Can I get your honest opinion?

Ok, many of you have read about my complications but for those of you who haven't her goes. My surgeon says he knew immediately after my surgery that my sleeve had stricture. He says when he removed the instrument used as a  guide to form the sleeve, my stomach curved too much. In OR he gave me steroids to help with swelling. I get violently ill if I take in anything more than clear liquids even now at almost 2 weeks post op. he first told me I would possibly have to have second operation to revise to RnY but now he wants to try to stretch with a balloon and endoscopy procedure in a few more weeks. I was sent home with an IV PICC line and have to give myself fluids and meds through IV. I can't take any meds by mouth.

Ok, here's where I want opinions. Do you think this was a slip of the hand and just too much was cut out? Why use scopes if you can't see what's going on with the stomach? There was an understudy that "helped" assist and I'm wondering if he practiced on me! Surgeon was careful not to say exactly who did what during surgery. He only said it takes more than 1 person to perform the surgery.

I knew there were risk however, I picked my surgeon based on high recommendations and research. I never met or knew anything about the understudy until I was being prepped for surgery. My husband is furious and I just want to get better but should I pursue this further when I'm hopefully fully recovered? Any others experience this or heard of others in this situation? What did you do? I am now facing a lot of extra medical bills. Home health nurse, IV supplies, additional tests and more procedures to come. I have to go to the surgeon's office once a week. It's included until September 15, 2013. I'm really feeling torn, please help!

I don't have any insight or advise concerning the surgery.  I just wanted to say "Hang in there."  I hope they are able to stretch the sleeve with the balloon, so you can move forward with your healing.

best wishes,

Carol

Awe, thanks!

So sorry to hear about the complications you are dealing with. I don't have any advice but want you to know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Barb

Thanks Barb!

First i am so sorry to hear of the complications you are suffering. I know how you must feel , i had a emergency hernia surgery years ago dealing with an unexperienced surgeon who placed a defected recalled mesh in my stomach that caused blood infection and caused me to have several repairs and ended up without a belly button. I woke up in the middle of the surgery and found 2 of his student surgeons working on me because he said he was called to another surgery and ended up with problems every since then with my stomach. I know how you feel, i had a home nurse that came out daily for the first 6 weeks after surgery to packed a huge hole in my abdomen that he paid for and still ended up with another infection due to his negligence with surgery and research on the mesh in the first place. So yes i would really suggest that you get a second opinion on what exactly went wrong. Hope your feeling better soon and good luck to you.

PS, always ask for a DVD of your surgery , i have one of my sleeve. Alot of doctors will not say that its available but its your right to have it because malpractice is so very hard to prove now days.

Wow good advise! I wonder if he recorded it. I will ask when I go Friday!

Based on the surgeries I have had in the past, I believe they record all of them. They do this to see what mistakes were made, how to improve, ect... or even to help if something else shows up. I mean, I have a DVD of my hysterectomy. lol So I am sure they should have a copy.

Having an assistant surgeon is standard for this procedure.  It would have been irresponsible not to have had one.  Strictures are not unheard of after this surgery.  There is risk with any surgery.  The balloon procedure may very well be able to fix the problem.  I'm sending good thoughts your way that it does.  Hang in there.

Jane