Complications - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

sdgrrl · 01-09-2009, 03:42 PM

I've had a lot of complications, but no energy to list them out. Do a forum search for postings by sdgrrl to read about my journey. Yes, it's great to weigh 125, it's delightful to wear small, size 3, etc. But I do think I shortened my life with all the re-plumbing Doc Potts had to do to me. He actually told me about 3 months after my 'crisis' that he had reconciled that I would not recover from all the problems and emergency surgeries I had to have. Those days were horrific (Elaine and I were fighting for our very lives at just about the same time) but it's soooooooo much easier being thin. I never knew what it was like to be 'normal'. I have to say that even though my other health problems render me nearly bedridden, and the side effects (copper and iron deficiency, making kidney stones at a mad rate, and the omnipresent 'will this make me dump?' threat, my self esteem is much better, I don't cringe when I look in a mirror or try to buy clothes.

So, here I am, pretty much an advert against having it done, but I'm pretty glad I did it. I much prefer being called a bitch as opposed to a fat bitch! My love, Michelle, is built EXACTLY the same way I was before surgery, and while she got a wicked good wardrobe from my clothes, I see in her the same self esteem issues and insecurities I had. Jones New York clothes are a dream to wear, but if you don't feel good about yourself, the Jones NY doesn't matter a bit.

Good luck to you!

rnmom1118 · 01-09-2009, 07:40 PM

I appreciate your response. I've read some of your threads, but still haven't found your story. I'll keep looking, but i did read enough to know that you were fighting for your life, which I think some people just don't understand. I'm new to this forum, and haven't read a lot of peoples stories, but have found that others try to "gloss over" the horror stories. It's very real, and leaves a lasting scar...mentally. I'm going thru the grieving process...mainly now between anger and depression, and just plain fear. Fear that I'm not going to make it thru.

Sounds like you are still compromised on a daily basis? Tell me more about that, if you don't mind.

Thanks

Bmuscial · 01-10-2009, 12:50 PM

I have had a lot of complications as well. I had my bypass in dec 06. Then in March of 07 went to er for kidney stones. Then again for kidney stones in June. Then back to the Er in August for gallbladder removal. Then in Feb 08 i had a hernia and a perf of an ulcer.
Then about two months ago i couldn't keep anything down and in Dec 08 i had a revision and 10 inches of intestines removed. So i am ready for problems to go away. I love being skinny but i am not one of those people who likes to be sick all the time. Also FOR ME have problems like i have had makes me have some depression. The addiction that i had to food was unreal. I never realized what a big roll it played in my life and that scares me.

rnmom1118 · 01-10-2009, 02:17 PM

Thanks for your input. The scary thing is, Kasey...is when is it going to end? And, in the process of trying to do something better for our health, have we made it worse, and shortened our life span? I feel too that I've become too focused and obsessed with my health, but I guess when you don't feel good, that's your focal point anyhow.

I've had chronic gastritis and Barrett's Esophagus, which can be precancerous, so I worry about that also.

How are you doing since your recent surgery?

rnmom1118 · 01-13-2009, 07:43 PM

I've been laying here reading many people's complications, and crying...knowing I'm not alone. As I can't eat anything, liquids only, am shaking, dizzy, heart pounding, weak as a kitten (don't know where that terminology came from), and just wondering if I'm going to die! I do have an obstruction in the distal anastamosis to the small intestine, and reflux up into the bile duct. I'm trying very hard to keep hydrated and drink protein shakes. My surgery is scheduled for Monday. He's going to revise the small bowel anastamosis. I can't wait and am scared to death. I worry that I'm well enough for surgery.

Please let me know that everything is going to be ok!?!? Is this a continual process? Will it get better?

dolphin12969 · 01-13-2009, 09:35 PM

I'm sorry to hear about your struggles. I am never happy to hear about others suffering, but like you, it's nice to know you are not alone. Some times I wonder if I did the right thing. Yeah, people refer to me as "tiny" & "skinny minney", but after all the surgeries & pain I definitely question my choice. I know that I am healthier at this weight, I know that my back & knee pain is soooo much better, but sometimes you can't help but feel like "What the hell did I do?" Best of luck to you. Just having this site has been a HUGE help to me, I hope it is a help to you as well.

Dabigdawg · 01-13-2009, 09:52 PM

Almost nine months out , No complications here

rnmom1118 · 01-14-2009, 05:35 AM

Thank you. Last night was very cathartic for me. I spent hours reading through what some of you have been through. Makes me realize that maybe I won't die, that others have struggled through, and although this may be what we are faced with in life, you just deal with it and do the best we can. Your support means a lot to me!

fatsomuch · 01-14-2009, 08:53 AM

First of all, let me say how sorry I am for all of you who have experienced such horrible complications. Having been seriously ill with heart disease and diabetes for 20 years now, not to mention lots of other health problems, I certainly can understand how devastating it is to be ill all the time.

Forgive me if I am out of line asking this question, but I was wondering if the doctors have explained any of the reasons these things are happening with any of you. Many of you sound as though you have similiar complications and I am curious if there is some kind of connection about why this procedure causes these particular problems.

I sincerely hope and pray that all of you recover quickly and that these are the end of your painful and awful complications.

Personally, I appreciate people who are honest about things because it doesn't do anyone any good to not know about these problems before making the decision to have this done. So for that I truly thank all of you.

Cindy

rnmom1118 · 01-15-2009, 08:24 AM

Well, others might have more knowledge regarding this than I do, as I'm relatively new to investigating the complications, but I do know that any time you have GI surgery of any type, you are at higher risk for strictures and obstruction due to scar tissue. With the hernia issue, I'm assuming it's because of the strictures, etc that causes extra strain on the gi system, causing the hernias. Each type of surgery has it's own unique problems (lap band, rny, bpd). I had a BPD (biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch), which isn't done much anymore. Other than malnutrition issues and vitamin deficiencies, I'm having a hard time finding info about other long-term complications. Does anyone else have any answers or can explain things better than I?