Leak?.........

The pain that was supposed to go away after a week went away and now now just recently came back after a meal (was full accidentally pushed it by another bite)

Now my lower left side of my stomach is hurting again. Everything that I drink or eat I I pay attention closely I can gear like a bubbling not the normal you have too much acid/gas type pretty much sounds like pop rocks in my stomach.

Should I be worried about anything ? What are leak symptoms ?

my symptoms were pain, pain, pain. Everything I ate or drank hurt to a point where I couldn't eat or drink. Many (most) will insist you will have a fever - NOT ALWAYS TRUE!. I did not develop a fever because I did not get septic. I had been on antibiotics for an incision infection and by the time I was off of them I wasn't able to eat or drink. the pain did radiate to my left, I felt so sick and I was VERY lethargic. I had no energy what so ever. When I was admitted to the hospital, my BP was very low. Watch for pain when you eat or drink that radiates, feeling like total crap and do watch for a fever that may develop. DO NOT play around if you think you have a leak. Get to your MD asap or go to the ER.

They refuse to page my doctor unless its an emergency. I told them I can't diagnose it and he would have to determine that. They were not giving up. So I told the answering service I'd just go to the hospital.

Please anyone that can reassure me I'll be fine. I'm going crazy.

The same port pain that went away came back. Maybe cause I laid on stomach while it was sore. I have no idea. I was pain medicine free for 4 days.

Understandable. I can drink and eat. Stomach didn't hurt just my lower left side. I'll keep my senses open for eating and drinking pain thanks

lower left?
Have you had BMs?

Shortness of breath and rapid pounding heartbeat are symptoms

Wish I had words of wisdom for you. Good luck and keep us posted!!!

Hi So Gastric:
There is no reason for you to sit around in pain, while trying to reach your doctor. Call his office and schedule an appointment for this week, as soon as you can get in. Do Not Take No for an answer. Tell them if he isn't concerned enough to see you this week, then you obviously made a mistake letting him operate on you, and that you will find another bariatric surgeon to follow your case. Tell them to copy your chart now and put it at the front desk immediately for pick up. Go get it and find another surgeon go see you this week.

The diagnosis of a leak is "clinical" meaning that only your doctor will be able to tell you if he thinks you have a leak, by what symptoms you are presenting.
He will want to do a clinical assessment and history of your symptoms and see what he thinks. The problem is, not even a surgeon can be 100% sure. In the case of a leak, you will have to go back to surgery. The leak, if it exists, will have to have a drain inserted from the inside to the outside to have what is leaking out of your stomach exit the body, instead of exiting into your abdominal cavity, where an abcess could form. (This is where a possible fever might come into play, but every person who gets an abcess, does not get fever.)

A leak is very serious, and has to be handled aggressively to prevent abcess formation with possible sepsis (Blood infection that spreads throughout the body, and can be fatal.)

So, you have every right to be concerned, and if you doctor's office is unwiling to give you an appointment, then call another bariatric surgeon, and go see them, instead. You can fire your doctor and get a new one if that is what it takes to get help. I would not suggest simply presenting to the ER, unless that is the only way to get a bariatric surgeon to look at you. Most ER doctors do not understand bariatric surgery, and they are not qualified to assess and treat what may or may not be going on with you.

The bottom line is: Only you know if you feel OK, and only you know if you need to see a doctor. If you need to see a doctor, then don't stop until you see one.
If it can't be your own surgeon, then let it be another qualified surgeon in your area. Good luck.

I am 3 weeks post op and my belly is swollen, just for the past 2 days. I am concerned about a leak. Been doing everything by the book.... Any ideas? Could be a leak? Or just part of the recovery? No other symptoms really, just a lil sore, and uncomfortable.