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What Causes Swelling In The Legs Post A Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Question: My 37 yr old daughter had a thigh lift in 2013 after losing weight with gastric bypass in 2004 and latera month later her incision opened and drained, swelling the leg and later was diagnosed by new doctor that she had developed lymphedema from the ugly, open draining incision. By the following year the legs were swollen like stove pipes and then she began to lose weight with no one willing to identify why. How do the two problems relate to each other. Three years later we are still dealing with this and the swollen legs and torso now periodically swell tremendously and then fluid runs out of every pore in her legs and no one here locally addresses the problem as it started with the thigh lift and the hospital here just ignores that fact and and tries to insinuate that she just has an eating disorder... not true!!
She eats constantly and loves to cook but cannot gain any weight...We are desperate. She and her daughter live with us since her divorce and we know exactly what she eats and there is no way she has an eating disorder ...so why is she skin and bones and unable to gain weigh,,,She is a skeleton!!
She eats constantly and loves to cook but cannot gain any weight...We are desperate. She and her daughter live with us since her divorce and we know exactly what she eats and there is no way she has an eating disorder ...so why is she skin and bones and unable to gain weigh,,,She is a skeleton!!
Brief Answer:
Investigations to support or rule-out.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I can understand the plight your daughter and the whole family must be going through.
Noted the history in full.
I would advise the following, that will help me further to assist better:
Please send in the pictures of the swollen lower limbs, the openings.
Are the toes of the feet involved in edema or spared and of normal size?
Also to get the following tests done to get the cause - if not already done:
Ultrasound with color doppler of the affected area, inguinal and abdomen to see for the lymph node enlargement as the blockage can be at this level.
Upper GI Endoscopy and Barium swallow, meal for esophagus, stomach and follow-through for the small intestine to know the dynamics of the GI System, preferably under fluoroscopy control. This will help to know exactly the cause of weight loss as well as inability to gain weight.
Specific blood tests like Vitamin D, B12, Thyroid function, liver along with Serum proteins and kidney function and obviously the routine.
Further tests after I get a feedback from you and the photos.
Cardiac evaluation.
Stool tests.
Urine tests.
A proper evaluation can help to find the cause and rectify accordingly.
If your Doctors are suspecting, why not to have an opinion of a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist .
Awaiting for your feedback.
Investigations to support or rule-out.
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I can understand the plight your daughter and the whole family must be going through.
Noted the history in full.
I would advise the following, that will help me further to assist better:
Please send in the pictures of the swollen lower limbs, the openings.
Are the toes of the feet involved in edema or spared and of normal size?
Also to get the following tests done to get the cause - if not already done:
Ultrasound with color doppler of the affected area, inguinal and abdomen to see for the lymph node enlargement as the blockage can be at this level.
Upper GI Endoscopy and Barium swallow, meal for esophagus, stomach and follow-through for the small intestine to know the dynamics of the GI System, preferably under fluoroscopy control. This will help to know exactly the cause of weight loss as well as inability to gain weight.
Specific blood tests like Vitamin D, B12, Thyroid function, liver along with Serum proteins and kidney function and obviously the routine.
Further tests after I get a feedback from you and the photos.
Cardiac evaluation.
Stool tests.
Urine tests.
A proper evaluation can help to find the cause and rectify accordingly.
If your Doctors are suspecting, why not to have an opinion of a Psychologist or a Psychiatrist .
Awaiting for your feedback.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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