Question:
Complications with RNY surgery

I had bypass in July of 07, I have had nothing but problems. I have been in the hospital 4 times now since then. From day one I was sick, dizzy couldn't keep food or water in. They did an endoscopy and found I had a ulcerated pouch and put me on meds that I am still on to this day. I just went in last week and had exploritory surgery this is the second time I went to the hospital with severe abdominal pain. They ended up finding I had a hernia. Has anyone else had issues like mine? I cant take this anymore, first being sick for months all I did was throw-up everything I ate. I had one good solid month were I had no trouble, but now I am cut open again this time a much bigger cut even. The only good part is that I have lost 61 pounds... Let me know if you or anyone you know has had complictions like mine.    — Cindy A. (posted on December 17, 2007)

December 17, 2007
Any surgery can have complications. Ulcers have been seen in some patients, but not the majority. Hernais occur in overweight people due to the stressors on the human body. It is not this specific surgery that causes these problems.
   — Dave Chambers

December 17, 2007
Hi Cindy: I too had GBS in July...the 27th. Anyway, I have had a ton of complications myself, but different from yours. I had dehydration, anemia and blood clots in my legs. I was just in the ER this past Friday and they discovered another blood clot, or that the one I had wasn't yet dissolved. I still get dizzy spells and sometimes I feel sick after eating. I do not get the "dumping syndrome" where you are on the toilet for 30+ minutes, but, rather, I get the type where I have to lie down and "sleep it off"...like being drunk. Either way, it's no fun, but I'll take the sleeping it off as opposed to sitting on the toilet forever. I'm sorry to hear about your issues and I hope they are resolved soon. It really sucks to go through the complications. Luckily for me, since I had a history of blood clots in the past, they placed a Greenfield filter the morning of my surgery in case I did develop blood clots and they broke off, they would not go to my lungs and kill me. However, I was bedridden for about 2 months straight and I still do not have my strength back. I weighed over 400 pounds before surgery and NEVER, EVER had problems getting around, so it has been really frustrating for me to be getting tired so easily. I have come a long way from where I was, but I'm still not back to my "old self". I wish you luck and hope things take a turn for the better soon.
   — ALafferty

December 17, 2007
Hi Cindy! My mom had RNY 3 years ago and she developed a hernia. That is normal in overweight patients. Unfortunately these are all risk that we are warned about before signing a consent for surgery. My friend also has an ulcer ( a risk) and she got it from not following the dr's orders as far as diet goes. Hope things get better for you.
   — its_my_time

January 30, 2009
I had gasric bypass 12/1/08 and went back to work on 12/22/08 and by the week of 12/29/08 everytime I ate I had severe pains in the lower left side of stomach, where I originally had a port and also had a hernia repair done at same time of gastric surgery. I am then sick and it will take me at least 2-4 hours to finally stop throwing-up. I also am very swollen in my mid-section. I have had testing for gallbladder, CT stomach, UGI and endoscopy and everything comes out normal. I am so tired of being sick and not feeling good, I do not know what else to do either.
   — sh7028

January 30, 2009
I had gasric bypass 12/1/08 and went back to work on 12/22/08 and by the week of 12/29/08 everytime I ate I had severe pains in the lower left side of stomach, where I originally had a port and also had a hernia repair done at same time of gastric surgery. I am then sick and it will take me at least 2-4 hours to finally stop throwing-up. I also am very swollen in my mid-section. I have had testing for gallbladder, CT stomach, UGI and endoscopy and everything comes out normal. I am so tired of being sick and not feeling good, I do not know what else to do either.
   — sh7028