7 years post op

[xosaraxo]

Hi,
I'm Sara. 7 years post op. 200lbs down. Melted from a size 28 to a 6. Yay! However, I'm facing all sorts of long term complications. In February of this year my dr put a Bart's PowerPort in my chest for regular IV iron therapy. Without the therapy, I will die. I've tried every other method of iron supplementation, nothing works. I turn 30 next month.. And I've spent the last year with an access port in my chest. It's not as bad as the ones I've seen from previous decades, but still pretty obvious. I finally manage to lose the "fat girl" image I've lugged around my whole life... and now I have a port and spend my Thursday mornings hooked to an IV bag in an oncology clinic.

I don't absorb iron, or maintain it.. or make any in my body. my b and d vitamins have been a bit all over the place, but nothing life threatening from them... The iron, though, it's killing me.

 

[Yvessa]

Oh gosh what a frightening thing to go through. Is the introduction of the port helping?

 

[xosaraxo]

The infusions help short term. The port itself helps in the fact that they are no longer blowing my veins. The only problems I have had so far.. accessing the port kind of feels like being stepped on by a large person. There's lots of pressure. Also the port has had some difficulty flushing, despite the routine flushing... so now we worry about blood clots.


AND since losing so much weight.. I have inches and inches of loose saggy skin. :/

 

[top_kat]

what an awful experience you've had

 

[chappers]

Hello Sarah. What procedure did you have? X

 

[xosaraxo]

Open Roux-en-y gastric bypass.

Hello Sarah. What procedure did you have? X

 

[xosaraxo]

I'm not sure if I've responded properly.. Just in case: the port has helped in the aspect that I am no longer having my veins blow out. Apparently intravenous iron is going to be a routine part of life for me until I die, so a long term port is beneficial, so long as the recent difficulty flushing doesn't become normal or produce more complications. . . And I had an open roux-en-y gastric bypass... That had complications resulting in a second surgery three days later. When putting my intestines back inside my body and closing up from surgery, somehow my intestines got tied in a knot. Over time the knot tightened as my intestines tried to move back into their natural positions. When it had completely shut off and started to die, they figured it out and had to operate again.

 

[carrieb]

Sounds terrible - what are your feelings now about the op? Glad you did it or regret having it done?

 

[chappers]

So awful, poor girl. X

 

[andie1379]

Thanks for sharing but I think you have just put off everyone ( including myself) having the bypass! And I'm sure anyone who has just had it done are s**ting themselves!

 

[shelleymarie]

I think it is good when people share positive and negative experiences. You need to go in with your eyes open. I read a lot about twisted bowel before the op, mainly so I knew that if it happened the pain would be bad and I'd need to get to A&E quick. So sorry you went through that and what you are going through now too x

 

[chappers]

I would think there are horror stories for any of these surgeries to be honest but if you research the procedure thoroughly (as I would assume any intelligent person would do before embarking on any procedure such as this) would know the risks and statistics and the percentage of deaths etc... Before hand which would assist you in making your decision. I certainly have for my WLS and the risks are low, but a risk none the less but given that my health is failing because of my obesity, I am prepared to take a chance on not being one of the 0.5% that don't make it.

 

[top_kat]

I think it is good when people share positive and negative experiences. You need to go in with your eyes open. I read a lot about twisted bowel before the op, mainly so I knew that if it happened the pain would be bad and I'd need to get to A&E quick. So sorry you went through that and what you are going through now too x

I agree. Prior to my band, I'd looked into it for so long positives and negatives. I think we need to be armed with awareness of what could go wrong, signs to look out for. We need to be aware. We need to make an informed decision and we can only do that by knowing as much as we can, positive, negative and everything in between.

I'm sorry that things have gone so dreadfully for you

 

[Smallerme]

Thanks for sharing but I think you have just put off everyone ( including myself) having the bypass! And I'm sure anyone who has just had it done are s**ting themselves!

It's a forum about weight loss surgery not rainbow farting unicorns. If the possibility of complications does put you off then it's surely a good thing you read about it rather than going into surgery with your eyes shut.

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles Sara. It sounds like you've really suffered through your op and are now living with a serious longterm complication. It must be upsetting especially when getting used to a new dynamic added into it like the port. I really hope the infusions help with your health and wish you the best of luck.

 

[WeightlossDreamer]

oh my gosh! Your experience sounds awful! x x x

 

[Mazza]

Welcome to the forum Sara and sorry to hear of your problems.

Please stick around xx

 

[Yvessa]

Sara thank you for taking the time to respond in such depth. I think it is shocking that they didn't pick up on it sooner - were there any physical symptoms?

 

[Yvessa]

Thanks for sharing but I think you have just put off everyone ( including myself) having the bypass! And I'm sure anyone who has just had it done are s**ting themselves!

No I'm not. I knew that this was a drastic dangerous operation with death and lifelong complications a possibility. I read everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. Because you don't go into any wls without knowing what you're letting yourself in for. And knowing that sometimes it can and does go horribly wrong. This journey is not a walk in the park and there are some frightening after effects out there. But without this op I would not have lived another 10 years. And so no. I'm not scared - I am grateful for every blessing my op has bought.

 

[ClaireMarie]

I'm so sorry you have been and are still going through such an awful experience x

 

[Banderbird]

What a horrendous experience, it's so sad you're suffering such drastic complications.

So the iron treatment is once a week, every week forever?

Do you regret having surgery?