complications

Hi, I had my surgery Lap RNY in June of 2006.  In December of 2007, I had a tummy tuck.  Then in January (about two weeks later) of 2008, I started having vomiting and severe pain in my upper pouch area and around under my left breast radiating through to my back.  This happened twice more in 2008 and I was hospitalized each time with a different diagnosis each time...none of which were correct.  My last hospitalization included exploratory surgery in my bowel/pouch area...but nothing.  I have had CT Scans, Endoscopes, X-Rays, Upper GI's, etc...but nothing.  The windows between bouts of pain are starting to shrink and the pain is happening more and more.  The pain goes to a high level and then I vomit.

I have taken myself to Boston to a Mass General surgeon and am now going through the motions with her...I have a colonoscopy and endoscopy scheduled for Feb. 26th...she thinks it may be a bacterial overgrowth in my gastric remnant which she has seen only once before.  Once all tests come back...she wants to go in for a laporscopic exploratory again.

I wanted to put this out there as I have seen lots of docs in NH, surgeon, PCP, Gastroent., ER docs, all of whom think this is just the way it is now...and i just have an sensitive GI tract now.  HAHA.  Level 10 pain that causes vomiting and keeps you from eating at all is not a sensitive tract.  This is an issue that will probably start coming up.  The surgeons are trained in this surgery but do not know all the problems that can arise as they haven't been doing it long and the Gastroenterologists in the area are NOT being trained in the new digestive tract of the patients.  And NO ONE will treat my pain because I currently have no diagnosis.  I have to travel almost two hours to get to the doc who is now treating me...it's just a horror show.

I do not regret the surgery...but I wish people would take us a little more seriously and do the follow up when it's needed.

Karen

 

Karen,
Feel free to check out my page, unfortunately we have suffered some of the same problems, I do feel your pain, although I know it probably doesn't help you to hear that, you are NOT alone.  I am still struggling, I am currently working with a GI doc at a university hospital that seems fairly confident that she can help me, but it comes with a lot of risks, and not a huge success rate.  Feel free to email me anytime, I will send you a private email with my contact info as well.
Take care

Hi Karen ... I understand what you are going through. I am 30 years post op ... yes a bit of a veteran. I had what is called horizontal gastric stapling in 1980 when I was only 18 years old. Back then there were no pre op tests, vitamin therapy, after care or long term information. Of coarse I suffered for many years with all the annoying post op problems, vomiting, getting food stuck in my throat ... and I only ever lost 28 pounds from the surgery and could not move any more weight even though I was eating very little. In the past 10 years my health has been gradually declining and in the last 12 - 18 months it has taken a very big decline. I only had access to information in the last 10 months that has aloowed me to realise that I am suffering with the long term complications of weight loss surgery. I am at present travelling on a frustrating journey of trying to get tested, diagnosed and treated ... it's a nightmare. So I know where you are coming from. I have found that most doctors here in Australia acknowledge the fact that there is long term side effect from this kind of surgery, but they don't want to accept that this is your problem. I have had quite a few doctors who have tried to tell me that my only problem is stress. Getting a referral to a gastro doc has been difficult but I now have an appointment with one in April ... hoping that this will make a difference. Have they tested you for gallstones honey? The pain you are describing sounds very much like gallstone pain. I had to have surgery approx 6 months after my WLS for gallstones and ruptured appendix. I also wasn't told that this was an after effect. If it is gallstones, then every time you eat some kind of dairy product, this will trigger the pain.

 

I know what you mean about not being taken seriously ... it's very frustrating ... but with the shape my health is now in and the damage that has been done to my body  ... I do regret having my surgery ... but I have no hope of having a revrsal ... too far post op. Hope things get better for you.

Hugs Vicki from Oz xxx