MeMeMEEE

My leak was discovered 2 months out - my Dr said it was probably there all along and when my swelling went down it reared it's ugly head. My only symptom was shoulder pain.

Talk to your Dr. It could be a leak. If you don't feel right, listen to your body!!

A CT will show an abscess caused by a leak but not a leak - to my knowledge. My leak had made an abscess and that showed on the CT.

My Dr recommends 2-4 weeks and I took the 4 weeks, very thankful I did. There is a lot of exhaustion in the beginning, even after going back at 4 weeks I needed naps on my lunches. A friend of mine went back after 2 weeks and she said she really could have used another week. I say plan for the 6 weeks and if you feel up to it before, have your doctor release you sooner. I could not have gone back after a few days, there is no way!

Kayla - We are sleeve sisters! I often think about January when I went to my seminar, I try and remember what exactly prompted me to even sign up for it. Could be the pictures from my daughters wedding on 1-1-11 or maybe all the prep leading up to the wedding, including shopping for a dress for myself and hating how I looked. Like you, I started out thinking lap band and switched when I heard about VSG. I can't believe where I am weight wise, down 78 lbs since January, with a little more than 40 lbs to goal (I'm short, 4'11''). I've had a rough time of it the last few months and hoping I am on the upswing.

Where did you have your surgery - in the US? I ask because there is a lot of fraud with Mexico third party billers and hernia repair. Did you have a hernia repaired during your surgery?

My husband was 100% against it, I told him I didn't need his approval just his support in the losing phase and he said he would support me then. He told me it was "recreational surgery." I have had some complications and been hospitalized 3 times now. It's been rough, thankfully he hasn't said "I told you so" at all and the last hospital stay he even came and saw me twice. Since I have been so sick he told me he was sorry if he ever said anything mean but he didn't want me to die. What a rough road when you don't have family support behind you

Sounds like acid problem to me!

He said there is always a chance of reoccurence. Scares me so much. I will be paranoid about my temp and any shoulder pains for now.

My only symptom was left shoulder pain. I probably had a temperature but was taking vicodin for the shoulder so never knew. I had never been told the shoulder pain was a symptom. My surgeon does not perform a leak test in the hospital. My leak didn't start until at least a month out and my surgeon says most likely the swelling kept it shut that long. Also, my first leak test didn't show a leak - I had it standing up. The second leak test I was feeling faint and had to do it lying down - and only then when I rolled to the side is the only time the leak showed - it took that pressure for it to show on that test. Let's just say I'm not impressed with that test!

A little update - I ended up back in the hospital with fluid on my lungs for 19 days. I'm home now. Hoping, praying this bacteria from my leak doesn't go to some other organ.

I just have to say - the moderators changed my thread title? How weird??

I have a leak at the very top as sandyd describes. I do not know what my Dr does, if he over-sews or anything.

Still in the hospital here. Guessing I haven't lost or gained. They have me on about 1000 calories in the feeding tube plus the IV fluids. Thanksgiving was a breeze, being NPO :ihih:

Mine was found by accident - they symptom I had was blamed on something else. My Dr doesn't do a leak test the day after. My leak actually showed up probably around 4-6 weeks when the swelling went down and it opened. I was diagnosed with it at about 3 months, that's the first time it showed.

I am so glad you shared!! What a nightmare, huh? For 2 months they pushed me to eat more and I told them I couldn't, I had shoulder pain off and on as well as side pain - which of course was never when I had a surgeon appointment. I did mention the shoulder pain to my reg Dr and he suggested I see my surgeon thinking it was acid reflux related. I just came to think of it all as the new normal. Finally when I had a funky blood test come back they referred me to a hematologist and he did a CT scan and spotted the abscess. Unfortunately before they got in to put a drain in I got full blown pneumonia. When they sent me home I did good for a week or so - then they found the leak so put me on tube feedings. Thought that was going ok until I started having trouble breathing - now I didn't admit this to myself but my daughter was freaked out and called home health while I was waiting for the Dr to call back - needless to say direct admit. Surprise - I have a plural effusion in my left lung! From the nasty buggers leaking from my stomach. I paid attention but probably should have voiced my thoughts alot louder as my only real symptom was my shoulder pain.

I ignore it also. How about sweet potato? Good time of year to find it! Don't forget tomatoes, adding them in to a soup or sauce - the diced canned ones. I love green beans boiled with all the bad stuff - bacon and such.

Hi guys. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers! I was admitted this time on Thursday the 10th. Apparently the fluid crossed over through the diaphragm and is now in my pleura of my left lung. Started having trouble breathing when I woke up Wednesday morning. This leak is a bugger and it is still open as of Monday the 7th. I don't remember what my other post said but I was in the 7-8th also to get me started on Tube Feedings which thankfully are fine and not bothering me. There is talk of a stent in my stomach. There is talk of a lap scope of lung cavity. Day by day. They did just give me something called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) because the 2 chest tubes weren't doing enough fast enough I guess. I KNOW I will be going home with a PICC line this time for intense antibiotics - I have been assured by the Infectious Disease Doctor who calls himself the exterminator. He explained this is all from micro organisms in my stomach that escaped via the leak. I want to be healthy sometime soon!!

Well here I am back again - started having shoulder pain last Wednesday, thought maybe it was a tube rubbing my diaphragm. Went and had another leak study and had to lay down as I was a bit light headed - guess what? When I rolled to my left they spotted the leak - it squirted!! So when I stood up for the last one? Turning to my side did nothing to show the leak, I actually had to roll. So now I am NPO nothing by mouth for who knows how long, using the feeding tube with Osmolite or something like that. First night home with it, wish me luck! Ready for bed!!

Hi guys! A .4 loss this week for me which puts me at 170.2. Dr wanted the weight loss to slow down while I am healing and it appears it is - have doubled calories to what I was eating before, up to 800 now so I suppose it is time for the dreaded stall everyone talks about since I haven't had one yet at almost 3 months out. It's all good, just want to feel better at this point and weight loss is taking a back seat for now. Have a wedding to go to next Friday and so tried on the 16's I have in my closet - they fit! I do need to find a top that looks nice and not baggy. Went through my tops and got rid of some already, kept the really basic long sleeves to wear - I work from home so it will work for now.

I did the same thing! I think you will find lots of support here - many of us started the WLS journey by investigating lapband!

I haven't found the appetizer method very helpful as most seem to be fried and not much protein. I haven't went out much but when I have I order my own and bring home leftovers. I know most hotels offer a fridge now and you can always do a cooler. My hubby will many times polish what I bring home off later in the evening as he works nights and so when he is off our dinner is usually his breakfast so he is up all night. Sometimes I save it for another meal - that might not work at a hotel though.

there used to be a + and - in green and red in the lower right corner of each post. not sure now - maybe the like button?

You look great!! You are doing so well also! Best of luck to your mom tomorrow!

I will be 3 months out next week and my NUT told me capacity right now is around 1/4 cup of dense foods.