Complications?
i'm still in my research phase of potentially having surgery and I like the idea of not just getting a pile of facts and stistics, but hearing some real-life experiences. So with that in mind, I thought I'd check in and see how many of you had complications from surgery (I'm specifically looking at RNY, preferably lap, although i don't know yet if it is an option for me), what complications did you have and when (i.e. 2 weeks after surgery, 3 months after surgery, etc)...
Would greatly appreciate some info!
I am still a newbie, just out from surgery a month ago. I had no complications from surgery at all. Not sure about the Dr...lol he did say my liver was large and they had to move it out of the way....I heard that from hubby and daughter. But my incisions healed very well....The pain wasn't bad at all.....And have not had any complication from any type of food as of yet. In fact I am off most of my medications....and I have lost 22 pounds, in 1 month. I actually felt god enough I could have gone back to work after 2 weeks. But Dr Carlin suggested staying off...so you can get into the routine and make sure you get in all your protein and water. And I did just that.
I also read as many profiles as I could. Asked questions.
Good Luck.
I agree that you should read files and do as much investigating about the surgeon you are looking at, The chance of complications are there for anyone, but if you have a good dr and staff, the chances are less. I looked past the possibility of complications and to what my quality of life was going to be if i stayed at 337 lbs or more. It was not worth the what-if's. I am 9 months out and down 130 lbs and feel great! good luck on your venture, teri
Before you read what I am about to write, please keep in mind that I think I am a unique case. I don't think many patients go through what I have been through. My mom has had the exact same procedure (with the same surgeon) that I did and she has had minimal problems.
I am 6 years post-op. I had a duodenal switch/RNY. My procedure was not done laproscopically. Instead of having a pouch made, my surgeon removed 60% of my stomach so that I would just have a smaller stomach. Hence, I don't have to really deal with the dumping syndrome that you hear about and I have never had to crush my pills/vitamins.
3 weeks after my gastric bypass I was rushed back to the hospital for severe dehydration. After about a week on an IV I was able to go home. It took me a good 6 months to feel like a normal person. I threw up daily for an entire year. I did not listen to my surgeon and for about the first 3 years I never took my vitamins like I was supposed to. So, I developed osteoporosis.
About a year out of surgery I developed adhesions and a twisted intestine which had to be surgically corrected. They opened me back up and fixed the problem. A year after that it happened again so back for a third surgery I went.
In Dec. 2006 I was having some pain in my stomach and thought I was having the same problem all over again. So the doctor had no choice (after doing every test under the sun) but to open me back up for a 4th time. He found some more adhesions and that was about it. He thought it would take care of the pain. It didn't, so last month he opened me back up for the 5th time. This time he resected a portion of my bowel. I am still having some pain, but nothing like I was having and I think because of the two surgeries that I have had so close together, I just need more time to heal.
Like I said, don't let my story sway you against having the surgery. Even with all of my problems, I would still opt to have gastric bypass. Also, I think my issues were isolated. I'm sure other patients have had problems per se, but not to this extent. I think problems like I have had are few and far between.
Good luck
Julie
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