my list of complications

5/22/03 - RNY Gastric bypass with Dr. McCarty 5/28/03 - MRI - has superficial blood clot at belly button incision site 9/26/03 - Emergency room visit, admitted due to hernia 9/27/03 - Hernia surgery, was still sick and had ultrasound, gallbladder infected & stones 9/28/03 - Gallbladder removed, was still sick 9/29/03 - EGD, had stricture, dilated with 13 mm balloon, had decreased respirations in recovery room due to so much anesthesia over the last 3 days. Went home a few days later feeling better 10/03 - had 2 or 3 more EGD'S each with a stricture & ulcers, dilated with 13-15 mm balloon 10/03 - Upper GI, discovered fistula from pouch to remnant stomach & 50mm ulcer 10/03 - took med's and had day surgery to fix fistula & treat ulcers 10/03 - Continued ulcers & strictures, cannot eat anything by mouth for about 2 weeks now, Dr. McCarty decided I need a complete revision 10/03 - EGD to dilate stricture and complete revision of bypass. Remnant stomach had to be removed and more of small intestine 11/03 - DVT & pulmonary embolism, thankfully in the hospital, while recovering from revision, started blood thinners and spent 2 weeks in hospital 12/03 - EGD to diagnosis stricture, still not food by mouth 1/04 - GOT MARRIED and EGD, yet another stricture, still no food by mouth 2/04 - Hospitalization for malnutrition, PICC line placed & TPN started, eating some 2/04 - Weekly nurse comes to house for blood work, PICC line check & overall health check, still eating & TPN, yet another stricture 2/04 - lost my job due to missing too many days 2/04 - applied for social security disability 4/04 - still eating & TPN, thyroid is damaged due to malnutrition 5/04 - Staph infection in PICC line and blood stream. Went into start of septic shock, hospitalized and PICC line removed. 5/04 - due to staph infection, 2nd DVT, this time in my right arm is discovered 5/04 - Dr. M. operated and inserted a J-tube (feeding tube) 5/04 - feeding tube problems, can't find correct formula or rate, nothing by mouth again for a few weeks while we figure this out, NG tube inserted 6/04 - correct formula & rate are agreeing with my body, NG tube removed 6/04 - after 8 weeks, I GET TO GO HOME from the hospital!!! 7/04 - hospitalization due to problem with j-tube 8/04 - 11/04 - continued j-tube feedings, 12 hours at night, ecoli & pseudomonas infections via the j-tube, eating some by mouth, taking about 27 med's per day 11/04 - Flu hits me hard and I'm back in the hospital for malnutrition, I'm down to 110 lbs 12/04 - home from hospital, still taking med's and j-tube feedings 2/05 - hospital again, j-tube is blocked, had to have replaced 3/05 - hospital again, j-tube has imbedded itself on side of abdominal cavity, pulled out & replaced (the most painful thing I have ever been through!) 5/05 - hospital again, j-tube balloon is over inflated and is causing block in intestines, j-tube replaced after trying to reduce balloon size fails, ecoli & pseudomonas infection again. I start a monthly 5 day antibiotic treatment to help fight this off as it keeps getting stronger each time I get it 6/05 - hospital again, j-tube balloon from last replacement is under inflated and FALLS OUT!!! I put it back in myself while waiting for intervention radiology to replace and it falls out AGAIN! After 2 days, they get a new one in and adjust the inflation rate to find the perfect one so it doesn't cause another block or fall out, ecoli & pseudomonas infection again 7/05 - hospital again, bad ecoli and pseudomonas infection, IV antibiotics 8/05 - ecoli & pseudomonas infection, starting to use j-tube only 3-4 times a week or to jump-start my appetite, I'm down to 8 med's a day 9/05 - surgery again, ventricle hernia repair 9/05 - lost COBRA health insurance - all self pay now 10/05 - was approved for social security disability, will have Medicaid in 8/06 10/05 - j-tube use is down to 2 times a week or after illness, have to stop antibiotic regiment due to compromised immune system. 11/05 - ecoli & pseudomonas becomes too much of a problem so we take out the j-tube!! YEAH!!! I'm down to 5 meds a day and weigh 127 lbs CURRENT: I have had, since original surgery, and still have nausea on a daily basis. I have pouch and intestinal pain on a daily basis as well. EVERYTIME I eat, I break out into a sweat, hot flashes, uncomfortable feeling. It's kind of like dumping without the diarrhea. I have had some pretty severe depression during all of this, but I am getting better with this. I am down to 5 med's a day, Lortab for the pain, Reglan to help my stomach empty out faster, Synthroid for my damaged thyroid, Phenegran to help with nausea and Ambien to help sleep. I also take a multivitamin daily, B-12 shots every month and a stool softener/vegetable laxative due to chronic constipation. The yanking out of the j-tube (I actually screamed in pain for the first time in my life) and the pulmonary embolism are by far the worst pain I have ever had in my life. This list is to the best of my ability and memory a pretty complete account of the last 2 or so years of my life. I'm pretty sure I've left stuff out or may be off on a few dates, but it's pretty accurate. I compared the medical records and insurance statements I have to make this list. My insurance company has paid over ½ a million dollars so far and we are in for a little over $20,000 ourselves and counting. Melissa in Texas 315/123

Hi Melissa, Ugh, I am so sorry. I have had major/minor complications but nothing like you. Again, I am so sorry. I know that really does not help(trust me I know) but from someone who has been through hell and back, I know the physical/emotional pain that happens from complications...Email me anytime and let me know how you are. XOXO. Tavia

OMG I do feel for you. This is why I chose the lap band. You should post this on the main board. People need to be aware that this kind of surgery does have complications and it always doesn't happen to everyone else. My fervent prayers and good wishes to you.

am I sure I want lapband over RNY?? After reading this--heck yes!!

I am sure you meant nothing by it but this "comment" seems like a insensitive thing to post to the original poster. Then again, I am sure you have no idea what it feels like to struggle. Take care!

I hope things are going better for you. I too have had some major complications. One concern with all the abdominal infections is your adrenal glands. Mine were destroyed. The thyroid is part of the adrenal gland system. I have had to take steroids to help function. Side affects were low blood pressure, fatigue, headaches, and blacking out. They found it out by testing my cortisol level. Another suggestion if you don't already have it is to ask about a permanent IV. The PICC is a so much more of a pain to maintain than what I have. It is called a groshong catheter. It is in my right chest and sits directly underneath my skin. It can stay in up to 5 years. They can draw blood and give meds. I think it is way better than a picc. The only thing is I can't remember if you can do TPN through it, but I would think you can. I had my picc in when I went through that. I can totally relate to the insurance and having to go self pay. I know you said you were qualified for disability, but you listed coverage won't start until 8/06. Why so far out? Have you asked them if they will back date to the date of your application? I've heard of people doing that, but they've never had to go back that far! Things will get better. I am 3 year post op and just now starting to be able to enjoy the weight loss and actually live outside of a hospital.

Stephanie, Thanks for your reply. I am doing better now. My thyroid is damaged and I take thyroid med's now. I went to the doc yesterday because I was sick again and I had my feeding tube removed, so no back up. I did lose weight but I had already brought it up some on my own. We did blood work-ups which I'll get on Friday or Monday. I need to pace myself better he said. While I'm markedly better then a year ago or even 6 months ago, I'm still not over the hump yet. I have a limited amount of energy stored, so I can't spend it all in one day and then expect to be ok the rest of the week. Plus, being sick really got me down and since I do have a compromised immune system, it's going to take alot longer for me to feel better. So I have to add a banana and breakfast and a late night snack to my daily food intake. Once I gain weight and feel better, I can drop some of that. I do have the start of peripheral neuropathy though, which bummed me out. I may have to go to 2 b-12 shots a month instead of one and of course I added the banana too. I'm anxious to see how my blood tests turn out. I have pernicious anemia and that is playing a part as well. I no longer have any tubes in my anywhere, I'M FREE!!! I didn't care much for the PICC line, plus it got infected and darn near killed me. The J-tube wasn't much fun either though. I prefer being tube free. I am 29 months out and I'm still not enjoying the weight loss as I still need to add a few lbs, but I have been out of the hospital for the longest stretch yet (15 weeks), so I'm pumped about that! I hope you are doing better and we wish you a happy holidays! Melissa

Please tell me you are okay!!!!!! I just have no words. I have had some complications. Currently getting checked out for a possible twist in my intestines that is causing pain. You know I went into sever mal-nutirtion right after surgery and again a few months later. And I wondered if I by trying to make life better- had I made it worse. It can become difficult to compare to two side of our pain. Trapped in a fat body that causing illness, shame, and so many other things or now trapped in an body that is thin, sick, and a constant challenge just to live. How ca one choose between those. I can say however- even though I have been at death's door sincce surgery, even though I have not shed all the lbs I want to/need to yet- I have shed the shame and sorrow of obesity. But still- the goal was to enjoy life more. You by sharing your story have stregthened me. People ask me when they learn of my struggles post-op, would I do it again. I always hesitate to answer. But I am happier right now with a cuatious eye that if I gain the weight back. It will have been for nothing.

Melissa, I don't know what to say. My prayers, thoughts, and love and being sent to you. You so deserve a break from the pain. Love to you sweet lady, Melannie

Wow, I thought that I had it rough but you have given me new respect for the procedure that we went through. I still have to deal with a hernia, and believe me I am scared to death, I also sustained kidney failure during my surgery, and I still have alot of weight to lose. I must admit, I was not scared to go through the initial surgery because I had read so much about other people's success and I thought it would be a piece of cake. But, after enduring all the things I did and facing death numerous times, Melissa, I am scared to go back to surgery. I know I still have several surgeries that I have to go through and I pray to God that everything turns out alright. Just stick in there, things will work themselves out, Good luck and take care. Fred