I can't hardly eat or drink anything

[Lisa73me]

As most of you know, I have a gastric sleeve done in Mexico on 1-3-17. I have had many complications, a deep vein thrombosis aka a blood clot in the portal vein to my liver and I had 2 leaks in my staple line on my stomach. I had stents placed for 26 days, I had the out on 2-16-17. But I still had a leak, so the doctor had to put them back in. I now have to wait until 3-8-17 to have the stents out again. The first time I had the stents in I had a pikk line in my arm and I was receiving TPN through it. The TPN was full nutrition so if I couldn't eat it was no big deal. Well this time I couldn't get the TPN & they took my pikk line out. I'm having a very hard time eating or drinking anything, but I'm trying, I really need my stomach to be healed this time. Stents in your stomach keep you in pain and keep you sick to your stomach, they're pretty much torture. Basically I had surgery in Mexico, so I am having trouble getting care here because my original surgeon is in Mexico. Just something to think about. I have been thought hell since my surgery, I followed all directions, I did my pre-op and post-op diet just like I was supposed to, I didn't do anything to cause my complications. I was just one of the unlucky ones. I don't want to discourage anyone from getting the surgery, just please be aware that things can go wrong, & if they do it's a nightmare. Just wanted to post an update. Thanks everyone for the thoughts and prayers...

[bigrange]

Do you think it was something the surgeon did, your weight or what? I am having surgey 3/3 with same surgeon. Concerned.

[mrf0418]

Why can't they put another picc line in? It sounds like they want you to start eating?

[Lisa73me]

Do you think it was something the surgeon did, your weight or what? I am having surgey 3/3 with same surgeon. Concerned.

According to what I understand, the rate of complications is less than 1%, it can happen to anyone, & I was just unlucky. Just be aware nothing is foul proof and I didn't think it would happen to me, but it did. I pray everything goes good for you and you have no complications. The 10 or so people that were down there and had surgery at the same time as me are all fine as far as I know. My coworker that went a little over a year ago and referred me is also fine. I guess it's just the luck of the draw. My bmi was only a 40 & I was pretty healthy before surgery, I only had a 3 day preop diet and no complications were expected at all.

[Lisa73me]

They only took the pikk line out after they knew I wasn't getting the TPN again. I went to 2 different hospitals. I couldn't find a doctor that was willing to follow me on the TPN so my insurance would pay for it. The doctors didn't want to follow me because they either didn't take my insurance or they weren't the original surgeon. TPN costs several hundred dollars a day. It looks like a big bag of milk and it goes in constantly over a 24 hour period. My stomach hurts really bad when I eat or drink, even with hydrocodone, which I'm running out of and nobody wants to give me anymore of that either. It's basically been a nightmare and I really don't know what I'm going to do if my stomach is healed on the 8th. But I have high hopes it will be. I wish I could eat, it's just very painful.

[Lisa73me]

Here's a new story they did on me, it's a little dramatic, but it's TV.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/health/No...413090443.html

[bigrange]

What did you think of Dr Marcelo Hernandez

[Donald G]

My surgeon warned me that the complications you have were possible, he also said if it were to happen I would be in the hospital for several weeks. Basically if your staple line leaks then it is up to normal healing to close it which is a long process, one that is biting you currently because you traveled to another country for your surgery. I wish you all the best and hope your healing happens soon.

[mrf0418]

Sorry to hear you are going through all of this.. it must be very difficult.

[RehabNurse]

As always, Lisa, I will be keeping my thoughts on you and your family. I know you had surgery to enhance your quality of life as well as be around to see your grandson grow up. I know in my heart these things will happen after you recover.

[Lisa73me]

What did you think of Dr Marcelo Hernandez

I thought all the doctors were fine, you see a cardiologist, Dr Almanza, & Dr Hernandez

[Lisa73me]

My surgeon warned me that the complications you have were possible, he also said if it were to happen I would be in the hospital for several weeks. Basically if your staple line leaks then it is up to normal healing to close it which is a long process, one that is biting you currently because you traveled to another country for your surgery. I wish you all the best and hope your healing happens soon.

Thank you, that's all I'm trying to do is let people know about the risks

[Lisa73me]

Sorry to hear you are going through all of this.. it must be very difficult.

Thank you

[Lisa73me]

As always, Lisa, I will be keeping my thoughts on you and your family. I know you had surgery to enhance your quality of life as well as be around to see your grandson grow up. I know in my heart these things will happen after you recover.

Thank you, & that's the speech my surgeon here just gave me again the day before yesterday, he assured me that after my stomach heals and I get my stents out for good, that in 6 months this will all be a bad memory and I will be loving life and my new sleeve. I believe him, but I'm never going to forget this experience, it has been a nightmare. He said I did the right thing in getting the surgery, he said I needed it, but I was just unlucky in the complications department. He's taking care of my for free too, he said it was the right thing to do and he has plenty of patients with insurance that he takes. I'm going to make sure he's recognized for everything he's doing for me too...

[Kindle]

Have you been in contact with Dr. Hernandez? Has he been consulting with your local doctors and/or offering to help in treating your complications?