My long story.....

I had my gastric bypass surgery on 04/05/2005. It was done laproscopically (sp). Which was surgery #1. My new pouch leaked so that had to do open surgery (#2) to fix my new pouch. My stitches would not hold so they had to reopen me (#3) and re-stitch everthing. My stitches would not hold again so my surgeon had to cut away (#4) all of the "dead" skin and put mesh in my stomach and let it heal from the inside out. I had a "wound vac" that is kind of like a sponge that sucks the infection and other stuff that doesn't need to be there out. Soooo.. I had a hole about the size of a grapefruit where my stomach skin should have been. During this time (which I don't remember) I was in a medically induced coma. I was on a ventilator for 2 weeks and then they put a trech (sp) in. During this time also I got a MAJOR infection and my temp ran between 104 and 107 for 6 days. I had to packed down with ice. A month later I am brought out of the coma. I wake up not being able to move my legs and I have these tubes coming out of my mouth and other parts...I am in the hospital for another month just doing physical therapy and breathing exorcises so that hopefully I can get the trech taken out. FINALLY the trech comes out and I am moved from SICU to a "stepdown" room. Here a plastic surgeon (Dr. Henry Wilson @ Centennial in Nashville) who is absolutely wonderful by the way.... does a skin graft (#5). He takes a good size piece of skin from my right thigh and stretches it to cover the hole in my stomach. During the 3rd month in the hospital I am finally well enough to go home. It is now July. I get married in September In November I have to have my gall bladder removed (#6). Not so bad.... And finally on April 20th I had my hernia repaired, the skin graft removed, and a tummy tuck. Throughout the past year I have been admitted into the hospital for dehydration, nausea, and pain about 8 times. I am now very close to my goal (I was only 100 lbs overweight to begin with). I tell people my story not to scare them away from having the surgery... because this surgery helps SOOOOO many people, including myself. I firmly believe that all of this happened for a reason. I made it through thanks to all of the prayers. I simply want everyone who thinks that nothing will happen and that this is the easy way out... ect... that it is definately not. It is very hard work. I would do it again in a heartbeat.... but I would definately make sure that I was better educated. If anybody ever has any questions OR if you need an angel and you are in the Nashville area... feel free to call me or email me!!!!

Wow Jennifer you are a very lucky lady! I am glad to hear you are doing well after such a long hospitalization. You are absolutely right this is not the easy way out and it takes a lot of work. And just as there are risk with wls there is risk with ps as well. We need to know what we are getting into including the ugly downside of what if. I wish you the best, Robin

WOW Jennifer!! How has God used you during this time?? You have an awesome testimony to God's healing power!! Amen!! I am going through my own long story now....13 months post op, and no complications until now...adhesions or internal hernia, and also bile duct enlargement with elevated liver enzymes, no gallbladder, so don't know what is going on, but I have surgery scheduled on Novemeber 15th! God works through mysterious ways, but I don't know why I am walking through this! Love you!! PRaying for your complete healing! Deb

Jennifer, I could have written your story. Very similar to mine. Read my profile. I'm glad you are doing well. By the way I would do it again too. LCB