Question:
WHY WOULD A PATIENT WHO HAD RNY 8/31/99 NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP ANYTHING DOWN?

I HAD THE SURGERY THE SAME DAY WITH NO PROBLEMS .YET ONE OF MY PEERS IN THE HOSPITAL CAN'T EVEN DRINK WATER WITHOUT VOMMITING. SHE HAS LOST 60 LBS (WHICH IS A BIT MUCH CONSIDERING HER WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF SURGERY) AND IS ALSO COMPLAING OF CONSTANT FATIGUE AND WEAKNESS. I'M SCARED FOR HER HEALTH, BECAUSE INITIAILLY AFTER SURGERY SHE WAS FEELING GREAT. SHE STATES SHE ALSO CAN'T STAND THE SMELL OF FOOD AND HAS CONSTANT NAUSEA.. ANY HELP???    — RENEE F. (posted on September 27, 1999)

September 27, 1999
She must call her doc AT ONCE. She's weak because she's starving and dehydrated! If her own doc won't do an endoscopy, then she should find someone who will, after she carefully explains her current anatomy. Ideally, every single WLS pt should get a copy of their op report and keep it where you can find it. I had to go to a doctor not my own this week (Thanks to my ins co) for an endsocopy. I was able to hand him my op report, with exact dimensions, as well as drawings of my surgery. ONE of us has to be sure what's up! WE usually only vomit (and not get water in) when something has blocked the outlet. Either the outlet has healed too tightly closed (easily fixed) or she's developed a marginal ulcer. I'm on my 5th now. And again, fixed is no big deal. You are "out" for a half hour or so, so it's painless. Just inconvenient as you need someone to drive you. But DO IT.
   — vitalady

September 27, 1999
I have read that low blood sugar can cause fatique and light headedness. It is due to the lack of food. Some of it can also be iron deficiancy. I am not a doctor or a nurse, this is just some of what I have read. Remind her not let time get away from her. She should be working with her doctor or surgeon. Good luck to the both of you.
   — Heather A.

September 27, 1999
You could have been talking about me after my surgery back in Oct.96. I could not keep anything down. It turned out that I had a stricture at the new stomach to intestine opening. I tried having it stretched thru endoscopy 4 times and didn't work. I ended up having to have a revision done, where the surgeon moved the opening to a new spot and made it a little bigger. This solved the vomiting and nausea problem for me. If you want any other info, please feel free to email me direct [email protected] Hope this is of some help. Blessings, Bev
   — BJ K.

September 27, 1999
She needs to talk to her/your doctor IMMEDIATELY ... I don't believe this should be expected. I had a revision to a RNY on 8/25/99 and I feel WONDERFUL! With exception of developing a blood clot and being in the hospital another week, this past week, I've had no problems this surgery or my initial RNY in 1994.
   — Sherrie G.

September 29, 1999
Suggest that your friend have an endoscope exam as it is possible that she has an ulceration of the anastomosis or may have a problem called dilation; where the anastomosis is closing from swelling or scar tissue. Either problem can cause these types of symptoms and can be easily fixed with the endoscope if treated early enough.
   — Robert (Bob) L. P.