a young girl seeking help

Greetings out there to my fellow weight loss surgery patients. First off let me say thank you to anybody bothering to read this post. Also a thousand times thank you if you respond.

I had gastric bypass in December of 2009. I was 273 lbs and basically eating myself to death. My mother had the surgery and it worked wonders for her. No complications, simple recovery. My surgeon told me "Oh yes, your young. Your going to fly through surgery." WRONG. I was 25 years old when I had this done.

My first surgery (the gastric bypass) was unfortunately botched. My anastheaologist left a temperature probe in the new stomach they created and the surgeons stitched around it. Luckily they discovered this before the surgery had ended. They had to go back in to remove this tool, basically going to war on my stomach leaving catastrophic damage behind in the aftermath prolonging my surgery by several hours.

When I awoke in the recovery room I felt like I was drowning. Couldn't breathe or speak. Finally when I returned to my hospital room in enormous pain and nausea I was told what had happened to me (they have to tell you) and man was I furious. I also learned the hard way that I was allergic to toradol, tramadol, and morphine! They had to kick me up to dilaudid in high dose to treat my pain combined with loartab elixir since I had developed a hard time swallowing. Usually patients that have this surgery as we all know spend 2 days recovering in the hospital, well I was there for two weeks. From then on hospitals/emergency rooms have been my home away from home.

I have had 2 strictures removed that had formed shortly after my first surgery which blocked liquids and foods from staying down. I had my gall bladder taken from me which was swimming with stones and black sludge as my doctor called it. I also had skin reduction because I lost my weight so quickly from being so dilapadated like a deflated balloon.

Its now January 2012. I have seen many doctors. From GI doctors, Internal Medicine, My own surgeons who did my first two surgeries whom pretty much have thrown me under the bus, and it was suggested by a really smart GI doctor to reverse the Gastric Bypass. I still to this day not recovered properly from any of my surgeries and i'm miserable. I can't hardly hold down medicine they give me. Its costing a fortune running to the ER to get stable. I am surprised my insurance hasn't kicked me off.

I can't rest. My pain and nausea keep me awake. I can barely stay hydrated. I have tried alternative medicines that were non narcotic and my anatomy rejects them and I have the bad side effects that they can produce.

Guys i'm grasping at straws. I don't know what to do. I've gone from 273 lbs, to 105 lbs. That was not at all my goal, nor the way I wanted to get there. My life is put on hold. I'm too sick to attend school. This is hurting my family because when i'm hurting they are as well.

Would reversing this surgery be worth it? My mom thinks i've come this far and thinks I will gain all my weight back. I can say one thing though, these surgeries aren't the cure. Sure they help us drop our weight and get most of us back on our feet but it doesn't cure our addictions to food, binging, anxiety, or depression. There is no way I am going back. Not after what i've been through for so long.

I'm just so terrified of another surgery. I developed a huge fear of being put to sleep due to what happened my first surgery. Not being able to rest due to the pain and nausea is one thing - but the anxiety and depression i'm suffering is another to add to that list.

If someone anyone out there please help me. Suggestions? Anything really. Does anyone think that reversing this surgery would be the right thing? I have an appointment with a doctor already that does the reversal surgery. I'm wondering if he will even be willing to take on my case. I just can't stand to live this way anymore.

Thank you,

Blithe

Blithe, words cannot convey how sorry I am that you have gone through all that you have. I went through complications with my RNY in 2002 and just recently revised to a DS. But nothing I experienced comes close to what you have. What I can say is that you need to see a vetted surgeon, one with high credentials, that is not just a GI specialist but one who is specializes in the RNY, bariatric procedures and regularly handles severe complications as a result. I'm not sure if that means a reversal or not, but you want the very best to turn to this around for you. You sound amazingly strong considering what you are enduring. I know of one surgeon in particular, his name is Dr. Quilici, here in Los Angeles; and I'm going to contact a friend of mine who literally nearly died after her RNY, and her surgeon is tremendous, I will get his name, he's in Reno, Nevada. I have a very general light profile on here because of the site's relationship with Facebook. But I have been around the WLS community since 2002 and I specifically focus on the revision board because I want to make sure people get the real help they need. 

Rock,

Thanks for your response, it gives me hope. I am just so terrified of another surgery as you might of guessed from my first post. I'm from Texas and am seeing a doctor here DR. John Alexander who apparently specializes in the revisions. I see him tomorrow at his office. I am praying he will have good things to say. If you could send me that other information too it would be greatly appreciated. Again thank you so much.

Blithe

I suggest you also consult with Dr. Keshishian, in CA. He's one of the world's foremost bariatric revision specialists. He's saved many, many peoples' lives.

Hi Blithe, yes, more than understandably you are terrified of another surgery and if you do have it you need to be in the very best of hands, someone who has dealt with the degree of problems you are having.  I'm waiting to hear back from my friend to get her surgeon's name, contact info. Surgery might mean having to travel, which I know isn't ideal, not sure what kind of hardship that would be on you financially. Ideally you will find a specialist in Texas,  or close by, but for what you are dealing with, traveling might be necessary, your health is worth it.  You also might have a lawsuit on your hands and be entitled to financial compensation for what you've been through, leaving an instrument inside of you! Do you have any additional support, guidance there? 

You need to have the best information available to you so you can make the right decision.  It's true, there are plenty of success stories like your mom, but they didn't happen to you (or me for that matter). While regain is something you're going to think about, you're on target with your attitude. Again, a reversal might not be what is needed so much cleaning up, fixing the problems; you probably have a ton of scar tissue and adhesions, and god knows what else. Definitely post after you see Dr. Alexander, share what he says.  

You poor thing - sounds like a nightmare on so many levels.

I'm going to just chime in on the advise you've received from others.  You need a top notch specialist in revisions - regardless of what you end up with at the end.  It's impossible to say as non medical professionals - but you need someone who is expert at dealing with other surgeon's messes.

Dr. K in California is renowned - there is also a Dr. Goodman in New Jersey that I've seen listed on many sites where people were having sigificant issues.  There is also the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic (no first hand knowledge, just from being around a long time I've seen these mentioned as places that have helped WLS patients with major trouble).

Wishing you the best of luck.  Do your homework and find the best.

Sharon

Blithe, YES OF COURSE, Dr. Keshishian, who is my surgeon and also Dr. Rabkin who is here in Northern California. Dr. K would be closer for you, he's in Glendale which is a burb of Los Angeles. My head is still a bit in my own recovery, and I have DS on the brain. But Dr. K and Dr. Rabkin are both highly vetted, exceptional bariatric surgeons, handling complicated revisions. 

Dr. K's site is www. dssurgery.com. 

Dr. Lee Trotter was my friend's surgery and he is also a star, does a LOT of complicated revisions, he saved my friend's life and many others as well. He's in South Dakota, is a well rounded surgeon, including wellness. http://surgeryforhealth.com/

I don't know if traveling is finacially feasible or a hardship, update us. But you want and need to be in the best hands.

 
As others have said, I also reccomed Dr. Keshishian.  There is a gal on here, her name is seekinghealthy... she had an RNY, then revised it to an ERNY (where they bypass more intestine) and she was literally dying from loosing too much weight & it would not stop.

Dr. K went in, and corrected and revised her to the DS, and she is so much more healthy.  


I think from your situation, Dr. K would be a GREAT choice of surgeon to go in & correct your prior surgery, and stabilize you, so that you can go on & have the HEALTHY LIFE YOU SO DESERVE!!!!


-Jamie

Oh my goodness. Blithe I'm so sorry for what you have been going through. how terrifying.  How did your consult go with your doctor?

I can't offer anything more than all the previous posters did, with their recommendations for Dr. K or Dr. Rabkin. I hope you get the answers you seek. Please keep us posted!!