Sometimes complications can be blessings in disguise

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,832]

So as you all know, I had A LOT of complications with my sleeve. I ended up with gastritis, esophagitis, horrible gerd, and precancerous polyps all though my stomach and duodenum. I had 4 endoscopies to have them all removed. Then I had a colonoscopy and found 3 cancerous polyps (stage 1) and they were removed and I'm ok. Wouldn't have found ANY of that had I not had the complications from the sleeve.

During that time, I also had a ct scan to see what was happening, and 2 large fibroids were found in my uterus. Well, now that everything else was taken care of and I had my revision from sleeve to bypass, I decided to deal with the fibroids (they are causing my stomach to be large, my uterus is HUGE, they cause discomfort, very heavy bleeding, etc) One is 12cm (roughly the size of a grapefruit) and one is 6.5 cm (the size of an egg). I also had an endometrial biopsy (those SUCK) and was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, which is precancerous. So now I have an appt to see what to do about all of this. Again, never ever would have found this if I hadn't had complications that led to all the testing to figure out what was wrong.

Sometimes the fear of the unknown, the long road ahead, and the daunting testing and procedures to diagnose and correct complications can make surgery seem like a no-go. But potential complications shouldn't necessarily be seen as a deal breaker. I had several precancerous and cancerous conditions I knew absolutely NOTHING about, and I wouldn't have known about them until it was too late, had it not been for the complications from the sleeve. Trying to find out what happened inadvertently led to correcting not only the initial sleeve complication but also the silent and secret health issues that definitely would have creeped up on me and taken me out had it all not be found when they were.

I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Maybe hitting every speed bump on the way sucks and feels overwhelming, but at least now it's done. I'm already healthier than I have ever been, and I'm only getting healthier. I'm following dreams I previously let go, and being 45, I'm at the age where health risks start to increase anyway. Now I'm having it all taken care of and I can just do my thing and live my life. I said all of this to say.... don't talk yourself out of a life changing and life SAVING surgery because there's the potential for complications. Yes, they're scary. Yes, they suck. But YES finding and treating them early on (especially if you never would have known about them otherwise) is a blessing. We are doing these surgeries to get our lives back. And if that means finding and treating other issues that can/will cause us problems down the road, consider that a perk of the surgery.

Edited September 3, 2023 by SleeveToBypass2023

[KathyLev 283]

That saying must be true ----- "Every cloud has a silver lining " . Thanks for posting that story - it's an inspiration

[NickelChip 696]

Wow, I'm so glad all of those scary conditions were discovered in time! I think you're right that sometimes you go through things that at the moment you think suck and may be asking why me, but the number of times those situations lead to important and good changes makes you realize there was a reason for it.

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,832]

43 minutes ago, NickelChip said:

Wow, I'm so glad all of those scary conditions were discovered in time! I think you're right that sometimes you go through things that at the moment you think suck and may be asking why me, but the number of times those situations lead to important and good changes makes you realize there was a reason for it.

Exactly!!! It's hard to see the silver lining when you're going through it, but just keep going and odds are, you'll see the blessing when it's over.

[NettyD 93]

Amen thanks for sharing your journey 🙌🏽🙏🏾

[NCL04321 151]

i work in the medical field and it seems more often than not many conditions are discovered while undergoing testing, surgery etc that is totally unrelated to what you originally went in for! So happy for you that those nasty things were found before they caused you a problem!!!

[SuziDavis 544]

Girl!!! I am thankful you found all of these issue that could have become much worse, but man do you deserve a break!

one of my co workers who weighs about 92 pounds(no exaggeration) always had a pouch belly, and didn't know why, turns out she had 2 fibroids about grapefruit size. She had a hysterectomy and they left one ovary so she wouldn't need hormones. She has been so happy since having it taken care of. So you will get there!

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,832]

10 hours ago, SuziDavis said:

Girl!!! I am thankful you found all of these issue that could have become much worse, but man do you deserve a break!

one of my co workers who weighs about 92 pounds(no exaggeration) always had a pouch belly, and didn't know why, turns out she had 2 fibroids about grapefruit size. She had a hysterectomy and they left one ovary so she wouldn't need hormones. She has been so happy since having it taken care of. So you will get there!

Yeah, the belly is driving me nuts. I've had it for a long time, but I thought it was because I was so heavy. Now that I've lost so much weight, they can tell without an ultrasound that my uterus is huge. Once they did it and found the fibroids that are SUPER big, it explained so much. I have an appt on the 14th to figure out what we're doing next. Once they are gone, I literally have ZERO health concerns. I'm absolutely ecstatic. This surgery has been such an up and down thing, but the blessings (even the ones in DEEP disguise) have been so worth the downs and pain that I honestly can say I would do it all over again. Just to be here, where I am now, doing all the things I love and want to do. So so worth it.

[SuziDavis 544]

12 hours ago, SleeveToBypass2023 said:

Yeah, the belly is driving me nuts. I've had it for a long time, but I thought it was because I was so heavy. Now that I've lost so much weight, they can tell without an ultrasound that my uterus is huge. Once they did it and found the fibroids that are SUPER big, it explained so much. I have an appt on the 14th to figure out what we're doing next. Once they are gone, I literally have ZERO health concerns. I'm absolutely ecstatic. This surgery has been such an up and down thing, but the blessings (even the ones in DEEP disguise) have been so worth the downs and pain that I honestly can say I would do it all over again. Just to be here, where I am now, doing all the things I love and want to do. So so worth it.

I love this, I love that you are looking at the light at the end rather than all the bad parts. I'm sure your body is handling it all so much better with the weight loss too.