Exploratory surgery?

I have been having on going complications; I had a upper GI and small bowl follow through yesterday; my doctor told me if it nothing showed up the next step would be exploratory surgery, has anyone had this done? How is it done? I'm very confused.  Thanks! Katrina

Not exactly sure what your complications are.  Are you having pain? inability to eat?  Too much weight loss?  Not enough weight loss?  It just depends on what your issues are whether this is a reasonable approach or not.  I would like to think our surgeons are not in it for the money and just doing surgeries to make money...but you definitely need to do your research and make sure that an exploratory surgery is right for you.  There are risks with any surgery; i.e. infection, excess bleeding, and even death.  It is definitely worth the extra research and possibly even a second opinion before you go ahead with this!

Good luck, and I hope you feel better and that it all goes well for you!

Laura 

Katrina,
Ditto everything Laura said.  There are so many schools of thought, just for example, there are many surgeons who believe that adhesions cause pain/problems, and then a whole other group who think that is a farce.  Take it from me, do not hesitate on the second opinion, any good surgeon worth his salt would welcome and encourage you to get one, and if they don't...too bad for them :)  It is your body, some people get 2-3 estimates before they get their cars fixed, this is your body, your vehicle, sorry, I'm feeling philosophical today :)
Good luck!

I have had problems since March of this year. I had a small bowl obstruction which my doctors think was  from adhesion's. I have been to the emergency room 3 times since then with unexplained severe pain in my upper stomach region,  I have had CT scans and its kind of hit and miss with diagnosis. One doctor wants to put me in hospital, one thinks it will resolve its self. Because of my past complications (from VBG in 2005) I have learned to take this pain very serious, I know its not right. I'm still waiting for results from my GI series last Thursday, I pray something shows up so I don't have to go the surgery route. I spent 2 years from the first surgery with no diagnosis only to find out what a serious problem I had. I have no appetite but I make myself eat to get my protein and I take my vitamins. The pain I get is a 10 on a scale of 1-10, doesn't happen all the time, usually happens after I fall asleep and lasts anywhere from 2 hours to 8. I should have gone to emergency room the last time, but Its like the same routine,,,,CT scan.  Has anyone else had to go this route? Believe me its not what I want but I have to find out whats going on. Thanks for the responds, Katrina 

Katrina,
When you have some bathroom reading time, you can check out my blog posts because that pretty much says it all at this point.  This has been going on for me for about one and a half years.  I will add you as a friend so I can keep an eye on how you are doing.
Hang in there

Wow, you have been through a lot! I understand all the frustration. Because of my first round of surgery in 2005 and not having a clear diagnosis I know I have to keep searching until I know whats going on. Before my revision I had test after test and nothing showed up....until I woke up in a pool of blood,  then they found the problem. I wish the best for you and I will keep you posted. Thanks for the reply! Katrina 

 Katrina,

I am having constant complications. I ended up in the hospital for two months after my RNY, and the doctors, after at least five MRIs, CTs, etc, just figured I had IBS and gave me Librax. However, one year after starting on Librax, the problems are back; and much worse. Pain in my left side, feeling as if I've got a constant bowling ball (covered in spikes, nonetheless) in the pit of my stomach..it's terrible. The worst part is that I am "regular," which means the doctors don't thing I've got any kind of obstruction. Swallow tests don't show anything, and neither do the MRIs and CTs. 

At this point, I'm ready to demand exploratory surgery. I KNOW there's something wrong with me, and sometimes I think just a good, actual LOOK might benefit me more than all of this new-age computer crap.

My good karma is going to you to resolve this issue!

--Sara

Katrina,

From our dialouges and all of the information you have provided to me after I asked you 183 questions, it's my personal unqualified opinion that this is the reasonable next step for you.

If your doctor is trained is laparscopic surgery, he/she will go in laparscopically and look around for any problems and if a problem is found correct it.  There will always be the possibility that what starts off as laparscopic could turn into an open surgery.

The recovery time for me was similiar to the original RNY but a bit worse.

I've had several exploratory surgeries and I had severe problems (significant bowel obstructions caused by adhesions and one internal hernia) that did not show any ANY X-Ray, CT Scan, Barium Swallow, Endoscope, Colonoscopy, etc.   I have been in ICU twice fighting for my life.

Pain is a signal that there is something wrong with the body. 

Surgery is surgery and all the risks go along as with any abdominal surgery.

In one of my exploratory surgeries, I went to LA to see my surgeon at a noon appointment and he said, "See you in the OR at 5pm."  He told me thank God I flew over to see him because if he had not opened me, I was 24 hours from a severe perforation that I would have likely died from back home in Houston were no one would touch me with a 1000 foot pole.  I'd have probably died in the ER after perforation b/c no one would open me.  I really believe that.

At any rate, I have plenty of stories, experience, and research under my belt and if your doctor is recommending exploratory surgery at this point, I believe, from the information you have provided to me (though I am not qualified to say so), it is reasonable and the next step for you.  There really isn't anything else to do at this point -- unless you want to hold off and see how you do -- for me, I'd fear waiting and then end up in an ER situation where perforation, infections, septis, etc. become more likely and would include a more complicated, detailed surgery with a much longer recovery period.

All of this is just my unqualified opinion.

Do your own research and talk with all of your doctors to develop a treatment plan that you all agree on to be the best next step for YOU.

I hope you feel better soon!

Katrina,

How are you doing now?  Did you have the exploratory surgery?  What did they find?