What surgery did he have and who is his surgeon?

My poor hubby has had trouble from day one.  5 days after surgery we were in the E.R. for dehydration.  He had the surgery on February 29th 2009 and since then we have been to the E.R. for dehydration 5 times, been dilated for "too good healing of the pouch opening" 3 times, has an ulcer, had gall bladder removed, and is now on a PICC line 14 hours a day for nutrition.  We are at a loss for what to do.  He get's sharp pains in his stomach right under his breast bone, pukes if he eats anything (still), can't eat ANY meat at all, lately has passed out twice (and blacked out), has very dizzy spells, looks pale, has serious burping episodes, and is weak. 

We have been to the doctor several times and are getting no answers.  Well, maybe it's his ulcer....or maybe it's the gall bladder....or maybe he's dehydrated.  Those are the answers we get. 

He has gone from 330 to 170 in less than 6 months!  That is a 160 pound weight loss!!!!!!  He is still losing 6 pounds per week.  He is 6'1" and I am sooo scared for him.  We are both scared.   When will the weight loss stop?? 

Can anyone tell me if they have had these symptoms and what the diagnosis was?  I have called several docs and since they didn't do the original surgery they won't take him on as a patient.

Any advice or help at all will be appreciated.  Thank you all. 

Dawn

Hi everybody!  I am a "newbie"  (1st post)  -- having the sleeve done 9/15/2009 with Dr. Mark Pleatman in Detroit.  Wondering if anyone has had complications/complaints after the sleeve?  Thanks...this is a special, supportive community!

Been watching your difficult journey, how are you doing now?

Hi!
I am three years out and I have had GI issues like yours since surgery. I had irritable bowel before the surgery and was told it may get better, or it may get worse. It got worse.  I have no tolerance for anything I eat, so I have to take a lot of medications to slow down the constant "gurgling and churning" in my stomach after eating. I became lactose intolerant as well.

I am a RN and I can tell you that you are not alone.  I too have had many laproscopic surgeries and have had continued pain in my right side under my ribs every since I had my gall bladder removed. It too feels like a gall bladder attack.  I have mentioned it to my doctors and they can't seem to find a reason for the pain like you.  I have had many CT scans, ultrasounds, blood work, etc.  Let me say also that when I went to have my gallbladder tested, all the tests they ran were negative. Even the blood work for amylase/lipase etc. I did the gallbladder test where they injected medicine into the gallbladder to initialize a spasm, but with all that the tests still came out negative. My surgeon decided to remove the gallbladder anyway.  Upon doing so, he found that my gallbladder was diseased! even after all those test were negative.  The same thing happened to my mother, but her's was gangreneous! So tests aren't always definitive.

You stated that you had a CT scan in the ER and they found nothing.  Was it done with contrast? If so gallstones would have shown up.  People tend to think that because they have their gall bladder out, that means they won't have any more problems. But they are wrong. You still have your bile duct and sludge can build up and form a stone.  Also, after bypass, the risk for kidney stones develops as well.  I have had kidney stones for over 20 years and recently in the past 6 months, I have had at least 2 every month.  I was also told that I may have adhesions that could count for the pain.  But for the most part I have gotten the same reaction as you...made to feel like I'm a hypochondriac!

I can tell you that they will not give you propofol. That medication involves anesthesiologist monitoring because of the risk of respiratory depression.  That's the one that killed Michael Jackson!  Just tell them if they have not given you enough Versed and Demerol, they will up the dose.  I have to do the same thing.  I don't know if this helped any, but feel free to contact me if you have anymore questions!  [email protected]