I recently had my sleeve 20 days ago and even though I am perfectly alright I just keep thinking about the leaks and if I will randomly just develop one and all the Google searches I made are not really helpful

Do you know why a leak might occur and when can I be sure that I am out of risk for that and relax

Are they common?

Any information at all?

I had one as a complication after sleeve surgery and it was found a month later when I collapsed at home and had to go by ambulance to hospital. The cause was suture failure.

My symptoms then were weakness (could barely stand), fever, nausea with vomiting and abdominal pain. It is a rare occurrence so if you are not suffering with any of these I think you don't need to worry, you are just causing yourself unnecessary stress when you are already going through enough to deal with following surgery and coping with food planning etc.

I also had other complications post surgery with pancreatitis and abdominal abscesses so basically anything that could go wrong did, I ended up spending three months in hospital over a period of four months.

They closed the gastric leak by using clips and mesh via gastroscopy but that failed, twice. I now have a tube coil like thing that was inserted in order to drain fluid and hope that the hole will then have time to heal and close.

The only information I was given in advance of the surgery about it was that it could happen but the surgeon did not go into detail and just said she had never had a patient have a leak, guess I am her exception if she will admit it to others in the future. No other details given to me such as cause/effect/symptoms.

Edited February 18, 20242 yr by FifiLux

This is the first time in 4 years on this forum that I ever heard of a leak. It must be rare. This surgery is so safe these days. Stop frightening yourself reading about stuff that might never happen.

Thankyou very much for the replies

I never had a leak but a relative did. The stomach takes 6 weeks to heal and she split open her sutures by not following plan. She ate solids way too early.

The statistics say that 1% of VSG patients experience a leak and that they usually occur because solid food was consumed too early, or from physical trauma/injury to the area. With that said, I know the anxiety youʻre talking about. I only have this knowledge because I deep dive into things Iʻm afraid of.

On 3/9/2024 at 8:31 AM, Aunty Mamo said:

The statistics say that 1% of VSG patients experience a leak and that they usually occur because solid food was consumed too early, or from physical trauma/injury to the area. With that said, I know the anxiety youʻre talking about. I only have this knowledge because I deep dive into things Iʻm afraid of.

I also had this fear. 1% chance is world wide and I’m guessing you had your surgery in a western country and good hospital so chances are closer to 1 in 500 chance. Moreover 70% of the time they happen in the first week. So your odds are very very slim. Just follow food instructions and you will be fine best of luck

I have a feeding tube currently. I had surgery 6/13/24 for revision to RNY. I had 2 emergency surgeries 3 days later. I had a leak and had 7liters of toxic fluids cleaned out of me then ICU 6 days and hospital until the end of July. It has been 10 months + with wound vac, Gtube, and now a stricture that I've had 3 balloon procedures and still not halfway there. Total of 6 hospital stays, 4 ER visits, 7 surgeries since June 2023.

I'm getting better. Feeding tube helps but also causes alot of pain and granulated tissue which has to be burned off.

I have found 4 people who have talked about the same issues. A leak like this and a stricture is very uncommon.

Most people with leaks end up dying. It's why you don't hear about them.

I'm not sure why anyone would require a feeding tube other than a major stricture or leak. Maybe due to already having so much scar tissue. They think that is why I had a leak but nobody knows.

For reference. I had lapband 2008. Lapband Removal 2019 due to Gerd. RNY 2023. I was 238lbs 5'6 at the time. I'm 170 now.

8 hours ago, CarainCali said:

I have a feeding tube currently. I had surgery 6/13/24 for revision to RNY. I had 2 emergency surgeries 3 days later. I had a leak and had 7liters of toxic fluids cleaned out of me then ICU 6 days and hospital until the end of July. It has been 10 months + with wound vac, Gtube, and now a stricture that I've had 3 balloon procedures and still not halfway there. Total of 6 hospital stays, 4 ER visits, 7 surgeries since June 2023.

I'm getting better. Feeding tube helps but also causes alot of pain and granulated tissue which has to be burned off.

I have found 4 people who have talked about the same issues. A leak like this and a stricture is very uncommon.

Most people with leaks end up dying. It's why you don't hear about them.

I'm not sure why anyone would require a feeding tube other than a major stricture or leak. Maybe due to already having so much scar tissue. They think that is why I had a leak but nobody knows.

For reference. I had lapband 2008. Lapband Removal 2019 due to Gerd. RNY 2023. I was 238lbs 5'6 at the time. I'm 170 now.

I am so sorry for your experience but thanks so much for sharing. ?

I’m about to get mine done in a few days and I worried about this too. Like everyone else here said, at 1%, the odds are in our favor that it won’t happen.

I've had RNY. Although leaks are very rare, I don't blame anyone who stresses or worries about this happening to them. I think a fair assumption would be that if you are 12 months out, you can rest assured that you won't experience any leaks going forward. I think 12 months is a good time for everything internally to have fused and healed. Every year thereafter, actually strengthens the fusions that have taken place to the anastomosis and stomach pouch. I think the only thing that you need to be mindful of thereafter and for the rest of your life, is the possible occurrence of a bowel obstruction.

Not sure who needs to know, but both me and my sister are well, no complications so far (to be honest I don't even remember that I have gone through that sometimes)

I feel completely fine but it's just that I can eat a lot still and haven't lost much weight 15kg(33lbs) in last 7 months (my sister's the same) and not much inch loss as well

Is this common, did anyone feel the same????

17 hours ago, KII said:

Not sure who needs to know, but both me and my sister are well, no complications so far (to be honest I don't even remember that I have gone through that sometimes)

I feel completely fine but it's just that I can eat a lot still and haven't lost much weight 15kg(33lbs) in last 7 months (my sister's the same) and not much inch loss as well

Is this common, did anyone feel the same????

Glad it went well for you both.

As you don't have your stats in your bio or post it is hard to give any answer on the weight loss. Have you had post-op consultations with the team to know if they (knowing your details) consider you on track?

Are you hitting your protein goals?

Are you getting enough fluids?

What is your daily food intake like?

Edited September 4, 20241 yr by FifiLux

I had a leak at 3 weeks post op and spent 2 weeks in the hospital with a drain and feeding tube. I am 7 months post op now and doing better but my stomach still doesn’t like hardly anything.

On 4/1/2025 at 8:28 PM, FarrahS said:

I had a leak at 3 weeks post op and spent 2 weeks in the hospital with a drain and feeding tube. I am 7 months post op now and doing better but my stomach still doesn’t like hardly anything.

Glad to hear you are doing better.