Gastric Sleeve-Leak

Welcome to the leaky sleeve sisterhood!!...*Groan*...

My leak took close to a year to heal. I had 5 different surgeries to try to close the leak. None worked. They left the JP drain in and wound vac and sent me home after 3 months in the hospital. DO NOT let them do a Bypass on you!!...It will heal!!!...Just takes time, my friend..And, being positive through 90% of the time will get you through this bump in the road. Don't worry about all the outsides factor. I was a single Mom that worked two jobs!!..Life waited for me, you need to take this time to heal!

If you have any questions, just message away!


Hugs

Donna

Donna,
My name is Stephanie and my sister had the VSG a few weeks ago and she has a leak. She is home after 2 weeks in hospital and was on feeding tube and 2 drains. She is so discouraged and feeling at her lowest. She goes tommorow for swallow test to see how the leak is going. Is there anyway you can speak with her or email her or even add her on Facebook if you are available.
Her name is Ana Castonguay on facebook or if she can add you.
Thanks for all your help and hopefully she can talk to you for some encouragement and support

 Which 'medical facility' did you have your surgery at?  Are you in Edmonton?

Hey i know that it has been a long time since your post but i was wondering how you are going now please. 

 

I had surgery back in november 2010. After my surgery I went home and thought everything was normal until 3 weeks post my surgery date when i suddenly developed high fevers and a dangerously high pulse rate. I was admitted to hospital and found a gastric leak and had a drain inserted into my side to drain it. I was in hospital for 3 weeks and developed pneumonia and my lung collapsed. I was discharged home only to be readmitted a week later with severe dehydration and pneumonia as my stomach was still too weak for me to eat. It took another month before i was able to eat normally again. I assumed that would be the end of it. 

However throughout 2012 i started vomiting a lot post eating and went back to my surgeon as was sent for a barium swallow to see what was happening. The results of which should i have a pouch connected to my oesophagus which gets food and fluid stuck in it. It also had an extra connected which had formed down to my stomach. My surgeon thought it was fascinating and hadn't seen anything like it but other then the vomiting i was assymptomatic. 

However a week ago i got it reviewed by another surgeon as I am still finding it quite strange and if i lie down after eating everything comes back up. The surgeon i spoke to now wants to send me for another barium swallow as he thinks that my stomach may still be leaking almost 3 years post my surgery!! He also mentioned the possibility regardless of whether my stomach is still leaking or not i would have to have more surgery to fix it. 

Just wanted to know if anyone else continued to have problems post their leak. 

 

thank you!

hi there,
 

my husband had the same surgery on feb 25 and unfortuinately had a leak after. we are wondering how long it took to heal?

and how much ca you now eat? and do you have gas or did you get rid of it after your stomach healed? was the drain draining still after it healed?

 

thanks,
 

Hi, I saw this and had to reply. The same thing happened to me. On Oct 8th, 2013 I had a gastric sleeve. Everything was perfect then 2 weeks post op I got really sick and they discovered a leak. I also now have a feeding tube and not one but 2 drains. It's been about 3 weeks since the leak. So...I know this happened to you years ago, so how long did it take you to get the tubes out? They told me possibly 6 weeks... also how are you now? Are you eating normally, drinking normally, any long term complications because of the leak? I hope your doing well, and I am sorry it happened to you as well.

This person hasn't posted since 12/11!

Hi my name is Stephanie and my sister just had her surgery in October as well and what you went thru is exactly her story. How are you doing now? are your drains removed and is there anyway she can talk to you for some feedback and maybe some encouragement or maybe help each other.
Her name is Ana Castonguay on Facebook or she can add you. She is not on the forum. I had the roux n y almost 2 years ago but I cant relate cause i am not going thru what she is.

thanks a bunch hope your better too

I am sorry to hear she is going through this. Well, mine all started on Oct. 22nd and as of today 12/18 I am doing great. I feel normal however I still have one drain and the feeding tude. However they just went in yesterday via endoscopy and clamp one drain and ended up taking the other one out completely. So the Dr. said the next step is in a week he will go in and clamp the tube in my stomach. See how I do with clear liquids and jellos, broths etc. then it too will be removed. It will heal and this will all be behind all of us. The important part is staying positive, keeping your faith, and low days happen but she will get through. 

I know this post is old but I have a similar situation and was wondering how you are doing and how they repaired your leak.

I had one leak fixed with a bearclaw but now they found another leak.