Question:
hi guys has anyone else had a punctured esophigus?

i had open rny on feb-6-04 after surgery the doc told me they had punctured my esophigus but they did repair it and it should be fine (i was in surgery 6 hours) to make a long story short i went home on the 12th and developed a leak on the 16th and back in the hospital on the 17th the doc told me we were going to let it heal on its own it could take up to 3 months if this didnt work they would have to do surgery again to repair it. im being fed by vein on TPN please if anyone had a problem like this please respond i would like to know the outcome thanks for your support (BRYAN)    — bryan (posted on March 20, 2004)

March 20, 2004
BRYAN, I DID NOT HAVE A PUNCTURED ESOPHOGUS,BUT I FEEL VERY BAD FOR YOU.MY NURSE LEFT PEROXIDE IN A DRINKING CUP ON MY TRAY TABLE.I DRANK IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IS WAS WATER.I HAD A FULL GASTRIC BLEED AND ENDED UP IN ICU.MY SURGERY WAS 8/22/02 AND I WENT HOME THE LAST TIME ON 10/03/02.IT WAS VERY DEPRESSING NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT OR EVEN DRINK WATER.THEY EVEN LIMITED TOOTHBRUSHING.I GAINED WEIGHT FROM THE 3400 CALORIES OF TPN PER DAY AND TO THIS DAY THE SLIGHT SMELL OF MILK WHICH I LOVED BEFORE SICKENS ME BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW THAT TPN SMELLS LIKE BABY FORMULA.BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.I HAVE LOST 121LBS AND HOPE TO LOSE MORE.GOOD I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU.
   — Lisa B.

March 20, 2004
Dear Bryan, I am so sorry to hear about your esophigus and leak. I myself had lap RNY on Feb 2, 2004. Everything went very well and I went home on the 5th. of Feb. On Feb9th. I went to the Doctors for my first post op apt. and I still had my drain tube in , he was going to remove it that day. One hour before my apt. I noticed it started draining more then it had been. My Doctor decided to leave the drain in, He said something was going on and he didnt like it. I was to let him know if anything happend right away. That evening I noticed everything I took in soup, water, was coming right out the drain tube. I called the Doctor and he said I had a leak and put me in the hospital right away. The next morning I had an upper GI and it showed a leak right were the drain tube was, which was lucky they said because nothing was going into my abdomen which could be very dangerous. My doctor also decided to let it heal on its own, and I was placed on TPN and lipids. I spent one week in the hospital and then another week and a half at home on TPN and Lipids. But my leak was not healing. So my Doctor set me up for surgery. I was scared because it would be an open incision and an NG tube for at least 4-5 days. God must have been watching because the doctor put me in the hospital the day before the surgery to do pre op test and he also called in a GI Doctor who decided to scope me first to see were the leak was for sure and how big it was so when they did the surgery they would know what to expect. Well when they scoped me they saw that my drain tube had got sucked into my new stomach which caused the leak and the reason it was not healing. So they pulled the drain tube out of the hole put a couple of clips on the hole and some glue and I started healing right away. after one week the hole was healed and I was put back on clear liquids. That was like heaven after being NPO for over 3 weeks. Now I am on pureed foods and doing very well. I have only been sick one time. If you still have your drain in please have them check to make sure that isnt the reason for the leak. And if not then I would question why the Doctor would say it could take up to three months to heal. My doctor said if the leak is'nt healed within 2-3 weeks then it needs to be repaired. Please keep me posted on how you are doing. I know this is really hard. God Bless and Always think POSITIVE.... Sue
   — Susan W.

March 21, 2004
Bryan, Hello! I am 13 days post op, and just signed up for the Q/A news letter. I am very saddened by your troubles. Your post really touched my heart and I wanted to let you know that I am here for you. If you need some extra support, let me know. If you need some one to talk to, just ask. I hope that you are doing better very soon. Please take care, Christy
   — Tiny Pixie