Horror Story

[iggychic 1,405]

lol ye i know i shouldn't be saying this but this guy words are pretty harsh' date='made me angry...[/quote']

Ditto!

[JPSnAZ 33]

I'm confused. You said she had her surgery in May but you then said she has been on a feeding tube for two years? When exactly did she have the surgery?

I agree. And when I first read this "story" it seemed a little sketchy & exaggerated. Then I saw that they just joined this site today... HMMMMM!

[iggychic 1,405]

I'm confused. You said she had her surgery in May but you then said she has been on a feeding tube for two years? When exactly did she have the surgery?

I agree. And when I first read this "story" it seemed a little sketchy & exaggerated. Then I saw that they just joined this site today... HMMMMM!

I'm curious...what seems exaggerated?

[AussieLady 521]

Anyone who has a medical procedure that goes wrong becomes anti that procedure. When we have surgery we sign that we are aware of the risks and take responsibility for them and whilst it is not good when complications arise it is just part of the risk we take.

Like driving a car, we risk being in an accident. Or crossing a road, or getting on an airplane. We are all adults and should we choose to proceed knowing the risks we should not then try to deter others because we had complications.

My sister lost a baby because she was left in labour too long. My partner has a cousin who has cerebral palsy because he was oxygen deprived at birth. Should they go on birthing websites and try to deter women from having children? I don't think so.

Iggy, I am sorry for you but you made the choice and you need to stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for the choice you made and so do others on this site. As for the person who started this thread, I hope they got it off their chest but their rant served no useful purpose.

[*Dean* 1,594]

Everybodies opinions are subjective.

I love VSG - because it seems like I'm getting a great outcome.

The OP hates it with a passion. I can understand why she does, and so would I if I'd walked in her shoes. I'm happy for anyone to post their subjective opinion on VST - I do it every day!

As for the verasity of the story. Who knows? But how about giving someone the benefit of the doubt, you may just have verbally slayed someone who has had a rough experience.

And everybody reading between the lines of the original post - I am a Detective (not a virtual one ) and there's nothing, NOTHING, in the original post that would tell you weather it's fact or fiction.

So have a heart!

Deano

[clk 3,519]

There is absolutely nothing useful or constructive in this entire thread.

I'm sorry the OP's sister has had a terrible experience, but I also realize this is a post by someone that did not choose to have the sleeve and who has no first hand experience to relate.

I think it's a bit ridiculous to implore strangers on the internet to change their minds entirely about surgery based upon one experience. I think the approach taken was wrong in that respect. Sharing information is one thing. Scare mongering is another. But what's the big deal in the end, really?

Look - I appreciate every single person that comes to VST to report their negative experiences. Because people researching surgery sometimes don't understand what complications can arise, even when they're clearly listed and every surgeon should cover them in detail. Heck, ten minutes of your time on VST could outline every single possible negative experience or side effect you could possibly have if you bother to do the search. Most people don't, but then most people undergoing surgery are so "eyes on the prize" that they completely disregard any risks as things that simply won't happen to them.

So people that are either post op and had a great experience should not take it personally when someone relates their PERSONAL negative experience here. It's not our job to defend the entire surgery. Some surgeons stink and shouldn't operate and sometimes complications happen even with great surgeons. The people doing research have a right to know about the good and the bad.

But much the same way I get peeved when I read an anti-Mexico surgery rant by someone that's never had a surgery in Mexico, I don't weight posts by people that haven't personally undergone surgery as heavily as I would a personal account. Sorry, that's just the way it is.

My sympathies to the OP's family because seeing a family member struggle isn't easy or fun for anyone.

Everyone else should really chill out and stop making this into an argument. There's nothing to argue about. OP says don't have surgery, lots of people love the surgery, whatever. VST is about sharing our vast breadth of experiences and that goes for positive as well as negative. There's nothing to be offended about when someone has a bad experience.

~Cheri

[*susan* 1,709]

Everyone, just a reminder of our forum rules which are located at http://www.verticals...tion=boardrules. Please pay particular attention to the following:

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Do not attack, mock, or otherwise insult others. You can respectfully disagree with the message or topic, but you cannot attack the messenger. This includes attacks against the user’s spelling or command of written English, or belittling a user for posting a duplicate topic.

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[Ballermom 803]

Im Sorry to hear about your sister and the struggle you too are facing. Yes, there are Risk to all surgeries. I already know that leaks are risk to this surgery. After putting in many months of research, classes, hoop jumping, and more research!!! I've made the decision to have the Sleeve Surgery. Knowing about the risk involved. Sorry this happened.

[sarahzamudio1091 185]

Sorry to hear vwhat happened to your sis! what an awful story ! To each to their own opinion though . My sister had Lap Band surgery and 2 years later is still 100 pounds thinner , her diabetes , blood pressure and every other health issue she had is no longer there. I was sleeved 12 days ago and i wouldnt change it for the world! Already down 17 pounds and counting.Nothing but a great experience for me . My sleep apnea is getting way better and feel alive again with so much energy! People can experience leaks but its risk that everyone knows before getting the surgery done.And it is a very low percentage of people. Im sure if your sisters Dr. would of caught the leak in time it wouldnt have gotten as bad. Im all for the surgery!!! I Encourage everyone and their Mothers to get it ! And anyways this is supposed to be an encouragement forum for people that are interested in getting the surgery not a scare tactic website!!

[KatieOkieDokie 171]

May I ask you the OP a question? Did your sister have other underlying health issues that may have added extra complications that you did not mention?

I am sorry to hear this has happened, but like others have mentioned sounds like malpractice. The dr.s and surgeon clearly did not do their job, and that is on THEM! Had they listen, and took action right away your sister may not have gone through what she has (of course we'll never know that).

I have not had gastric sleeve, but my sister has and this is her horror story. In the month after her May surgery, by Dr. Chua of Aurora Sinai in Milwaukee, my sister (Jane) came down with flu like symptoms. Although she contacted her primary physician, who was aware of the recent surgery, and I believe she had an office visit with Dr. Chua, nobody showed any concern about infection. This is despite the fact that EVERYBODY knows that infection mimics flu like symptoms and it was nowhere near flu season. Nobody ever did any scans post surgery to determine of there was any issue with the healing of the internal surgery area - even though I have since learned that other patients had experienced similar issues to what my sister was about to go through.

It turned out (after three ER visits in three days, despite the fact that I said I was worried about infection from the very first visit) that a staple hadn't held and that food/fluid had been leaking into her abdomen from the stomach causing a MASSIVE infection. By the time Aurora Lakeland in Elkhorn paid any attention to this she was almost dead. She barely made it through and it was literally touch and go for WEEKS!! AND that hospital wouldn't even treat her because they don't do bariatric surgeries - she had to be airlifted to Milwaukee.

What followed were numerous surgeries, months in ICU and then regular hospital (from July 4th weekend into October), an induced coma with her hands strapped to the bed so she wouldn't inadvertantly pull out tubes and wires, being intubated for breathing assistance, additional infections, memory loss of that entire time, and leaving on a feeding tube. She has been on that feeding tube for over two years now.

Oh she's thin alright. woohoo. But she gets her food from a bag hanging on an iv rack and has to grind her meds and flush them through the feeding tube line, as well as a drain that collects Fluid from her abdomen and open wounds that need daily care. She has NO muscles left. She probably couldn't walk a block if she was allowed to.

She came home from that hospital stay with a GIANT open wound the length of her abdomen - I mean it was big enough for me to stick both my hands into - and a wound vac installed in it to constantly vacuum up the Fluid and goop that goes along with healing. That fluid drained into a plastic container that hung from tube(s) coming out of her abdomen - which she had to have with her always. It was all very painful and really gross.

That was just the first hospitalization. By January she was back in the hospital with another massive infection that had burned through her diaphragm and into her lungs. This time she spent her time in pulmonary ICU. You see they told her to start trying to eat - that they thought the holes in her stomach had closed, but they didn't do regular scans to verify this....again! They were wrong. Again.

Only this time her primary physician, Dr. Rosol of Aurora Lake Geneva, had diagnosed her with pneumonia over the phone and had given her a prescription not even strong enough to deal with pneumonia. So when she didn't get better, by the time the Aurora ER took her seriously she was again near death. This time they had to do lung surgery AND abdominal surgery to clear out and treat the raging infection caused by fluid and matter leaking from the stomach into everywhere.

So apparently this type of thing isn't that uncommon with this surgery, nor are the "fistulas" that develop as a result of this complication from this type of surgery. If the tissue around this fistula isn't so damaged that it can heal on its own it could take years. If it's damaged - as hers was from all that infection - there is no sewing it closed and it doesn't heal on its own. Imagine being on a feeding tube for the rest of your life - never tasting food, never enjoying a meal or a drink or a dessert or a holiday with your family again. Never a chocolate bar, or a bowl of Cereal, or a salad, or a glass of juice. NOTHING. All because someone convinced you that gastric sleeve surgery was the answer.

So if you are considering this surgery, don't. It's just not worth the risk. I know, if my sister could go back, she would choose fat over this lack of a life any day of the week. I grew up thin and am now fat and I would NEVER EVER EVER have a surgery to reduce my weight. Although I haven't been able to be disciplined enough to do it I know the only solution is eat less, move more. Two steps. The only solution.

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

May I ask you the OP a question? Did your sister have other underlying health issues that may have added extra complications that you did not mention?

I am sorry to hear this has happened, but like others have mentioned sounds like malpractice. The dr.s and surgeon clearly did not do their job, and that is on THEM! Had they listen, and took action right away your sister may not have gone through what she has (of course we'll never know that).

May I ask you the OP a question? Did your sister have other underlying health issues that may have added extra complications that you did not mention?

I am sorry to hear this has happened, but like others have mentioned sounds like malpractice. The dr.s and surgeon clearly did not do their job, and that is on THEM! Had they listen, and took action right away your sister may not have gone through what she has (of course we'll never know that).

It was a staple that didn't hold. Not a preexisting condition. Now a lot of people will play "blame the victim" and say .. "ahhh she must have gone off her diet and eaten something she wasn't supposed to" but that's not necessarily so. These things happen. Leaks happen.. even with perfect surgeons and perfect patients leaks can happen. It's a scary thought so it's easier to try to assess blame.

NOW, where I will agree that this sounds like malpractice is that she went to the doctor's office with symptoms of a leak (the post says she went to both her GP AND the surgeon) and she was NOT TESTED FOR A LEAK.. OK, so maybe her GP can have a pass on that, but the SURGEON should have been more thorough and if he had, this poor woman may not have had to endure so much.

While I don't agree with the OP's stance that nobody should have this surgery and this is a "bad surgery" and diet and exercise are the only option. I do see this as a cautionary tale. If something doesn't feel right, advocate for yourself.. FIGHT to be tested in any way that you feel necessary and don't delay and worry about being a "bother" to your surgeon or to the hospital.

[sarahzamudio1091 185]

I can guarantee its someone who didn't get approved or someone who is scared to go thru it and is making things up to discourage other people only one post since they joined wow.....

Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

My thoughts exactly !!!!! Jealousy !!

[novam vitam 117]

Im sorry for your sister... but your "scare tatic" should be to warn people to research the Docs they choose... what happened to your sister sounds like Malpratice to me... I hope you got a good attorney.

People that make this choice usualy do TONS of searching for the right Docs' date=' the right Hospitals. It sounds like your sister made a bad choice and is now paying for it... THAT is the message you should be telling people about.[/quote']

I agree that this was in fact a scare tactic and the anger associated with the outcome is misguided. That being said, even the very best surgeons can have poor out comes. Saying (assuming) this patient didn't do her appropriate research and is now "paying for it" is just uncalled for.

Poor form.

[iggychic 1,405]

Iggy' date=' I am sorry for you but you made the choice and you need to stop playing the blame game and take responsibility for the choice you made and so do others on this site. As for the person who started this thread, I hope they got it off their chest but their rant served no useful purpose.[/quote']

When people start out with an I'm sorry BUT just to be clear...they really aren't sorry. Don't say it if you don't mean it please? It comes off rather badly.

But seriously, what are you talking about? Blame game? I honestly don't have a clue what you are saying. I have said many times this was a mistake "I" made and that "I" regret it. That does not mean that the things that happened to me didn't happen. Every thing we do in life should teach us a lesson and we then use that lesson to guide our life or help others.

So what on earth are you talking about when you say that? It's confusing.

[iggychic 1,405]

My thoughts exactly !!!!! Jealousy !!

Wow...can you really say that and look yourself in the mirror? Come on, people can have this surgery and feel negative about it's place in the world. Especially a family member who's had to sit and watch this from the outside. That's just not fair.