Post op from a total reversal of my gastric bypass

Good afternoon everyone, I haven't posted in years on here.  I need to locate some old friends.  I am still suffering from complications from my gastric bypass I had on 1-4-01. You would probably know me best from my old website imnotfatanymore.com.  Name- Sandy Pierce. My email address now is [email protected].  Feel free to contact me anytime with your questions. I feel like I am here for a reason.  The reason?  To help others learn what COULD happen after WLS. I don't want to offend anyone, just help make them understand when things go wrong. Another Ohio girl that is suffering, is Angela Gormley.  Her surgery was 4 years ago in February by a Dr. K in Ohio.  She has been in such bad shape since than.  Being put on a ventilator at least 6 times during these 4 years, and to this day, she isn't allowed to eat or drink anything by mouth.  She has 3 tubes. I pray for all of you that have dates coming up.  Please, please ask all the questions, and don't just settle on a doctor because he was able to get you approved where perhaps others couldn't. God bless you all, Sandra "Sandy" Pierce

Sandy, I'm really sorry to hear about your complications, but I have to point out one thing.  Every surgery has risks.  For that matter, every decision has risks.  If we look to all the "worst case scenarios" before making any decision, we would never be able to do anything, because we would always be shadowed by the fear of "What If?"  If everytime I pulled into a gas station, I thought, "oh my god, my car could blow up,"  then I'd never get anywhere.  But most of us get gas without incident, and many of us have the surgery without incident.  I'm sorry you are part of the minority who did not.  Good luck with your revision. Jessica   

Jessica, Yes, every surgery does have risks.  I just wish those having any kind of problems whatsoever would speak out about them.  That is what irritates me the most especially with celebrities that have had it done. My surgery in 2005 was a total reversal, not a revision.  So this means no pouch at all for myself. If anyone would like to speak to me on the phone, send me an email, and I will gladly call you. Good luck in your journey's folks.  One last comment, for the first 3 years post op, I was like the "poster child" for the surgery.  Than the first of 14 bowel obstruction**** Sandy

That sounds really horrible.  Sorry you suffered so much.  Are you better after your reversal?  I'm afraid of bowel obstructions.  Isn't that really a function of losing abdominal weight and having the intestine move around?  How did reversing the pouch cure this? Please do post more details.  Not only do we want to hear about potential complications, we'd like to be able to support you. Best wishes.

Im sorry to hear you are having problems. If you dont mind me asking, What kind of problems are you having? God Bless. Gina

Gina, I started with my first bowel obstruction in 2004.  Eight days later I had obstruction #2.  Now we are up to obstruction number 15.  I will be going back to the OR soon. I stopped absorbing vitamins.  I was constantly going for Iron infusions, B1 and B12 infusions or injections, vomiting, nausea, uncontrolled depression, my teeth are all breaking into pieces (this is due to a 0 calcium level).  The thiamine (B1) deficiency can be fatal. I lived with 2 tubes in my stomach for 2 years.  One for bile, the other to give myself medicines.  I don't absorb anything, including medicines properly, and I have a severe problem with seizures requring medicine.   My nausea is so bad that I have to take phenergan IV through a portacath in my chest (which is an IV). I wake from a sound sleep with bile in my mouth. The doctors had me on so much tube feedings that I am the biggest I have been since I lost all my weight after WLS.  So, I now need to lose about 40 lbs or so. I would do anything to weigh what I did prior to WLS. I pray a lot.  I am very much a christian.  I often pray for God to take me.  I am ready to go home to him.  The pain is debilitating, and the nausea is so, so, bad. It saddens me seeing WLS commercials on television.  I wish people would do it like on the show The Biggest Losers.  That is the healthy way to lose weight. Sandy

i am sooo sorry to hear that. this all started a couple of years after wls? I will keep you in my prayers. I have thiamine deficiency and i am bulimic and i wasnt before the surg. wow im scared. what are the sympt. of bowel obstructions? good luck to you and keep me posted on how you are doing please. God Bless! Gina

Sandy, 1st let me say how sorry I am that you had such an awful outcome.  My heart goes out to you.  That being said, PRIOR (5 years) to WLS I had my lower intestine wrap around itself due to scar tissue (3 c-sections & hysterectomy) in addition, when I went in for spinal surgery last June, they couldn't do the epidural due to scar tissue.  I am glad that you posted this so that if I feel that HORRIBLE pain again, which put me on the floor (intestinal blockage), I will not hesitate to go to the ER.  Thanks for posting and take care of yourself. Susan

Sandy Sorry to hear you had complications and still suffer. How much do you weigh now? If you had to do it all over again would you? What was your pre op and post op with your wl doc like? went to your profile to read your story but didnt see a story there. Hope everything works out for you. God bless. Donna

Donna your doctor, Dr. Sonnanstine did one of my surgeries for bowel obstruction.  I was actually in St. Luke West 2 years ago for 99 days.  Leaving the hospital with 2 tubes in my stomach. If I could go back in time, I would have NEVER done this surgery. As my Mom says, "You just don't mess with God's pluming". Thank you for your blessings. Sandy