Obesity Discussion Forums

[con10der]

Hi all,my name is Jim and I am 42 years old.I had my ORIGINAL gastric bypass surgery on May 24 2005.One week later i was transported to the hospital via ambulance with a temp of 104.8,after a long night in the E R and spending the whole next day having numerous tests and exams the doc finally decided to take me to the O R for exploratory surgery at 7 pm on June1.When i awoke the next morning i was shocked to find the surgical incision was left open and i had numerous drains protruding from my abdomen and an NG tube in my nose.when the surgeon made rounds he told me that i had a leak that he was able to locate,HOWEVER it was too sloughy to try to repair so he left it go and said it would heal in a week or 10 days.I was not allowed anything to eat or drink,for the first 4 days i was on TPN,a form of nourishment that is provided through an IV,My IV was a central line that was on the right side of my neck.On the 5th day a drain in my stomach was converted into a PEG tube,meaning i was now getting all my nutrition through my feeding tube,as a nurse i was quite familiar with feeding tubes and this made it all the more difficult for me to deal with.after 3 weeks in the hospital i was discharged to home with my open wound,my tube feeding and my suicidal thoughts.I was only home for 2 days when I once again spiked a fever and i was back in the hospital with an abcessed wound.The wound was debrided and i was on IV antibiotics, This stay was nealy a month.i continued to recieve tube feedings for 5 1/2 months when i was referred to a surgeon who was trained in placing stents in patients who had leaks following gastric bypass,this seemed to be where i turned the corner so to speak.One week following stent placement i was allowed my first food or drink by mouth,chicken broth never tasted soooo good.11 months following my bypass I was having some abdominal discomfort,my doc told me the pain was in my head,and i should seek some counseling (MY DOCTOR WAS A TOTAL JERK TO ME FROM DAY ONE,AT ONE POINT HE TOLD ME I WOULDN'T BE SICK IF I WASN'T SO FAT...THIS FROM A MAN WHO HAS BECOME A MILLIONAIRE THANKS TO OBESE PEOPLE) My wife insisted on an upper G I and he reluctantly agreed.When the results of the test were back they showed to ulcers,one that had actually eroded my staple line making it like i had never had the bypass,so i had to have the whole procedure done over,my wife fired my surgeon and we now had the chief of surgery taking over.My second bypass was done on april 4 2006,this time i had zero complications.I had my penniculectomy and thighplasty done on july 23 2007 and i am doing fine i had 6 drains when i came home and i now have 1 remaining in my right leg.I continue to wear an abdominal binder and ace wraps from ankle to groin on both legs,when i see my plastic surgeon on August 22 , i should hopefully be done with all my surgeries.Through all of this i have spent in excess of 10 weeks in the hospital,and had over 15 surgical procedures that required general anesthesia.My wife of 18 years never left my side through this whole ordeal,she slept at my side in the hospital,she was my private nurse responsible for my wound care,my tube feedings and trying to raise my spirits when i had no hope, and as always she was and is my best friend .I guess i should say something positive about all my experiences,I have lost 235 pounds and gone from size 64 pants to now wearing size 36-38,and I can buy clothes anywhere i want,not just in the big and tall stores.thanks for taking the time to read my story,I look forward to being a part of this group
JIM

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by con10der

Hi all,my name is Jim and I am 42 years old.I had my ORIGINAL gastric bypass surgery on May 24 2005.One week later i was transported to the hospital via ambulance with a temp of 104.8,after a long night in the E R and spending the whole next day having numerous tests and exams the doc finally decided to take me to the O R for exploratory surgery at 7 pm on June1.When i awoke the next morning i was shocked to find the surgical incision was left open and i had numerous drains protruding from my abdomen and an NG tube in my nose.when the surgeon made rounds he told me that i had a leak that he was able to locate,HOWEVER it was too sloughy to try to repair so he left it go and said it would heal in a week or 10 days.I was not allowed anything to eat or drink,for the first 4 days i was on TPN,a form of nourishment that is provided through an IV,My IV was a central line that was on the right side of my neck.On the 5th day a drain in my stomach was converted into a PEG tube,meaning i was now getting all my nutrition through my feeding tube,as a nurse i was quite familiar with feeding tubes and this made it all the more difficult for me to deal with.after 3 weeks in the hospital i was discharged to home with my open wound,my tube feeding and my suicidal thoughts.I was only home for 2 days when I once again spiked a fever and i was back in the hospital with an abcessed wound.The wound was debrided and i was on IV antibiotics, This stay was nealy a month.i continued to recieve tube feedings for 5 1/2 months when i was referred to a surgeon who was trained in placing stents in patients who had leaks following gastric bypass,this seemed to be where i turned the corner so to speak.One week following stent placement i was allowed my first food or drink by mouth,chicken broth never tasted soooo good.11 months following my bypass I was having some abdominal discomfort,my doc told me the pain was in my head,and i should seek some counseling (MY DOCTOR WAS A TOTAL JERK TO ME FROM DAY ONE,AT ONE POINT HE TOLD ME I WOULDN'T BE SICK IF I WASN'T SO FAT...THIS FROM A MAN WHO HAS BECOME A MILLIONAIRE THANKS TO OBESE PEOPLE) My wife insisted on an upper G I and he reluctantly agreed.When the results of the test were back they showed to ulcers,one that had actually eroded my staple line making it like i had never had the bypass,so i had to have the whole procedure done over,my wife fired my surgeon and we now had the chief of surgery taking over.My second bypass was done on april 4 2006,this time i had zero complications.I had my penniculectomy and thighplasty done on july 23 2007 and i am doing fine i had 6 drains when i came home and i now have 1 remaining in my right leg.I continue to wear an abdominal binder and ace wraps from ankle to groin on both legs,when i see my plastic surgeon on August 22 , i should hopefully be done with all my surgeries.Through all of this i have spent in excess of 10 weeks in the hospital,and had over 15 surgical procedures that required general anesthesia.My wife of 18 years never left my side through this whole ordeal,she slept at my side in the hospital,she was my private nurse responsible for my wound care,my tube feedings and trying to raise my spirits when i had no hope, and as always she was and is my best friend .I guess i should say something positive about all my experiences,I have lost 235 pounds and gone from size 64 pants to now wearing size 36-38,and I can buy clothes anywhere i want,not just in the big and tall stores.thanks for taking the time to read my story,I look foreward to being a part of this group
JIM

Hi Jim and welcome to the site!!! That is the WORST experience I have ever heard from anyone having obesity surgery. I'm speechless. Have you considered taking this horrible doctor to court for malpractice? This would seem to be a slam dunk case.

I'm sure that now everything seems worth it, but I just cannot fathom having to go through all that. You must be a very strong person to persevere through all that. I commend you. You have some wife, you are a lucky man. It's nice to have another nurse on board. We have a couple who cruise the boards here.

[William Wallace]

Wow. Double wow. No one should endure that type of suffering. Good for your for continuing to fight, and good for your wife for sticking by you. Sounds like you have a keeper!

I would have sued my doctor for that horrible job had it been me, that is unacceptable. Period. Not to mention he seemed like a jerk and deserved it.

From your post you seem to be doing very well now and I am glad to hear it.

Thanks for sharing that story with us, and it just goes to show that no matter how much the chips are down, there's going to be a better day ahead.

[con10der]

i AM NOT THE TYPE TO SUE SOMEBODY,BUT I DID SPEAK TO 2 DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS WHO REFUSED THE CASE,I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE BIG TIME TRAUMA CENTER THAT DID THIS.BTW WHEN I HAD MY PLASTIC SURGERY AT THE SAME HOSPITAL,MY IV INFILTRATED LEAVING ME WITH NO PAIN MEDICATION FOR NEARLY 16 HOURS,THIS WAS DAY ONE POST OP...IF I HAD MY CHOICE BETWEEN A LOT OF MONEY FROM SUING THE DOC OR HAVING A CHANCE TO PUNCH HIM ON HIS NOSE I WOULD CHOOSE BOTH..LOL

[William Wallace]

Originally Posted by con10der

i AM NOT THE TYPE TO SUE SOMEBODY,BUT I DID SPEAK TO 2 DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS WHO REFUSED THE CASE,I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE BIG TIME TRAUMA CENTER THAT DID THIS.BTW WHEN I HAD MY PLASTIC SURGERY AT THE SAME HOSPITAL,MY IV INFILTRATED LEAVING ME WITH NO PAIN MEDICATION FOR NEARLY 16 HOURS,THIS WAS DAY ONE POST OP...IF I HAD MY CHOICE BETWEEN A LOT OF MONEY FROM SUING THE DOC OR HAVING A CHANCE TO PUNCH HIM ON HIS NOSE I WOULD CHOOSE BOTH..LOL

I'm shocked that they refused your case. Are these small firm attorneys or large firm (worldwide/nationwide) attorneys?

I would choose both myself. Maybe you can somehow write that in the case filing should you go that route.

[Irving]

very lucky man you are that everything came out ok, you have a wonderful wife and you are in good health now, or so i think? any residual side effects from the botched operation?


welcome to the group and thank you for sharing!

[Merle]

Originally Posted by con10der

i AM NOT THE TYPE TO SUE SOMEBODY,BUT I DID SPEAK TO 2 DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS WHO REFUSED THE CASE,I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE BIG TIME TRAUMA CENTER THAT DID THIS.BTW WHEN I HAD MY PLASTIC SURGERY AT THE SAME HOSPITAL,MY IV INFILTRATED LEAVING ME WITH NO PAIN MEDICATION FOR NEARLY 16 HOURS,THIS WAS DAY ONE POST OP...IF I HAD MY CHOICE BETWEEN A LOT OF MONEY FROM SUING THE DOC OR HAVING A CHANCE TO PUNCH HIM ON HIS NOSE I WOULD CHOOSE BOTH..LOL

I think there are plenty of attorneys who would take this case. I would not give up so easily. Obesity Discussion works with lawyers all day long (they are his clients if I remember correctly) so he may be able to point you in the right direction.


I am just at a loss for words after reading your story and never fathomed someone could have gone through so much pain and suffering from obesity surgery! I am however very happy that things have gotten better for you, and wish you the best in continued health!

[MikeB]

Sorry for the pain you went through, welcome to the site and congratz on the weight loss!

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by con10der

i AM NOT THE TYPE TO SUE SOMEBODY,BUT I DID SPEAK TO 2 DIFFERENT ATTORNEYS WHO REFUSED THE CASE,I THINK THEY ARE AFRAID TO GO AGAINST THE BIG TIME TRAUMA CENTER THAT DID THIS.BTW WHEN I HAD MY PLASTIC SURGERY AT THE SAME HOSPITAL,MY IV INFILTRATED LEAVING ME WITH NO PAIN MEDICATION FOR NEARLY 16 HOURS,THIS WAS DAY ONE POST OP...IF I HAD MY CHOICE BETWEEN A LOT OF MONEY FROM SUING THE DOC OR HAVING A CHANCE TO PUNCH HIM ON HIS NOSE I WOULD CHOOSE BOTH..LOL

Hmmmmm......sounds fishy. Most good attorneys would gobble up an opportunity to represent you. Strange.