The distinction I didn't want - feeling down and out
I have the distinct honor of being my surgeon's first ever leak. Oh boy. I had VSG on 3/8. On 4/1, I was admitted to the hospital and was in for 7 days. They did a CT scan and found a "microscopic leak." Followed up with an upper-GI which showed no active leaking. I was sent home with a picc line and TPN. Nothing by mouth except just enough water to take my Zofran, Prilosec, and 2 antibiotics. I have a follow-up CT scan this Friday to see if there is any growth in the leak. If all goes well, we will start slowly introducing more liquids with a goal of being off TPN by the end of this month. I am not hungry, but I am terribly thirsty (even though I am getting enough fluids in the TPN). I know it's just a bump in a long and winding road, but with how I feel now I know that if I could go back in time I would not have had the surgery. I don't even care if I've lost anything - I just want to feel better!
I'm so sorry to hear you have complications. I hope it resolves quickly, and that you find the sleeve was worth the trouble when all is said and done.
best wishes,
Carol
Surgery May 1, 2013. Starting Weight 385, Surgery Weight 333, Current Weight 160. At GOAL!
Weight loss Pre-op 1-20 2-17 3-15 Post-op 1-20 2-18 3-15 4-14 5-16 6-11 7-12 8-8
9-11 10-7 11-7 12-7 13-8 14-6 15-3 16-7 17-3 18-3
It's basically nutrition in an IV bag. It's specially formulated for each patient's needs, including daily calorcic intake. I have a picc line in my arm which is essentially a catheter into a big vein that ends near my heart and the TPN is connected to that and pumped into me each night for 14 hours. Fun stuff...
My only symptoms were constant nausea for the first two weeks, then by week three I started throwing up even the smallest amount of water. My surgeon was so surprised that I had no pain or fever, and even said that he was ordering the CT scan even though he was confident it wouldn't show anything. I went in for a follow-up CT yesterday and they confirmed that the leak has sealed and the collection of what had leaked is about 1/2 the size of what it had been. This means the antibiotics are working, so I am very happy! I even get to start on liquids on Monday. It's frustrating that I am basically starting over at 6 weeks out, but at least I feel like I've crested the hill and it will get easier from here.
Hang in there ! I am a picc/TPN graduate who can firmly say I would do it all again. It does get better !!
Age: 64; 5' 5"; High weight: 345; Start weight: 271 (01/05/15); Surgery weight: 218 (05/27/15); Pre-Op (-53); M 1 (-18); M 2 (-1.5); M 3 (-13.5 ); M 4 (-13); M 5 (- 8); M 6 (-12) M 7 (-5, Xmas); M 8 (- 9) Under surgeon's goal and REACHED HEALTHY BMI 12/07/15!! (Six months and one week.) AT GOAL month 8. Maintaining at goal range (139- 144) ~ four (4) years !!
