I am so done!!!

I have had so many complications with my RNY. I had surgery on Aug. 2nd. I had some problems during the operation and ended up having to stay in the hospital 9 days. Since I've been home I've progressed to the full liquids stage but according to my plan I should be doing pureed/soft foods by now. I'm still having problems taking in enough fluids by mouth to stay hydrated. The Dr. placed a feeding tube into my remnant stomach because of the complications during surgery, so he doesn't seem concerned as long as I continue to infuse through the tube enough liquids to stay hydrated. That by itself is so frustrating. I have meds for the nausea but I still spend most of the day feeling sick. Now my feeding tube site is infected and I'm on 2 antibiotics. The infection is not helping in the feeling sick department. Tonight the stitch holding my g-tube in place pulled loose out of the infected tissue!!!  OUCH!!!! I will call the Dr again tomorrow. He told me on Monday that I may have to go back into the hospital for IV antibiotics and more "minor" surgery to replace the tube and stitch it back in place. I REALLY don't want to go back to the hospital!!

I feel like crying!!! This is not how it was supposed to be!!! Can somebody please remind my that this will pass? Has anyone out there had a similar experience with so many complications but ended up happy with their RNY? I am so discouraged and I'm starting to wish that I hadn't done this!

I'm so so sorry!! I know how you are feeling. I had to have a g-tube in for over 2 weeks. It hurt so bad to move and was become infected. I wouldn't have needed the narcotics if it wasn't for that damn thing. Thankfully I went in and complained and before I knew it the doctor had pulled it out. They were going to leave it in for 4 weeks because of my complicated surgery.

I had a previous Nissan Fundoplication that they had to take down before doing the RNY.

What are they giving you for the nausea? How much liquids are you getting in orally?

I guess the positive side that I've seen is that those that have problems tend to lose the weight faster....

In a few weeks you will be very glad that you went through the surgery even if it didn't go as you had planned.

I agree about the pain meds. I don't think I would need them if I didn't have this d@*n  infected tube!!!  I have zofran for the nausea. I'm taking the 8mg disolvable ones. It works pretty good, I've also got a scopolamine patch. The combo is pretty effective. I feel nauseous all the time but I haven't thrown up since I was in the hospital which is an improvement from before the RNY when I threw up all the time because of my severe gastroperesis.

I'm only getting about 30 oz a day orally. The rest is infused through the tube along with my medications. We have to be careful with how much we infuse at a time because my remnant stomach is really small due to surgery complications.

Thank you for the support. It's nice to know that someone else has been where you are and went on to succeed!   -Julie

Hey there,

Though I have not had any problems whatsoever, I was still touched by what you are going through and just wanted to give you some support.

There have been others who have had the type of rough start such as what you're experiencing who have gone on to have a successful weight loss journey, so please try and hang in there. 

Your daily/hourly mantra could be "this too will pass..." because it very likely will.  Meanwhile, getting through the rough patches really sucks and my heart is going out to you.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!!!

I haven't had any complications so I have no advice to offer but I did want to send you well wishes... I could only imagine that this is a tough time for you and causes regret... try to remember that once this rough patch passes it will all be worth it... I hope that things improve quickly for you... Good luck sweetie!

Hang in there J!

I am so sorry you are feeling lousy. I know you dont want to go back to the hospital, and maybe you wont have too. Cross that brigde if and when it gets here. Just make sure you keep your tube supported and safe.

Take the best care of yourself that you can. Make sure you are resting, walking and sipping. I didnt have complications and didnt progress like the surgeon plan said I should. Full liquids felt great on my new pouch. Foods even puree took a while to get used too.

I can only imagine how frustrated you are, but when you are feeling better and healthy, it will be all worth it.

 Big hugs to you!

Your experience sounds awful!  While my experience wasn't as terrible as yours, I had some complications during and after my surgery and wound up in the hospital for 5 days and with a drainage tube in my remanent stomach for 4 weeks.  It was really awful the first month, but now I'm doing amazingly well and can tolerate almost every food and don't have any dumping problems. 

It will get better!!!!  Believe me, it's so much better on the other side!

I am so sorry that your surgery was so complicated! You may feel down now and that is undestandable, more than understandable, but stay strong, you CAN do this, and keep fighting... It may not seemlike it now, but it will get better. Vent all you need to, we will listen and support you!

Oh, good Lord!  No wonder you feel like crying.  I'm so sorry you've had to deal with all this.

I had some problems after surgery.  Twice I got dehydrated and had to go to the ER for IV fluids.  I had terrible nausea and had trouble keeping fluids done.  I think the first time I went to the ER for IV fluids was about a month after surgery.  At that time, they also told me I had pneumonia.  I had been getting short of breath easily but had just assumed I was out of shape from not getting any exercise.  I wasn't coughing or anything.

Well, they gave me a prescription for antibiotics, which I started taking.  A week later, I went back to the ER for more fluids.  They hooked up an IV, but I was surprised to find that they were much more concerned about my lungs than the dehydration.  The pneumonia had gotten much, much worse, despite the antibiotics.

They admitted me to the hospital, and had me on oxygen and were giving me breathing treatments.  The next day, they moved me to intensive care.  I ended up being in the hospital for three weeks.  I was on a respirator for several days.  They had to do surgery to clean out all the infected fluid around my left lung.  They tried to put in a chest tube to drain the fluid first, but it was so thick and bad that it wouldn't drain out.

My theory is that I picked up some sort of bug when I was in the hospital having my RNY, although I can't prove that.  I suspect it was some sort of antibiotic resistant germ, since they had to try several different IV antibiotics before finding one that worked.

When they sent me home after three weeks, I was still really weak.  The first couple days, I could not get off my couch without help.  I had a home health aide that came each day to help me take a shower.  And a home health nurse that came to change the bandage on my incision from the lung surgery.  Oh, and that incision took much longer to heal than it should have, so they were worried about that in the hospital, too.

Honestly, I think I was about six months out before I felt really good.  I am really happy with my RNY now.  I'm actually below my goal weight, I feel good most days, I'm happy.  I really hope you start to feel better soon.  The problems you're having certainly should pass.  I hope they pass soon.

Like Kelly I had issues the first 6 months.  I had gastroparensis as well but it subsided post op.  I was on zofran for a while but HATED it so I use phenergan for nausea instead.