Feel Horrible

[Texarkolina 201]

My surgery was scheduled on the 23rd. I made it through the horrible diet and past the anxiety and fears and into the operating room. After I was under, the surgeon made the incisions, filled my abdominal cavity with CO2 and my heart stopped. It took a minute of chest compressions to get me back, and he closed without completing the surgery. A cardiologist determined it was not my heart, and the best answer they and come up with is a vasovagal response--however it is very very rare for that to cause someone's heart to STOP. I was mentally foggy until yesterday, and agreed to reschedule the surgery for the 30th.

I am supposed to do the liquid diet until the surgery, and I just can't. I have made it through most of the day and had a reasonable meal at the end of the day. I feel weak and sore from the incisions and very sore from the chest compressions. What was before mild anxiety about the surgery had given way to near terror/panic, and I feel so weak I just want to sleep. I am so emotional that I feel like a total failure for not being able to follow the diet and for what happened on the operating table even though I know I couldn't control it. I really want the surgery, but no one has been able to answer the question of "what are we going to do different the 2nd time around to avoid the complications I had the first time around?" I wish my body would stop aching long enough for me to sleep so maybe I could think straight. I want to lose weight, but I don't want to die doing it. I am afraid the surgeon will be angry about my not being able to complete the pre-op diet. I am afraid I will die on the table and they won't be able to bring me back.

[Laceyloveland 21]

Wow. I'm so so sorry for what u r Going thru. PleAse don't be so hard on urself. U had a rough time and will probably be fine next time, sounds like a fluke. My Dr. Has only one day of pre op liquids, so I bet ur surgeon will say it is fine. You will get thru this! I can understand how it must be overwhelming. Stay strong...thoughts and prayers w u.

[Webtrekker 39]

What a horrible thing to go through. I can totally understand your feelings regarding the diet and the next surgery. have you googled what they said happened to find answers you want? The 30th isn't too far away try and stay on the diet it can only help you.

[mdefabio 73]

I'm so sorry to read about what you're going through. I think if would be scared also. I guess it all depends on how bad you want to lose weight. I was willing to do just about anything. In hindsight, if I really knew how hard the liquid diet before and after the operations would be, I think I would have thought about it a little more. Hang in there, the 30th is only four more days away. You can to do it. With my liquid meals I also had pudding, yogurt and some fruit. Only the day before was I on Clear Liquids like broth, Jello, juices and crystal light Water. It goes fast. Sending all my good thoughts and prayers to you.

[SleeveandRNYchica 1,155]

That is very scary and I can see why you feel the way you feel. They are not giving you any other reasons to why this may of happened? Did they do any exams after the fact that could maybe tell them why? I could see why you are out of gas and not to happy about re-doing pre-op diet. They must understand this. They honestly feel that 7 days is enough to go back in?

[Texarkolina 201]

I didn't even have an appointment with the surgeon--or a real conversation about what happened. He pawned me off on a cardiologist, who was very good and thorough in his exam/testing. He said that without records from the monitors in the OR he cannot say for sure, but rather speculate what happened. Seems they cannot provide the records, so the guy that wasn't in the room is the one that is answering my questions. Not real comforting. They surgeon is out of town until Monday, but I have made up my mind that I will not let them take me down to the staging area until I meet and talk with the anesthesia guy and the surgeon and hear how the intend on getting a better outcome--specifically that I not DIE during this round. Still feels very overwhelming. Everything from how to keep my heart beating to will you use the same incisions and how will that affect the scarring are things that I would like to have answered. I just feel so weak and discouraged.

[Heyher 581]

You feel weak. But reading that post you are a very strong person.

[Sherry77 166]

Another girl had this happen recently and posted about it. Her surgery was rescheduled for the 30th as well. My surgery is the 30th also. Is this common? Has anyone else had this happen? Hearing these stories are freaking me out..Good luck on the 30th I hope you feel better.

[SleeveandRNYchica 1,155]

Sorry you are going through this. I would be irritated that they were not more involved, if that is the right word. Actually, I am kinda lost for words. Glad at least the cardiologist was comforting.

[notime 340]

It must be terribly discouraging and frightening to go through such a trauma. Did the cardiologist say this is a one-time type of problem?

Why are you having the surgery in the first place? Health and quality of life problems? The certainty of future problems? Definitely insist on talking to the surgeon and anesthesiologist and getting solid answers from them.

As you go through this, my thoughts are with you. I imagine I would be in a state of panic. Good luck and please let us know how you are doing both before and after the surgery.

[Livinglifeout 217]

The thing that really bothers me is that your surgeon didn't have the courtesy to come and talk to you after you awoke or the next day. In every surgery there are detailed records filed, which should be done by now. These show everything even the size of each incision. I would request those and review them before speaking to the surgeon. Perhaps someone there is trying to "cover their---". Best of luck to you, but I would definitely investigate a little.

[TaniaB 37]

I had no preop diet at all, I was 345lbs day of surgery, and no purée stage I'm 51/2 weeks out and have been on solids since week 2, 30lbs down, I've been fine no vomiting no nausea can eat anything in moderation, mainly protein... I like my Drs rules way better than others, it works for me.

[Ready4success 380]

First off, I am not a doctor, but I am an OR nurse and I've seen this happen once in 12 years. In my experience, we turned off the gas (CO2), and did chest compressions until the pt was resuscitated, then we started the gas at the lowest rate possible to see if he would tolerate it, and he did. We slowly went up on the gas until we got adequate insufflation until we were able to see, and we were able to successfully finish the surgery. This was a surgeon with decades of experience, and we were operating on another surgeon, so that maybe why we proceeded with the surgery. I agree that your surgeon needs a plan in case it happens again, and you should know the plan. I'm sorry that this happened, but glad you're okay. I wish you the best of luck!

[pretty-pink 43]

So sorry this happened to you!! Would you feel better to postpone surgery a month or so? Physically AND emotionally.

[Texarkolina 201]

First off, I am not a doctor, but I am an OR nurse and I've seen this happen once in 12 years. In my experience, we turned off the gas (CO2), and did chest compressions until the pt was resuscitated, then we started the gas at the lowest rate possible to see if he would tolerate it, and he did. We slowly went up on the gas until we got adequate insufflation until we were able to see, and we were able to successfully finish the surgery. This was a surgeon with decades of experience, and we were operating on another surgeon, so that maybe why we proceeded with the surgery. I agree that your surgeon needs a plan in case it happens again, and you should know the plan. I'm sorry that this happened, but glad you're okay. I wish you the best of luck!

I started asking questions and was able to get the bariatric coordinator to discuss the episode with the head of anesthesiology. He said that if he had been in the room that the procedure would have continued. He said that my surgeon made a judgement call and chose to stop the surgery, but that it wasn't necessary. I am fine with the surgery being stopped. If the surgeon felt like he and/or the anesthesiologist was too shook up and/or not prepared to continue, then he made the right call. He said that everyone does anesthesia differently and while the person doing mine didn't do anything, wrong, that most anesthesiologists would have pre-treated a person my age with a medication that would prevent my heart rate from dropping. Begs the question of why this isn't done for everyone??

My best friend had surgery Thursday, and everyone recognized me and came to me to talk about it. They acted like it was this huge thing and it seemed like everyone in the hospital knew about it. The reaction of various people in the hospital being so dramatic was more nerve racking than what actually happened. I am a little disappointed in the lack of professionalism, and irritated at the overall insensitivity of the hospital staff. No one should have approached me with "Oh my god--I can't believe what happened to you." I feel better after asking some questions, and they have assured me that the anesthesiology person assigned to my case on Monday will come up to the pre-op area and talk with me and my family before I go back. I think I am going to refuse to go down until this happens.