2.5 Years Out and ? Another Leak???

Saw my GI Guy yesterday, it was a scheduled F/U as I see him every 3 months with "significant GERD" and "malabsorption secondary to Short Bowel Syndrome" (pre-existing to VSG).  I have been feeling badly since Saturday, with what I interpreted to be symptoms of "Pouch-itis" and or maybe obstruction of my pelvic pouch.  I likely should have gone to Dr. Hagen via Humber ER but waited to see my GI Guy.  At any rate he is strongly suspicious that I may have yet another leak in my sleeve (I am 2.5 years post VSG and had a leak immediately post-op).  I did not tell him before he suggested this but the pain I have is very similar to the pain I had then.  So have to have a CT scan and some lab work, and get in touch with Dr. Hagen next week and get his 2 cents.  Thinking positive. . .hoping for the best and expecting the worst because if it weren't for bad luck I would have none at all.

Oh Leona,

I am so sorry to hear about your problem. Who would think that you can still get a leak 2.5 years out? But maybe that is not what it is. You should wait to see what dr hagen has to say. I am sure you must be feeling down with all that you have been going through. But you need to be strong and keep all your thoughts positive. I am a firm believer in those positive endorphans.

I will say a special prayer to God tonight asking him to help you through these difficult times. By the way, how is your knee feeling? Take care,

Sending OH family hugs to you,  
Keep us posted. 

 Thanks Lorraine,

The idea that this could be a leak was furthest from my mind, yet it was first on his list of possibilities.  When he suggested this I realized that the pain I have now is just like the pain I had the first tme.  He reminded me that my intra-gastric pressure is quite high, and while a liak this far "post-op" is rare, they do occur most frequently in people with this type issue.  

I do plan on contacting Dr. Hagen and getting his take on things. I often feel like a "ping-pong" ball being bounced BTW these two one blames everything on the sleeve while the other blames everything on my pouch.  

OH well will carry-on tut tut

Oh boy!  2.5 years out and mileage may vary.  Hopefully this is sorted out quick so you can be back to a painless life.  Take care.

Judy

I think Dr. Hagen is away until the 16th of April, so plan to speak really really nice to the person making the appts.
Laurie

 Thanks Laurie,

Will do!

Oh wow, that's crazy!  I've been dealing with pain since surgery 5 mos ago.  Finally getting a scope done Tuesday and looking forward to some answers. 

Good luck!

Julie

I'm sorry to hear about your trouble Leona. Given the rarity of a leak this far post-op, have they also considered a fistula? I hope the CT scan can shed some light on the issue.

Hi Pat,

I do appreciate your "lay" assessment of my symptoms, and in light of this appreciation, I apologize in advance for the "caustic tone" this reply may carry.

I have a health care team who I have chosen to entrust my health care to.  They are educated, licensed and experienced health care providers.  Not only are they experienced in their field of expertise but they have also cared for me for several years and know the "uniqueness" of my health care needs.  My GI Guy did not pull his differential diagnosis list out of thin air in a matter of minutes, in fact WE discussed at great length:my symptoms(all of which I did not share), their sequence and their time line etc. before he presented his list of considerations. 

As a licensed health care professional myself I have the opportunity to select my health care team.  If you want to know who the best is at a given institution find out who the nurses there trust with their care, very seldom does a "health care provider" have a "quack" on their team.  I am sure none of my health care team do a "GOOGLE" search before considering a differential diagnosis.

That being said the tone and "heir" of your response denotes some authority, knowledge, and experience that you readily admit, when questioned, not to have.  You are a very learned person, able to research and present information in an authoritative way.  Because of the way your responses read, be it intentional or not (not just this response but many others) you should be qualifying them by stating that they are a "lay" dissemination of information, given without the benefit of education, license or experience in the field.  I know you plan on taking the MCATs, I know you hope to go to MED School, and I am sure once you have and have earned your degree and license you will be a very good, well informed practitioner.  Until then, without qualifying your statements as lay. . .you are a very dangerous person. . .IMHO

So in summary, while I appreciate your well wishes and and "lay assessment" of my current health status, I am electing to entrust my health care to the educated, licensed, experienced health care team I have selected and respect.

Thanks

Leona

I only mentioned the fistula as some time ago someone else on the board had leak like symptoms that turned out to be a fistula which was even more rare and surprising. People on the board can learn a lot about long-term complications from your case as people often mistakenly believe that they are unlikely to have complications past a certain point. I wasn't trying to provide an assessment of your case, just offer a few words of encouragement and discussion. Many others make similar comments, not held to the same scrutiny. It's your choice not to accept the comment in the spirit it was intended. Given your volatility and unpredictability it should come as no surprise to me. I hope in this process you get ALL your health issues properly indentified and treated.