Complications...My story
Hi -I wanted to share my story (a condensed version) with others who may have
had similar issues and who can relate. It is hard to talk with others who can't
relate. I went in for a lap RNY on 8/17/05. That evening I passed out cold on
the floor when they got me up to go to the bathroom a couple hours after
surgery. The next day they sent me for the leak test and said I could begin
liquids. None stayed down. They kept doing swallow tests and they were
inconclusive. I eventually dehydrated and had strong pain in my back. By 8/22/06
they decided to move me to ICU. That is my last vague memory. I have been told
that I continued to vomit and run a fever. I had bile and BM coming out of my
mouth, and they rushed me into emergency surgery. During the surgery I aspirated
into my lungs and went into total respitory failure, they continued with the
surgery and found that my staple line had ruptured and the pouch had abscessed.
They had to cut away the pouch and re-create a new one. I also had a hernia with
a twisted bowel,. They had to cut away more of the intestines and re-attach
them. I was put on a ventilator / life support. I was not expected to live. My
family tells me I had 20 differtent IV's running into me as well as all the
other equipment. I kept running high fevers and my blood pressure kept
bottoming out. I had no respitory function of my own and I developed phemoia and
a yeast infection in my lungs. I had ICU induced pycosis and was very combative
and aggitated. I kept trying to pull everything out of me. They put me on
paralitic drugs to keep me calm. Everytime they tried to bring me up out of the
drugs I would fight the vent and they eventually had to do a tracheostomy. They
felt they needed to get me out of ICU so I could be weaned off the vent. They
moved me to a special care hospital that specializes in vent weaning. They were
able to get me off the vent. I woke up at the end of September. My muscle
function was gone and I could not even roll over let alone walk. I was moved to
a rehab facillity where I had PT & OT. I finally left the hospital in October,
and continued with Out-Patient therapy. I am doing remarkably well for all that
happened to me. The doctors still cannot even believe I am alive. My family is
still recovering though from all of the stress. How have you helped your
families to cope?
Thanks for listening and letting me tell my story.
Lynne
I'm soooo sorry Lynne. I don't even know what to say - how awful! I think a malpractice suit is in order as well as a hearty thanks to your family for their help. I wish I could say something more. Clearly you're here for a reason and God has His hand on you. I hope you and your family have nothing but good fortune. You deserve it after all you've been through!
Big Hug,
Donna
Hi Lynne,
WOW! I am so glad to hear that you are doing better! What an ordeal! I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your story makes people thankful with their surgery results. I think people often forget about the risks involved with this surgery, and become obsessed with the weightloss(I am one I admit it!) or lack there of!
I hope we all realize that we should be thankful that we were able to have this surgery with little or no complications.
All the best to you Lynne! Keep us posted on your recovery!
Bridget
280/187/140ish
rny 8/8/05
Thanks for your supportive words. It's funny I still come here all the time, but I lurk now as I find it difficult to engage in conversations about the various topics. I don't want to scare others, but I think everyone should know the risks. I really thought something bad couldn't happen to me. I really got fooled. I researched my surgeon very well and he has a great track record. It just goes to show you anything can happen, and to go in with your eyes wide open.
Thanks,
Lynne
Lynne!
I can't even begin to imagine how you felt going through all these complications of RNY. It takes a strong person and God' help to live through what you did. And as for your family, it must've been almost harder to watch their loved one through what sounds like prolonged near death experience.
I do agree that people need to know stories like yours. Unfortunately bad things can happen to anyone at any point as there are no guarantees in life and much less in Medicine. From your post I didn't hear any details on who or what is to blame for your complications( if anything), but one thing I know for sure is that Doctors are just mere humans and patients (humans) are very complex creatures and there are plenty that can go wrong even with the simplest procedures/manipulations. And RNY is a MAJOR abdominal surgery.
I'm so glad to hear that you are doing well now, and I hope you come back to full recovery and back to normal life. I want to hope that this ordeal only made you stronger and more close to your family.
Please keep us posted on your recovery.Sending you positive thoughts and wishes.
hugs, Rita.
Lynne,
You're a miracle walking that's for sure. So sorry for what you've gone through. I'm guessing you had the twisted bowel & hernia prior to surgery. Can't imagine that happening in a couple days. Poor thing. Fortunately, I've been blessed to not have alot of complications. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers for continued healing.
Tammy
291/284/210/145
Wow, you sure got hit with everything all at once didn't you? Now that you've made it through this terrible struggle, how are you? Are you able to eat and drink? I'm sure you've lost alot of weight (which is probably so not important in the light of everything else)... I'm sure you did everything right prior to surgery. Just goes to show you that you really can't predict the outcome. Thank God you're still here to share with us.
Tammy
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