NoMoreFatGuy

I had a leak that was found a week and a half post op. I went septic and went into kidney failure. I was in ICU for five weeks and step down another week. I have been on TPN since with a drain bag in my side. I had a swallow study last week and it showed a worsening of the leak. I am now having a total gastrectomy next Friday to end this nightmare. I am terrified but the doc says it will get me to a more normal life which I haven't been close to in 6 months.

so my doc is doing a complete gastrectomy. My leak got worse and he said this is the best option. Terrified but he seems certain this will fix things for me and get me back to normal.

Where my leak is the bypass pouch would leave the leak still there. What my doctor said is that they remove your stomach and form a new stomach with your small intestine and attach that to your esophagus. It can be done laparoscopically. It is his "last resort" option. I totally understand the feeling comfort in others going through it. You are the first I have talked to who seems to get what it is like to go through this misery. It is comforting to have someone understand me. As for avoiding people with the "I told ya so" attitude, it is tough to do when you live with one of them. Keep I touch and let me know how things progress for you.

I also want to say I feel the same about being in this situation because of a choice I made. It doesn't help that my family won't let me forget it either. They all told me not to do this surgery beforehand and now play the "I told you so" game over and over. It doesn't help my emotional issues. I really appreciate your response. It really helps believe it or not. I mean I don't want the two year thing like you are going through but it helps to know that I am not the only one who has felt like this. I actually was told the day before yesterday that the doc won't let it go two years and will instead do a surgery to rebuild a stomach before that happens. I don't know if that is something I would want to do either. Again. Thanks man. Really appreciate it.

Sir, thank you. You have echoed all the feelings I am having. The depression is big. I have been suicidal at times. I just feel like it won't ever end. I am on percosets and fentynal patches. The third day in the patch is a nightmare as it is the least effective day before I change them. I have dealt with the junkie accusations as well. Both from nurses and pharmacists. I tried not taking pain meds for a bit but I can't function when I do that. It has been exactly as you describe only a shorter time frame. I pray I don't go as long as you have. I don't know that I could make it. Thanks for the info on stent pain. I was worried it was just me. Please keep me posted on your progress.

By alone I just mean I haven't found anybody who understands what I am going through.

I was sleeved on March 30th. Went back into the hospital with a 9cm leak on April 8th. Spent 6 weeks in ICU. Doc said I came as close to dying as you can come. I spent another week in a general care ward and went home with a drain and a pic line with a mesh stent in my esophagus. The stent hurts like hell. I am allowed to eat mushy foods like cottage cheese and yogurt but swallowing hurts so I rarely eat. I get TPN at home every night. I did a swallow study last week and I have a less than 1cm leak still. Doc says each person is different and heals differently. The most time to heal he has heard of is two years. I have lost 92 pounds which is good considering TPn is high in calories and sugar. I am in a wait and see mode at this point. I take four percosets a day and am on a 150 microgram fentynal patch that we change out every three days. Life pretty much sucks right now but I know when the leak heals and the stent comes out I will be much better. Don't try to compare heal times with others because it will just frustrate you. It will be a rough time but be as patient as you can and you will get through.

I am home but have oxygen for the pneumonia and the stent is still in and painful. Stent comes out next week supposedly. Ready for this to be over.

Well as you may know I went back in on Thursday with an abscess and a leak. I still don't have a release date but found out I am not allowed back to work for minimum of two more weeks. I have been in for three laparoscopic procedures in three days. Still in lots of pain too. Thoughts and prayers appreciated. I hope to start feeling better tomorrow.

I mentioned the pain I was in last week. Well it got worse on Monday and has been progressively worse this week. I went to the ER today. I have a 9 cm abscess and a leak. I am about to go in to have drains put in for the abscess. Tomorrow we will be dealing with the leak. Not the odds I wanted to beat!!!

Just lucky I guess.

Thanks everybody. Just to update, I had laparoscopic surgery las night to clean the abscess out and install four or five drain lines. Today they plan on putting in a stent in my stomach to relieve pressure off the leak so it can heal. Tomorrow they will install an IV pic line for antibiotics. I will be in the hospital til at least Sunday. I am in ICU right now. Not out of the woods but moving towards the edge of them.

So preop I went to GNC and got "their best men's health vitamin". Started taking it preop and while disgusting tasting, it was fine. Now, I can't swallow them without gagging and choking. And that is AFTER cutting them in four pieces. These things are horse pills and I have taken to not taking them regularly because it's so difficult. Is there any good vitamin supplement out there that's easy to swallow or is in liquid form? I am actually debating getting a grinding bowl and grinding them into powder everyday.

Thanks everybody. Texaslady that is what I am looking for. I ordered the ones you linked today. Will let you know how they are.

I was sleeved Monday March 30. I read where people don't have much pain but mine was brutal. I woke with searing pain in my chest. I got some morphine right away and felt better. I was walking two hours from when I arrived at my room and things looked great. Fell asleep on the drive home on Tuesday. Slept most of Tuesday. Wednesday I felt a little better and went on a couple walks. Still had trouble with food as I could only get about 4oz of protein shake or broth and really only two or three times a day. Then Thursday it happened. I woke about midnight in blinding pain. It really didn't subside all day. Then Friday same thing, woke at midnight with blinding pain and the shoulder pain started. It stayed most of the day. It appears that the problem is that my cpap is causing me to swallow too much air. I went without it last night and I feel better for the first time in days. The shoulder pain is still pretty bad but my stomach feels better and I was able to get 6 oz of broth In this morning, I have been feeling really depressed because of the pain and hating myself for doing the surgery because of it. I finally feel better physically and emotionally but feel there is still a fair amount of road to travel to get to a clearing. Your posts here have kept me encouraged and hopeful it gets better so thanks everybody.

Thanks everybody. This is why I joined. For the support. Today has been a much better day and I feel I might have turned a corner.

I had severe GERD before surgery. I was sleeved March 30 with a Hiatal Hernia repair. I have had no reflux since surgery and I never went a day without reflux before. My only issue was the repair actually caused me a fair amount of chest pain and I would darn near pass out when I hiccuped

Well the city I am having my surgery done in is 3 hours away and surgery is at 7:30 AM. So, we are in our way to stay at a hotel near the hospital now. T minus 14.5 hours. The fear and anxiety has reached epic proportions.

Had mine done yesterday and it was 45 minutes

It was this morning. Woke up in unbearable pain. Pits focused just below my breastbone and it's been there all day. Meds help,a little and walking did too but not much. It is excruciating. Going home tomorrow I hope so I hope this is better.

Consider yourself lucky. I did two weeks preop and it was so bad I am ready for surgery just to get off it. I am 17 hours and counting now and totally freaking out. Actually having panic attacks. Good luck.

25 hours out. I know the feeling for sure.

March 30 7:30 AM. Less than 36 hours.

36 hours out from surgery and starting to feel very anxious and scared. I have known for a year that this was my path but now that it is almost here, I am a nervous wreck. Am I crazy for feeling this way? I didn't go through two weeks of that awful preop diet to back out now but man, I am having panic attacks.

I go in to the doc Monday to do preop and get my preop liquid diet food. Surgery is March 30th. I am scared, ashamed, excited and worried all at the same time. For 6 months I have known without doubt this is what I want and need. Now I am questioning myself for the first time. I am going to read through the board for support but this is the single most monumental change ever in my life and I have had some big changes in my life.