Question:
What are the symptoms associated with a staple line disruption? I am 8 weeks postop

   — Anna G. (posted on January 2, 2002)

January 2, 2002
I don't know what it's like for a non transected pouch, but mine is transected. At about 2 weeks post op I had a leak. My symptoms were severe pain in my left side rib cage area (like someone kicked the heck out of me). The pain radiated all the way up to my left shoulder blade. If you have any more questions about it, feel free to e-mail me. -Kim Open RNY 7/17 -78 lbs.
   — KimBo36

January 2, 2002
I was not transected for my open rny and I disrupted about 6 mos post op. There were no symptoms other than an increased amount of food intake. I did not gain any because I watched it so closely. I experienced a small amount of acid reflux but nothing significant. But I knew that for months prior to experiencing this I did not have any stomach acid at all! So I noticed it immediately when I began to have it again. I was transected on 10/16/01 and now I am losing again. Somehow in my heart, I knew when I was disrupted and waiting about 3 mos to see if I was just plateauing or what. I quit losing and could eat more. That is because the food was overflowing into the still attached stomach. I am very glad I am now transected. First, question you need to know is: are you transected? If not, and you can eat more, then there is a possibility of a disruption. It is not anybody's fault when it happens. It is a mechanical failure when the pouch and stomach are not transected. It can happen even 5 yrs down the road. Transection is more reliable for a permanent tiny pouch. Good luck to you! An upper GI is the way I found out for sure I had a disruption. Remember it is fixable!
   — Marilyn C.