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Just to give a little more information on my "leak experience"...I was sleeved on Feb. 18, 2015, about 6 days later I started to have pain in the top left side just below my rib cage that radiated up into my chest and left shoulder point. I went to the ER at the DECH in Fredericton and they took it VERY serious. The docs on duty (Dr. Armitage and Dr. Young) immediately sent me for an ultrasound and CT scan and saw NOTHING. They contacted Moncton with the results and were told by my doctor there to send me (by ambulance) back to Moncton immediately for further testing as there could be a pin hole leak that was not showing up on the tests here in Fredericton. So they doped me up and put me in the back of the ambulance and off to Moncton I went where they did more CT scans many, many blood tests (several per day) and all they knew was that my white blood cell count was up which indicated an infection somewhere (still no leak showed). They put in a PICC line and for the next 11 days I was on antibiotics and was not allowed anything by mouth (not even water). The good news is that it worked like a charm. My advise is to take your temps and make sure that you are not running a fever (I was). Not an extremely high fever but none the less a fever. I agree with what the others have said that you MUST NOT let this go. Present yourself to the ER again and make sure that they are listening to you. Good luck, I will be interested to hear how you are doing, if you need to talk just send me a message.
Hi Medic - I have been following this post of yours - to see if you had gotten any help. I live in NL - but I'm pretty sure Health Care is the Atlantic Provinces is pretty similar across the board. I also am an RN of 32yrs and work in ER. You and only you know how you feel. You have to advocate for yourself and speak up and make noise. Whether it be with your family doctor - or with your bariatric surgeon - or in an ER. Personally - I would head back to the hospital and surgeon where I had my surgery. If you can't see your surgeon - go to that ER. Explain everything carefully and thoroughly and make it very clear that you are unable to go on like you are. Be forceful - not rude. If you are not someone who is comfortable being assertive - take someone with you who is. Write it all down. Keep a diary of what has been going on with you - who you have seen - who you have talked to. And when you do go back to see someone - and I hope it is quickly - make sure you ask for their name and write it down. It makes people accountable. You have been unwell for quite a while - and sooner or later the ball will drop - you won't be able to work and you are going to land in some random ER - maybe unable to speak for yourself. Health Care resources are so strapped these days - it's terrible. And it's too easy to just tell someone - oh ya - you are depressed and hopefully be done with it. Go back to see someone - and don't give up. And there is always the media. Phone your local open line show and tell your story. Lots of time that will get someones attention - said to say it - but it's true. It's a holiday weekend - with probably limited resources as far as staff and diagnostics etc. If you can hang on until Monday am - I would present myself at the hospital where I had my surgery - if the surgeon won't see you - go to that ER. If you are too sick to wait - go now. I'm not giving you medical advice - just letting you know what I would do. Good luck to you!
Mary
I went to the emergency roomthis week and they can not find anything wrong. They even called my surgeon. They are saying its depression but i know im not depressed and the pain is awful. I think my surgeon gave up on me to find what is wrong with me. I know the pain is not in my head. I just want to be pain free and follow the diet. Also being week its hard on the job that im doing. I really think i should get a second opinion.
Hi I sent you a fb join message. I live in nb and was sleeved feb 2015.
If I were you, I would not mess around with this. 300/400 cals a day is not very much and maybe you do have a leak. Make the call to the bariatric clinic in moncton and force the issue. Ask for the nurse there and tell her what is up, get the hospital to transfer you to her direct line. If no success then go to emergency. There could be a dozen things wrong and you should not wait for our very slow health care system to figure out how to diagnose you.
Take a tablespoon of protein drink in at a time and if you are able to eat food, use chopsticks to eat with. It makes you eat very slowly and in small amounts.
I was was just sleeved thus Feb and have had no complications so far but I have been lucky. Please post again how you are doing.
Congratulations! Follow their instructions to the letter and you will do great! Welcome to the losers bench!
I don't understand why they sent you home after less than 24 hours - that doesn't seem normal. I can't see how they could be sure you were ready when you hadn't even had full liquids yet, not to mention all the other things they monitor. I had the surgery on Monday morning and was even still getting the Heparin injections right up until Thursday morning when I left. Did you have to give yourself the Heparin injections at home?
I hope you're treated successfully! I had the sleeve surgery in mid January and had severe problems with nausea I was hospitalized in February with dehydration, treated and released. It just became worse. I was hospitalized again in early March and they did an upper GI ser.ies and a CT scan. It was discovered that a small lea****urred. I was on IV nutrition through a PICC for a couple of weeks with nothing by mouth (even water, ugh). The leak resolved itself and I'm now eating and drinking without issue. I had a follow up today with Dr Beausoleil and all is well. I'm even off blood pressure medication since losing over 100lbs!! From what you're saying, you're malnourished and probably also dehydrated. I would call the clinic or go to the hospital. They a least have to keep you from wasting away while they figure out whats wrong with you. I wish you the very best of luck!! Peter
