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Having a nightmare time

Sharie65

New Member
Everything has gone wrong for me and wish to god I'd never embarked on my weight loss journey. In 2012 I had a gastric band fitted. 2013 I had it removed due to scar tissue chocking the band. Suffered terribly for 6 months with acid reflux. 28th Jan 2014 had gastric bypass at Southmead. 30th Jan 2014had emergency laparotomy op for twisted bowels. 2 weeks in hospital with chest and urine infections and paralytic ileus. 3 months under care of district nurses after wound opened up and 6cm deep hole developed. 8 stone weight loss between Jan and Dec 2014. From size 26 to size 16/18. May 2015. Started developing chronic tummy aches which came and went. Misdiagnosed several times. Sent home with buscopan and strong pain killers. 6th June developed crippling tummy pains. Misdiagnosed twice by 111 and out of hours surgery. 8th June GP called ambulance to blue light me to a&e. Misdiagnosed again! Told it was most probably gall stones. Quite common in weight loss patients. 10th June rushed to surgery for an emergency 6.5 hours op for intussusception of the bowels. In intensive care for 3 days. Surgeon saved my life as most people die between 2-5 days after intussusception and I was operated on 5th day. Surgeons at Swindon GWH were in close liaison with Southmead bypass surgeons. Intussusception is the telescoping of my bowels. My bowels had telescoped on each other and pulled out my Fallopian tules and ovary on right hand side. Surgeon spent a long time cutting my bowels away from my stomach due to adhesions ( due to bypass surgery). Found a mass which had to be sent off to histology. Had my ascending colon and transverse colon removed. Luckily avoided a colostomy bag. Also had a bowel resection ( joined big and small bowels).Saved my ovary, ( not needed at 49!) major scar from breastbone to groin. 2 weeks on ward, developed urine infection and wound infection and sciatica due to lying awkwardly on operating table for so long. Discharged 2 weeks ago. Now under care of district nurses again for 2 open wounds. One has to be drained into a penrose drain/bag. Results through from histology. Not conclusive. being sent off for 2nd opinion. Turns out I also had appendicitis and appendix had a tumor that was producing lots of mucus. Very rare apparently. Appendix was removed along with colon. Lost a further 1 1/2 stones since surgery (not recommended for weight loss!) now 14/16. Now left with small stomach and not much bowels so everything is passing through me quickly thus weight loss. Surgery was doubly complicated by bypass. Lucky to be alive. Still waiting for 2nd opinion. Now at risk of sigmoid colon twisting and further surgery. My point is, I wonder if any of this would have happened if I hadn't embarked on my weight loss journey. Yes I'm "slim" but at what price? My children thought they were going to loose their mum twice now. My husband is traumatised by it all. Why have I put them through so much stress never mind the pain and misery I have been through. You are never told about what happens when it seriously goes wrong. My bypass surgeon told me his complication rate was 0.2%. How did I know I was going to be one of those 2 in every 1000? Both the twisted bowel (surgery 1) and intussusception (surgery 2) could have been caused by the bypass. Now I am wondering if I am going to make it to my 50th birthday this December. I should never have been opened up. I should have stopped when the band failed but no, that pursuit of being "slim" was all I cared about. I was fit, healthy, no diabetes, no high blood pressure or heart disease - just overweight (22stone). Wanted to be more mobile, that's all. Didn't want to be out of breath all the time even though I could,do it! Sorry if this reads like I feel sorry for myself but I suppose, I do! I also regret ever having weight loss surgery. Just think you should all be aware that sometimes, it goes wrong, and when it does, it can go badly wrong! Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery
 
Last edited:

Jacwat

Member
Everything has gone wrong for me and wish to god I'd never embarked on my weight loss journey. In 2012 I had a gastric band fitted. 2013 I had it removed due to scar tissue chocking the band. Suffered terribly for 6 months with . 28th Jan 2015 had gastric bypass at Southmead. 30th Jan 2015 had emergency laparotomy op for twisted bowels. 2 weeks in hospital with chest and urine infections and paralytic ileus. 3 months under care of district nurses after wound opened up and 6cm deep hole developed. 8 stone weight loss between Jan and Dec 2014. From size 26 to size 16/18.
May 2015. Started developing chronic tummy aches which came and went. Misdiagnosed several times. Sent home with buscopan and strong pain killers. 6th June developed crippling tummy pains. Misdiagnosed twice by 111 and out of hours surgery. 8th June GP called ambulance to blue light me to a&e. Misdiagnosed again! Told it was most probably gall stones. Quite common in weight loss patients. 10th June rushed to surgery for an emergency 6.5 hours op for intussusception of the bowels. In intensive care for 3 days. Surgeon saved my life as most people die between 2-5 days after intussusception and I was operated on 5th day. Surgeons at Swindon GWH were in close liaison with Southmead bypass surgeons. Intussusception is the telescoping of my bowels. My bowels had telescoped on each other and pulled out my Fallopian tules and ovary on right hand side. Surgeon spent a long time cutting my bowels away from my stomach due to adhesions ( due to bypass surgery). Found a mass which had to be sent off to histology.
Had my ascending colon and transverse colon removed. Luckily avoided a colostomy bag. Also had a bowel resection ( joined big and small bowels).Saved my ovary, ( not needed at 49!) major scar from breastbone to groin.
2 weeks on ward, developed urine infection and wound infection and sciatica due to lying awkwardly on operating table for so long.
Discharged 2 weeks ago. Now under care of district nurses again for 2 open wounds. One has to be drained into a penrose drain/bag. Results through from histology. Not conclusive. being sent off for 2nd opinion. Turns out I also had appendicitis and appendix had a tumor that was producing lots of mucus. Very rare apparently. Appendix was removed along with colon. Lost a further 1 1/2 stones since surgery (not recommended for weight loss!) now 14/16.
Now left with small stomach and not much bowels so everything is passing through me quickly thus weight loss. Surgery was doubly complicated by bypass. Lucky to be alive. Still waiting for 2nd opinion. Now at risk of sigmoid colon twisting and further surgery.
My point is, I wonder if any of this would have happened if I hadn't embarked on my weight loss journey. Yes I'm "slim" but at what price? My children thought they were going to loose their mum twice now. My husband is traumatised by it all. Why have I put them through so much stress never mind the pain and misery I have been through. You are never told about what happens when it seriously goes wrong. My bypass surgeon told me his complication rate was 0.2%. How did I know I was going to be one of those 2 in every 1000? Both the twisted bowel (surgery 1) and intussusception (surgery 2) could have been caused by the bypass. Now I am wondering if I am going to make it to my 50th birthday this December. I should never have been opened up. I should have stopped when the band failed but no, that pursuit of being "slim" was all I cared about. I was fit, healthy, no diabetes, no high blood pressure or heart disease - just overweight (22stone). Wanted to be more mobile, that's all. Didn't want to be out of breath all the time even though I could,do it!
Sorry if this reads like I feel sorry for myself but I suppose, I do! I also regret ever having weight loss surgery. Just think you should all be aware that sometimes, it goes wrong, and when it does, it can go badly wrong!

Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery

OMG you have had such an awful time of it. Not much I can say but wish you luck in the future and hope that all works out well for you.
Take care
Jackie
Xx
 

kurstywursty

Active Member
Everything has gone wrong for me and wish to god I'd never embarked on my weight loss journey. In 2012 I had a gastric band fitted. 2013 I had it removed due to scar tissue chocking the band. Suffered terribly for 6 months with . 28th Jan 2015 had gastric bypass at Southmead. 30th Jan 2015 had emergency laparotomy op for twisted bowels. 2 weeks in hospital with chest and urine infections and paralytic ileus. 3 months under care of district nurses after wound opened up and 6cm deep hole developed. 8 stone weight loss between Jan and Dec 2014. From size 26 to size 16/18. May 2015. Started developing chronic tummy aches which came and went. Misdiagnosed several times. Sent home with buscopan and strong pain killers. 6th June developed crippling tummy pains. Misdiagnosed twice by 111 and out of hours surgery. 8th June GP called ambulance to blue light me to a&e. Misdiagnosed again! Told it was most probably gall stones. Quite common in weight loss patients. 10th June rushed to surgery for an emergency 6.5 hours op for intussusception of the bowels. In intensive care for 3 days. Surgeon saved my life as most people die between 2-5 days after intussusception and I was operated on 5th day. Surgeons at Swindon GWH were in close liaison with Southmead bypass surgeons. Intussusception is the telescoping of my bowels. My bowels had telescoped on each other and pulled out my Fallopian tules and ovary on right hand side. Surgeon spent a long time cutting my bowels away from my stomach due to adhesions ( due to bypass surgery). Found a mass which had to be sent off to histology. Had my ascending colon and transverse colon removed. Luckily avoided a colostomy bag. Also had a bowel resection ( joined big and small bowels).Saved my ovary, ( not needed at 49!) major scar from breastbone to groin. 2 weeks on ward, developed urine infection and wound infection and sciatica due to lying awkwardly on operating table for so long. Discharged 2 weeks ago. Now under care of district nurses again for 2 open wounds. One has to be drained into a penrose drain/bag. Results through from histology. Not conclusive. being sent off for 2nd opinion. Turns out I also had appendicitis and appendix had a tumor that was producing lots of mucus. Very rare apparently. Appendix was removed along with colon. Lost a further 1 1/2 stones since surgery (not recommended for weight loss!) now 14/16. Now left with small stomach and not much bowels so everything is passing through me quickly thus weight loss. Surgery was doubly complicated by bypass. Lucky to be alive. Still waiting for 2nd opinion. Now at risk of sigmoid colon twisting and further surgery. My point is, I wonder if any of this would have happened if I hadn't embarked on my weight loss journey. Yes I'm "slim" but at what price? My children thought they were going to loose their mum twice now. My husband is traumatised by it all. Why have I put them through so much stress never mind the pain and misery I have been through. You are never told about what happens when it seriously goes wrong. My bypass surgeon told me his complication rate was 0.2%. How did I know I was going to be one of those 2 in every 1000? Both the twisted bowel (surgery 1) and intussusception (surgery 2) could have been caused by the bypass. Now I am wondering if I am going to make it to my 50th birthday this December. I should never have been opened up. I should have stopped when the band failed but no, that pursuit of being "slim" was all I cared about. I was fit, healthy, no diabetes, no high blood pressure or heart disease - just overweight (22stone). Wanted to be more mobile, that's all. Didn't want to be out of breath all the time even though I could,do it! Sorry if this reads like I feel sorry for myself but I suppose, I do! I also regret ever having weight loss surgery. Just think you should all be aware that sometimes, it goes wrong, and when it does, it can go badly wrong! Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery

Thank you for posting. I think it's right that everyone should know the risks

I would like to ask you a question though.... If you had read this thread before
Your band would it have
Stopped you

Hindsight is a great thing. But I think we are
All so desperate
For the holy grail of slim that we just go off and do it all thinking this will never happen to me

I am less than a year banded and am going in for surgery two weeks today
Because I have a leak that they can't find. I'm having a port and tubing replacement. Hopefully this will take care of things but if not I will need a full band replacement. It was warned that a percentage of bands fail but never thought mine would ;-(
 

Sharie65

New Member
Thank you,Kirsty. I think you'll find that quite a high percentage of bands "fail" for one reason or another. You are quite right. When the band failed and I was offered the bypass it was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey and I jumped at the chance because I so wanted to be slim for the first time in my life, as you say, chasing the holy grail! My endless search for a weight loss solution has cost me dearly over the past 4 years and I deeply regret it but as you say, hindsight is a great thing!

Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery
 

Sharie65

New Member
image-884857852.jpg image-3214379698.jpg image-819678086.jpg Most recent photo at son's 6th form prom last Friday hiding my wounds and drainage bags under dress! Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery
 
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Llora

Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear that you are having so many problems and complications!

I know we all never think or expect not to be those 2 unlucky out of a1000 patients... Thats what i was thinking before the surgery even after reading bad stories... I still am hoping and praying that i would not end up with some horrible complications! Only the time will show.. I am only 10months post op.. But i still keep having thoughts about why was i the one who needed the weightloss surgery to start with.. Why couldnt i be normal and healthy without needing someone to cut me and rearange my insides... Or like today when i am having pain.. I just keep thinking "oh what did you expect after having your insides sliced and rearanged..'.

Dont get me wrong. I am not regreting. Yes i am grateful and happy that i had a chance to have this surgery. Yes i am grateful that it is working for me and i have lost all this weight.. but if being honest.. I wish i was never in that position where i needed operation in the first place. But i am thankful that i had help when i needed it! Because i was very unhealthy and in a very big need of help!

Not much i can say to help you feel better.. just sorry you had/have to go through all this! And i really hope that the worst is behind you now. Hope you will be able to get enough help and support from everyone that you would be able to live as normal life as it is possible after all that you have been through!
 

Sharie65

New Member
Llora, I think you're spot on. My biggest regret is I couldn't do this myself without resorting to surgery. Why was I so weak and lacking in will-power? Loads of people diet and loose weight successfully but I used food as a crutch. I didn't have the strength. Taking away most of my stomach was like taking away my best friend! Being denied certain foods was like punishment and I felt I deserved it. I'm used to it now and the bypass has worked but not without much heart ache and pain!

Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery
 

los in it

Well-Known Member
Oh my gosh what a shocking time you are having I have no other words to say I wish you better health and the very best for the days and months ahead
 

fayz

New Member
What a terrible time you've had. I hope that this is the end of the pain and misery and that your future is bright and healthy. Thank you for sharing, it's important that we all know the risks and think about them before making our decisions about what's right for us.
 

JJJ

Member
You've been having a dreadful time but as you say, it may not all relate to your weight loss surgery. It probably doesn't help how to feel to beat yourself up by asking why couldn't I just lose it by myself.
Maybe there is a silver lining here, would the tumour have been found when it was otherwise?
 

Julcsi

Member
Thank you for posting. I think it's right that everyone should know the risks

I would like to ask you a question though.... If you had read this thread before
Your band would it have
Stopped you

Hindsight is a great thing. But I think we are
All so desperate
For the holy grail of slim that we just go off and do it all thinking this will never happen to me

I am less than a year banded and am going in for surgery two weeks today
Because I have a leak that they can't find. I'm having a port and tubing replacement. Hopefully this will take care of things but if not I will need a full band replacement. It was warned that a percentage of bands fail but never thought mine would ;-(

Sorry to hear about the leak... are you paying for this or is nhs paying for it?
Personally i would just have a sleeve or bypass...
 

Caroline jess

New Member
I feel so awful for you for what you have been through! No one ever thinks they will be one of that small percentage of things that go wrong. Thousands of people have cosmetics procedures these days like its nothing, all those young girls getting boob jobs or lipo. Even after having a failed band I chose to have a further more invasive surgery to convert to bypass in the pursuit of being thin again. I also regret that I was unable just to maintain a healthy weight by myself, this is the hardest thing to accept about yourself. Even after two surgeries I would have a tummy tuck, breast lift etc etc tomorrow if I could probably without too much thought of the potential complications and I have two small children which is incredibly selfish of me.
All you can do is focus on the small positives there are, a person who is at a healthier weight IS in general healthier than someone who is morbidly obese. You may not have had diabetes then but you would have been at a higher risk of all those diseases we associate with weight. You would also have probably continued to gain weight and been in that cycle of over eating/ feeling guilty/ trying to lose weight/ suffering from low confidence/ not being able to do things/ live the way you wanted too.
I'm so sorry for what happened to you and I hope that you have an as happy ending to this as possible xx
 

sundown

New Member
Honestly you don't sound sorry for yourself, you sound angry. I know I'd be angry and bitter in your position.

What you've written really helps people like me who are currently putting a lot of thought into a bypass done on private health. The allure of finally finding the answer to weight loss is great but yes, when I read experiences like yours it's a good reminder that this is a major, life-changing operation and it's not always life-changing in the ways you hope. Like you I do often question why I can't just man up and deal with my weight issues myself; particularly as I'm otherwise 100% healthy with no co-morbidities whatsoever...and particularly when people say helpful things like "You should just join Slimming World - someone I know lost 10 stone on that so you can do it yourself if you put your mind to it" because that makes you feel doubly useless.

There are really no answers; we're all different. You did what I'm doing - you weighed up the risks of long-term health issues from being obese against the risks of surgery. It was a low risk gamble and at the end of the day, that's all you can do and hope for the best.

I really hope things improve for you soon *hug*
 

Gladys Friday

New Member
Hi Sharie

I try wherever I can to find a positive in a big lump of negative. The way I look at it is, all this stuff may have happened anyway but at the weight you were, may not have survived it all. You have been very close to death and I feel very sorry that this happened to you can take this as a sighn to live the rest of your life to the fullest. You can now do this because you are at a weight where everything is possible. You can now go into places without having to look for a place which is big enough for you. I am by no means trying to belittle what you have been through and I hope you don't see it as such. While it could well have been caused by your wls, it is likely that your wls helped you get through it.

I wish you the very best of health from now onwards and get out there and live girl!!!

Debbie
 
Crikey, you don't do things by halves, eh? Sounds like you've been through the mill somewhat...but hey, you know what? You're still here. You're still alive. You really shouldnt be regretting WLS - even though its had its glitches.
I hope you get recovered soon, and that you can lead the life you want to lead.
 
Oh boy, you sure did get the short straw! So sorry that you have had to go through so much. I hope you are able to heal soon, and make the most of the situation you now find yourself in. Hang in there x
 

Sharie65

New Member
Thank you all for your messages of support. It's now been 6 weeks and as they say, time is a great healer! Still got a hole in my tummy which is being dressed daily by the district nurses but life is getting better and I'm getting stronger!

image-12885044.jpg

Went to a festival in Somerset this weekend and had a brilliant time! Took our motorhome and rested when I needed to but kept going to see the headline act, UB40 until midnight which is mega late for me! Lots of hospital appointment s coming through to see surgeons, dietician, psychologist etc
Actually bought a dress size 14 at the weekend too! Haven't been a size 14 since I was about age 14 so was over the moon. Obviously, I would never have been here if it wasn't for the bypass. I was too weak willed to do it by myself after a life time of obesity starting from age 5 when my mum took me to the doctors who put me on a "diet"!
I have a lot to thank the bypass for but at the same time, I am full of regrets. It's a bit like it's given me opportunities with one hand and taken away with the other!
Some of you are right. This may well of happened to me regardless of the bypass. I cannot blame the appendicitis and tumour on the bypass. Just looking for reasons for my bad luck.
Feeling a bit more positive as time goes by. Need to get back driving now................

Sent from my iPad using WLSurgery
 
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