Almost Died - but still here!

I'm home again! First I had surgery, then not a week later I had a SERIOUS leak.I was In the ICU, almost died.All pain is NOT gas! Don't go got for "oh, it's just gas." Or MAYBE it is a leak and I am dying????? My my old stomach is leaking ACID through out my body cavity???? The leak scalded (all the stomach acids) my insides. Nothing by mouth at all- not even ice chi[s. Dr. said repairing me was like cutting through Swiss Cheese. It wa so terrible. Inches from death. Developed TERRIBLE case of Pneumonia. Fevers. I am home in massive amounts of Pain. Home now, Still sick in pain - so much pain - it's like someone elses body the pain is so instence. But, PRAISE GOD, I am still here! My family all flew in because they thought I was I gone. They flew in to say Goodbye. Thank God I am still here!

Amazing. I cannot begin to imagine what you went through. Ty for posting and letting us know how you are and get well! Kia

I pray that your pain ends and you heal quickly from this. (((HUGS))

Thank the good Lord you are still here....I am so sorry you are still in pain...you will be in my thoughts and prayers...please keep us posted and get well soon.... HUGS!

So sorry to hear about your problems...you will definitely be in my prayers and thoughts. Please get well soon...and let us hear how you are doing. Norma

I'm glad you're home and the leak is fixed. I shouldn't read this post though! I'm 7 days away from going in for my surgery. Prayers are out there for you!!!

Ive been there three ago I had a hole rupture in the old stomach at the bottom and almost twice there I was in ICU for 12 days and in there a month and half it wasnt fun and I still continue have problems I have 6 surgery in three years and in motion for a 7 and 8th how fun

Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear of this. Are you sure everything is okay now? I worry about the "massive amount of Pain" that you are still in. I know how you feel as I was where you are back in 2002 when Duncan did my surgery. I had a leak, which was found the second day. Surgery, to repair the leak, which my husband and I were told would take a very short amount of time, ended up being 4 hours. Went home 5 days later..............thought everything was okay, but it was not. Back to the ER where I was admitted. I had another surgery to rule out yet another leak. I did not have another leak, but a MASSIVE infection from the gastric leak the previous week. I was put into ICU where I spent 45 days fighting for my life. If it could go wrong, it did. I was kept alive via ventilator for 33 days. After 45 days I was "well" enough to be transferred to a rehab hospital. I spent 30 days in the rehab hospital learning to walk again and building up enough strength to go home. You and I are the "Lucky" one's, we survived, but there are other's who came after me, and before you who were not so lucky. Good luck to you and I hope you continue to get better and stronger everyday. Debbie J

OMG!!!!! I havent heard of this from "our people"...(we have the same surgeon).... How did you know...what signs led up to this? I mean it clearly wasnt gas pain...but what made you go to the ER? Im so glad that you are still with us....God Bless you and your family for what you have been through. So did Dr. Duncan get right to you to find out what was going on or did they say it was gas over the phone or something. WOW Im freakin out here! Just what did you feel...I want to make sure I never assume any feeling is just gas!

Pam, I'm not sure if you are talking to me, or Vixxen, but I will answer your questions. What sent me back to the hospital was pain, mind numbing pain with every breath I took. The pain was localized in my back, uppper left area. It was an infection pocket that had formed around my lung. The infection was caused from the initial leak. Your question, "so did Duncan get right to you to find out what was going on"...............NO. I spent 45 days in ICU without a visit from "my" surgeon. Nor did "my" surgeon speak to my very worried family, who spent 45 days and 45 nights in the ICU waiting area. I survived, but you must remember, this is a dangerous surgery. I don't want to scare you, that is NOT my intent, but I do want you to be aware. If you are scared you need to bring this up to the surgeon. You want to know, how you will be taken care of, who will be taking care of you, and anything out of the ordinary needs to be addressed ASAP. Never let them put you off, if you think something is wrong, go back to the ER right away. Why complications happen to one and not another, is hard to tell. I was as healthy as the next person of my size. I was not Super-obese, I did not smoke, I did not take steroids and I followed ALL doctors orders. My advice to you, as I said above, be aware, be ready to hold your surgeons feet to the fire to get the care that you deserve. I'm very happy with my life now. I have lost 150 pounds and maintained that loss for over 3 years. I wish my path had been a little straighter, but I am happy where I am now. I also consider myself lucky to be here. My best to you. Debbie J