MeMeMEEE

Candice - I ended up with Fluid around my lungs as well, 3 weeks in the hospital and 3 chest tubes.

Yes - when you say "severe" that is how I described it - this is "I can't function" pain!

Can you call you Dr? Sometimes they have an answering service who can contact them. How far out are you? I had left side and left shoulder pain - the shoulder pain was because of a leak, the side pain went away when they discovered the leak also but I am not sure if it was a symptom of it. I would call - especially if you can't drink - don't want to get dehydrated.

Speak to you Dr about it! Left shoulder pain was the ONLY symptom of my leak - I never ran a fever with it. It started out coming and going and eventually stayed. I used ice and heat and that helped in the beginning. Eventually my leak was discovered. They kept telling me it was acid reflux and in the end it was referred pain from the diaphragm - I had an abscess from the leak which was pushing on it.

Hang in there!! I am so glad you got to come home! Don't let the weight gain scare you too much - I have been promised by my Doctor it will come back off! Healing prayers coming your way!

The book they use is The Beck Diet Solution Weightloss workbook. It is pink, make sure you get the workbook. The people I know from my program who have had to take the class speak very highly of it.

Well the stitch holding my drain in place broke today and the drain has come out several inches. I called the Dr, they said tape it to my body and come in Monday and they will take it out!! WOOO!

I got the ok to EAT this week )) Soft foods, but still! I am still getting some nutrition from the feeding tube so not losing really. So ready to lose again!! I am so scared I won't start losing when I go off the tube. No logical reason. My protein drinks are going down well - I am THRILLED since that wasn't the case in the beginning! I got a gym membership last week - one that is open 24 hours. I need to start going even if just to walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes.

Have you talked to your surgeons office? Ours offers a class on Mindful Eating - there is a book they use - I will try to find out the name of it for you.

I had disolving stitches also.

Guess I never updated. I started oral fluids last Thursday and yesterday got the ok to advance to soft foods )) Doing nothing for the fistula at this point. My drain may be keeping the path open. Hoping it will close when that eventually comes out.

Yes it is. My leak was held closed from the swelling for at least 9 weeks until the abscess was discovered.

My insurance specifies that the 40 BMI is at the beginning of the 6 months. To me that implies you are ok if you dip below during the 6 months.

My only symptom of my leak was left shoulder pain which was determined to be referred pain from the abscess pushing on my diaphragm. No fever, vomiting, anything. My shoulder pain came and went in the beginning but eventually stayed. Occasionally I would have mid left side pain but that was never confirmed as a symptom. Neither of these things were on my list of what to watch for. My doctor couldn't believe I wasn't sick with it. If something doesn't feel right, speak to your doctor until you are satisfied you have the right answer and treatment. Listen to your body.

I am so sorry for your loss! Can you use exercise? I know alot of people say that is a good stress reliever?

With my leak I was in the hospital at a higher stage of the bariatric diet than normal and they allowed 2 tbsp of veggies with 2oz of protein, if that helps.

Don't underestimate the damage the abuse is doing to the kids. Staying for the kids isn't a good thing. It is teaching them that it is acceptable to treat a woman this way and if they are girls it is showing them that is what they should expect from a relationship. I know it can be hard and take a long time and lots of planning to make it right, but it sounds like you need to consider where things will go in the future. Have you tried marriage counseling?

When they say 2 oz protein they mean solid protein like meats. Liquids go down very easy for me also.

My leak has healed!! I got the ok to start back on fluids Thursday. Really hoping to be off the feeding tube in a week or so and start the weight loss back up!!

J tube is the feeding tube that goes in to your jejunum/intestine. You can help prevent leaks by following your program rules but even that can't completely guarantee no leak. Mine was probably a missed staple. It stayed closed from swelling and eventually when the swelling went down it opened. A leak test before leaving the hospital won't show that, it takes several weeks for the swelling to go down. Be hyper aware of your body and anything that doesn't feel right, that's my advice!

Oh my! I had no idea you were having all these problems! I am so sorry! Glad to hear you are doing better!! I was sleeved August 8th and an abscess and leak was discovered in October. I have had a J tube since then. Just got the ok to start liquids yesterday as my leak is gone! I have a drain too. I think the tubes are so uncomfortable! Ugh! But like you, I am finally starting to feel more normal! Even the time before my leak I had no energy and felt yucky so it is amazing to me now how much better I feel!

I have about 45 lbs to goal, haven't lost anything in over a month due to a leak. Am very excited to get back on the losing track but no way will I make goal by 6 months. Hoping to be close by summer.

Hang in there! I just got word this week my leak is healed and started back on fluids today. It can be an emotional roller coaster but you will get through it! If you need to talk don't hesitate to contact me!