Leak

I had arevision from RNY to DS on oct 26. I was fine but on nov 1 I started running a fever and went to emergency. They did a ct scan with dye and found a pinhole leak and an abscess! Now I'm having a shunt put in my stomach to see if the leak heals itself and put on antibiotics for the abscess. Has anyone gone through this?

You might want to post on the VSG board. There are several folks who have gone through leaks -- most post-revision from lapband.

I had an RNY to DS revision and did have a leak. Had a lot of other issues too, but that's another long post for another time. My leak and subsesquent fistulas (I had internal and external fistulas) and abcess's lasted for 18 months. I spent 11 months on TPN or Enteral feeding and was NPO for the majority of that time.  I was an anomoly so please do not take that this will happen to you. In order for full healing to finally happen I ended up having a near complete gastrectomy. The internal and external fistulas had to be cut out and injury to internal organs (liver, large colon) repaired. My complications were not normal and again I will say please understand that this does not occur with everyone.

Now, having said that most leaks do heal on their own. Generally one is made to go NPO (nothing by mouth) and put on antibiotics. This generally works to heal the leak.  

As a revision you should have been told and learned that leaks after rny to ds revision is pretty high.

Hang in there. I'm sure you will heal quickly. Just listen to your doctors orders and be compliant.

 

Maddie

I would be very cautious with the absess.  I know someone who had to have their's surgically removed because the tissue around it was infected and wouldn't heal. 

Be so careful and be your own advocate!  Make the Dr stay on top of it!

Good Luck!

Internal absesses are tricky, and I agree with ButterflyHope. I did have a few internal abcsssess that were found during my gastrectomy. They were cut out. I was on a LOT of antibiotics for a long time which may have kept them at bay or I would get an abcess and then my liver enzymes would get all wonky. I always ran a temp around 99 - 100 at the time so the doctors didn't really consider that I had an absess. I actually ended up having several that were found when I underwent the gastrectomy and were subsequently removed and the area or organ repaired.

 

Thank you everyone, today they are putting a shunt into my stomach and I am praying the abscess will heal with time. I come back in two weeks for another ct scan with dye to see if the abscess has gotten smaller. This has been a nightmare and I'm sorry I did it.
Hugs and thanks, Esther

I had this problem:( i was not a revision but I did have a leak that led to an abscess. they are not fun. mine developed right by my new tummy and i couldn't keep anything down. they discovered it 3 weeks out and i was flown to salt lake city (i am from montana) to my surgeon. he put a draining tube in and put me on antibiotics.

my abscess was in a hard place to put a draining tube in so they kept me awake while they tapped a big metal pin into my high abdomen. on top of that i had to hold my breath because my ribs where covering the spot they needed to get into so i had to hold my breathe and keep my rib cage inflated. after they took a sample they put the tube in. they said i wouldn't remember because of the drugs but guess what ... i remember... but i didn't remember the picc line they put in after.... so the drugs kicked in about an hour later hahaha-i laugh now but back when that was happening it was a nightmare

after a week of having the draining tube in my doctor released me... well he released me to early and my abscess did not close and it did not heal. so i was then taken to salt lake city again and had to go through the whole picc line and draining tube experience again. this time i was actually awake for the picc line. i loved those radiologist, if i could find the one in a camo radiation dress again i would give him a big old kiss for being so great and giving me a small piece of home:)

so after my second admission i was given antibiotics for a good solid month via IV therapy and oral. i was in the hospital for a week and half. did iv therapy for another week then was sent home on oral meds.

the only advise i can give you is to make damn sure they don't push you out of there to soon. make damn sure you are getting a good dose of antibiotics and make sure that you keep that draining tub in until the very last minute. don't just let them throw you out, throw a fit if you have to! also the draining tubes are not fun being put in or being taken out.... yucky! so yes it is not fun but they will save ya:) good luck and keep us updated.

I am a revision from RNY to DS too. I developed a leak and had a stent put into my stomach to help it heal. This was actually done twice since the first time it did not heal up. I was on a feeding tube all this time with drains in. Was in the hospital for a month and then at home in bed. It finally healed (March 2012 was the surgery and the feeding tube came out in August). There was a time when I felt I would never get past it but I did. My leak was particular hard to deal with and not all take this long. There are those of us who have gone through and yes I did regret and maybe still do having the revision. But it was the decision I made and I did get through it.

Best of luck and please keep us informed of your progress. Thinking good thoughts! Terri

So is this common as well for a Lap band removal to DS? 

I am so sorry for your struggle and pray all of you do well.

 

complications are not common. revisions have a bit of a higher chance because it is  far more complicated procedure.