reversedgrace08 Elliot R. Goodman, MD Member Since: 01/08/10 [Latest Posts]

I apolgize for this double posting. I didn't realize there was a "complications" forum. First let me say that I know there are many out there, the majority in fact, that weight loss surgery has been wonderful for. Lives are changing all over the place for the better *because* of weight loss surgery and I could not be happier for this growing community. My story however is different. I am posting it on here because when I tried to find answers to the issues I was having, they were few and far between. I had a lap RNY 5 years ago by a top rated surgeon who continues to be the top surgeon in my area. I however had a very different experience from the moment they closed up my little incisions. I encountered an acute adrenal crisis and once that was treated many of the symptoms eased. I was in the hospital 5 days, the two extra days were to make sure I didn't go home to have another adrenal crisis. They send me home with the usual post op stuff and steroids for the adrenal thang. The pain I had encountered was immense. I had all 3 of my children via c-section , an ankle  surgery ,a 2 hour dental surgery,  tubal ligation and and  as a child had a tonsillectomy. None of my previous surgeries had me prepared for the pain I was feeling. I followed the steps of post op to the letter. small portions and even smaller bites didn't keep me from vomiting, often times at least once a day. I would start back on day one clear liquids and repeat the pattern each time I had too much vomiting. I had two strictures which by themselves are not that unusual. For me, despite the small portions and smaller bites and for months living on cottage cheese and yogurt I still would vomit. Vomiting wasn't a side effect for me it was a way of life. But the doctors couldn't find anything else wrong aside from the two strictures. I kept up with my vitamins, taking nasty tastin liquid ones when I couldn't swallow the pills and had aftercare from both my surgeon and my primary physician. 8 months after my surgery I finally felt well enough to take my dogs for a brief  geriatric paced 1 mile walk. I came home and felt fine. Then I fell asleep on my couch and began my ascent into debilitating fatigue. After my walk with the dogs and with the exception of bathroom breaks and grabbing some yogurt or cottage cheese to eat, I stayed on my couch for 1 week. My whole body felt weak and heavy. I contacted both of my doctors and some low level blood tests were taken and all the numbers and values were fine. Over the next 16 months I began to have other issues I was assured had NOTHING to do with the RNY surgery. I began having issues with things that were NEVER an issue before.  list of issues: short and long term memory problems processing and comprehending information *(I went from performing in the top 10% in my company to the bottom 10% because everything took me more time) more vomiting and nausea dizziness seizures my feet were constantly COLD (needed a heating pad at work just to function) carpal tunnel (manifested by making my hands hot  hot hot) weakness ( I worked out before the surgery, held down 1 full and one part time job, a preschooler, teenager,  two German shepherds, two cats and a wonderful husband to share it all with) Pain in my torso and my upper back (still no reason despite a myriad of tests, specialist and physical therapists fatigue I finally had to quit work because I couldn't stay awake for more than 90 min in a row and when I did stay home I could only choose a limited number of things to do before my body would rebel. I could either make my family dinner OR  take a shower after wards I would be spent inability to eat any fresh or frozen fruit or veggies,my stomach would not tolerate anything that took effort to digest. Neuropathy speaks for itself Vision problems loss of tooth enamel and eventually teeth from vomiting so so much and vitamin deficiency despite levels that were borderline ok and taking all those supplements depression I was taking Prozac before the surgery but this depression didn't let up, doubled my dose of Zac and tried other newer and older meds to see if they would help. they did not. all in all I saw 12 different doctors , 3 physical therapists, and had too many scans and blood tests than I can count. finally in 2007 I found an article that explained the possible neurological complications of weight loss surgery. the list was VAST. My story has a better ending than some. I was able to fly to NY and have my surgery reversed. My stomach resembles something like an hour glass and it took a while for my WHOLE stomach and bypassed intestine to work but it was well worth it.  This year I got to cook Thanksgiving dinner for my family for the 1st time in years. it felt so good to be able to care for them like I used to. My life will never be the same but it's  so soooooooo much better than it was before my reversal. I'll never find the right words to express how grateful and blessed I feel to have found a surgeon that would put me back on the road to physical wellness. I say again for many many these types of surgery yield a better life and better health but for those of us who have had a much different experience I say this, "you are not alone" Below I have placed in some links to scientific studies. I apologize that some of the articles are not full but I don't have a subscription to these websites. If you need someone to talk to please feel free to send me a pm or email me at [email protected] thank you so much Grace http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/abstract/68/21/1843 http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/8/1025? maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=gastric+bypass&sea rchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&resourcetype=HWCIT http://archneur.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/61/8/1185

HI EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN SWEET ENOUGH TO WRITE ABOUT MY REVERSAL. IN FEB 25 2010 I GOT DISGUSTED ENOUGH TO SAY I HAD ENOUGH AND IF I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A REVERSAL YOU WOULD NEED TO PROVE IT TO ME. SO I STOPPED MY FEEDINGS AND 10 DAYS LATER I INFORMED MY SURGEON I WANTED TO TRIAL THIS (LITTLE DID HE KNOW I HAD ALREADY STARTED THE PROCESS) HE GAVE ME HIS BLESSING AND TOLD ME WE WOULD TRIAL IT FOR 2 MOS AND THEN HE WOULD BUILD ME UP FOR 3 MOS AND THEN DO THE SURGERY IN SEPT. WELL, 2 WEEKS INTO THIS TRIAL I NOTICED THAT 5 BITES BECAME 7 THEN A WEEK LATER 7 BITES BECAME 10 AND I FELT BETTER. I DID NOT HAVE THE FEELING LIKE I WOULD EXPLODE AND THE PAIN I FELT WITH EATING HAD SUBSIDED MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. I DID INITALLY LOSE 7 LBS WHICH MADE ME NERVOUS BUT, MOST OF IT WAS FLUID FROM THE FEEDINGS I SUSPECTED. WELL, EVERYONE HAVE HOPE PLEASE CONTINUE TO HAVING HOPE BECAUSE IT IS NOW 9 WEEKS AND I AM NOW UP TO 1000 CALORIES A DAY, THE BLOODWORK WAS GOOD A MONTH AGO REPEAT IT ON THE 3RD. MY LIVER FUNCTION HAS RETURNED TO NORMAL AND MY KIDNEY ISSUES ARE YET BE RESOLVED. BUT, I BELIEVE THERE ARE SEVERAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. 1-i WAS BEING OVER FED AND NOT TOLERATING THE FEEDINGS I RETCHED EVERY MORNING LIKE I WAS PREGNANT 2. MY BODY FINALLY WAS BLE TO HEAL I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SURGERIES IN OVER A YEAR AND THE LAST DILATATION WAS INDEED HELPFUL BACK IN OCT. 3. I RESTARTED EATING LIKE A NEW BYPASS PT AND NOW CAN HOLD MY OWN. MY WEIGHT IS STABLE I FEEL GOOD AND I THANK GOD FOR A DOWN DAY TO MAKE ME THROW MY HANDS UP AND JUST TRUST HIM FOR THE RESULTS. MY PRAYERS CONTINUE FOR YOU WHO STRUGGLE I HAVE BEEN THERE AND BACK AND I KNOW YOUR FRUSTRATIONS I COMMEND YOU BRAVE PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO REVERSE I WAS TERRIFIED. I HAD SO MUCH PROBLEMS WITH HAVING THE BYPASS TO HAVE A REVERSAL SCARED ME TO DEATH FOR WHAT MAY OCCUR. NEVER GIVE UP THANKS FOR YOUR KIND WORDS. PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH AND LET ME KNOW HOW THINGS ARE GOING FOR YOU ALL.  PATRICIA

Sooooooooooo, since you have so many, wanna send me a few?

Probably a hernia but my daughter just went through something similar and it turned out to be a abcess. It was really yucky and deep but after being taken care of it does not hurt anymore.
Good luck!

I have had 3 small bowel obstructions since my surgery and I've been told that it can reoccur at anytime.....