Everyday it seems to get better. I just rest and do what I can and not worry about the rest.

I hope all goes better and you are in my prayers.

[iggychic 1,405]

Oh dear first I just want to say I'm so sorry! I too had a terrible experience but it did end. Your ongoing struggle is horrific. I can't say enough how sorry I am that you are in this boat!

I can however offer some hope. I too did not have a timely repair so my leak was unable to be repaired with traditional methods (tissue was too damaged) so I received the new treatment they are proposing for you. The clip is actually called a claw and basically it takes the damaged tissue and bunches it up like a hair clip does and holds it together so that a)the leak will discontinue damaging the tissue further and in the hopes that bunch will seal together and form a solid bind, closing the leak for good.

The claw is not 100% successful because they are dealing with extremes when they use it but I can report that for me it did save my stomach. My surgeons advised I baby that thing like crazy for the first six weeks (zero lifting, housework, etc) and for me only fluids but at the end of those six weeks I learned it had held and my drama was finally over! Even the day after it was installed I felt 100% better. It was amazing!

It's been so long for you to have suffered like this. I was nearly gone after two months so to think of you dealing with this since sept boggles my mind! I hope the claw does for you what it did for me! Please keep us updated. I'd like to hear a happy ending soon!

[SoCalDixieGal 172]

So sorry to hear that. Do you know if your surgeon used any additional technique in addition to the staples? Double buttress, sewing over stable line, clips?

The leak stories definitely are scary, and also very informative. I appreciate knowing what to look for and to definitely take immediate action if things are "off" in the recovery period.