Complications?

You may have a couple of issues going on.  Rapid weight loss can cause gall bladder issues and if you lost a lot pre-op and also since your DS this could have triggered the gall bladder.  Also, once the gall bladder goes there is some correlation between post-gall bladder removal and pancreatitus. 

However, I am not sure about the erosions in the esophogus and stomach.  Good luck and I wish you the best.  I will be praying for a fast recovery for you.

Howdy,

I am so sorry you are going through all this but hopefully you are on the mend. I was hospitalized twice, got to know the personnel at the ER and was in ICU for many days, I am told. I do not remember. I did not have a second surgery but I was tested and poked by many specialists. I had no food by mouth for about eight weeks. No food. No bowel movements. My body was not functioning.  It turned out that I had a couple of minor issues all at once that lead to major dehydration that caused even more problems.  After all the sticking of needles for blood, I welcomed the PICC line. I was on TPN for 24 hours a day. Even slept with the dang thing. But it helped me get better. I was off it pretty fast once I could eat and drink enough on my own.

I had a total breakdown thinking I had made the worst decision and was going to die. I was so scared. One day I think I had an emotional dump. I cried, screamed and asked why me. Then I actually felt better emotionally. I decided I would figure out what I needed to do to start feeling better in my soul even if I was not feeling better health wise. I started believing that I would get healthier.  I had to get out into the sun and fresh air. I had to laugh at things and listen to my family laugh (instead of crying for me).  Mind over matter and soon I was feeling better. I had to get off the TPN before I really started to believe things were going to get better. My blood work started coming back to normal and I was on the road to feeling better.

Today I am three months out and feeling very good. I have days that are better than others but I think that happens to everyone. I have examined my blood work and tweaked my vitamins accordingly. I hope that I never have any more complications but I know that I will make it through if I do. Many on here have. 

The good news is that my surgeon was so pleased with my progress when I saw him yesterday. He had faith that I would get better when I didn't.

As each week goes by and I am not having any medical issues, I start trusting that I am going to be okay.  Dare I say it...I am starting to think I made the right decision. 

I went back to work fulltime as planned and have not even needed a nap.

I hope this is just a bump in the road for you as it was for me. Hang in there. It is always darkest before the dawn. 

Haven't seen you on here for a while Ms.Desertdoll, glad to see you back!  Sorry for all the problems that you all are having.  Since I'm preop, all I can offer is my prayers!

Hi there and welcome to the boards. It's a great place for support, fellowship and information.

I have encountered a few complications with my DS. The first one was malnutrition and it was the result of severe diarrhea and not being able to get in enough nutrition in the form of protein. I was on TPN, then had a revision to lengthen my common channel in order to absorb a bit more. I had a feeding tube to help me past that surgery and to overcome the malnutrition. I eventually built my body up on my own and was able to support my needs without any parental nutrition. It took a total of about 3 months. So it does get better. It's a battle, but its worth it.

I just had another complication and that was a small bowel obstruction and my surgeon was able to fix that via lap and I was in and out of the hospital in 12 hours. I am doing excellent.

I hope that you find a home here and feel free to ask questions, complain, cry, scream and laugh with us. We are here for ya.

Charity, I've also been struggling with diarrhea since my surgery.  How long after your original surgery did you decide to do the revision?  Did it slow your weight loss down at all?  How long is your CC?

Thanks...hope you are feeling well!

Ellen

Hey Ellen,

Well, I didn't really make the decision in that way. I made it while I was hospitalized after I got sepsis in my PICC line and at the time, it really felt like I didn't have a choice. I am glad I did it, but if I had it to do over, I'd definately have wished I had time to think it over and research the heck out of it.
I was revised at on 8/04/10 from my original common channel of 100 to 150, and it seems perfect for me. Yes, the weight loss slowed down, but just in time. I had reached goal in the form of malnutrition and was trying to keep from losing anymore.
I am feeling good, thanks! I hope you get an answer soon to your diarrhea. I did try everything I can say at least. I am actually CONSTIPATED today. That is a change for sure.

Thanks for responding.  Obviously a revision to a longer CC would be last resort, and I'm way too soon to be thinking about it.  My surgeon did bring it up just to let me know that rarely, some people just can't adapt to the 100 cc.  That's what I have also.  I also didn't have the issues you had.

Glad you are on the mend!

hi there and welcome to the board.  i too am a wl patient of  drs g & b.  you are in good hands with them.  you will also get a lot of support here.  have you attended support meetings at abington?  the ds group is strong and very helpful. 
reach out to others, just as you've done, find out what is going on with your body and do what you can to help it heal. 
in the meantime, sending good vibes that your setbacks will soon be a part of your past.

Thanks everyone for all of the comments. Ellen thanks for turning me onto the site! It was so great talking to you last night!
Feeder thank you for apologizing - though it may be rare for someone to have the type of complications I have had so soon after surgery, but believe me - it all happened.
Pre Surgery - I was healthy - my EGD showed normal - no signs of acid reflux and my gallbladder scan showed a healthy gallbladder... Approx 3 weeks (almost 4) after surgery I was getting ready to start the soft solids portion of the post surgery diet and landed in  the hospital with sever epi gastric pains. They found that from a CT scan I had a small bowel obstruction that thankfully with bowel rest for several days worked its way out. They also did an EGD and Hydroscan and found the erosions from aas well as finding my gallbladder was only functioning at 10%. The doc felt it best to heal the erosions prior to removing my gallbladder. I was sent home. A week later I was back in the hospital (again for several days) having my gallbladder removed - evidently it was twice the size and partially dead. So in a weeks time it went from 10% to nothing at all. I was again sent home and then a week later I landed back in the hospital with the pancreatitus... That is when they felt it necessary to have me on TPN 12 hrs a day.


I am starting to feel better. I go to see my doc today and hopefully I can advance my diet from clear liquids.
So far I have not regretted having the surgery - and hopefully I can start progressing.
I have been to the support group at abington - but have not made it to the after meeting.

Thanks again everyone for your support and well wish's. I really do appreciate it!

Charlene, how did your appointment go today?