johns surgery

So we left Dr. Betancourts revovery house saturday morning.  I had my drainage tube out on friday but John my husband had to wait until saturday before we left because he had more drainage than I did.  What we didn't realize at that point as we hurried to leave was that John had an abcess and a leak in his stomach.  Sylvia at the house had given me extra guaze pad for the drainage that john was having.

We had a 4 hour flight from San Diego to O'Hare airport.  In that time John's drain site had completely soaked thru all his clothes and every thing he drank was coming out his open site from where his drain tube had been.

I changed that guaze dressing 3 times, the last was the worst because by this time stomach content was coming out also and we knew we were in trouble.  I landed in Flint, MI at 11:30 pm John has had nothing to drink anymore and has no pain but we are heading to the emergency room in Holland as soon as we get back in town.

It took us 2 hours to drive home and we got to the ER by 2am.  He was admitted and had emergency surgery to repair his stomach and clear out the abcess that had formed on his srtomach where his drainage tube had been.

John was in the hospital from sunday to friday.  He will be out of work for 4 wks.  He has another incision that is from sternum to belly button that is closed with staples.

We asked our surgeon here and were told that Dr. Almanza did nothing wrong, the surgery was a sucess, it was just one of the complications that can happen with any surgery.  John just has a longer road to recovery than everyone else.

I Just want everyone to think about staying an extra day or 2 after surgery even if it's at your own expense to make sure that you are healing before you leave or fly.  I ended being glad that we came home b/c I couldn't imagine dealing with all this that far away from family and our kids.  Just be careful. 

We don't blame anyone and have much respect for Dr. Almanza and Dr. Betancourt just make sure that you follow up with them if you have any problems at all.  They need to know all the facts of what they do.

they also need to make you aware of the stats of leakage because it is no longer 2 leaks in 6000.

thanks for listening and pray for a speedy recovery for John.  We want to get on with our new life together for our kids.
kari bush

Thanks for giving us the heads up Kari! So what surgery did you two have?

gosh, sorry to hear of John's complication. glad your surgery has proceeded according to plan.

Glad to know Dr. almanza did nothing wrong,also.

Dh and I have already planned to stay over 3 days at out own expense just in case there is an issue,just as you said.

Good luck and thanks for letting us know you are back. Please keep us posted on both your recoveries.
Holly

I would like to also thank you for being up front with everything.  I have my surgery with this DR on 2/5/10. I will pray for a speedy recovery for your husband!

Wow, Kari.  I am so sorry you guys have been going through this. Tim and I send our best to both of you.  I remember how bad John was feeling and feel terrible thinking that he was just taking it harder than the rest of us when in fact something serious was wrong.  I'm assuming that this is just something that none of the leak tests were able to reveal?? Or was this not a typical VSG leak?

Please take care of yourself and I am sure John is more than grateful to have had you there for him...keep in touch and let us know how everything progresses.  I am sure he will be feeling better every day now that he's fixed up.

Anne from Florida

Hi Sweetheart....

I am so sorry that you and your husband has had to go through this...!!!
I'm so happy you got it taken care of, before it could have gotten even  worse...I know it had to be a scary ordeal for the both of you...

So happy John is doing much better and I will be praying for the both of you and that John recovers quickly and without any more problems...

Blessings to the two of you....

((((((HUGS))))))

cyndy

Oh wow! I'm so sorry that happened to John...but I'm glad you were able to get it taken care of. Good luck with recovery and I look forward to seeing a skinnier, healthier couple soon!

Sarah from Florida

thanks for all the well wishes,  John and I both had sleeve surgery on the 12th of Jan.  Both of our leak tests came back clean,  We figure that the abcess formed at the top of his drainage tube on his stomach and that in turn popped the staples.  The drainage tube was not positioned wrong just one of those things that can happen.  It still is a long road because for 1 day everything that he put in his stomach came out thru his abdomen.  lots of meds to counteract the effects of having stomach content in his abdomen.  AT this point John wishes he had never had the surgery but as he gets better I think he will change his mind. 

On a side note he has lost 29 lbs and I have 22 lbs off.  Yea!!

Thanks Again and I will keep you posted.

kari

Kari,
  I love your attitude!  And WOW with the weightloss already!

I am so glad that you posted your post this helps people realize that this like any other surgery has possible complications that can occur and while one person might have not one problem while another might have big problems everyone is different  you both are lucky that you recognized that there was a problem.



I hope John is feeling better now I am sure things will be better now that your home and he is now out of the woods.

Good luck to the two of you!