Complications?

My appt went OK. They are keeping me on the nutrition for a few more weeks :(.
Dr G said I can start advancing my diet and hopefully as long as I can tolerate the food for a few days I can move on to the soft solids and then to the unrestricted diet. So here is hoping!!

They won't take the picc line out or stop the TPN until my protein intake is up to 60-70 grams daily.... I am gonna try the protein drinks again and hopefully I can stomach them. It would be great if there was a protein pill! LOL

I was rehospitalized a month out for dehydration, and was put on a PICC line also. They had me on TPN for an entire month because of a stricture I had formed. Everything is all better now. Just wanted to say I feel your pain..the PICC is no fun at all. I hope you can get it out soon and get back to normal!

First of all I want to say welcome to the board.  I too have had complications. So I definately know where your are coming from.   I was to have my surgery lap... well there was an equipment malfunction with the stapleline cutter and he had to open me up. 

A week after I was home the 8 in*****ision ruptured and at least 4 inches in. So I was packing that 3 times a day.  I also had a complete aversion to food, but I forced it and my vites but they did not stay.  At 10 weeks I went to see my doc and he admitted me for mal-nutrition, saying that I was almost not around anymore, as my labs had bottomed out. This, for the first time scared me. 

I had a PICC line running 24 hours a day.  He did another EGD and found most of my sleeve had only 1 centimeter opening, so he stretched it to 1.8.  It was amazing that I could finally eat something and keep it down.  Of course I was getting Zofran in my IV to help.  I was very dehydrated also.

I still struggle to get food in, I still don't want it but I know it is my job now... I don't have a problem with the Vites so that is good.

The mal-nutrition has caused neuropathy so I cannot feel my hands and feet but they hurt severely (I know that sounds strange but thats what it is, lol).  I had a nerve conductivity test yesterday.  He thinks that it will all get better because it came on so sudden, but will more than likely take a year or more.

I shared all of this to let you know that you are not alone.  None of this is common but it can happen.  I have never douted my dicision to do this surgery and would do it again tomorrow if I had to.  My prayers are with you for a quick, safe and uneventful recovery.

Lynne

Oh I'm so sorry you're going through all of that.

I can sympathize with you on the pancreatitis.  That is painful.  I had that when my gallbladder was creating stones and spitting them out into the bile duct in my pancreas.  However my pancreatitis wasn't brought on from my surgery.  Mine happened many years ago i*****  Gallbladder was removed back then as well.  The way to heal pancreatitis is to rest the pancreas... no food or fluids.  I was in ICU for a month back then.  I'm no doctor or specialist, but that is probably why you have a pic line in and getting your nutrition that way.

I wish you a speedy recovery dear. 

 

Donna