Life after a leak...

[mattuti86 23]

Hello, all. I've been suffering with a leak for 6 months now, this has not been fun at all, I will write my story once I'm home from hopefully my last time in the hospital, I've been here for 2 weeks for an infection in my blood, this is the third time I've been hospitalized since the leak was discovered. Anyway, there's finally some light at the end of the tunnel, I no longer have a leak and had a procedure yesterday to help my stomach build some scar tissue and make the part where I had the leak stronger, next week I'll have a swallow test done and if I pass I will start on liquids. After 6 months being npo I'm really afraid of how my body will react to food again, so my question is, for those who have had a leak, how was your experience after? Did you struggle a lot at first? I tried to find a post with this info but couldn't. Any info will be greatly appreciated, I really want to know about your experience with this, thanks!

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

i too had a leak and went septic 4 days after my surgery...I was in the hospital for 5 months as they tried everything to repair the sleeve....I was a mess. I have had 11 surgeries altogether but at the end I have the by-pass and sleeve combination...When they taught me to eat again it was very difficult....they used ice cream to teach me how to move the food around in my mouth and get the feeling of food again...I had not eaten anything in 5 1/2 months up to that point....

When I did go home I took it easy on myself and ate soft food and very little at a time...I was petrified I would have another leak....10 months later I don't worry anymore...Just take it one step at a time and really listen to your sleeve and how you are feeling as you eat....You will know when enough is enough....k

[mattuti86 23]

thank you so much for your response. It sounds like your time was even worse than mine, fortuanely i didn't have to have any additional surgeries, well it looks like i won't have to. Dr. decided to let it heal on its own and it seemed to hbe worked. I have another question for you, now that you're 10 months out, are you struggling with anything in particular?

[a_jap21 5]

i too had a leak and went septic 4 days after my surgery...I was in the hospital for 5 months as they tried everything to repair the sleeve....I was a mess. I have had 11 surgeries altogether but at the end I have the by-pass and sleeve combination...When they taught me to eat again it was very difficult....they used ice cream to teach me how to move the food around in my mouth and get the feeling of food again...I had not eaten anything in 5 1/2 months up to that point....

When I did go home I took it easy on myself and ate soft food and very little at a time...I was petrified I would have another leak....10 months later I don't worry anymore...Just take it one step at a time and really listen to your sleeve and how you are feeling as you eat....You will know when enough is enough....k

What are the symptons of a leak?

[mattuti86 23]

I couldn't keep anything down, had a lot of acid reflux, had a very sharp pain in my left shoulder. I jist felt very, very sick. I couldn't even stand anymore, I was very weak.

[a_jap21 5]

I couldn't keep anything down' date=' had a lot of acid reflux, had a very sharp pain in my left shoulder. I jist felt very, very sick. I couldn't even stand anymore, I was very weak.[/quote']

Omg! Is diarrhea a sympton? I am so glad you are better know! I am really scared i have 5 days post op and didnt know the consequences of my actions.. I ate crackers, a little pureed veggies and string cheese.. I have a very bad pain on the right side of my abdomen.. I am about to cry i am scared

[Wags 549]

Omg! Is diarrhea a sympton? I am so glad you are better know! I am really scared i have 5 days post op and didnt know the consequences of my actions.. I ate crackers' date=' a little pureed veggies and string cheese.. I have a very bad pain on the right side of my abdomen.. I am about to cry i am scared[/quote']

We're you sleeved in the US?

[a_jap21 5]

We're you sleeved in the US?

Yes

[Wags 549]

Where are you and who is your doctor?

[a_jap21 5]

Where are you and who is your doctor?

Miami dr. Gonzales

[Wags 549]

Ok. I am sorry this is happening to you. Please call your doctor right away or go to the ER. I have read through all your posts and it sounds like you really need help. Please. This is dangerous for you.

[mattuti86 23]

I don't remember having diarrhea but if you feel like something is not right it's always best to consul your Dr. no matter how small you think something is. Some of the leak symptoms are things you feel just by having the surgery.

[aTXtumbleweed 7]

I had my sleeve done 8/13. On 8/24 I started throwing up blood. I was in ICU for two weeks. I had a two inch tear in the staples. I have no idea how that happened - I was following the liquid diet and was having trouble getting all the Liquid Protein required each day. I have two stents in my stomach holding the wall together and the leak has gone down, but still a trace. I was in the hospital over three weeks. I've been home 10 days and I go back to the hospital Monday to get the stents removed. I'm NPO and have a j-tube for how long I don't know. This was not the journey I signed up for.

[Wags 549]

I had my sleeve done 8/13. On 8/24 I started throwing up blood. I was in ICU for two weeks. I had a two inch tear in the staples. I have no idea how that happened - I was following the liquid diet and was having trouble getting all the liquid Protein required each day. I have two stents in my stomach holding the wall together and the leak has gone down' date=' but still a trace. I was in the hospital over three weeks. I've been home 10 days and I go back to the hospital Monday to get the stents removed. I'm NPO and have a j-tube for how long I don't know. This was not the journey I signed up for.[/quote']

In so sorry this happened to you!! I read some of your past posts. Do they think it was related to drinking from a straw? That's when your severe pain started. This is such a scary thing to happen. Thank you for coming back to tell us about your journey.

[Madam Reverie 2,958]

Omg! Is diarrhea a sympton? I am so glad you are better know! I am really scared i have 5 days post op and didnt know the consequences of my actions.. I ate crackers, a little pureed veggies and string cheese.. I have a very bad pain on the right side of my abdomen.. I am about to cry i am scared

Your stomach is on your left, your gallbladder is on your right. I'm not saying it isn't related, but 5 days post op there are lots of twinges and things.

What I will say though, is who advised you on your post op diet? Crackers and cheese certainly wasn't on my list. If you're feeling bad, you absolutely have to go back to your doctor and as soon as possible. I wish you the best of luck x