Surgery complications/difficulties/out of the ordinary experiences - What was yours?

Straws allowed me to significantly increase the amount I could drink and didn't add any air. I use straws to this day, 3 years post op. Also, I've walked into my surgeon's office drinking an iced tea from Starbucks through a straw and he didn't blink an eye.

I also had non-stop nausea and vomiting. Mine lasted for about 2 days and was not treatable with any meds. It was pretty terrible while it happened but seems like just a blip on the road to goal now!

I have almost daily acid reflux and I had virtually none before surgery. Although that's not wonderful, I would trade the potential health problems caused by acid with the potential health problems caused by obesity any day.

I feel like there isn't a strong link between obesity and cancer, whereas this isn't the case for acid which can lead to Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer. Regardless, though, there's a fix action which is revision to RNY, so you don't have to live with either. Thank goodness!

Hi,

I just revised from sleeve to RNY after 9 years due to chronic GERD. Aah no, there isn't a trade off for Barretts esophagus, hiatal hernias, aspirating in your sleep and having to spend every day sleeping up propped with pillows. Wait a while and see if you feel differently in a decade.

So sorry you had to deal with that! Did your acid issues start right after surgery and get worse with time or did it start years after surgery?

HI,

They were already there but got worse over time. Hopefully the RNY will get rid of this.

I've had one complication to speak of. Three months post-op my restriction went crazy and I couldn't keep food down. My surgeon had me take an anti-spasmodic for a week and revert my diet back to liquids. The problem was resolved after that week and I've never had an issue since.

In the hospital I walked and sipped and sipped and walked and had no problems. :)

I couldn't pee no matter how I tried for a long time after surgery (apparent common reaction to the anesthesia). The nurse threatened to put a catheter in to drain my bladder and the fear of that helped. It was a week before I felt the need to go again and didn't just have to remember to try to go. Also, I dry heaved a few times the first night when I stood to walk.

Otherwise smooth sailing.

I have had severe urinary issues. Before surgey I had no urinary issues at all. In the hospital urinary issues began and they had to use a catheter a couple times. Then nice sent home a few months after surgery I was in the ER like clockwork to get a catheter due to having issues. I was on Flowmax for over a year and had no issues for a long time so the urologist said to try life without medication. I quit the medication for over a year and had no issues. Then about May 5th this year I started having issues urinating again. I was then in the ER and had a catheter for a week as everything came to a halt again. I have been to the urologist and there is no blockage and PSA is fine. I have had many tests and been to several doctors and now they are saying I have a weak bladder and that the detrusor muscle is the problem. The interesting thing is that I was off the bariatric diet for over a year and then got back on the diet and began to work out seven days a week and was loosing a lot of weight again. Then a month later I am having urinary issues again. But looking back I don't think the recent urinary issues are due to excercising and going back to the bariatric diet. Just the other day I tried to stop taking the Flowmax to see what would happen and issues being able to pee the next day. Also it is strange that after surgey I can't stand to pee due to urinary issues. I need to sit as I usually have to strain to start a urine flow. Also, if nothing comes out the back then nothing out the front. This is the case about ninety percent of the time. Sometimes just a pellet comes out the back or slime but if something doesn't come out then no pee. I hope this helps. This is a very abbreviated version of my issues as it is a very long story with lots of side stories. The doc that did my surgery has said that the urinary issues are not related to my VSG. I call BS on this as I was a happy healthy male able to stand and pee with no urinary issues before VSG.