Post Surgical Complications

Hello everyone!

Every surgery has it's risks...

I am worried about the possibility of post-op complications.

Has anyone experienced any?

ie. gastric leaks, infection, vomiting, bowel obstruction, prolonged hospital stay?

I am a widow.  I am trying to stay positive but I worry about what could go wrong and how it will impact my family.

I appreciate all your support... 

"Mahalo" is a Hawaiian word meaning thanks, gratitude, admiration, praise, esteem, regards, or respects.

There is always a chance of complications with surgery. There is are also many complications from staying Morbidly Obese.

Not all the complications you listed are in a sense really equal. Vomiting is different than bowel obstruction. Have I vomited? Yes. Ate too fast, food got stuck...etc. Part of the learning curve, I guess. Does that happen to everyone? No. I also ended up with an incisional hernia that needed repair. That could happen with any laproscopic surgery, not just this one....still no regrets...

It is important to feel confident in your surgeon's experience and find out what his complication rate is... Are they a Bariatric Center of Excellence? Meaning they have to show their program is up to a certain level of care....

I am one of those people who never thought I would have Weight Loss surgery, but as I got older I realized I didn't want to die prematurely from my obesity,  I had tried on my own for 50 years..and it wasn't working, I needed help.

Thank you...

Hi, I just passed my 3 yr post RNY surgery and I had and have no complications like any that you have listed above.  I do have low Iron since surgery but that is not something that would impact your family in my opinion.  I think being morbid obese I had a lot more chances of having problems and complications like stroke, heart attack, high blood pressure for example.

Best of luck!

Thanks Daisy!

Congratulations!

Thanks for your input!

I have experienced vomiting but as NYMOM stated sometimes there is learning curve with learning to eat more slowly. The other issue I have had is that on rare occasion my meal just won't sit right in my pouch and I have vomited.

I also developed a raging UTI that caused my tesitcles to twist and go up into my abdominal cavity. The doctors had to manually work them back down then manually untwist them.

With that said not a day goes by that I am not thankful for having the surgery. I was diabetic and within 3 weeks of surgery I went from having to take 5 to 6 insulin shots a day to O shots a day no other diabetes medications.

My sleep apnea is getting much better. I no longer need to take sleep medication or anxiety medication.

6 years ago I was having heart problems and ended up needing to 3 stents put into one artery. Since that time I have had chest pains on pretty much a daily basis. Since surgery I haven't had any chest pains.

My blood pressure has improved greatly and I no longer have to take cholesterol medication.  

So while there are always risks to surgery, for me the benefits surely out weighed the risks.

I wish you the best of luck with what ever your choice is.

I've tried that "would you mind manually working my testicles back down" before. It seldom worked. And be careful when asking someone to untwist them. You might get more than you asked for.

Hello!

Trying to see how you got the idea for your name.

Lol

So glad that I don't have testicles to worry

about... 

Mahalo

My name.... the cc are the initials of my first and last name and the 583 are three digits in my EMT certification number. And there ya go!

Chris

LOL!!!!

Yes, I can laugh about it now but man oh man did it frikin hurt!! I think the patients on the next floor of the hospital heard yelling and yes crying like a big fat baby head when they were twisting!