Emergency Surgery 3 Years after RNY

I just got home from having emergency surgery. The afternoon of Monday Aug. 14, I began having abdominal pain. The pain continued to get worse. As the pain increased, I began to get increasing nauseous until I was dry heaving. I called my surgeon, Dr. John Daly. Dr. Daly was out of town so Dr. Rosen called me back. After I described my symptons to Dr. Rosen, he told me to go the emergency room. I arrived at the Northside Hospital emergency room at 11:45 PM Monday August 14. Xrays and CT scans revealed twists and obstructions in my small intestines. Since Dr. Daly was out of town, Dr. Macik, scheduled for me for surgery. Late Tuesday night, I was taken to surgery with Dr. Macik. During the surgery, Dr. Macik discovered my intestines has become twisted around an internal hernia. He also discovered a large mass of scar tissue, etc. Dr. Macik fixed the hernia and took some of the mass for a biopsy. We don't have the results of the biopsy yet. I was released today and I am at home now. There's a lot of pain from the open surgery incision, but otherwise I think everything is ok and I am recovering. I don't know how long it will be before I can get out again. I will miss at least two weeks of work. Best Wishes, Curtis Green Cell: 404-358-2352 Lap RNY - Aug. 11, 2003 Dr. John Daly 404-252-0433 @ Northside Hospital -180 lbs ... Ventral Hernia Repair (Pre-RNY Hernia at least 10 years old) Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Daly 404-252-0433 ... AND ... Lower Body Lift & more Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg 770-730-8222 http://gaplasticsurg.com/index.html ... Emergency Internal Hernia w/ Intestinal Blockage Aug. 15, 2006 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Paul Macik 404-252-2220

Curtis, So sorry to hear about your emergency surgery, and do hope that you get to feeling better. Norma

Thank you Norma. I have a lot of pain from the open surgery, but I have some very nice pain meds. I think the worst is over now. Best Wishes, Curtis Green Cell: 404-358-2352 Lap RNY - Aug. 11, 2003 Dr. John Daly 404-252-0433 @ Northside Hospital -180 lbs ... Ventral Hernia Repair (Pre-RNY Hernia at least 10 years old) Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Daly 404-252-0433 ... AND ... Lower Body Lift & more Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg 770-730-8222 http://gaplasticsurg.com/index.html ... Emergency Internal Hernia w/ Intestinal Blockage Aug. 15, 2006 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Paul Macik 404-252-2220

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for you! You will be in our thoughts and prayers! Hugs! Kristi

Curtis, I'm sorry to hear about this, however I'm glad that you are home and better. My wife just had the same experience about a month ago and boy was it scary. She is also 3 years out as I am. Again, I'm glad things are better now, Have a good recovery. George

Curtis, I wish you a speedy recovery ! Alice

WOw this is kinda scarey I would of thought that I would be safe at 2 yrs out now something like this at 3 yrs.... Did they say what causes this is there anything that can be done to prevent it? Good luck to you and hope you feel better soon Cammy

Thanks Cammy. It is my understanding that internal hernias may sometimes result from any abdominal surgery, not just WLS, or from any massive loss of weight. Any abdominal surgery can weaken the walls in the abdomen increasing the chances of hernias. Also, any abdominal surgery can leave scar tissue that could cause adhesions and bowel obstructions. I have also heard that a high level of obesity like I had, my BMI was in the upper 50's, can weaken the abdomial walls. Then, when someone loses a massive abount of weight, I've lost about 180 lbs, everything is looser inside it is a lot easier for the intestines and hernias to move around and possibly become twisted or kinked. I don't believe my internal hernia was direct result of the RNY. I think it coud possibly be an indirect result due to the extent to which my abdominal walls were stretched and weakened prior to my RNY and to the extra slack left inside me after all of the weight loss. These problems may have also come from the external hernia repair I had this past November 1, 2005. My large external hernia was definitely causing some noticeable diversion in my intestines. Doctors were unable to complete an endoscopy prior to my hernia repair because the bend in my intestines near my external hernia was too extreme for the scope to pass. That external hernia was very large and had incarcerated or irreducible tissue. A mass of hard dead tissue about 4 inches by 6 inches was removed during that first hernia surgery. I was very lucky I didn't get an infection or strangulated bowels. I took a very big risk waiting as long as I did to get that hernia repaired. Repairing that first external hernia may or may not have resulted in the intestines moving around enough to cause this surgery. It's possble I had this internal hernia for a very long time prior to my RNY just like my external hernia. Then, the extra space resulting from the weight loss could have just left enough room for the internal hernia and intestines to shift around enough to cause the blockage. I also have pretty strong family history of hernias so I may be more predisosed to them than others because of inherited weaker abdominal walls. I do not believe the RNY was in any way directly responsible for the internal hernia and blockage. But, I do think all of us who have had any surgery and lost a lot of weight are more likely to get internal hernias and bowel obstructions. While this whole ordeal has been unpleasant, scary and painful, I would get the RNY again in an instant if I had it to do all over again. In fact, without the RNY, I may not have lived long enough to even disover this internal hernia due to other co-morbities. I think the most important thing is to call your surgeon promptly if you ever have any unexplained or lingering pain or fever. Being unable to drink liquids like water without gettting sick when you haven't eaten anything recently is a symptom of strictures or obstructions. I'm convinced our surgeons can fix almost anything that might go wrong if we just get to our surgeons in time. Best Wishes, Curtis Green Cell: 404-358-2352 Lap RNY - Aug. 11, 2003 Dr. John Daly 404-252-0433 @ Northside Hospital -180 lbs ... Ventral Hernia Repair (Pre-RNY Hernia at least 10 years old) Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Daly 404-252-0433 ... AND ... Lower Body Lift & more Nov. 1, 2005 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Sheldon Lincenberg 770-730-8222 http://gaplasticsurg.com/index.html ... Emergency Internal Hernia w/ Intestinal Blockage Aug. 15, 2006 @ Northside Hospital Dr. Paul Macik 404-252-2220

Thanks Curtis... not sure if this made me feel better though..lol I just had a hernia repair done in March and I swear I can feel it more now that I did before the repair I hope its still just healing. I really dont want another surgery again.. EVER!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for explaining everything Hope everything goes well now Cammy

WOW Curtis! So glad to hear you are recovering well. What a frightening situation. I hope to hear you continue to feel better. Additionally, thanks for posting of your situation. It's an excellent reminder to us "RNY Vets" that we should always be listening to our bodies... Take care!! Tami