I'm the 1 Percent-Post Op problems

[jawalsh75 8]

First let me say, If you are pre-op DO NOT read my story. I'm not here to scare anyone getting ready to have surgery. This is more a post-op and what went terribly wrong. I was a fairly healthy 41 year old. However, my weight just kept going up and nothing seemed to work. My husband, sister, her husband, friend of the family, all have been sleeved with wonderful success. My BMI was only 35 but I had high blood pressure so I decided to go for it.

Surgery was 4/27 and was done as an outpatient at a surgery center in Cincinnati, OH. Surgery went great, then two hours into recovery my numbers dropped. I was dizzy, nauseated, heart rate increased, blood pressure decreased. Now my doctor has done thousands of surgeries. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have problems. I was supposed to be released about 3 pm, but my numbers were all over the place. Waited for a doctor who came by once and said to keep giving me fluids. Finally at 6 pm the anesthesiologist came by and ordered Hespan (this is a filler used for people going into shock). Well, good news, it helped. I was finally better, still very dizzy but was released at 8 pm.

Little did I or my family know Hespan masks what is really wrong. I was at my moms because she had no steps and at 1:30 in the morning something shoved me awake. I was sick, heart was beating so fast, I kept passing out, finally was able to yell for my mom who called 911. I was rushed to the hospital then taken by ambulance to another hospital (my doctor didn't have credentials at the first hospital I was at).

CT scan showed a 8.5x8.5 cm hematoma on my stomach and a lot of blood in my stomach. I had a staple line leak and was bleeding out. I was rushed into emergency surgery at 7 AM and they fixed the problem, but not before I had to have 6 units of blood. If I was not shoved awake by some unknown power at 1:30 AM I would not be writing this. I was in shock by that point with so many problems. I stayed in ICU for 2 days and was released with a drain out of my stomach. Three days later I was back in the ER because my drain tube tripled the output but it was still residual blood so I was fine. Last weekend I was back in the hospital for two days. I have developed a heart issue, my heart rate is too high. After monitoring beta blockers were prescribed with hopes to get me back on track. I'm hoping in a few weeks to come off them. My poor body is wore out. :-(

So that is my story, a crazy one indeed. On the plus side I'm tolerating all soft food well and down to 179 pounds. I'm severely anemic so all I can do is rest. My doctor does not want me to do much until I can regain some energy. I'm on Iron pills which are helping. I have learned to follow my gut, if you feel like something is wrong listen to your body. I knew when I was first released that something was not right. I know these things happen but total screw up by them not transporting me to the ER instead of sending me home. Hoping my recovery will go a little smoother.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

So sorry for all your pain and complications. And so glad you woke up in time and they found the problem. Say prayers for a good recovery now.

[Deactivatedfatgal 377]

Oh my goodness, so sorry about what you have gone through. I know one thing, you are super strong and resilient! Prayers going out to you. Hoping you heal & feel better. Get plenty of rest

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I'm glad your Angels woke you up.

Speedy recovery.

I think pre-op people totally need to read this. Everyone needs to go into surgery eyes open. Anything can happen to any of us.

[rainyann 118]

I know many people who have had a sleeve and only 1 person who had a hematoma and had to be readmitted... it is rare but does happen. I am glad you are on the mend

Edited May 21, 2017 by rainyann

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

Wish you the best and please update us on how you're progressing.

[MSinger 348]

4 hours ago, jawalsh75 said:

First let me say, If you are pre-op DO NOT read my story. I'm not here to scare anyone getting ready to have surgery. This is more a post-op and what went terribly wrong. I was a fairly healthy 41 year old. However, my weight just kept going up and nothing seemed to work. My husband, sister, her husband, friend of the family, all have been sleeved with wonderful success. My BMI was only 35 but I had high blood pressure so I decided to go for it.

Surgery was 4/27 and was done as an outpatient at a surgery center in Cincinnati, OH. Surgery went great, then two hours into recovery my numbers dropped. I was dizzy, nauseated, heart rate increased, blood pressure decreased. Now my doctor has done thousands of surgeries. I'm sure I'm not the first person to have problems. I was supposed to be released about 3 pm, but my numbers were all over the place. Waited for a doctor who came by once and said to keep giving me fluids. Finally at 6 pm the anesthesiologist came by and ordered Hespan (this is a filler used for people going into shock). Well, good news, it helped. I was finally better, still very dizzy but was released at 8 pm.

Little did I or my family know Hespan masks what is really wrong. I was at my moms because she had no steps and at 1:30 in the morning something shoved me awake. I was sick, heart was beating so fast, I kept passing out, finally was able to yell for my mom who called 911. I was rushed to the hospital then taken by ambulance to another hospital (my doctor didn't have credentials at the first hospital I was at).

CT scan showed a 8.5x8.5 cm hematoma on my stomach and a lot of blood in my stomach. I had a staple line leak and was bleeding out. I was rushed into emergency surgery at 7 AM and they fixed the problem, but not before I had to have 6 units of blood. If I was not shoved awake by some unknown power at 1:30 AM I would not be writing this. I was in shock by that point with so many problems. I stayed in ICU for 2 days and was released with a drain out of my stomach. Three days later I was back in the ER because my drain tube tripled the output but it was still residual blood so I was fine. Last weekend I was back in the hospital for two days. I have developed a heart issue, my heart rate is too high. After monitoring beta blockers were prescribed with hopes to get me back on track. I'm hoping in a few weeks to come off them. My poor body is wore out. :-(

So that is my story, a crazy one indeed. On the plus side I'm tolerating all soft food well and down to 179 pounds. I'm severely anemic so all I can do is rest. My doctor does not want me to do much until I can regain some energy. I'm on Iron pills which are helping. I have learned to follow my gut, if you feel like something is wrong listen to your body. I knew when I was first released that something was not right. I know these things happen but total screw up by them not transporting me to the ER instead of sending me home. Hoping my recovery will go a little smoother.

I'm so sorry this happened to you and hopefully, you are stable now. I'm going in for surgery this Tuesday and I'm glad to have read your story. I read up on typical symptoms of stable line failure, but I have never considered the possibility of a hematoma. I really appreciate you sharing your story and hope you are on the mend from this.

[Noworneverthin 59]

Thank you for sharing your story. I am preop and I'm glad to see that if things do go wrong, it doesn't mean your going to die. My doctor is keeping me in the hospital for two days. I dont think you should have been sent home after you were showing classic signs of a leak. I'm glad your OK. God bless







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