Gastric Bypass/Revision left me near death due to scar tissue

Gastric Bypass, and the surgeons who perform it, have left me near death, with a feeding tube, living off disability and uninsurable. That's why I need to share my story to explain some of the common, yet avoidable, complications of Bariatric Surgery. This surgery is becoming too commercialized and routine, and many times it's being performed without the patient being educated of the life-long changes they need to make in order to be successful and healthy long-term.

I had Bariatric Surgery, or Gastric Bypass, in December 2002. I was 33 years old and had been overweight and/or obese the majority of those years. I did a ton of research for nearly two years and was extremely excited for what was to come. Within the first two weeks I lost 18 pounds. Wow! Then it stopped. I was eating five green olives for lunch, and it would take me 30 minutes to eat those five olives, but the weight would not budge. I did not touch sugar, fat or anything with high calories. I only drank water. I followed the doctors orders to the letter. But I was not exercising.

I started exercising and the weight started coming off. I exercised for 90 minutes, 6 days a week. If I stopped exercising for a week, it would take me a month to lose another pound. I fought for every pound I lost. It took two years, but at 5 feet, 3 inches tall, I went from 275 pounds to 160 pounds and was on top of the world, still exercising and eating right.

In May of 2008 I had some dental work done. I was put on 1600mg of ibuprofen a day for two months. Roughly two months after I discontinued the use of ibuprofen I started vomiting. It quickly became a daily occurrence. One day after eating my small breakfast and lunch, around 2:00 PM I had to vomit again, but this time I realized it included dinner from the previous night.

Scared, I ended up at a gastroenterologist who ran a camera scope down my throat and said that the opening from my stomach to my intestines had closed down to the size of a pinhole due to scar tissue. I was told that scar tissue is considered a common complication for Gastric Bypass patients. After reviewing my medical history he asked if I use ibuprofen, and I was then told that Gastric Bypass patients should not take ibuprofen or any NSAIDS, as it causes scar tissue. For 6 years I had been taking NSAIDS for aches and pains here and there. None of my doctors had said anything.

I wish my story ended there. To make this short, my gastroenterologist did a scope with balloon dilation to open up the scar tissue, a procedure that works on all but 2% of bypass patients. I am part of that 2%. After having 2 scopes with balloon dilation, I was told I needed Gastric Revision surgery.

The bariatric surgeon who performed my Gastric Revision surgery on January 29, 2009 was well-known, recommended and even had a commercial on television about gastric bypass. However, right after surgery I was still vomiting. Not even two weeks after surgery they performed another scope down my throat and my gastroenterologist wrote in my record that the bariatric surgeon had sewn my stomach shut. Now, instead of a stricture from my stomach to my intestines, I had a stricture from my esophagus to my stomach. Of course the surgeon denied this, saying that I had rebuilt scar tissue within those two weeks. But after 5 months, 7 additional scopes with balloon dilation and 59 days in the hospital I was forced in to getting a feeding tube, was fired from my job, left with no insurance, and had to go on disability. I am now down to 121 pounds. I've lost all muscle mass, fat, menstruation, and nearly all of my teeth due to malnutrition. My nutrients are fed to me 12-16 hours a day through a tube in my chest that sits right on my bra line.

There is more to my story, but I tried to condense it as best as I could. I am trying to get my story out there, through talk shows, magazines, online, etc., in hopes that by hearing my story I can help people realize that gastric bypass is not a quick fix. It's a tool, which if used correctly, takes effort, changes in diet, amount of food eaten and exercise, all things that can be done without the surgery and some of the common complications that come with it. I'm hoping that patients and their doctors research and educate all facets of this procedure, short and long-term. I would not be where I am today if I had known NSAIDS caused scar tissue, and I had researched this surgery for nearly two years beforehand. I'm also hoping that by getting my story publicized, I might find a doctor who specializes in this field as I'm told I need additional surgery to make a new stomach out of my remaining intestines. Until then, I will survive on my feeding tube and disability.

I appreciate you reading my story. I hope this is not the end of my story, but just a positive beginning. Thank you so much for your time.

Leslee
Reno, Nevada

I nearly had gastric bypass back in 2002, but cancelled because I got scared. But even then they were telling us NO NSAIDS> Why in the world would you go directly against that? I'm not saying it's your fault, but I'm also going to say you had one heck of a quack. I'm sorry you are where you are... but in all your research you might have found some clue he/she was a quack.

teri

I did not intend for my previous post to be "judgemental". But every day I see posts about no NSAIDS. In my personal case, I'm allergic to Tylenol, so I've had to give up the idea of that catagory of mediations. I have chronic pain, and take pain medication daily, and have already switched it out to one without ibuprofen, and it's all good. I truthfully think it helps more, and with less tummy upset. It's just saddening to read where drs aren't giving the quality care, that I'm accustomed to. Heck my sister had gastric bypass (they didn't call it an rny back then), like in 1993, and even then she was told no NSAIDS for life. And they didn't even teach her how to eat. One week post op she ate a piece of pumpkin pie, and got the crust stuck, and then ended up with dumping syndrome. So I do know there are quacks out there... and am so very thankful for a great team. As you can see in my signature, I've been through the hoops, to make sure I'm healthy enough, and educated enough to be a success.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had such complications, but as you stated, you were taking NSAIDS for 6 years. And, you were in the less than two percent that stricture repair does not work for. Also, having olives for a meal is not following a proper nutritional plan. 

Avoiding NSAIDS is pounded in to us from day one!  At the surgeon's office, at the hospital, I find it very hard to believe that you were not told this at least once.  And, if you did indeed communicate to your dentist that you had RNY, then they should have known enough that you were restricted on what types of pain meds you are able to use.

I am not discounting what you have gone through at all, and I believe your post has some merit, in reminding people to know their surgeons, know their track records, and who they are dealing with before they go down this path.

But, most people I have met here on OH, and at my surgeon's office are well educated on RNY before they head off to surgery.  In fact, my surgeon's office, and all that are considered centers of Excellence and certified as so, have very strict requirements on education of all the surgery entails, nutrition, exercise, restrictions of any kind and medical testing prior to surgery approval. 

I wish you good luck on your journey and hope that you headed for better days.  

Amy,
I appreciate your response. You are very fortunate to have the excellent service you received. Unfortunately, I'm in a small town, and in 2002 I could only go to 1 surgeon in an even smaller town. 

If I had known not to take NSAIDS I would NOT have. I also list Gastric Bypass on every doctors and dentists form I fill out. 

Now, I took a high dose of NSAIDS for 2 months, as that is what was given to me at that time. After 2 months of using it, I discontinued taking it. Regarding taking them for 6 years ... it was maybe one here or there, but it was never in high doses like that before or after the dental work.  

After my GI appointment in May, 2008 when I was finally told by the GI doctor, I never took NSAIDS again. I had the Gastric Revision surgery in January, 2009 and was told that even without taking NSAIDS since May, 2008, that I had regrown scar tissue. I can't see how that is possible within 2 weeks of surgery, but I am dealing with it. I list my extreme situation as I now need to find a specialist who can handle my next operation, and there aren't any specialists in my city. 

While I am thrilled that this information about NSAIDS is more widely known, there are patients like myself who are still not aware. So please don't tell me that someone must have told me and I chose to do something harmful to my body on purpose. 

I worked very hard doing what my doctors asked of me, and am very proud of what I accomplished. My story is an extreme, but scar tissue is a common complication, so not all patients are given the amount of care you may have received. 

I'm not judging someone who wishes to have this surgery. I'm just trying to advocate better education given to patients. And, if you noticed, I said treatment works on all but 2% of patients. I'm not looking for sympathy here, I'm just hoping to help someone in the future. 

I was never told about NSAIDS either I had my gastric bypass in 2001 doctors with my full medical history prescribed it to me now 13 years later I can hardly eat and I have massive scar tissue and chronic pain. The doctors never told me that it caused scar tissue they just said it would cause ulcers in the new stomach which thank God I dont have that. I cannot have surgery to help relieve my pain either because the scar tissue has pushed my bowels to the inside surface of my abdomen so surgery is life threatening and to top it off I have developed endometriosis and lost an ovary due to the combination I am 37 and I am in constant pain have 2 small kids that pray every day that mommy could just not be in pain anymore so it happens and sometimes when you find out its too late so I can relate very much.

I think I do get your point.  I am preparing to have bypass myself, hopefully later this month.  Your post is particularly interesting to me, as my first dr (I have since changed drs.) did not mention anything about nsaids.  He too is well respected and has good "statistics" for complications and mortality.  But several things happened with his office staff to alert me that I wasn't safe in his hands, so I changed. 
Coming on here has educated me about nsaids, but your story is the first I have heard about the risks of potential scar tissue. 

I do not think that you were or are uneducated, nor do I think this unfortunate and horrible outcome is your fault.  Drs. should have educated you and dentists and other healthcare providers should be educated about gastric bypass.

Tell your story, as long as you are telling it as you have here, it is balanced and good education.  People need to know this is dangerous, life altering surgery and should only be undertaken after all these considerations. 

As to your comment about being able to get the same results without surgery, I'm afraid that for many of us that simply is not true.  If it were, I wouldn't need the surgery.

Your story is tragic.  If there is any way possible, you might want to consider having your additional surgeries at a hospital that is associated with an major medical school.  I know  you said you are not insurable, but I assume you are  on medicare/medicaid.  I wish you the best.