hi,

i'm almost 4 months out from vsg surgery and i had a rough time the first six weeks with getting in food and Water, but i started to feel much better over time. i did get the slimies a lot and vomitted quite a few times but i learned i was just eating too fast for my own good. at my three month checkup i had a upper gi series done and they found a 2cm contained leak. i couldn't believe it as i was feeling pretty good, no fever, or any other real symptoms. i have had pain on my left side and shoulder but i'm thinking it was muscular.

so i spent five days in the hospital. they gave me a ct scan to check for abcesses, there were none, i didn't have an infection. i suppose my body just built protection around the leak. i got an endoscope done and they decided to GLUE the leak. the next day i had a horrific time with this, they shoved that black tube down my throat and glued that sucker up. i had a sore throat and esophagus for days after. it's been a week now since they glued me. i don't know if it's going to work or not. i'm still able to eat and drink. the surgeon who did my vsg wanted me to get a tube down to my jejunum and not eat anything for 4-6 weeks, but the specialist here had different ideas.

i'm very nervous and scared now. i feel 'okay'. i'm not foaming or throwing up anymore actually, but my nerves are shot. i'm worried the leak isn't going to heal or it will get bigger or something bad is going to happen. i'm kind of like that, a worry wart. i read all these leak stories and people suffer so badly and i don't really think 'physically' i'm suffering but i think i should be. it's a leak after all.

do you think glue would really work? the surgeon's office told me if i had not had the upper gi series the leak would probably have eventually healed on it's own. i wonder if the vomitting i experienced tore something. the leak was at the esophageal/stomach junction, i believe that's the most popular place for leaks. i feel kind of pissed off i self paid for this surgery and ended up a statistic.

i'm sorry i had to vent. i really need support. i don't have a lot of people to talk to about this and those who i do have, i don't want to burden them.

well. i was having issues with my nutrition so the dietician switched formulas for me.

i really tried to convince the doctor to take the tube out but he talked me into waiting. he's going to send me for an upper GI series next week to see if the leak is closed. he wants me to wait the whole six weeks. i pouted but he's right, 2 more weeks isn't a long time, so i guess i'll find out if the leak closed next week. if it hasn't i dont know what we are going to do. stents or surgery. yuck.

thanks for asking you guys <3

ps. i have never had a tube feed without a vsg but one thing i can admit is that i have no desire to eat at all. it must be loss of grehlin because i dont crave food at all. actually i take that back, i've craved drinks. iced tea and flat pepsi. never touched it though lol. i'm a very good girl.

Edited January 14, 201412 yr by AnaBanana

There are 2 options actually 3...He can add another stent on top of the one you have or try clamps or connect the bowel to your sleeve.....If it has not healed those are the possible options...At least they were for me.....

Sounds like you are in pretty good spirits anyway...i hope all the best for a speedy recovery what ever option is next.....

There are 2 options actually 3...He can add another stent on top of the one you have or try clamps or connect the bowel to your sleeve.....If it has not healed those are the possible options...At least they were for me.....

Sounds like you are in pretty good spirits anyway...i hope all the best for a speedy recovery what ever option is next.....

i actually don't have a stent. if it doesn't heal by nj tube, stent or surgery would be the next step. i'm kinda interested in the clamps, not sure if he would do it, i would have to probably be sent to a specialist in canada.

There are 2 options actually 3...He can add another stent on top of the one you have or try clamps or connect the bowel to your sleeve.....If it has not healed those are the possible options...At least they were for me.....

Sounds like you are in pretty good spirits anyway...i hope all the best for a speedy recovery what ever option is next.....

i actually don't have a stent. if it doesn't heal by nj tube, stent or surgery would be the next step. i'm kinda interested in the clamps, not sure if he would do it, i would have to probably be sent to a specialist in canada.

No! So the next step would be a stent. Trust me they would not have to send you to Canada for that..They are well equipped in US for that.....

There are 2 options actually 3...He can add another stent on top of the one you have or try clamps or connect the bowel to your sleeve.....If it has not healed those are the possible options...At least they were for me.....

Sounds like you are in pretty good spirits anyway...i hope all the best for a speedy recovery what ever option is next.....

i actually don't have a stent. if it doesn't heal by nj tube, stent or surgery would be the next step. i'm kinda interested in the clamps, not sure if he would do it, i would have to probably be sent to a specialist in canada.

No! So the next step would be a stent. Trust me they would not have to send you to Canada for that..They are well equipped in US for that.....

LoL @ our miscommunications. I am in Canada, I guess it's not obvious by my stats. I'd stay in our health care system.

There are 2 options actually 3...He can add another stent on top of the one you have or try clamps or connect the bowel to your sleeve.....If it has not healed those are the possible options...At least they were for me.....

Sounds like you are in pretty good spirits anyway...i hope all the best for a speedy recovery what ever option is next.....

i actually don't have a stent. if it doesn't heal by nj tube, stent or surgery would be the next step. i'm kinda interested in the clamps, not sure if he would do it, i would have to probably be sent to a specialist in canada.

No! So the next step would be a stent. Trust me they would not have to send you to Canada for that..They are well equipped in US for that.....

LoL @ our miscommunications. I am in Canada, I guess it's not obvious by my stats. I'd stay in our health care system.

Oh sorry..lol..Maybe I didn't look close enough......your in good hands then.....keep us posted ok.....

well last night i went to a mediclinic and got my tube removed. the night before i was so sick i was wretching so hard i thought my stomach was going to explode. mentally i wasn't coping. i am freaked out a bit now. i know the leak is contained, and i've been drinking the whole time to take my meds and stuff but now i'm oh oh, how am i gonna get 64oz of fluids in! sip sip sip.

i'll call the doc on monday and tell him what i did. he did give me a choice monday but said it would be better to keep it in a few more weeks. but i got it pulled now i gotta pray that the leak is healed. it was glued six weeks ago so hopefully it is. i'd feel better knowing that it was fixed though. i wont be eating just drinking.

Praying for you. I hope everything is all healed up.

Praying for you. I'm so sorry.

thanks for your thoughts. i actually feel pretty good. it took a few days to get used to drinking again and getting in all my liquids, but yesterday i managed it and woke up feeling happy and 'normal'. i still have to go feb 5 for my xray. dr didn't give me heck for pulling the tube just said to make it for the xray. and keep drinking. i hope to god it healed. honestly.

Any update? Did you find out if your stomach has fully healed? Just thinking about you, hope all is going well.

Pulling for you!!!!

Anabanana

You are a trooper and I pray everything had healed so that you can resume a normal eating life.

I was sleeved on 1/7 had to stay in the hospital 1 extra day because of the nauseousness. I was sent down to be checked for leaks and everything was good. But over all I've been feeling pretty good beside the pain I've been having in my left shoulder/neck. I went to the dr today was check, and Dr said its not surgery related Thank God, so they prescribed me a muscle relaxer.

Any update? Did you find out if your stomach has fully healed? Just thinking about you, hope all is going well.

i find out february fifth. i was supposed to be on the tube feed till then, since i'm not sure i've been healed i'm sticking to liquids, drinking my tubefeed cans of nutrition and lots of Water.

Anabanana

You are a trooper and I pray everything had healed so that you can resume a normal eating life.

I was sleeved on 1/7 had to stay in the hospital 1 extra day because of the nauseousness. I was sent down to be checked for leaks and everything was good. But over all I've been feeling pretty good beside the pain I've been having in my left shoulder/neck. I went to the dr today was check, and Dr said its not surgery related Thank God, so they prescribed me a muscle relaxer.

good for you. i think you will be very happy with your surgery. i am very happy to have had my surgery, even with the leak. i'm grateful to be alive and not have gotten really sick, and i can't wait to have this heal. i'm thinking positively.

now if only i could have a bm. i'm pretty impacted right now and have tried many many things lol. last thing i got here is an enema to try... just staring it down at this time... not ready for it yet.