tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post8121309080402409676..comments2024-03-23T07:23:38.950-07:00Comments on Confessions of a Twirly Girl: Ulcers after gastric bypass (the no-no list)lolorashelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-60030230127970720992017-12-04T08:28:23.638-08:002017-12-04T08:28:23.638-08:00My heart is broken for you. Thank you for sharing...My heart is broken for you. Thank you for sharing her story and I am so sorry for your loss. lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-55232482320531739422017-11-25T01:37:24.292-08:002017-11-25T01:37:24.292-08:00My wife had her RYGB back in Spring of 2007. She h...My wife had her RYGB back in Spring of 2007. She had no issues with it and lost 150lbs. Fast forward to early 2009 she had a bulging disc. Had surgery to alleviate the pressure on disc in October of 2009 and became permanently disabled because of it being botched. She became bedridden, gain 75% of the weight that she lost and had numerous back surgeries. She had taken countless different pain meds, depression pills such as Xanax XR and multiple multi vitamins. She also took a lot of Aleve and for headaches and had done so daily. She had come down with pneumonia late June of 2017 and next day was rushed to the ER with a perforation in her gastric pouch. The rupture was on the surgical site where it had been stapled and she had to be operated on to repair it. She had basically had another RYGB. She was in the hospital for 7days before she was released home and she had finally slept in our bed which gave her a good night's sleep. The next morning she had more and severe stomach pain than the week before. Took her back to the ER and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. She was later diagnosed with pancreatitis and colonitis. She stayed at our local hospital for an additional 3 more weeks before being transferred to the state university hospital in late July. She had a stomach drain inserted and the next day she bled out so bad that her heart stopped and she was deemed code blue. She had CPR compressions done to her for a couple of minutes which seemed longer than it was. They got her pulse back and took her to the ICU. On the way down to ICU her heart stopped 2 more times. They revived her and she had an emergency angiogram to stop the bleeding from the artery behind her pancreas and spleen. She barely survived but because of the trauma her other organs shut down such as her kidneys. She had to be on dialysis constantly and then periodically in order to restart them and to see if they could eventually function normally without dialysis. She overcame that and a few other operations and was transferred to the local hospital for 2 more weeks. She had been in the hospital for 80+ days. She finally came home for three weeks before having more issues and was airlifted back to state hospital. While there she had enough endoscopy which showed multiple ulcers and her gastric pouch to be necrotizing (dead/dying). She ended up having another 2 more heart stoppages which really did a lot of damage to her and she was very weakened from it. They revived her. She ended up bleeding internally and it was so bad that she needed emergency surgery. During surgery they found the main source of the bleeding which was the spleen had died and it was hemorrhaging very badly. They stopped it and then we're going to start on the pancreas and then eventually to her pouch and that's when she threw a massive blood clot that stopped the flow of blood to her heart and lungs. She died 2 hours into a 6-10 hour surgery. She was 38 years old. The autopsy report states that it was complications due to RYGB for obesity but that's a bold faced lie. There's other parts that I purposely left out but the RYGB was not the main reason. It didn't help that my wife took so much Aleve for so long but she should have survived this. It shouldn't have gone as far as it had after she was released the first time. But the moral of the story here is, don't take NSAIDS and if you do get an upper & lower GI check up to see if everything is ok. If my sharing her tragic and unnecessary death can save just one person then her death will not be in vain. Please be careful and follow the rules. You'll live longer if you do. We didn't know and now I've lost her. She is my soulmate, my best friend, my rock and my everything. Now she's gone and I'm lost. 💔 Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00525038048851285213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-11682026056106214032017-09-10T22:43:36.596-07:002017-09-10T22:43:36.596-07:00You have a 50% chance of gallbladder stones post g...You have a 50% chance of gallbladder stones post gbp. Recently had my gallbladder removed. Before removal, pain was off the charts. Just another tip they never mention.Tmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02017031919155581819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-39941646580748965522017-04-20T16:26:19.431-07:002017-04-20T16:26:19.431-07:00Oh wow. That is horrible. I'm so sorry to he...Oh wow. That is horrible. I'm so sorry to hear that. Their insurance may still have a tail that covers malpractice. You may want to talk to an attorney. lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-47372717847864186752017-04-11T02:17:01.987-07:002017-04-11T02:17:01.987-07:00Yes actually I do. The doctor that did my reconstr...Yes actually I do. The doctor that did my reconstruction told me, "off the record the original doctor used the wrong size staple's" <br />Downfall is he literally kept that statement out of my file and the original doctor is no longer in practice.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440365238380745680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-67838012490244058312017-04-05T19:45:41.742-07:002017-04-05T19:45:41.742-07:00I didn't realize ulcers could develop that qui...I didn't realize ulcers could develop that quickly. Do you think they did something wrong with your first surgery?? I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. :(lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-65634836759144915592017-04-05T01:48:20.383-07:002017-04-05T01:48:20.383-07:00I had gastro bypass in March of 2010. My ulcer beg...I had gastro bypass in March of 2010. My ulcer began one week later. In Nov of 2010 I had gastro bypass reconstruction to remove an ulcer which made my stomach go from egg size to golf ball size. I started at 254 lbs in March and by Nov I was 110 lbs. I had over 30 upper gi's up until 2015. I still have ulcer issues. Have diarrhea a lot and throw up some still but have been putting weight back on and now I'm back up to bout 180. I'm very upset by all the hell I went through and put my family through just to be heavy again. Tonight I felt really sick and threw up after eating a couple bites of dinner. It hurt so bad when I threw up that it actually felt like my stomach tore or something. Now in bed in pain and can't sleep. Insomnia is a major issue this past year too. Not to mention the ulcers still, depression and bipolar. This really sucks. I had the surgery for health reasons then had major health issues after and now what to do?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13440365238380745680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-81257180386085229512016-11-04T01:37:06.824-07:002016-11-04T01:37:06.824-07:00Listen, I also had RNY in 2006, and have been told...Listen, I also had RNY in 2006, and have been told by the most prestigious and one of the longest operating docs in gastric bypass in Seattle, that I am a "classic success" story. I lost from 340 to 215, and stay within 10 or so pounds of that weight. I never thought I would be skinny, and my doc said I would probably come down to 200 pounds. So, I asked him about my ibuprophen needs as I suffer from chronic pain---now much more severe. His advice about this and most issues is that it is not a problem until it is a problem. Now I take hydrocodone, tramdol and neurontin (fibromyalgia and several severe motorcycle and car accidents) for my pain. I became unable to cope, still, and now take ibuprophen again I take prilosec when I think I might be getting an ulcer. I am having a shit-ass time, though now, and while drinking has not been an issue since surgery (other than the rapid onset) I am now having issues with severe stomach pain and am going to go in for my second endoscopy an upper GI series. Not sure when will happen if I have ulcers up above my pouch(think I do) and below in my stomosis with my small intestine. I also believe I likely need a revision because my doc says pouches do not increase, but the small intestinal opening of the stomosis can enlarge, thus making it HUGE and defeating your RNY in many ways. Although I am eating little, and not losing anything. Anyway, so much for hiding my nsaid use. It's not advisable. The problem is, there is not enough pain medication for the growing pain issues that continue to advance. Also, as a side note, I need iron infusions because my gut cannot get enough iron in me, and my ferritin goes to zero. I have a largely benign form of thalassemia, which can be very horrible and even fatal in some other forms---google it, anyway, it makes my ferritin retention difficult. Just a little side note. Be well, all. goddess of sapphohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04073058905430412717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-28987790330658872102016-02-26T21:45:49.551-08:002016-02-26T21:45:49.551-08:00I am just glad my medical doctor had enough sense ...I am just glad my medical doctor had enough sense to tell me that I would never survive gastric bypass surgery!!! I rather stay my siapze than put up with the aggravation!!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00864006986408800023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-52013904512547042802015-11-11T12:43:10.808-08:002015-11-11T12:43:10.808-08:00I am so sorry to hear that. Prayers for her frien...I am so sorry to hear that. Prayers for her friends and family. <3lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-86840142625130908182015-10-30T10:50:30.929-07:002015-10-30T10:50:30.929-07:00Just a warning for us bypass survivors. Friends wi...Just a warning for us bypass survivors. Friends wife had the surgery. She continued her heavy alcohol intake. 4 years later, She was found dead in the bathroom. Bled to death from perforated ulcer. By all means, avoid alcohol, especially whiskey and liquor.Tmachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02017031919155581819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-53549527225903912092015-08-24T09:35:22.280-07:002015-08-24T09:35:22.280-07:00I would take my meds with food and I feel like tha...I would take my meds with food and I feel like that did help me a lot. I hope you're doing ok! lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-52114764077311453012015-08-19T02:05:38.179-07:002015-08-19T02:05:38.179-07:00I had my R-n-Y in Oct. 2006, and just this Spring ...I had my R-n-Y in Oct. 2006, and just this Spring I've given in and taken the occasional ibuprofen for my arthritis pain, or sometimes the "migraine" formula (acetaminophen, aspirin, caffeine) when I get awful headaches. Unfortunately, they're they only things that work (without using heavy painkillers). I'm still trying to find out what our options are regarding my arthritis pain, and no one has come up with an answer for me as yet. Meh.Calihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11341798352120502784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-54408281967905152562015-07-16T08:22:34.157-07:002015-07-16T08:22:34.157-07:00P.S. I stopped taking Aleve and aspirin after some...P.S. I stopped taking Aleve and aspirin after some stomach issues a couple of years ago. I was on my way to creating an ulcer. I took a round of Prilosec and am ok. I also now take DGL if my stomach is upset. I avoid tums and Prilosec type medicines if I can. We actually need acid to digest our food so we are already at a disadvantage if we have had gastric bypass. To further suppress what little acid we have causes other issues down the line. lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-31938578577307322502015-07-16T08:19:48.976-07:002015-07-16T08:19:48.976-07:00I'm so sorry you went through that!! Thank you...I'm so sorry you went through that!! Thank you for sharing your story! I'm glad you seem to be doing better. lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-49371705147941087812015-07-07T11:56:59.172-07:002015-07-07T11:56:59.172-07:00Post-RNY ulcers are no joke! I had gastric bypass ...Post-RNY ulcers are no joke! I had gastric bypass in 2009. In December of 2012, after two years of horrid regular periods that led me to pop Midol Complete (Tylenol + IBUPROFEN + CAFFEINE - the last two are no-nos, obviously!) several times a day, for seven days, every single month for those two years, I started having random bouts of abdominal pain - unexplained, severe pain that nothing alleviated. On February 18th, 2013, while dealing with a bad bout of pneumonia, an ulcer I didn't know I had perforated - literally blew a hole in the small intestine that connects to the bottom of my stomach pouch. Two ERs, two ambulance rides, and six hours later, my bariatric surgeon told me about the thumbnail-sized hole she had to close up.<br /><br />Fast forward two years later: I take 40mg of Protonix (RX strength Pantoprazole) and 4g of Carafate per day. Even though I have uphill battles with my PCP and ortho I refuse NSAIDs and other stomach-irritating medications. And I have EGDs every six months. The last one, in February of this year, gave me some assurance, finally: I went from two active ulcers to just one nearly-healed one. Yay!<br /><br />Moral of the story: stress and NSAIDs can literally kill you after gastric bypass surgery. Avoid both at all costs, limit caffeine, coffee, tea, and other stomach-irritating products as much as possible. And for God's sake, don't ignore significant stomach pain like I did - a simple 20 minute EGD can find the culprit (ulcer).<br /><br />Jenn, x@jenn.nu<br />http://www.jenn.nuJenn Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00768281992120978209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-5236698459753040202015-01-19T08:42:45.136-08:002015-01-19T08:42:45.136-08:00George's Aloe 1-2 ounces twice a day will coat...George's Aloe 1-2 ounces twice a day will coat and soothe your stomach. See your Surgeon as soon as possible alsoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16153184134950684972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-16163248779401008282015-01-09T09:36:19.346-08:002015-01-09T09:36:19.346-08:00I hope that the damage isn't that great. Twic...I hope that the damage isn't that great. Twice in my life, I have had pain in my pouch, which ended up just being extra acid and not actual ulcers. Please let me know how you are doing! Now when my tummy is upset, I take DGL. It is better than taking things like Prevacid. We do need acid to digest our food, unfortunately. :-/lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-15603059623363230012015-01-09T09:34:21.429-08:002015-01-09T09:34:21.429-08:00Angie, I don't know of any home remedies for u...Angie, I don't know of any home remedies for ulcers. You should take them very seriously, though, and get to the doctor as soon as possible. Bleeding uclers are so dangerous. <3lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-10447889722025881292015-01-07T22:05:31.250-08:002015-01-07T22:05:31.250-08:00Sadly, I disobeyed the rules as well. Especially ...Sadly, I disobeyed the rules as well. Especially the one regarding no Advil. I over used and abused it probably after 1-2 years after having surgery. I should have known better, especially lately after taking it and getting severe pain in my pouch. I knew better, of course. And I would have the Angel on one side of my shoulder with the Devil on the other side and I don't know why I listened to the Devil more. Who knows? We all think we are invincible I guess. And we "Push the Envelope" so to speak, thinking, "Well, I was okay this time, so, I should be okay the next time." Unfortunately, I thought I would still be okay one too many times. For almost 2 weeks now I have had pain and discomfort and pulsating aches, dull and sharp, at all different times, although especially at night time. I have been awakened with pain. I have felt pain going around into my back. I had a slew of health problems prior to surgery obviously and still have my share even after surgery. However, I truly believe having gastric by-pass in October, 2011, did save my life in the long run and was the right choice for me. And as one other person commented, I would still do it again. But now I am almost certain through self diagnosis, that I have to have a Peptic Ulcer. I already had a routine appointment set up with my Gastroenterologist this coming Tuesday, but I am thinking that I should still probably go to see my Internist regardless. I also believe I should probably go back to see my Bariatric Surgeon as well for this issue. I am just so angry with myself. I had been on such a high for the past 3 years with all my success and was able to go down from 25 pills a day and 4 shots a day, to now only 7 pills a day. So, I felt really fantastic about that most of all....Not to mention that I lost 90 lbs and went down 10 sizes in clothes. Now obviously I don't know the extent of the damage yet, but, I am just wondering what I can do myself, what home remedies for relief and possible healing, (if any), can I do until I see my doctors? Also, can ulcers actually be healed completely and for good once you have them, or is this really probably just a Pipe Dream?!? I had a great-uncle once who was famous for home remedies and he was the "talk" of the family, because he had healed his ulcer(s), by eating only "Baby Food" for an entire year! However, he did not have gastric-by pass and I did not know the details/extent of his ulcer(s). How can I help myself now if at all possible? Any advice would be appreciated. And I will even take hearing the brutal facts of my actions....sadly.....I wish I could turn back time and take it all away. :(AngiePoo45https://www.blogger.com/profile/02340334673298806929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-53391018396517491252015-01-07T22:04:29.666-08:002015-01-07T22:04:29.666-08:00Are there any home remedies to ease pain of an ulc...Are there any home remedies to ease pain of an ulcer until seeing the doctor?AngiePoo45https://www.blogger.com/profile/02340334673298806929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-14359067749104529542013-12-24T10:15:39.511-08:002013-12-24T10:15:39.511-08:00I'm so sorry to hear that!! I do agree...even...I'm so sorry to hear that!! I do agree...even if you do everything right, there are no guarantees. I hope you are healing well!! <3lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-78025586479475813862013-12-23T10:42:43.158-08:002013-12-23T10:42:43.158-08:00I ended up with a marginal ulcer on a blood vein t...I ended up with a marginal ulcer on a blood vein two months post-op, I spent a few days in the hospital when it started bleeding and I lost 2.5 liters of blood. Here it is in December, four months later, and I'm still battling the damn ulcer. I take Protonix twice a day and still have off days where I'm in pain and can't eat. They cannot figure out how I ended up with the ulcer. No caffeine, no smoking, no NSAIDs, no alcohol, and no h. pylori. My surgeon is saying he wants to wait a little longer but I'm saying let's get a revision done and over with.<br /><br />Just a heads up, you can do everything right and still have this complication.Brandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10749378555635607142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-27869502673513719022013-12-09T10:40:49.597-08:002013-12-09T10:40:49.597-08:00Some of us luck out and some don't. I've ...Some of us luck out and some don't. I've heard of people taking it once or twice and ending up in the ER. :-/ I've been taking Aleve almost daily for about four years and I don't have an ulcer either. lolorashelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529819162056380086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858792371551506749.post-34061585233305159052013-12-09T00:15:43.686-08:002013-12-09T00:15:43.686-08:00OH boy.. I've been taking aspirin this week or...OH boy.. I've been taking aspirin this week or so. I have an awful cold. I'm just totally miserable. I don't have any pain in my pouch though. No throwing up, no nothing. It's been almost 2 years out since I"ve had the surgery. I've taken Ibuprofen here and there as well. I don't have any signs of an ulcer? TulipWifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09182175884173093200noreply@blogger.com