Question:
I'm having a hard time!

I have had alot of complications following surgery( 4 surgeries, blockages, dehydration ect...) and recently had to have emergent small bowel obstruction surgery. I'm really having a hard time dealing with the fact that I am in the worst health of my life. My surgeon said it is just a matter of time before I have to have surgery again! I feel like I am a ticking time bomb. Help!    — RUTH HANSON (posted on October 30, 2007)

October 30, 2007
It is so hard to read that you are having such a difficult time with such a powerful tool for permanent weight loss. Surely, your doctor must have some advice as to the foods to eat to allow you to continue to lose weight, but avoid bowel obstruction. Although you are dealing with complicatons, dry jotting down the positive results of your surgery: weight loss, inches loss, lowering of cholesterol, hypertension, and/or diabetes. Hopefully, someone that is more versed in your complications will also respond. In the meantime, make your doctor do his job by providing you with constructive, doable solutions to avoid as many problems as possible in the future.
   — SAChick

October 30, 2007
I'm so sorry to hear you are having so many complications. I had a few at the beginning, but nothing like what you are describing. What procedure did you have and how long ago? Did you research your doctor? I know I was checking my doc's stats as well as the hospital I went to. I know sometimes no matter how good the doc there still will be complications. I wish I had more words of advice, but I pray things will get better for you soon. If your doctor can't get things on the right track, I'd consider seeking out additional help from another speacialist. Good luck and take care of yourself.
   — juliebelle0402

October 30, 2007
I'm so sorry you've had so many troubles in the last 2 years, Ruth. Why does your MD say it's only a matter of time before you'd need more surgery? Is it because of your diet? Or because of scarring/adhesions from all the surgeries? Would you be willing to share what other kinds of surgeries you've had, and how many were for obstructions? And what kind of surgery is he talking about after a RNY - is he thinking you'll obstruct again? He doesn't sound very positive or supportive; I agree with Julie about maybe seeing another surgeon for a 2nd opinion. Meanwhile - DRINK, DRINK, DRINK! Obstructions can be caused (at least in part) by dehydration, so you know what you have to do to keep moving forward. Please let me know if I can be of any help - I'm "just down the road" in MA if you ever want to talk or vent. My e-mail is [email protected]. Kathy
   — obeseforever

October 30, 2007
Hi Ruth! I did not have the surgical complications you have had, but I also had complications following surgery. I was intensley nausated for almost a full year, so much so, that I asked for a reversal and had to be admitted to the hospital for severe depression and suicidal ideals. I also developed severe hypertension during this time and suffered a small stroke from it. I still must keep phenergan on me at all times because I am still very easily nauseated, usually for no reason that I can find. I am a lot better and have returned to work, but still find myself regretting this surgery. I only lost weight when I suffered severe nausea and was unable to eat at all. I manage to maintain almost 190 lbs on next to nothing intake. I stay tired all of the time, no matter what vitamins or food I ingest. I must take high doses of anti depression meds just to keep somewhat sane these days. I just wanted you to know, that there are others out there in the same mindset as you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for a recovery and bright future. If I can be of any help...please feel free to email me... [email protected] Take care of yourself!
   — teresagrooms

October 31, 2007
Hi Ruth, and thanks for writing. I am almost 4 years post op now and have had my share of "issues" like you, but I don't call them complications. Dehydration is not a complication to me. I have struggled with surgeries every year since my rny for one thing or another, have had an ulcer, gall bladder issues, scar tissue and an obstructed bowel as well. I don't like having to go through these surgeries, and some have been quite difficult to recover from, but my health is the best it has ever been. I look at it in the respect that this is the price for the tool that I got. I knew from the beginning that I had to keep track of my health for the rest of my life, and that these things can happen. Every March since my surgery (which was in March of 04) I have had surgery. I am hoping to get through this March without surgery, but if I have surgery, so be it. It is a choice I made, and I will continue to battle my health. What I am really saying Ruth is that you have to accept the decision you made regarding surgery and move forward. Don't stress about what may come. If it comes, deal with it, and be thankful for the weight you have kept off. You are not a ticking time bomb, you just have real maintenance issues regarding your surgery that you have to deal with. If your surgeon is not keeping up with you on things, perhaps you need a 2nd opinion. For example, when I had scar tissue that caused an obstructed bowel, they placed "surgi-wrap" stuff around my organs to discourage scar tissue growth. If your surgeon is not taking steps to help you not come back, maybe he is helping you come back. Don't get high Blood pressure over this though. You cannot change having issues with this surgery, many of us do. Take a deep breath and enjoy a warm cup of tea. Stress can cause more problems than the surgery ever would. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

October 31, 2007
I was quite moved by your post. I have had very little problems after my surgery and I can't imagine going thru what you have been thru! I am surprised that no one has suggested it but what about talking with another Bariatric surgeon and get another opinion. I had surgery at a Center of Excellence and you might want to check out to see if there is one in your area. The best to you and hang in there, one day at a time
   — Elizabeth S.

October 31, 2007
Hi Ruth. Just another posting to let you know that you are not alone in having complications after surgery. I had abdominal pain about one week after my RNY surgery. This landed me in the hospital for more days than the initial stay for the RNY. It was determined that I had (and still do have) a clot in one of the major arteries (superior mesentery) that supplies the bowel. When you get a blockage in a heart artery, that causes well known pain. Apparently, such pain can happen for blood vessels in other places in the body as well. **** Four months after that, I also had a bowel blockage that gave me some of the worst pain I've EVER experienced. This was corrected by emergency surgery, during which they determined I was having a HEART ATTACK. After a post-surgery stay in ICU for four days, an ICU nurse informed me of the heart attack and that they thought I might not pull through. (Obviously I DID recover since I'm now writing this to you.) **** After leaving hospital for the emergency surgery, I had additional painful complications resulting from the surgery. (The RNY was laproscopic; the emergency surgery was open-gut -- taking 27 staples to close, leaving behind some VERY unsightly staple marks on my tummy.) **** The whole point of my telling you all this is that I'M DOING GREAT NOW. Yes, I COULD experience another painful blockage and need another emergency surgery. On the other hand that may never happen again. I'n not going to spend my waking hours worrying about that possibility. If it happens, it happens. My weight is now at a quite acceptable level and my overall state of health is immensely better than it was a year and a half ago prior to mt RNY surgery. So **DON'T GIVE UP** Ruth. Keep on top of the problems you are now experiencing with your doctor(s), with the knowledge that **THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER**. One day you'll look back at all this current trouble, then look at yourself in the mirror, and know that it was all worth the pain and frustration you went through. I know that's been the case for me.
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 2, 2007
I have not had WLS due to some major stomach/intestinal problems. It has radically changed my life... if you want to talk/vent/whatever, please feel free to email me. Hang in there.
   — mrsidknee

November 3, 2007
Ruth, me too. I have had so many complications, but I'm thin. I know how you feel. I had obstruction surgery last summer. I know it is only a matter of time...I think I have another hernia or minor obstruction. I too have been told that they can't go into my abdomen again, I think I am at 7 times, yet they say every abdominal surgery leads to another, scar tissue, hernia (which I have had 3), and obstructions. I tell myself that I have been through the worst, and been obese. I can handle it alot better now, at an average weight.
   — colleenfwx

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