My friend had VSG May 9 and is in hospital SICK.....SICK....SICK

I had my VSG last November and other than a few quirks that everyone here helped me with and Dr Alvarez continually reassured me was normal....everything went wonderfully.  Well my friend went to Dr. Alvarez and had her VSG May 9 and about 3 weeks ago she had a weekend where she thought she had the flu....fever, body aches, nausea, vomiting and it lasted about 3 days.  I was worried about a leak but then she got better and came back to work for a couple of days but then got sick again....no fever at all just constant nausea and vomiting.  A week ago she was admitted to our hospital (I am an OR nurse and she is a scrub tech there...) for dehydration, nausea and vomiting...the gastroenterologist that has seen her has been horrible to her.  He has made multiple comments regarding her decision to go to Mexico and saving enough money to buy a car...etc. etc. and maybe she should just "see her man in Mexico if they couldn't figure it out"....I mean horrible.  Well, he was planning an endoscopy and Dr. Alvarez recommended a water soluble swallow test instead since it is only 6 weeks post-op.  Dr. A said this would yield a wealth of info without the risk to the staple line that a scope could do....needless to say, the US doc was none to happy to do this however, he did.  The GI doc fully expected to find a leak or stricture from the "shoddy work of Mexican surgi-tourism"....well....nothing!  There is no stricture nor a leak.  The VSG is perfect and intact...so the GI doc says to my friend " you just need to get up and walk, eat and I may do a test for your gallbladder but I don't think that is what it is...you may just have to live with what you paid for".  The gallbladder test (hidascan) revealed her gallbladder was nonfunctioning and she was immediately scheduled for surgery last Friday afternoon and both the GI doc and surgeon assumed...as did I and my friend ....that this would resolve the nausea and vomiting.  She was supposed to be discharged this morning but when I called to check on her...I could hear her vomiting in the background and her Mom says she has been awful since yesterday....even worse and the GI doc is even wanting to put in a G-Tube (feeding tube) but can't figure out how since her tummy is so tiny.  Does anyone out there have any suggestions....ideas...have they had this happen to them.  I am so worried and feel so responsible since she went to my doctor based on my success and now this......

First, you are not responsible for your friend's decision to get a life altering surgery, She is. Second, that doc (GI one) is a total jerk IMO. His JOB is to find out what is going on with her as a patient and find a solution or find someone who can get her a solution to what's ailing her.
 
The best you can do for her is to support her (as you've been doing) and her mom and maybe advocating for her if she allows you to. Doctor's can become more sensitive to a patient if they see that the patient has an "advocate", family or friend who cares and can speak on behalf of the patient. My hubby was my "advocate" and he knew when I needed things and it not only helps the patient but the staff as well. This is my 2 cents on the situation. I will pray for your friend, and hope that she gets well soon. Hugs to all of you.

EstherStar

This could be just post-op nausea from pain meds and anesthesia that will work itself out in a day or two. Was the surgery just this past Friday? If so, that would be my first thought.

The surgery was May 9th.

I guess I misunderstood - I thought she just had her gall bladder surgery. I guess I'm out of ideas then.

Is that the only GI doc in your area?  Why is she seeing that clown?  He shoud be reported to the medical society, and to the state licensing board.

Now, as to some of the other things in your note:

1.  There is absolutely no danger in using an endoscope following a VSG.  They don't just ram it down, they advance it very slowly, so they can see everything in the esophagus and stomach.  Many surgeons use the endoscope to form the new stomach around (mine did).  I have had three of them sinc emy surgery (for my barrett's Esophagus and other non-related problems.  The first was only one moth post-op.)

2.  A feeding tube is entirely possible after a VSG.  Why wouldn't it be?

3.  You are neither responsible for your friends choices, nor are you responsible for her medical problems.  Her illness sounds like it has nothing to do with her VSG, it is coincidental that it happened at the same time.

Yeah I've with OM...why can't you guys get another GI to see her??

You are NOT responsible...and looks like there is NOTHING physcially wrong with her sleeve.  Whatever is going on would have happened no matter who had her sleeve.

I agree of you being an advocate or someone strong and KNOWS this is NOT a problem with her surgery.  It MAY have been a result of the surgery but again if she had the surgery somewhere else sounds like she could be experiencing the same problems.  Keep in contact with Dr. Alvarez as well.

My question is what are they giving her for the nausea.  What is she trying to drink?  I don't suggest she put anything solid.  Also I have heard of those with leaks getting TPN?

You are in my thoughts and prayers and please keep us posted.

Ms Shell

Have they looked at the pancreas and/or clogged bile duct?  Might need an ERCP

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. Since I work at the hospital too I really don't know how far too "push" ...I am not family after all. I have been emailing Dr. Alvarez regularly and he responds every day. He is the one who suggested a swallow instead of a scope and then if the swallow showed problems proceed with a scope if necessary...but it didn't. I hope you are all right about it being post-op nausea...but 48 hours is extremely delayed IMO. This GI doc is known for being a jerk...our 52 y/o friend passed away 3 years ago from pancreatic cancer and he told him he had CA because he enjoyed beer too much...just not a nice guy at all. Anyway, Dr. Alavarez recommends Nexium, Zofran and Reglan 3X daily until this resolves but the docs here don't want to listen to our "Mexican" surgeon...what does she do now?

Is this the ONLY hospital she can go to. Yall can't get a 2nd opinion.  Often times we are FAT because we are afraid to PU****  You MUST learn to be your own advocate.  TELL her to TELL them to try some nausea meds.

Unfortunately I have seen a few with SEVERE nausea post op.

Ok if SHE gives you the RIGHT to pu**** you can pu****  Are you afraid you'll loose your job?

Ms Shell