Question:
Did you have any trouble with your surgery or after surgery?

   — redrose2003414 (posted on August 5, 2005)

August 5, 2005
Crystal, I wasn't going to give you a real detailed answer until I looked at your profile. I grew up and lived in Springfield for a very long time. I want you to be fully aware that no matter what happens after your surgery you must be dedicated to being responsible for your own health. The medical community in Springfield is very anti-WLS and it is very difficult to find a good doctor that is not only properly educated on the surgery, but one that will even give you the time of day. Both my mother and I have had WLS (she still lives there) and both have had difficulites in finding a good primary doctor. She once went to St. Louis because she was fed up with the local medical professionals. I actually had a gastroenterologist poke a hole in my staple line ON PURPOSE during an endoscopy. Just be careful. <br><br>Now to answer your question....I had an open RNY in St. Louis with Dr. Fabito in October of 2001. Following surgery I had lap galbladder surgery in 4/02. From April to September of that year I believe I saw every doctor in Springfield to find out why I was having stomach pain. I was turned away by many, and blown off by even more. I eventually went to FMCC at Cox North and grabbed an inturn. She was willing because she had not yet been around the local medical community for programming. (totally my own opinion) With her help I was able to get the tests I needed to diagnose an ulcer. (which led to the staple line hole poking) Anyhow, Dr. Fabito removed the ulcer surgically in 9/02 without trying any drug other than prevacid. I developed another ulcer 6 months later and sought treatment in Florida where I now live. My current PCP is appalled at my medical history and the lack of care that it shows. I was prescribed Nexium and am now fine.<br><br>The moral of the story....Be well informed because the doctors where you live are not.
   — RebeccaP

August 6, 2005
I had my LAP RNY on 4/5/04 at 2:30 p.m. after my sister had hers with the same surgeon that morning. She felt tired but fine that evening and I was sicker than a dog. I kept gagging and wretching every time I got up to the bathroom, felt extremely sore and just NOT right. Two days later They did the little "drink" leak test where you drink a small cup of blue dye and they look to see if it comes out your drain..nothing so they sent us home. I went home and fell into bed and moved very little that night except to walk downstairs to the bathroom and to get a drink a couple times. The next am I woke up vomiting bright green Bile. To make a long story short, I went back to the hospital 1.5 hours away and thought I would lIKE TO DIE. However, that evening after being in the ER all afternoon my surgeon came in and said, he wanted to take me in for an open procedure to see what was going on. I said, Go ahead..just knock me out. I woke up at 4 am the next day. I had a bowel leak and was infected inside. I was on 5 antibiotics and the pain was incredible. I now had my 5 little lap incisions and a 4.5 inch open incision down my stomach. I was sick and in the hospital for another 8 days. I did remarkably well but kept complaining of a pain in my left calf. 2 weeks later I went to my PCP and they did an ultrasound and found a bloodclot. I was on coumadin (a blood thinner) for 6 months and healed well and am now 118 lbs lighter and doing fantastic. Would I do it again? You bet. I have my life back. People tell me I look so young. I look like i've grown 2 inches taller and I'm just so happy to be alive. It was all worth it. Oh, and my sister..never had a moments problem, went back to work after 2 weeks and is now a size 8/10. I'm in a 14 and still losing. Faith
   — FaithMills

August 8, 2005
You can check my complications if you read my profile, But with everything that I went through, I would not go back and rethink my decision. It is normal to be afraid. You would not be normal not to be nervous. Put your faith in your healthcare professionals, your family and yourself and your God. Go forward and move ahead. may God bless you and go forward. Believe in yourself. This is the best thing that you will do for yourself. Debbie
   — imdebbie