Hello all. I've posted on here before about my nightmare after surgery, I thought it was time for an update. I was sleeved 12/27/12 in Tijuana, things didn't feel right from the beginning, I was hospitalized over there 4 times in the 3 months that followed and they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, dr thought I wasn't trying hard enough but I just couldn't get or keep anything in. I'm from San Diego, btw, so it was easy to come back and forth, finally on 3/23/13 Since I could no longer walk because I was so weak and absolutely nothing was staying down, my parents took me to the er at scripps mercy hospital. After a bunch of tests and less than a day later they found the leak. They put me on tpn, I was hospitalized for 5.5 weeks, the nurses told me later I was very very sick and they weren't sure I was gonna make it but I did. After that hospitalization I was sent home early may on tpn and with a pjs drain hanging out of my back, and obviously not having anything by mouth. I was fine for about 2 months then the first blood infection came, my picc line got infected, so i went back to the er with a really high fever, I was septic, that happened 4 more times the remainder of the year. The dr was hoping it'll heal on it's own since it would be best for me, that didn't happen, they tried outing a powder on the leak that helps scar twice and that didn't help, finally they tried a stent and of course that didn't help either. Btw having a stent is the most miserable I felt the whole time, never ending nausea is no joke. The whole time I was going through this I had a chronic cough, it got so bad, sometimes I couldn't talk, I now know that since my case is "peculiar" I also have damage to my left lung and might need some of it removed after my main issue is fixed, that is also one of the reasons drs have been so careful with my case. Anyway on my last hospital stay in December, they put a j tube in (feeding tube) since they could no longer put in picc lines to feed me because they kept getting infected. It has made a big difference, I feel healthier and I can do a lot more things now, except I still can't eat and have a j tube and pjs drain hanging out of my body for over a year now. I haven't been back to the hospital since December, so that's good, bit I'm emotionally drained, I want this to be over so bad, I just can't take it anymore. Right now we're waiting for my insurance to approve a cat scan to see if there's any improvement on my lung and my dr can decide what the next step is, it's surgery for sure but they don't know whether it'd be converting to a bypass or removing my stomach completely, if that's the case they have to see how far up the damage is on my body to see if a dr here I'm San Diego can do it or if it's more complex and they have to send me to USC to see another dr. They might need to bring part of my colon up to attach to my esophagus and intestine and no one here in San Diego does that. I hope I made sense. I just want to get it all out there. After over a year of this I feel like people around me don't wanna hear it anymore but this is my life right now, I need to vent. The only thing I have going on for me is the weight loss but I'm not sure if it was worth it some days. Not being aw to drink or eat anything is driving me crazy and I'm not a happy person at all. If you made it this far, thanks for reading and if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I'm an open book. I think that complications are not talked about enough and I don't want to scare anyone from getting surgery because I've seen awesome results on many people but complications are real and sometimes downplayed.

sending you complete healing vibes!

I am going in tomorrow for a stent....I am scared they keep telling me it will not hurt but I seen post where they say it's painfull....they are planning on removing my Jtube (used to drain not feed). The Dr said I need to have the stent for 3 months ...but will be allowed liquids so he will get me off TPN...it will be nice not to have to carry it around with me and to get rid of the drain bag but I am afraid of the stent...

I am going in tomorrow for a stent....I am scared they keep telling me it will not hurt but I seen post where they say it's painfull....they are planning on removing my Jtube (used to drain not feed). The Dr said I need to have the stent for 3 months ...but will be allowed liquids so he will get me off TPN...it will be nice not to have to carry it around with me and to get rid of the drain bag but I am afraid of the stent...

Very few people have a stent that does not cause discomfort. i had 2 at the same time..1 for 6 weeks and then a second one on top of the first one for another 6 weeks....The pressure in my chest was unreal. No one lied to me and told me it would not hurt.

I was on a constant serving of pain meds and anti nausea meds the entire time. When I had my fluids I kept bringing them up. But I survived and went on to the next part of the repairs....

No this is not easy and people can not stand it when they have them.. But!!!!!!!!!!!! In the long run..If it fixes the leak you are ahead of the game.....Do it to save your sleeve and ask for meds when you need them.....

I am so sorry you are going through this..But I will not lie to you... It does not feel nice at all! But it is going to help your sleeve....

I guess I was lucky? That my stent didn't hurt but I was on 3 different nausea meds and none of them worked, it was not fun at all. I was allowed liquids during that time but wasn't taken off the tpn, which was awesome because I remember trying to have a Popsicle on thanksgiving and I only had like 2 bites and could lnot lay down for hours after I had it. Good luck, I really hope that the stent does heal your leak.

Wishing you guys the absolute best - that's horrible.

Hoping you all get some peace.

I have a question for anyone who has had a stent...how did u stay hydrated I can barely get one 16oz bottle down in a day ....any advice would be helpful

I know eactly how you feel. I had my surgery in August 27 2013 and I have a leak as well. right now I have an esophageal stent placed to help resolve it but he's fairly certain ill need surgery again. Im so diiscusted and pissed off... I just want this nightmare to be over with. I haven't eaten in 7 days except a few sips here and there of a protein shake but I have no appetite and im in constant pain. Everyday I wake up and lay in my bed, I had to quit my job because I cant function at all. Im so depressed everyday. I have a wonderful support system but I just cant get back to being me. Im sick and tired of being sick and tired. Ive lost over 150 lbs but I still wonder, was this all worth it? - Nicole

Did they give you a medical indication as to why they didn't fix it.

I know eactly how you feel. I had my surgery in August 27 2013 and I have a leak as well. right now I have an esophageal stent placed to help resolve it but he's fairly certain ill need surgery again. Im so diiscusted and pissed off... I just want this nightmare to be over with. I haven't eaten in 7 days except a few sips here and there of a protein shake but I have no appetite and im in constant pain. Everyday I wake up and lay in my bed, I had to quit my job because I cant function at all. Im so depressed everyday. I have a wonderful support system but I just cant get back to being me. Im sick and tired of being sick and tired. Ive lost over 150 lbs but I still wonder, was this all worth it? - Nicole

I'm sorry you're feeling this way but I understand completely. My daughter had her surgery in December 2013 in Plano Texas. As her father I'm so pissed that a and I could be wrong but.I think that when a hospital promotes it's excellence in Bariatric surgery the Doctor conducting the surgery should be a specialist in that field. I wish they had never touched my daughter she's been constantly sick since this damn surgery. I as a father advise that you vet the doctor and the facility and get some additional disability and life insurance. This surgery is nothing to play with it can cost you your life. If the doctor or facility are not Bariatric specialist don't walk RUN and RUN for your life. If you decide to have the surgery get Afflack or some damn good insurance to pay your bills if things go wrong. You don't want to lose everything you own. My daughter has not had a solid meal since Thanksgiving 2013 she has been on a dobhoff tube and can't keep anything down. We are in the hospital as I post this.

I'm sorry you're feeling this way but I understand completely. My daughter had her surgery in December 2013 in Plano Texas. As her father I'm so pissed that a and I could be wrong but.I think that when a hospital promotes it's excellence in Bariatric surgery the Doctor conducting the surgery should be a specialist in that field. I wish they had never touched my daughter she's been constantly sick since this damn surgery. I as a father advise that you vet the doctor and the facility and get some additional disability and life insurance. This surgery is nothing to play with it can cost you your life. If the doctor or facility are not Bariatric specialist don't walk RUN and RUN for your life. If you decide to have the surgery get Afflack or some damn good insurance to pay your bills if things go wrong. You don't want to lose everything you own. My daughter has not had a solid meal since Thanksgiving 2013 she has been on a dobhoff tube and can't keep anything down. We are in the hospital as I post this.

That is so terrible, I feel completely for her I did have a bariatric specialist, actually hes supposed to be one of the best bariatric surgeons in NJ. What is a dobhoff tube? is that a feeding tube? I hope she gets well, god speed.

I am so very sorry to hear this. I also have been on the receiving end of a bariatric surgeon who was less than ideal. They don't like me saying so but I found medical research that indicated missed complications that other docs found. I've been barred from care in the area because of that.

If you blog about it or write a website on it, I'd be happy to link mine to it.

I was just followed yesterday almost to my car for simply holding a sign with my website address & '100% legal, why are they watching'. They were waiting for it also. I've called the cops and supposedly they'll check into it. Its been reported to management but they've already denied care. I said at least I have a slew of items to post that I tried to get them to fix things. I asked them questions and didn't get answers.

I'm paying the price. Is this what you want? The best thing you can do is to tell people what your experiences are. Then maybe there can be change for patients - especially in the realm of aftercare.

I have 6 more weeks to go hopefully 7/28 I go for an upper GI and see the Dr on 7/30.....please pray for me that I am healed....this stent hurts so bad...

You know you have them!!!