Leaks!!!!

First topic message reminder :

I am wondering if anyone else has been unlucky and developed a leak after their surgeries???!!!

I was sleeved on 17th September 2008 by Dr France. It wasn't until early December 08 that I began feeling unwell with vomiting. I was admitted to the Bundaberg Base hospital and the Dr's ran some swallow test and it showed nothing unusual so I was discharged and sent home.

Two days later I was still vomiting and generally feeling unwell so I went to see my GP and she admitted me straight away into one of the local private hospitals. It was there that a CT scan was ordered. The doctor came to tell me that there was a collection behind my stomach and that none of the surgeons in Bundaberg wanted anything to do with me because of the Sleeve Gastrectomy (Apparently they didn't know anything about this type of surgery). They arranged for me to be seen by Dr George Hopkins in Brisbane. About 10pm that day I was flown by the Royal Flying Doctors to Brisbane, it was during flight that the "collection" (abscess) ruptured (the pain was unbearable). I was taken directly into surgery. About two weeks later (xmas eve) I was told that I would have to have another surgery because another collection was forming. After each surgery I woke up in the ICU. Was told that I would be in hospital for some time, as I had to fight the massive infection.

So after the abscess was taken care of they began searching for the reason, it was there that they discovered the leaks. Both leaks were at the very top of my stomach, (one leak was quite large). Instead of having another surgery to fix the leaks I took the option of having a stent placed in via an endoscopy which has to be removed after 3 months. The stent is covering the holes, doctors are hoping the holes will heal themselves (fingers crossed).

So after 8 weeks in hospital I am finally at home. Medically I feel fine now..... by physically I am weak, after spending so much time in bed I have lost all the muscle tone in my legs and I cannot walk. So I have a long road ahead of me!!!

P.S. I think I forgot to mention that I was nil by mouth for 7 weeks.
And I can only have puree foods until the stent is removed, (as the doctors are worried that the stent will migrate and then I will be back where I started).

So basically I had a crappy xmas, crappy new years and I had a crappy birthday!!!!

But I am sure glad to be home!!!!!

Hi Happy, and welcome home.
Glad you're starting to feel better now, and hope you recover quickly from now on.

Such good news that you are now home Happy. I can't imagine what it was like for you being in hospital for so long. I guess no one needs to tell you to take things nice and easy...be good to your fragile tummy and hopefully the worst of it all is in the past now.

Big (gentle) hugs to you.

Jiggly xx

Hi Everyone

Thank you for all your warm wishes. I was given the approval to go home on Thursday after signs of recovery. I'm still not in the clear yet. I guess I will be cleared after 6 weeks. In the meantime, I have to stay positive. I am now able to keep food down and I don't have any more stomach pains like before. My stomach sometimes feels odd and I'm not sure what it wants???? I guess I have to learn what my new stomach is asking for. I never really got the chance after my surgery because I was always sick.

I am really scared of getting sick again. I can't bare to go back to the hospital. I have that many bruises and needle pricks. I'm so grateful to be back home with my family.

Battered but optimistic . . . . .

Happy,

Fingers crossed the glue works and your in the 60%.

Wishing you all the best and let us know the result when you feel better.

XX

Happy,
So sorry to hear about your leak. I can't offer any advice but want you to know you are in our thoughts. Sending positive thoughts your way and please keep up updated when you are feeling up to it.

Hugs.....Jiggly xx :<a href=htt

Fingers crossed that its all good
cheerup and hope your on the road to a speedy recovery

shelly

The odds are on your side then - hope you're in that 60%!

They found the leak and patched me up with glue. I have a 60% chance of this working. If not, I will have the stent. Thanks for the support. Shelly, I will definitely chat with the others when I'm feeling a bit better. A little weak right now. Good to hear what others went through.

Sorry Happy about your leak hopefully it will all be fixed for you soon and your feeling healthy and well

hugs and prayers Sue

Oh, Happy - so sorry to hear that you're so UN-Happy right now.
What a pain to have a leak - and I haven't even heard of a gas one (at least, not in that way!).
Good luck with the stent, and I hope you feel better really soon.
Great big e-hugs
Chris

Hi happy so sorry to hear of your dramas, i hope you are on the right track very soon.
There are some membersthat had leaks on here including yesnomaybe and gutlesswonder,if you have a read in the other thread on here complications gutless explains her health problems.Im sure they wont mind you PM them to have a chat and even the members in this thread may be able to have a chat and be of some support for you
thinking of you
shelly xxx

Hi Guys

I had my op on 14th Sep 2010. I noticed that something was wrong in weeks 3 - 4 when I was vomiting bile at least 1 - 3 times a day. I had stomach pains every night. After a number of tests the docs concluded that I have a leak. I don't have food or fluid leaking but gas is escaping. I've now been in hospital for 6 days. I am having a stent put in today or tomorrow. I am very scared. There is another woman with a leak here but she has worse complications. I keep asking myself, 'Why me'?

Hi Lib yea thanx for asking.

Jules

How are you going now? Things getting back to 'normal' ?

well hj leaks my gosh yes I had MASSIVE complications & it nearly killed me I had a lot of the symptoms you described.My op was in april & I was in hospital until july,it was terrible & I was also nil by mouth for months.

I`ve read other sleevers on here that have had dramas dont regret there decision to be sleeved,but me it is still so raw the emotion I mean how close I came to not seeing my angels grow up or my long suffering partner it just makes me tear up.

I'm sorry about what you had to go through and I'm glad your fine now.
And I'm also worried that leaks are still something that could appear after the 12 dangerous days... :(

I never freaked about getting a leak. Knew it was a possibility but 'knew' it was not going to happen to me. Stress less lol.

Usually 24 - 48hrs... if no leaks you should be fine!

i don't think i'll stop until the magic 2 weeks

arghhhhhhhhhh

mel

Tickled Pink wrote:

hayley_james wrote:

Dragonfairy wrote:

Since I have a non-typical leak, I asked the doctor about a "real" leak: left shoulder pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, back pain, really fast heart rate (about 120 to 150) and fever. Those are the only ones he told me about, so I guess it's a real "pain".

Hey There!!

Yep that pretty much sums it up........ I had the operation done in September 08, found out I had a leak in early December 08 and spent 7 weeks in hospital with it.... Not fun at all.

But I seem to remember vomiting and pain in the abdomen.

Hayley how are you feeling now?
I havent seen you around here in ages, and have been wondering about you.

xx
Tamara

Hey Tamara!
Sorry I don't come on here all that often anymore... I am really good now.... All that leak business is well and truely behind me... I am eating well again and maintaining my weight quite well.

- Hayley xo

hayley_james wrote:

Dragonfairy wrote:

Since I have a non-typical leak, I asked the doctor about a "real" leak: left shoulder pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, back pain, really fast heart rate (about 120 to 150) and fever. Those are the only ones he told me about, so I guess it's a real "pain".

Hey There!!

Yep that pretty much sums it up........ I had the operation done in September 08, found out I had a leak in early December 08 and spent 7 weeks in hospital with it.... Not fun at all.

But I seem to remember vomiting and pain in the abdomen.

Hayley how are you feeling now?
I havent seen you around here in ages, and have been wondering about you.

xx
Tamara

Dragonfairy wrote:

Since I have a non-typical leak, I asked the doctor about a "real" leak: left shoulder pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, back pain, really fast heart rate (about 120 to 150) and fever. Those are the only ones he told me about, so I guess it's a real "pain".

Hey There!!

Yep that pretty much sums it up........ I had the operation done in September 08, found out I had a leak in early December 08 and spent 7 weeks in hospital with it.... Not fun at all.

But I seem to remember vomiting and pain in the abdomen.

Since I have a non-typical leak, I asked the doctor about a "real" leak: left shoulder pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, back pain, really fast heart rate (about 120 to 150) and fever. Those are the only ones he told me about, so I guess it's a real "pain".

tracey wrote:

Hey Lib,

i used to get a really bad stitch like pain after i vaccuumed or did other housework i wasn't supposed to do.

ditto, sometimes I still get it down my side if I do too much.

I hope that you are feeling much better

xx
Tamara

Glad its better today Lib!

Hey Lib,

i used to get a really bad stitch like pain after i vaccuumed or did other housework i wasn't supposed to do.

hope you are taking it easier today
tracey