Ten days out, back in the hospital

[Free2B 8]

Hello Sleeve Friends,

I was sleeved October 25. I had a minor complication with internal bleeding afterwards due to the surgeons having found and removed a (benign) spot on my liver. The day after surgery I had a blood transfusion and after another day they determined the internal bleeding had stopped. As a result of the bleeding, I didn't get what I now realize is pretty standard - a blood thinner such as Heparin. I actually noticed, around that time, comments from several folks on the forum talking about shots in the tummy and thought, hmmm - I'm glad I didn't have to have those!

Yesterday, I called the doctor's office because I was having so much trouble with acid reflux. I really only expected to hear that I should take a second Prilosec each day for the acid. Instead, the doctor said he wanted me readmitted to the hospital, which was discouraging because my husband and I live more than three hours away. When I arrived, I casually mentioned that I had woken up in the morning with an odd little cramp in my left calf. I assumed it was due to a little dehydration or lack or potassium, which in the past I have solved by eating bananas. At my ripe old age, odd little aches and pains just seem to go with the territory.

The acid situation, after a barium swallow, was treated the way I expected. But an ultrasound revealed the little cramp in my leg was actually a blood clot. It is a small one, which I think makes it relatively less dangerous. Never the less, I am being sent home tomorrow with 180 syringes of Lovenox, which I must self-inject for the next 90 days. (Oooh, and I'm such a needle wimp!) After that, it has been implied that I will take Coumadin (sp?) indefinitely. How this will impact my planned knee replacement surgery early next year remains to be seen.

Why did this happen? No one has said so, but I can't help thinking that I didn't move around enough when I got home the first time. It was easy to excuse myself because of severe arthritis in my left knee and the additional surgical insult to my body (liver, sleeve, hiatal hernia repair = 8 incisions, additional swelling and pain, etc.); I let my sweet, sweet husband wait on me every time he said, "can I get you anything"? This time, no excuses for me! I will be moving, moving, moving,

I wanted to share my little story in the hopes that someone might be able to learn from the Voice of Experience and not have to take the little Detour that I did on this weight-loss journey; my planned one-night stay in the hospital has now become five nights. Move around at least once an hour while you are awake and don't dismiss any little cramps/pains in your arms or legs!

Thanks for reading - the forum means so much to me, it's like a friend who never sleeps and is always ready to listen and share.

By the way....I AM losing weight!

Bonnie

[GetInMyBelly 80]

Stay strong n thank you for sharing. I'm 7 days out myself. I understand moving is not always easy. It's after walking that the body aches come for me. I live on third floor so I've Bern going up n down quite a lot n walking with dogs in backyard n took trip to market yesterday with mom (which was exhausting) also nausiating to sit in car. Good luck! Hugs!!

[Rev Me Up! 75]

Wow - sorry to hear about your complications. It's hard to say exactly why these things happen. Some people may be more prone to it than others. Also, you didn't get the blood thinner that the rest of us get. Hard to say, but it is great that you have a doctor that is thorough and responsive!

Good luck with the injections - not envious of that :-)

[Free2B 8]

Thanks so much for your good wishes; I really appreciate it!

[Lissa 2,631]

Free2B, Before surgery, I had a blood clot in my leg that shot two smaller clots into my lungs. Those smaller clots are considered pulmonary embolisms. I took Lovenox injections before and after the first two surgeries I had (filter installed before, then VSG, then filter removed afterwards). The first shot or two is intimidating to take, but it gets easier after that. Did your doc warn you that Lovenox will cause bruising at the injection sites? I had horrible looking bruises, although they did not hurt.

Also, usually Coumadin is normally given for three months, then you should be taken off the Coumadin for a few days in order for the doc to do a "D Dimer" blood test. If not clot signs are found in that blood test, then you'll be off the Coumadin, or should be off it. If you smoke, NOW is the time to quit. It aggravates the clotting condition.

I'm back on Coumadin, after being off for a few weeks, because I had clot signs in my blood during my last blood test. The doctor tells me I should be off the Coumadin in January (3 months) and I'm hopeful that I will be able to forget taking that medicine very soon.

I carry an index card in my wallet that lists my meds (Coumadin and asthma meds) and it resides just behind my WLS Card. That way, EMS and an ER doctor would know immediately that they need to give me Vitamin K to increase my clotting factor in case of an accident.

Good luck! Oh, and make sure your doc adjusts the amount of Lovenox you are taking to account for your weight loss. Dropping 50 pounds has changed the amount of Lovenox I need to take if I have another procedure done.