CRAZY experience - 2 surgeries in 4 days but doing well now
Hi folks! Sharing my story for some support and encouragement. My RNY surgery was on 5/9. I had a Lapband for about ten years with lots of problems and finally got approved for it to be revised to RNY! The first couple days were pretty normal. Had the surgery last Tuesday. Pain was a little higher than expected probably because of the extra steps involved in removing the Lapband, so I stayed an extra night. Surgeon had noted that I had a lot of adhesions too, probably from prior csections. Was drinking water and protein shakes like a champ in the hospital! Walking the hallways like a champ! Got home Thursday and took some of my prescriptions. Well I felt like one got stuck really bad or something strange, and I ended up throwing up twice. Not to be gross but there was some yucky tissue like stuff in there that freaked me out. So I called my surgeon, he said to stop taking any meds or supplements except for pain pills and to go back to water only. Ok!
Well that night was truly horrible. I would fall asleep propped up on pillows and wake up choking and gasping for breath, chocking on this acid and run to the bathroom and throw up this truly awful gray acidic cloudy water stuff. Just cups and cups of it. Way more than could've been in my pouch. It must have been from way down in my intestines. I was also in a ton of pain which I thought was gas pain, but it was very extreme. I ended up sleeping sitting up in a chair and still gagging on this awful acid stuff all night. I figured, crap I wish I could've taken my Prevacid!
Well the next morning I woke up and was freezing and shivering and had a fever of 101.5. Called the doc and he ordered me to go straight back to the ER By the time I got there my fever was 104.2!!! They were shocked and immediately started sepsis protocols. I even got to have a lovely rectal temp taken (eek!) because they need to verify such a high temp. Two IVs were placed, IV pain meds to get the pain under control. Catscans and various other tests followed. Various doctors chimed in. Everything from severe infections to pneumonia to bowel obstruction was considered.
Well, I was actually feeling a bit better. Family around me. Thinking I just needed som IV antibiotics and I'd be good to go. And in walks my Surgeon. He says, the only way I will know for sure what is going on is if I open you up again. I'm sorry but we have to go into surgery right now. He didn't think it was an obstruction or anything but since it's life and death, off to surgery we go. Eeeeekkkkk! I've never seen my husband actually scared and he scared in that moment.
The surgery went fine. He spent two hours looking at virtually everything and doing endoscopies and everything else. Everything looked perfect which was a huge relief! But holy crap, what a night. Ultimately the diagnosis was that I had had a temporary blockage, either from swelling or a blood clot, that caused all the horrible vomiting and that I must have aspirated some stomach acid into my lungs which causes a MASSIVE fever apparently.
Well I spent another 4 nights in the hospital recovering from the second surgery. Finally got out today and I'm feeling pretty good. Totally worn out and the incisions are very very sore from being opened twice, but other than that I'm in good shape!
I share this not to scare folks, but just to share information and get some much needed support. I need some hugs! Lol.
Sorry you had such issues. Glad you are doing better now. Definitely sending hugs 
sounds like you could really use some.
I gained 6 pounds from the time I left for the hospital until I got back to my house (2 days). I was really discouraged...but was assured that this usually always happens due to all of the fluids they pump in you. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
Tammy
HW: (9/28/16) 369.8 / SW: (3/13/17) 285 / CW: 162.8
Pre-op loss (6 1/2 Months) - 84.8 pounds
M1 - 17.2, M2 - 17.2, M3 - 13.4, M4 - 15.4, M5 - 13.8, M6 - 13.6, M7 - 10.8, M8 - 9.6, M9 - 5.0, M10 - 2.4, M11 - 3.8
It certainly sounds like you've had a rough few days. *hugs* It's great to hear you're in recovery phase now.
Thanks for sharing your story. I am still pre-op and it's always good to hear about things that can go wrong. Sometimes we try to "brave through" things, and your post serves as a good reminder not to.
I'm glad you're well! I look forward to hearing about your successes as the weeks and months progress. :)
Wow. 104 is very scary. I'm very glad you're ok now. I recall in my pre-op group meeting the revision patients had some special protocols the rest of us didn't need to follow.
The lap band is just a bad procedure. Revisions are much tougher than new RNYs. Thank god we live in the laparoscopic age where your surgeon can get a quick look fairly easily.
Get well soon!
