complications normal?

i had my lap RNY on 3/3 and was having a rough time with eating and progressing up to solids but nurse didn't really think it was abnormal until recently when my nausea started getting really bad and I couldn't keep any food down and was barely getting 12 oz of fluid down a day.  ive lost a total of 78 pounds as of today.  I went to the ER and got Cat scans and an Ultrasound which didn't show any stones, so they IV'd me up to hydrate me and sent me home a few days later, I wasnt any better and went 2 my surgeons hospital (he's an hour away and the day I went the the ER I was sooo sick I barely made it to the hospital which is basically across the street from my house) and he sent me to the ER for more fluids.  They scannned me again, which again showed no stones, but did show ovarian cysts and they tried to tell me I had a UTI which surely wouldnt make me dry heave uncontrolablly, have pain all over my abdomen, be dizzy and have blurry vision. so  I told the ER dr that and they recheck and are like oh yeah you are right. I"m like OMG!!  So they finally admit me and decide to do exploratory surgery the next day and remove a hernia.  I still had severe nausea and dry heaving, couldn't eat or keep any oral fluid down so they scoped me and found a blockage.  When they created my pouch and attached to my bowel? I think is what they said ( i was sooooo drugged) the opening was too small they couldn't even get the scope thru.  They had to wait and go back in the next day and try again.  Then once they got thru I got to try fluids, but was still very very sick.  So the next day I had another uper endo with a stomach specialst and he put a balloon in to open it up some more and they changed my meds and a couple days later I was better. I still can barely drink an ounce at a time and i'm on tons of meds to control nasuea and all that other fun stuff.  I have to see my bypass surgeon on friday for an eval and the stomach dr said on mon i will likely have to have another upper endo in a few weeks to open me up some more becuz i'm not gettin enough in and i'm still nauseous and weak. my whole belly is still tingly and numb when u touch it!  I was in the hospital 8 days! plus the whole days in the ER at the other hospital and the 2 toher specialists I had to see!   I'm really scared to see these medical bills!! Is this kind of complication normal? i don't really feel like I'm getting better since i've been out of the hospital.  at least today isn't a good day.   I'm trying to find where I might have signed off on something that says "we may accidently  make your opening too small and you won't be able to eat or drink without sever pain for the rest of your life.' and i can't. 

I'm sorry for all of your troubles.  No, complications are not the norm, but there are, certainly, many folks who have complications. Hopefully, the surgeon will be able to stretch your stoma enough so that you can eat/drink with no further problems.

It sounds like a stricture which is fairly common, complicated by your hernia and (possibly?) an obstruction.  I hope you feel much better soon, that sounds like a terrible experience!  Hopefully your insurance will cover most of it.  If you recognize the signs of a stricture (limited ability to eat or drink, nausea, throwing up) call your surgeon right away - just in case it happens again in the future.  They can painlessly scope you and see if that's the problem.

Not "routine" or "normal", but some folks do experience this kind of issue postop.  There's no way of knowing preop what your course is going to be like, unfortunately.  I have had no complications, strictures, hernias, etc. ... but that doesn't mean it won't happen to me tomorrow, either.   Sorry you've had so many issues.  It must be frustrating, to say the least.  I hope your issues are resolved quickly and you begin to enjoy this new life!

Complications suck! I ended up with a blockage in the same area and a leak in my new stomach which ended up giving me a very severe staph infection, pneumonia & 2 1/2 months in the hospital!  I know where you are coming from, however, I don't remember too much of the first week. I was soooo sick & ended up having a couple blood transfusions, a second (open) surgery, which they left open for three weeks, a wound vac which was attached to two cuts they made into my left side to let infection out, stomach tube, stomach drain, two chest tubes and a drain in my chest.  I was sick to my stomach for about 4 months on out and took tons of meds for motion sickness and nausea. Just hang in there, it will get better. We are all routing for ya!

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble.  No, I wouldn't say its normal, but its not uncommon to have complications like these.  I had some complications and required a second surgery, exploratory.  This is the reason its so very important to see someone as soon as you have severe abdominal pain, as soon as something isn't going right.  Insist to be seen, insist to be taken seriously.  We are at risk for life threatening complications.  I'm glad you insisted that they check you again.  I hope your second endoscopy clears up the stricture (strictures unfortunately are quite common) and that your hernia repair clears up the abdominal pain. All the best, Jenn

thanks everyone for sharing your insights and stories.  i am feeling a little better day by day.  still have some abdominal pain but nothing like it was.  Dr said take another week off and start to eat more normal foods or else it will close up again. i'm just gonna keep on truckin! 81 pounds is a lot to lose in such a short time, i hardly recognize myself! but i know i did the right thing in the long run and it sounds like some of u have certainly had it much worse than me!! i'm really thankful to have this site to refer to, i just don't have a computer at home so its hard to keep up.