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19 months out and a leak!



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So just thought I would let you know that if you think that you can't get a leak after 3 or 4 or 9 months after your sleeve. You are mistaken....I have one and they are working hard to heal it......

Do me a favor and look after your sleeve. Treat it with gentleness and kindness. And don't swallow food that is not chewed well. I ever did any of those things but now more then ever I will be careful....

When my surgeon did a scope he found that my sleeve was in great shape. Had not relaxed or stretched and was a beautiful soft pink...lol

So 19 months later my sleeve has not been abused but I got a leak anyway.....I would do that unlike most of you.

Some fun eh Bambi!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Oh my!! What were the symptoms that you felt with the leak? I was under the impression that once the stitches heals on the stomach there is no danger of leak.

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Yes I know I have heard the same thing over and over again myself...The reality though is different.

I felt like I had dislocated a rib. This went on for 6 weeks. I would go to the Chiropractor and he would crack every bone in my body until the last time I went and he told me there was no bones out of place. He told me to please go and check it out. So I did. they did a Cat Scan and found I had an abscess in my chest cavity by my sleeve. It was full and needed to be drained.

So I went to my surgeon and he did more tests and found a leak in my sleeve and it formed the abscess. So he put in a drain and did a scope as well. Although my sleeve was in excellent shape. There was an ulcer. And because of the ulcer I got a leak. Now the kicker is that if you get an ulcer there is a huge chance that you can get more so you have to take preventative action to stop it. So now I am on stomach meds for the rest of my life for that.

BUT all said and done it was a leak that caused it...nevertheless ......They can still happen as far out as 19 months folks.

Another woman was there with a leak as well. She is 8 months out.....So keep care of your sleeve..That is all I am saying!

Oh my!! What were the symptoms that you felt with the leak? I was under the impression that once the stitches heals on the stomach there is no danger of leak.

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Oh RJ....that was terrible...get well soon...and stay well..

all the best...a leak is a scary thought..

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Thanks for the update. So sorry to hear of this development but glad you were able to get a specific diagnosis. I sincerely hope that this is the final complication for you! Feel better soon!

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No way! I never would have thought that was possible. Thanks for the PSA! And I sure hope you're on the road to wellness. Your journey has been like no other.

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Scary! Hope you feel better soon. Thank you for sharing, I too thought I was out of the danger zone at 3 mos now but I will be extra vigilant in chewing my food. :-)

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So just thought I would let you know that if you think that you can't get a leak after 3 or 4 or 9 months after your sleeve. You are mistaken....I have one and they are working hard to heal it......

Do me a favor and look after your sleeve. Treat it with gentleness and kindness. And don't swallow food that is not chewed well. I ever did any of those things but now more then ever I will be careful....

When my surgeon did a scope he found that my sleeve was in great shape. Had not relaxed or stretched and was a beautiful soft pink...lol

So 19 months later my sleeve has not been abused but I got a leak anyway.....I would do that unlike most of you.

Some fun eh Bambi!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm curious. Do you drink coffee and/or tea? I hope you make a speedy recovery and have no m

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Just curious. How does the food chewing prevent leak and ulcers?

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No more issues*

So just thought I would let you know that if you think that you can't get a leak after 3 or 4 or 9 months after your sleeve. You are mistaken....I have one and they are working hard to heal it......

Do me a favor and look after your sleeve. Treat it with gentleness and kindness. And don't swallow food that is not chewed well. I ever did any of those things but now more then ever I will be careful....

When my surgeon did a scope he found that my sleeve was in great shape. Had not relaxed or stretched and was a beautiful soft pink...lol

So 19 months later my sleeve has not been abused but I got a leak anyway.....I would do that unlike most of you.

Some fun eh Bambi!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm curious. Do you drink coffee and/or tea? I hope you make a speedy recovery and have no m

Just curious. How does the food chewing prevent leak and ulcers?

I do drink tea. It is a help to chew food well as it does not get pushed down too hard as it leaves the esophagus. That is a concern that stretching the tissues that way can cause leaks...Over time we can be ones that get ulcers....Not necessarily because of the sleeve. But because of acids in our stomach that is not attended too. Also it has been proven that if you get one your in line for others if you do not take meds to help bring down acids in your stomach......

Most don't get any of these problems but me..I am trying to set a world record for the person with the most complications from weight loss surgery...lol

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RJ, you have been so incredible through all of your struggles and difficulties. You amaze me. Stay strong!

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thanks... @@2013sleevegirl I have been left no choice in the matter hun......It is be beaten or beat it!... ;)

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That's not good, wishing you all the best. Can I ask what drinking tea or coffee has to do with it please?

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That's not good, wishing you all the best. Can I ask what drinking tea or coffee has to do with it please?

I don't know why..Maybe because it is a dehydrator. Maybe because it has tannin in it...Someone asked me if I drink it and I said yup....Not a lot but some every day!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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