Yikes- warning
I thought I was free and clear in the complication departmentSo far I had a wonderful post-op course. No complications, the incision
healed well, I can eat anything, I've lost over 100# and I felt great. I figured I was free and clear, I even had someone say to me on Wed "you should be the poster child for WLS" (I think they cursed me!)
I woke up at 0200 Thursday with abdominal pain, I first thought gas as I had overdone the SF candy Wed 
It felt like gas pains and so I had a couple BM's and tried to sleep. By morning and very little sleep I knew I had to go to the ER. By the time I go to the ER I was puking. They drew labs, did x-rays and thought it was maybe constipation as I was "full of it" I was still hurting but happy it wasn't anything worse, it seemed a little better. They said I could go home, take MOM and push fluids. I took the MOM and a few sips of water but felt sick so I laid down and slept for about an hour. I woke up in more pain, tried to drink and it hurt! I called backto the doc who said come back in.
Doc did a pelvic (oh yay) and repeated labs, the labs showed a faint
positive for H-pylori (the ulcer germ) so he said ulcer. They admitted me
for hydration and pain control. Fri am they repeated the X-ray and the news came.... Bowel obstruction. Yikes I was freaking and dreading the chance of another surgery. Doc (not my usual GP) wanted me to go to my surgeon 2 hours away by family car where he would give me 24 hours then operate. I didn't want to be that close to a surgeon, let me tell you! My reg GP told me the obstruction was probably partial as I was not puking anymore (I did feel better with the pain under control) I decided to stay locally for the 24 hours and risk a 2 hout trip in an ambulance.
To make a long story slightly shorter, it managed to resolve itself with
"bowel rest" (nothing by mouth) and they let me go home, I am still quite
tender and have pains that tell me it isn't entirely open but I'm willing to
wait. Doc says there is a strong chance it can happen again, it is caused
by adhesions on the outside of the bowel from the surgery and there is
nothing that can be done to prevent it.
I did research and this can happen to any postie- even at 5 years out. I guess we are never free and clear - Bummer
Geraldine
-101
It felt like gas pains and so I had a couple BM's and tried to sleep. By morning and very little sleep I knew I had to go to the ER. By the time I go to the ER I was puking. They drew labs, did x-rays and thought it was maybe constipation as I was "full of it" I was still hurting but happy it wasn't anything worse, it seemed a little better. They said I could go home, take MOM and push fluids. I took the MOM and a few sips of water but felt sick so I laid down and slept for about an hour. I woke up in more pain, tried to drink and it hurt! I called backto the doc who said come back in.
Doc did a pelvic (oh yay) and repeated labs, the labs showed a faint
positive for H-pylori (the ulcer germ) so he said ulcer. They admitted me
for hydration and pain control. Fri am they repeated the X-ray and the news came.... Bowel obstruction. Yikes I was freaking and dreading the chance of another surgery. Doc (not my usual GP) wanted me to go to my surgeon 2 hours away by family car where he would give me 24 hours then operate. I didn't want to be that close to a surgeon, let me tell you! My reg GP told me the obstruction was probably partial as I was not puking anymore (I did feel better with the pain under control) I decided to stay locally for the 24 hours and risk a 2 hout trip in an ambulance.
To make a long story slightly shorter, it managed to resolve itself with
"bowel rest" (nothing by mouth) and they let me go home, I am still quite
tender and have pains that tell me it isn't entirely open but I'm willing to
wait. Doc says there is a strong chance it can happen again, it is caused
by adhesions on the outside of the bowel from the surgery and there is
nothing that can be done to prevent it.
I did research and this can happen to any postie- even at 5 years out. I guess we are never free and clear - Bummer
Geraldine
-101 
Geez Geraldine, How scary is that? I'm glad that you're going to be ok. That wasn't one of the complications that I was told about. Did your WL surgeon put you on soft foods. It sounds like that might be what you will have to be on for a while. I agree with your word- BUMMER!
I hope that everything works out for you.
A great big hug is sent your way!!! 
Jane 362/240
I hope that everything works out for you. A great big hug is sent your way!!! Jane 362/240 
I am being careful. went back to the basics for diet (yogurt, cottage cheese, soups) and will see if there are any tests I can have to see if it is completely open.
At least now I know what it feels like and will be to the dr sooner- would you believe I gained 10# while in the hospital not eating or drinking anything! (I know water weight- it was fun to lose 7# in a day!)
Geraldine
304/184/150
Geraldine, Sorry to hear of your ordeal. I pray you will continue to heal and feel better quickly. Thank you for sharing this info because I have been having some strange lower abdomin pain lately. Nothing as intense as you described but I still want to be aware that there may be a complication. I know when I eat different kinds of protein bars that intensifies my abdomin pain (lots and lots of gas) (oooouuuuch). I hope you will be better soon. Blessings to you on your journey.
Geraldine,
Wow! That's very scary! And nothing you could do to prevent it! EEK!
I worry about this and gall bladder problems, which are only mildly preventable. I was good and took my actigal for 5 months after surgery, but i'm still nervous about it!
I'm glad you're feeling better!
Amy
lap RNY 10/22/03
349/242/190ish
Adrienne
You are NOT alone. I had a bowel obstruction just 4 days after my RNY. I had emergency surgery by a trauma team who said I was 3 hours from death and maybe would not make it. I hung on. A week later I got a surgical wound. That was in OCTOBER. Now it is April and I got clearance to leave wound clinic just three weeks ago. About 5 months or so getting bandage changes every day...and another surgery to clean out the wound in February. Top it off? Severe anemia....a side effect of constant bleeding. Not your "happy post op story" but NOT atypical!! NOT.
Please do take your symptoms VERY seriously. I may be thinner but I would really like my health back. I am going to post my story separately so hope I don't bore you all....but I did want you to know that you were not alone here.
Terry
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