ask: did any get complications after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy ?

Dear Anon

Thanks so much for your question. I am sorry your husband has been dealing with these problems after surgery. According to the Institute of Advanced Bariatric Surgery, the side effects specific to a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy are :

•Perforation of stomach/intestine
•Leakage from a staple line causing infection
•Spleen injury - requiring removal / other organ injury
•Gastric pouch outlet narrowing/stretching
•Blood clots in legs
•Pulmonary embolism - blood clot to the lung
•Inability to eat certain foods
•Development of gallstones or gallbladder disease
•Inflammation of pouch, pouch ulcer
•Weight gain, failure to lose satisfactory weight
•Instrumentation failure may or may not result in additional surgery
•Pregnancy is not recommended during the first 1-1/2 years of active weight loss
•Other potential complications not included can also happen
•Anemia, vitamin/mineral deficiency, protein malnutrition, temporary hair loss

As you can see, there is nothing mentioned about the kind of numbness your husband is dealing with. It's possible that he had some nerve damage but this will have to be discussed with his doctor. Hopefully some other patients who have had the surgery will read this and can also fill you in on their experiences.

Has your husband talked to his doctor about this during his follow-up? What has the doctor said?

Do not worry about the numbness. It is temporary, caused by a nerve damged from the laproscope. The nerve will regenerate.
I had the surgery on June 17th. I have had several complications requiring emergency surgery 3 days post op. I had to have a full open procedure and two weeks later, my incision is wide open and draining. So far, this is proving to be a frightening experience. My advise, have the surgery in the USA. I had mine done in South America.

I had my sleeve laproscopically 4 weeks ago and overall feel ok except for feeling a little ripping in the upper right abdomen every time I bend there. Surgeon's office says it is part of normal healing process but it is uncomfortable and causes some pain that usually resolves after a short time. I worry constantly that it is a more serious complication but have no fever and without bending there is no pain at all. I will discuss this with my surgeon at my follow-up in 6 days. I have not had any numbness as described and have not heard of that as a complication either. My surgery was performed in the US. If anyone else has this ripping feeling, I would love to hear your insights. So far, 25 lbs lost in 4 weeks. Good luck everyone!

I will definitely do that, I wondered if they understood from our phone conversation how concerned I was but I will better be able to relay it in person in 2 days.

My diet has drastically altered life; I now realize how horribly I used to eat. The week following discharge from the hospital was all clear liquid (Isopure protein drink) which was a little much being 10 days on nothing but clear liquid, so I cheated by eating a small cup of applesauce day 9, and was in severe pain for an hour, but never regretted it :) For the week following that it was all pureed (soups pretty much only) but since the applesauce I wasnt looking to go any thicker than that anyway. Towards the end of that week, I mixed in a few soft foods which my doctor said I could do after a week on pureed. It was pretty painful at first, each bite a cramp as it made its way through but I just had to have chicken (tiny shreds), it was the single thing I really missed. I cannot tolerate carbs anymore which I guess is great. I have tried to integrate into eating with the rest of the world as best I can as I have had several social events in the last 2 weeks. At first, it was difficult but it has gotten easier to have a meal (several small bites, no drinking) socially without being obvious about discomfort. I know my limitations and don't push it. I order water, but rarely drink it. I try to order just soups because my body has adapted to that but yesterday I ordered a salad which went fine, the 4 bites I had of it. Otherwise, chicken and take home the sides to hubby.

I was definitely a foodie before this but do not regret it one bit so if I can live with it anyone should be able to. 30 pounds down, 120 to go now. I have little if any hunger (more like craving some comfort food occassionally) and often have to remember to eat if I am keeping up with my protein intake (60-80mg p/d).

Hopefully, all will be ok with the appointment but I will let you know.

Sorry, grams on the protein intake.

Ok, I went to the surgeon for a follow-up last Friday and ironically the day after my last post, the pain completely disappeared. Not wanting to take a chance it would return as soon as I left the office or before my next appointment at the end of the year, I explained what was going on and the surgeon said it was from the disolvable stitches used to hold things during the surgery and that the initial ripping I felt was the disolving stitches weakening, possibly prematurely, as I went about my life. It is possible that the weakend stitch ripped a little and that the time I was in pain was it healing. The only other issues I have to address are maintaining protein intake daily and now returning to iron pills (I was slightly anemic before the surgery and hadn't yet began the iron again because crushing was an inconvienence - bought a purse-size crusher and ready to go again).

I feel absolutely great now - no more pain or swelling in the area and I've been bending like crazy since last week to make sure. I have to say, the diet is the most dramatic change in my life and one I desperately needed/welcome. I cannot tolerate carbs or carbonation (nor am I supposed to be drinking anything carbonated) and meat is still hard on my stomach but as long as I chew it very well, I can manage. There are very few restrictions otherwise: citrus, popcorn, corn and anything in a husk but other than that I could have one well-chewed bite of anything which doesnt leave me feeling deprived at all.

Everyone is different and has their own medical considerations but for me, the band and bypass were not procedures I felt comfortable with - it took me a year to decide on the sleeve and I have absolutely no regrets now 5 weeks post. I return to work next week and look forward to that new challenge.

Good luck to everyone!

My husban had the laparoscopic Sleeve three weeks ago and he has no numbness, he did have the pain in his abdomen after the surgery but it has gone now. His issue is that he can't keep his food down. He will drink his milk or what ever and bring it up within 15 minutes.