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My Gastric Sleeve Nightmare.... I still haven't woken up!



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I had the Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery December 3, 2014 and since my health has declined rapidly.

I have on-going:

Chronic widespread nerve pain

Chronic Polyneuropathy

Numbness, Tingling, and Weakness in lower extremities worse on right side

Insomnia due to chronic nerve pain

Severe stomach pain

Constant cramping

Constant nausea

Daily vomiting

Acid reflux

Severe depression

Sever Anxiety Disorder

Chronic Migraines

Severe Malnutrition

C-Pack Feeding tube

Stomach J-Tube Feeding Tube surgery scheduled for December 1, 2015

I HAD NONE OF THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE SURGERY!

The nerve pain started in my toes and the balls of my feet April 2015, in less than a month it spread to my knees and hands left and right side, worse on my right side.

Now I have chronic widespread nerve pain all over my body.

I had full on drop foot on my right side in May of 2015 I went to Mary Free Bed for In-patient rehabilitation.

My toes feel like they are going to explode from the constant burning and stabbing

The ball of my feet feels like I'm stepping on hot needles

I have numbness and and tightness in my fingers

My knees are especially painful on my right side, they have a constant burning and stabbing pain.

My right knee and lower leg is becomes very swollen, it feels extremely tight, and my whole lower right leg is on fire and it is warm to the touch a times of extreme pain.

My hands feel like I'm holding them the on the eye of the stove, it is worse on my dominant right side.

I also have shooting nerve pains that come at random and feel like fire shooting through my body

The pain has highs and lows, but it is constant.

This makes all daily task near to impossible.

The worse of it is the extreme numbness, tingling and weakness in my lower extremists and also now my right hand a forearm. I have little to know feeling or reflexes from my waist down. I cannot walk without the assistance of a walker, I have had numerous falls due to sudden numbness in my legs and knees, also my knees have just given out numerous times.

My legs feel like they are being weighed down by cement. It is extremely hard to lift my legs especially on my right side. I become fatigued walking within a few minutes.

I now use a wheelchair primarily.

This makes my life impossible, because I never know when my legs are going to decide to give out. This has caused me to develop a extreme anxiety of leaving my home.

I only leave my house to go to doctors appointments. When it is time for me to leave my house for any reason I become short of breath, and dizzy. I usually have to breath into a paper bag to calm myself before I can even get into a car.

I've lost 176 pounds in less than 12 months to lose my ability to walk, work, and just having a life! I now live in a prison of cronic pain and feeding tubed.

I would estimate that I need assistance with 90% or more of my day to day normal activities.

They have tried every drug and nothing has worked to eliminate my chronic nerve pain, numbness or the weakness, my condition has only worsened.

Is anyone else having these issues? Please reach out to me I'm in extreme need of support, understanding, and answers. I'm only 26 and I feel like my life is OVER!

I had my surgery in Grand Rapids, MI at Spectrum Health Weight Loss Clinic. The surgery was performed by Dr. Holman (the butcher)

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I'm so sorry you're having this difficulty. Do you see a physiatrist who is Board Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehab?

Have you been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)?

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I'm so sorry to hear of your problems. I hope you can find a neurologist who specializes in neuralgia/neuropathy. I do wish you the best. And you look absolutely beautiful...in both pics.

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I saw a nuromuscular neurology specialist Monday they are running lots of test and I'm also planning to go to mayo Clinic. I've only been officially diagnosed with cronic widespread neuropathy

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Sadly, sometimes a cure is too much to ask for. I just want you to be comfortable!! Hugs :)

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I am very sorry you are going through this as well.

I have to ask...do any of your problems have to do with your surgeon? Was your surgeon experienced? Did you research your surgeon to see if any malpractice claims had been filed? The reason I am asking is because i have been researching this for a LOOOOONNNGGG time and I haven't seen anyone to have the wide array of issues you are dealing with. Are the doctors telling you that all of those symptoms are complications from the surgery? Of course some of the symptoms are common like acid reflux and nausea.

Dealing with all of this would be very difficult.

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You are having a very hard time! I commend you for not giving up. Please continue searching for answers! Work with your doctors to discover the best solutions! It is your life find a way to live it fully. Sleeved or not sleeved health problems happen. Sounds like you are doing the right steps which should lead to a positive outcome; keep it up and live your best life.

Edited by LadyK44

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@@tjones181 -- I'm sorry you've been having such a terrible time for so long.

When were the photos taken?

pre-op Sep 2013 post-op Oct 2015. This me today with the feeding tube core pack

post-256633-14481295374266_thumb.jpg

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    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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