Gastric Leak for 6 Months - Help!

[Greta Griggs Hannah 1]

I am looking for patients who have been or who are in a similar situation as me.

I had gastric sleeve back in June of 2015 and have continued to have a small leak ever since that has NOT healed.

I have been on TPN for most of my nourishment but I am able to eat and drink much better now and hoping to come off the TPN in a few days. However, the leak is still there and is causing shoulder/ diaphragm/ chest/back/ pain constantly. Has anyone had a leak this long and if so, did it ever heal on its own? Surely, these random juices leaking out into my diaphragm cannot be good for my body and organs. My doctor has suggested that he may have to go back in and perform a gastric bypass if the leak does not heal but at this point that is not even something I want to think about because of more potential problems.

I regret this surgery even though I have lost 74 pounds. The complications however have not been worth it. Any advice or similar situations out there?

[swimbikerun 1,045]

I'm very concerned that at 6 months, well this is a bit way too long for my tastes. Nothing official but why did they wait this long?

[Bayougrl 23]

I would consult another doctor to see if it could be repaired without bypass. That's a long time!

[jane13 2,256]

I would get another opinion. Why they are not looking at surgery now? Six months is a long time.....

[smash83 5]

Wow, I just shared my story on another complication thread. I'm so so sorry for what had happened to you. I had a very bad leak and 6 months of hell. I would consult another doctor. Are you near a large city with a bariatric board certified doctor? In in FL and know of some good ones in Orlando or cities close by. My thoughts, prayers and sympathy go out to you. I regretted having done the surgery too until I was able to have the leak fixed

[dhenise2 1]

this is very serious you should seek a second openion.

[EddiesAngel 14]

I had a leak that did finally heal after 8 long months. I feel your pain about wanting to drink something. I also had to have the TPN. I pray you heal quickly. Hang in there.

[NoMoreFatGuy 61]

I had a leak for 6 months. I was on TPN the whole time. I had massive issues the whole time. I went through several lung infection that had to be drained, heart issues and kidney issues. I had my sleeve done March 30, 2015. On Sept 18th 2015 I had a total gastrectomy. It took me a couple months to recover from it but now I feel great. I am living a fairly active lifestyle and I am down 132 pounds.

[Celeste 45 1]

I have a leak also it's been 8 months I had the tpn I'm always in the hospital with pain on my left side and goes to my shoulder it's been horrible so my doctor has been trying different treatments nothing works so now he wants to do a bypass but he says he may need to remove my stomach I'm so scared I was told it's a high risk surgery and that I can even die . So I'm going for a second opinion at woman's and infants hospital in Boston hopefully I'll get a better answer I don't want to have my stomach removed completely.

[NoMoreFatGuy 61]

I have a leak also it's been 8 months I had the tpn I'm always in the hospital with pain on my left side and goes to my shoulder it's been horrible so my doctor has been trying different treatments nothing works so now he wants to do a bypass but he says he may need to remove my stomach I'm so scared I was told it's a high risk surgery and that I can even die . So I'm going for a second opinion at woman's and infants hospital in Boston hopefully I'll get a better answer I don't want to have my stomach removed completely.

Celeste,

I had my stomach removed for a leak. It ended all my issue, all my pain and life has become almost normal again. It is a painful surgery but I am so glad I did it.

[Celeste 45 1]

Thanks for the info it makes me feel a bit better.

[NoMoreFatGuy 61]

Thanks for the info it makes me feel a bit better.

I won't kid you it is a major surgery but life after is pretty much exactly the same as someone who had a gastric by pass. Like I said the surgery is very painful but after about two months you will be ecstatic you did it. It was absolutely the right choice for me. I went through pretty much everything you describe. I was in and out of the ICU and the step down unit. It was a nightmare. Now I feel soooooo much better and feel like I have a life again.

[Celeste 45 1]

Thank you so much I hope after the surgery that I won't lose much weight because I am 120 lbs now . When they first found the leak I came down to 103 lbs I looked very sick .

[NoMoreFatGuy 61]

Thank you so much I hope after the surgery that I won't lose much weight because I am 120 lbs now . When they first found the leak I came down to 103 lbs I looked very sick .

After stomach removal people told me I was grey. I lost 12 pounds the first week but that is because I had a leak from the stomach removal. I was NPO for three weeks. Don't panic! Leaks from the stomach removal are not nearly as bad as with weight loss and they heal quickly!!

[Celeste 45 1]

Thank you so much!