VSG Leak

[allie2369 5]

Hey everyone,

I am a 20 year old VSG patient, I had my surgery on a Monday 10/28. I noticed the first day home that it was extremely difficult for me to take in fluids. I started having gas pain and felt really bloated. My doctors gave me medication to help me with that but it didn't help me at all. I called again and that Friday they had me come in for fluids because they thought I had to be dehydrated. They also did a blood test and found that my white blood cells were very high and was a big enough indication that I needed to go to the hospital for a CT scan. The CT scan showed that I had a leak and 2 pockets of Fluid inside me. They admitted me and gave me antibiotics to see if that would help with the infection. I also had a high resting heart rate that would range between 130 and 140.

After another test, it showed that the pockets had grown and the next step would be to put drains into them to drain the fluid. They put one drain in hoping that it was communicating with the other leak so it would drain both. About a week later they put one more drain in to drain the bigger pocket. A couple days after that, they did an Upper GI to see if the contrast I drank would go into the hole and into the pocket and it showed that everything I drank would go into the pocket and not the sleeve. They immediately decided that I needed to be transferred to another hospital so that I could get a stent placed in my esophagus. The doctors at the other hospital ended up placing two internal pig tail stents in the pocket so that they could act as internal drains. They also added botox to my sphincter so that the path to my sleeve was the one of least resistance and added a feeding tube up my nose for nutrition because I had to be NPO.

I was released a week after the procedure and has been 2 weeks since release. Since then, I had one external drain pulled and both of my internal drains removed. I am checking in every week doing upper GI tests and the hole and pocket seem to be getting smaller but very slowly. I currently on TPN through my PICC line so that I don't have to take fluid in and slow down the healing process.

I feel completely stuck and defeated. My doctors are discussing other options if this hole doesn't heal on it's own. The option they are considering is cutting the hole open more so that it connects to the sleeve but that scares me. I was just wondering what other options are out there and if anyone has any advice. I haven't eaten in over 6 weeks and all I am is nauseated, I need this to be over with.

[sbg224 318]

I just want to wish you all the best and hope they find a solution and you heal up fast. Good luck, keep us updated

[wwboy 141]

Sorry to hear this. Holding space for you.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Please let us know how this comes out.

[NoMoBand 278]

Wow! This is the nightmare that we hope never happens. I am so sorry! I give you lots of credit and have the upmost admiration and respect for you for showing how courageous you are and with that said you will be victorious over this. Hang in there, this is just a bump in your journey. I hope you don't mind that I will keep you in prayer. I've been involved in ministry before and take prayer very seriously! I know this is a scary time for you, but, you will prevail over this! Please keep us updated. Jake

Edited November 11, 2015 by NoMoBand

[swimbikerun 1,039]

I can only echo the same as others. I am so very sorry and hope this gets fixed soon.

[NORCALRN 60]

I struggled,too. I hear your frustration and pain. My ordeal was just over 3 years ago and i spent about 7 weeks in the hospital and on/off J tube for 14 months. What I can tell you is just keep speaking to your health care team and push for other meds, etc that you think might help after you have researched everything. Go through my threads if you are up to it. I still take Protonix twice a day as well at Zofran 8 mg twice per day. My appetite is better and now I can start improving my stamina for cardio and get my weight loss moving again. I guess I just want you to know that it really does get better. I was soooo tired of hearing that - but it is the truth. In the end, this will be behind you and your focus on physical and mental recuperation will begin. Please, let family or friends help you out. You will appreciate it and it will allow you to get the rest you need. I hope to see you updates. This is a great forum so reach out to us......you are not alone that is for sure. This group helped me a lot. I am a nurse but it did not matter - what we all need is support. Get better -check in and rest!

Trish