Wake Up Call!

I've been complaining for a long time about having trouble eating, food tasting bad and losing too much weight. I bottomed in the 140's at 5'11". I was having trouble with my blood sugars (type 1) so I saw my endocrinologist. The only other symptom I had over the last 6 weeks was fatigue.

9 days ago I woke up very early in pain. A short time later I had passed out. My wife called the paramedics as I was having a seizure. By the time they came I felt better. They tested my blood sugar and my vitals. Everything checked out well.

As a typical man, I refused to go to the hospital. My wife was on the phone with my doctor after this and he said to get me to the hospital emergency room immediately. In the meantime, I passed out again. My son helped get me into my wife's car and he followed. I passed out again on the way.
By the time I got there, I was in the worst pain of my life. I was rushed into emergency surgery. Turns out I had a perforated ulcer.
Now for those who ask if this is related to my gastric bypass...probably. Ulcers happen when you have surgery (at connections) and they do happen with gastric bypass. The unusual part is the "perforated" ulcer. That's pretty rare. For me the symptoms mimicked issues with my blood sugars. I had no stomach pain or indigestion.

Food tastes so much better now and it's much easier to eat too.

Bottom line, I'm a lucky boy! My wife saved my life! I'm recovering well. I'm feeling better every day and appreciating life!? It's funny how we feel infallible until we don't.

So glad you're doing better! What a scary situation. Kudos to your wife and son!! And thanks for sharing your story!

Do you know what caused the ulcer? Were you on PPIs? Do your docs think it was anything you ate or drank? I'm asking because I don't know much about ulcers and would love to find out how to minimize getting one myself.

Hugs and prayers to you and your family!

I have been wondering how you were doing. You were posting quite often when I found this site. I also saw the posts that you made more recently about the food troubles and too much weight loss. I am so glad that everything has finally been figured out and that you are doing ok now.

Thanks for the update.

That's terrible! I'm glad that your wife and son were able to get you to help. Take care and heal quickly!

I had a similar situation in mid June. Needed EMS to rush me to the hospital. I did not perforate, but I do have an ulcer. I'm being treated with Carafate and Prilosec.

The take away is listen to our bodies!! Even though post op life may be new and different, report unusual or worry some symptoms to our surgeons. Better be told not to worry about that, than ignore something serious!

Good luck to you jsasquith! Hope your recovery is quick.

Glad to hear you are doing better now and got the help you needed. Sharp pain is never normal and it's so important we listen to our bodies. If anything seems different or unusual a call to your surgeon is warranted. Praying for no more issues and a speedy recovery for you too.

So glad that you are recovering well. Sounds like a very scary situation-glad you got the care you needed.

Hi and Sorry!

That sounds awful. Glad you figured it out and your wife talked you into getting help.

So glad that you're OK now, and that your son and wife got you to the hospital.

If my Dad refused to go to the hospital after passing out and having a seizure, my Mom would kill him herself, lol. You're lucky your family was there to take care of you.

That is another example that married men live longer that single.

Glad you are ok. Fyi- Make sure they check your ferritin - and if it is low - push for iron infusion. Most likely you bleed for a while and your iron saving account is low. Once that drops - for us post op RNY is close to impossible to recover low iron with oral meds. And for a while you will be on ulcer meds - that further inhibit oral iron absorbtion.