heatherevond
My catastrophic medical event caused by WLS
Jul 14, 2010
October 2009:
Soo... August 29th I woke up with horrid abdominal pain and tried to take showers, baths, irritable bowel medicine, deep breathing, and nothing worked. So I loaded up R and L (T was at a birthday party) and went into the small private hospital in Huntsville. I waited in the waiting room for almost 4 hours and was eventually given a room where they did an xray of my chest and abdomen and lab work. Everthing seemed normal so they gave me Loritab and Zofran and sent me on my way home (after I slept for 45 minutes.) Luckily, I was blessed by a good samaritain who held Lucas the last half hour before I got to a room and stayed until a friend came to get the kids.
So I went and got my meds and went home for the night. I slept restlessly and the next day the pain was not helped at all by the loritab. I went to Facebook and said that I was in the ER the night before and didn't think the medicine was working. A friend called and offered to bring chicken noodle soup (I wasn't eating at this point).. I was grateful that I didn't have to worry about dinner for the kids. But, when she got to the house she looked at me and told me we were going back to the hospital right then. She took the kids to my neighbor and had me in the car in less than 5 minutes.
She saved my life.
I waited in the ER again for a few hours. Right before I got a room I was unable to stand, sit, lean, or do anything without extreme pain. I didn't think I could go on. Somehow a room came open and all I remember is getting on the bed. (Everything else I tell you is what I have been told) I was apparently conscious and explained how bad I was feeling and my history of gastric bypass. They did more xrays and lab work. (Looking at the xray report today it says there was too much gas too see anything on the xray) and then I waited and waited and waited. I was not out of pain even with the medication they were giving me. I told the nurses that I didn't care if it killed me I needed more pain medicine. I was admitted and the next day late in the afternoon the surgeon came in and knew what was wrong just by looking at me and my history. A u/s confirmed it (I remember the u/s tech getting very scared by what she saw on the screen). The surgeon told me I needed surgery and I agreed (I think I would have agreed to anything to get the pain to go away).
The doctor called P in Afghanistan and told him I was very sick and that she had contacted Red Cross to get him home quickly. My next door neighbor and friends had been by my side or checking in on me all day and they were told to get my family here quickly because I had a slim chance of surviving. My family was here in 15 hours (when I say family I mean the whole crew) and they stayed by my side as I went through a total of 4 surgeries and two procedures. I was given a zero percent chance of survival. But, God had other plans and I believe one of them is for me to tell my story about the complicatons from
So what happened? I had a complication from the gastric bypass in October of 2005 (complications are most likely to happen in the period of 3-5 years post op). My small intestine had corkscrewed up between the sutures in my stomach and created a hernia that then became infected. I lost almost all of my small intestine (only 15cm remain) and my left intestine (I had an anurysm in my left intestine and they were not able to repair it with an angiogram). I was intubated for close to three weeks and was on the brink of death's door way too many times. I was transported to the large hospital in town after 8 days at the small hospital (the small hospital did not have the equipment for the angiogram). So.. I woke up on September 14/15th and started to find out what happened.
I am left with a G tube connected to my stomach that drains my stomach and small intestine contents (and any liquids I drink .. no food for me). I'm home with home health and TPN (liquid nutrition) for possibly the rest of my life. I'm hoping to have a reconstructive surgery that will expand my small intestine to a size large enough to connect to my colon so that I can eat again and not have a tube sticking out of my belly.
July 2010:
Small intestine adaptation was not an option for me due to my lack of small bowel to work with and my liver disease caused by TPN. I am currently in the hospital waiting for a multivisceral transplant (stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas). I am looking at a very difficult recovery but life right now is no picnic either. I am on major pain medication which is difficult in it's self because I can't take medications by mouth because my small intestine is not there to absorb the medication. I need IV, patches, or medication that can be absorbed in my mouth. This has been difficult on my whole family and I hope that by sharing my story someone else will pay attention to symptoms and demand care if you have already had WLS and if you have not had WLS please consider any other option. This surgery almost cost me my life several times and I'm not out of the woods yet.
Looking back I remember being told that I was given a zero percent chance of survival more than once. But, God had other plans and I believe one of them is for me to tell my story about the complicatons from gastric bypass and help educate patients about the real complications that you don't hear about at the WLS seminars.
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Soo... August 29th I woke up with horrid abdominal pain and tried to take showers, baths, irritable bowel medicine, deep breathing, and nothing worked. So I loaded up R and L (T was at a birthday party) and went into the small private hospital in Huntsville. I waited in the waiting room for almost 4 hours and was eventually given a room where they did an xray of my chest and abdomen and lab work. Everthing seemed normal so they gave me Loritab and Zofran and sent me on my way home (after I slept for 45 minutes.) Luckily, I was blessed by a good samaritain who held Lucas the last half hour before I got to a room and stayed until a friend came to get the kids.
So I went and got my meds and went home for the night. I slept restlessly and the next day the pain was not helped at all by the loritab. I went to Facebook and said that I was in the ER the night before and didn't think the medicine was working. A friend called and offered to bring chicken noodle soup (I wasn't eating at this point).. I was grateful that I didn't have to worry about dinner for the kids. But, when she got to the house she looked at me and told me we were going back to the hospital right then. She took the kids to my neighbor and had me in the car in less than 5 minutes.
She saved my life.
I waited in the ER again for a few hours. Right before I got a room I was unable to stand, sit, lean, or do anything without extreme pain. I didn't think I could go on. Somehow a room came open and all I remember is getting on the bed. (Everything else I tell you is what I have been told) I was apparently conscious and explained how bad I was feeling and my history of gastric bypass. They did more xrays and lab work. (Looking at the xray report today it says there was too much gas too see anything on the xray) and then I waited and waited and waited. I was not out of pain even with the medication they were giving me. I told the nurses that I didn't care if it killed me I needed more pain medicine. I was admitted and the next day late in the afternoon the surgeon came in and knew what was wrong just by looking at me and my history. A u/s confirmed it (I remember the u/s tech getting very scared by what she saw on the screen). The surgeon told me I needed surgery and I agreed (I think I would have agreed to anything to get the pain to go away).
The doctor called P in Afghanistan and told him I was very sick and that she had contacted Red Cross to get him home quickly. My next door neighbor and friends had been by my side or checking in on me all day and they were told to get my family here quickly because I had a slim chance of surviving. My family was here in 15 hours (when I say family I mean the whole crew) and they stayed by my side as I went through a total of 4 surgeries and two procedures. I was given a zero percent chance of survival. But, God had other plans and I believe one of them is for me to tell my story about the complicatons from
So what happened? I had a complication from the gastric bypass in October of 2005 (complications are most likely to happen in the period of 3-5 years post op). My small intestine had corkscrewed up between the sutures in my stomach and created a hernia that then became infected. I lost almost all of my small intestine (only 15cm remain) and my left intestine (I had an anurysm in my left intestine and they were not able to repair it with an angiogram). I was intubated for close to three weeks and was on the brink of death's door way too many times. I was transported to the large hospital in town after 8 days at the small hospital (the small hospital did not have the equipment for the angiogram). So.. I woke up on September 14/15th and started to find out what happened.
I am left with a G tube connected to my stomach that drains my stomach and small intestine contents (and any liquids I drink .. no food for me). I'm home with home health and TPN (liquid nutrition) for possibly the rest of my life. I'm hoping to have a reconstructive surgery that will expand my small intestine to a size large enough to connect to my colon so that I can eat again and not have a tube sticking out of my belly.
July 2010:
Small intestine adaptation was not an option for me due to my lack of small bowel to work with and my liver disease caused by TPN. I am currently in the hospital waiting for a multivisceral transplant (stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas). I am looking at a very difficult recovery but life right now is no picnic either. I am on major pain medication which is difficult in it's self because I can't take medications by mouth because my small intestine is not there to absorb the medication. I need IV, patches, or medication that can be absorbed in my mouth. This has been difficult on my whole family and I hope that by sharing my story someone else will pay attention to symptoms and demand care if you have already had WLS and if you have not had WLS please consider any other option. This surgery almost cost me my life several times and I'm not out of the woods yet.
Looking back I remember being told that I was given a zero percent chance of survival more than once. But, God had other plans and I believe one of them is for me to tell my story about the complicatons from gastric bypass and help educate patients about the real complications that you don't hear about at the WLS seminars.
Really trying for #3
Dec 13, 2006
We aren't just talking about it this month... we are going to start slow with clomid at 50mg for cycle days 3-7 and a progesterone check on cd 21. The progesterone check will tell us if my body responded at all to the clomid.
I am actually excited about the prospect of baby #3... Even if my two angels are driving me batty while I am on this medicinally induced hormonal roller coaster ride.
I am actually excited about the prospect of baby #3... Even if my two angels are driving me batty while I am on this medicinally induced hormonal roller coaster ride.
Diagnosis for Thanksgiving
Dec 13, 2006
On the drive to my brother's for Thanksgiving weekend my surgeon's office called to let me know that my Iron and hemaglobin were extremely low. I was pretty sure of that diagnosis on my own review of the results but I consulted with a co-worker (whom I ASSUMED) would understand the chemistry of Iron profiles.
I am thankful to report that at today's recheck my level's have more than doubled and I am no longer being cautioned with the possibility of an iron transfusion.
I am thankful to report that at today's recheck my level's have more than doubled and I am no longer being cautioned with the possibility of an iron transfusion.
I exceeded my Goal
Nov 13, 2006
WIth the recent diagnosis of IBS, the testing, and the inability to eat due to severe abdominal pain. I made it to my all time low of 145. I haven't made it back up to my goal weight of 150. This was not the way I planned to make it to goal.
I'm thin. Most think I'm too thin... I'm just getting used to the fact that I'm not shopping in the plus size sections. I am still fluctuating with sizes. I was able to fit in a 4 from t@rget. Granted, this is vanity sizing... but so was my size 18/20 that I struggled to get into last October.
I still drink my protein first thing in the morning with coffee and half a cup of milk. I am sensitive to sugar free syrups more than real sugar. I still stay away from more than a sip of soda. But, a week ago I told my husband that I was willing to give up a meal just to sip a fountain soda and enjoy it like I used to. A sip is still glorious but it's not something I do even once a week. I still can't drink much before I eat and drinking while I'm eating is a joke... I couldn't get my food in if I were to drink ANYTHING while I ate.
I'm thin. Most think I'm too thin... I'm just getting used to the fact that I'm not shopping in the plus size sections. I am still fluctuating with sizes. I was able to fit in a 4 from t@rget. Granted, this is vanity sizing... but so was my size 18/20 that I struggled to get into last October.
I still drink my protein first thing in the morning with coffee and half a cup of milk. I am sensitive to sugar free syrups more than real sugar. I still stay away from more than a sip of soda. But, a week ago I told my husband that I was willing to give up a meal just to sip a fountain soda and enjoy it like I used to. A sip is still glorious but it's not something I do even once a week. I still can't drink much before I eat and drinking while I'm eating is a joke... I couldn't get my food in if I were to drink ANYTHING while I ate.
About Me
Madison, AL
Location
19.0
BMI
Surgery
10/06/2005
Surgery Date
Apr 07, 2005
Member Since
