ObesityHelp

 
Thank you, Wenda.

PM sent

 
Maddie,

Here is the e-mail exchange from 1/25:
Here is my e-mail to Dr. K today:
So, Sun/Mon I had things coming into my JP drain like bits of carrot, and what looked like the lemon pepper & caribou meat bits. From stew that was made Sunday & I ate on that Sunday evening & off & on Monday. The bits of (I ate 2 or 3 sliced/cooked carrots in my stew throughout Monday) carrot were unmistakeable. Food is getting into my JP drain.


And here is his reply:

Hello, well this looks suspect, because patient with leaks, will have chills fever, and no bowel function.
I would ask that you do not take anything by mouth, use the feeding tube to get the water in. Also use the feeding tube to bet the protein supplements in. Nothing by mouth

I fly back down to California & will be seeing Dr. K Friday afternoon to be assessed...... I sure he will order the appropriate tests.


I PM'd you as well.
-Jamie

 
Maddie,

I want to THANK YOU for your supportive phone call, I TRUELY, TRUELY appreciate it!!!!

Sometimes I feel, pain-wise like I am literally getting PUNCHED.

I have a thinner protein that I am using, so it goes into my feeding tube rather well.

 
You got it!!!!

I had a leak when I had my surgery last February (also w/Dr. K). I did not have any unusual pain or fever, but I saw the green jello that I had eaten in my JP drain. (ugh... those drains were the pits).

Here is what happened.

1) went back to Dr. K as soon as I saw the jello in my drain
2) He ordered a test (xray?) Essentially I had to stand and drink some fluid really fast (so challenging 1 week out). They could see the leak in my stomach in the test.
3) Stayed in the hospital an additional week. I had bowel function the entire time. I was on IV fluids and antibiotics/no food. They wouldn't stop giving me all of those Heparin shots (ugh). We "waited to see" if the leak would self-resolve
4) Had another test to see if the leak was gone. It was not. I remember crying and feeling very upset.
5) A PIC line was installed in my arm and I was released from the hospital on TPN (liquid IV nutrition) - still no food or water allowed. Stayed at home like this for 2 weeks with the IV nurse visiting daily to give me various antibiotics and hook up my daily TPN which ran 24 hours a day.
6) spiked a high fever and went back to the hospital. They removed my PIC line and stopped the TPN.
7) MRI was done to see if leak was resolved (it was) - thank goodness! no more TPN
8) 1 week after the leak was resolved my drains were removed and I was finally on the mend.

Almost a year later I have lost over 140 lbs. I can eat basically anything although I know what is good for me and what is not. The leak is a distant and difficult memory.

The worst parts of this were the TPN and not being able to drink anything (I was soooo thirsty). I also started feeling hungry toward the end and amused myself by watching the Food Network LOL!