Crazymomto5

After preparing for a full year, I had the surgery on 01/07/15. I was feeling great until 6 days out when I began to have excruciating pain in my left shoulder that radiated down to my back. My surgeon told me to come back to the ER (a 1.5 hour journey for me). So, on 01/14/15, I was admitted to the hospital with a leak in my stomach. I was in the hospital for a week. Kaiser decided that a stent was the way to go, so on 01/16/15, I had a stent placed in my esophagus and stomach. I also had a PICC line placed in my arm. I was released to home on 01/23/15 and placed on TPN (total parental nutrition - basically nutrition from a bag through the PICC line in my arm). They tried to remove the stent on 02/20/15 but wouldn't you know it, the stent had gotten stuck to my esophagus! They had to put a smaller stent inside the first stent to try and break the adhesion. Boy, if anything could go wrong, it seems it did for me. I have an appointment this Friday, the 13th (thank goodness I am not superstitious) for both stents to be removed. I will be so relieved when I won't have to feel the pressure of the stent pushing out on my esophagus anymore. When I will be able to actually eat something, a pleasure which I have not enjoyed since 12/31/2014. I hope when all this is said and done, that I made the right decision for myself in getting this surgery. I am a 46 year old woman with five children and all I want is to be healthy so that I can enjoy the time spent with my children. I want to be medicine free, no more Metformin, no more high blood pressure. Let's hope that Friday's removal of the stent is successful and I can get back on the road to a healthier me.

The third attempt was successful. It has now been 2.5 years from the surgery. I feel awesome. I have so much more energy, no longer require medication for high blood pressure or diabetes. I have gained some of the weight back. Chocolate is my best friend and nemesis at the same time.

A friend of mine who is 4 years out from her gastric bypass just told me today what to do for hair loss. She said to take Biotin (sp) and zinc. I believe the hair loss is inevitable though from what understand. I was sleeved on 01/07/15 and my hair is just now beginning to come out in handfuls when I take a shower. Yuck!

Great job on your progress!!! I got sleeved on January 7 but ran into complications. I started at 225 when I went in but am down to 204 now, after 2 months of TPN. The way I look at it, I am really starting my journey as of Saturday when I was able to eat my first meal since New Year's eve.

Well, maybe the third try will be the charm. Unfortunately, the 2nd attempt to remove the stent was unsuccessful. I woke up coughing up blood because the stent was so strongly adhered to my esophagus that they could not get it out. We have scheduled another try on 03/27/2015. I honestly don't know what will happen if the third try is unsuccessful. I certainly cannot live with this stent inside of me. It causes constant pain and pressure on my chest. Yesterday morning I was in such excruciating pain that my daughter had to take me to urgent care. They took blood and did xrays and everything checked out ok. They said I was in so much pain because the numbing agent they had used when they were trying to get the stent out had worn off. All they could do is give me a prescription for liquid morphine because I still can't have anything solid so that means on pills. I tried to take it when I got home but it was almost instantly rejected by my body and I threw it right up. Yesterday was really bad. It hurt to lay down, in any position. I tried to fall asleep sitting up with nothing touching my chest or my back but that was not very comfortable. I pray that the 3rd attempt scheduled in 2 weeks will be the last and successful. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Congratulations!!! I hope all goes well.