Endoscopy Update Part II

Hi again. I just heard from the doctor's office. The results of the scope are different than what the attending nurse told me yesterday. My pouch is slightly enlarged, which is to be expected so far out of surgery; the real problem of concern is that my stoma is significantly enlared and needs to be sutured. The stoma opening about a year post-op should be at around 10 centimeters. My stoma opening is at 32 centimeters! So what's happening is the food I am ingesting is being dumped very rapidly into the lower intestine - so I'm getting hit with all the calories but I'm NOT absorbing the nutrients! This explains why my bloodwork keeps coming back as being very low in protein and almost anemic - even though I'm eating plenty of good foods with high nutritional value. This also explains my insatiable hunger. The doctor said I have not done anything "wrong" to enlarge the stoma - it was probably too big to begin with right after surgery. He is going to repair via endoscopic procedure, I'm waiting to hear when it's being scheduled, probably in early April. Nic, I don't know of anyone else doing this kind of work - this is different than a revision, which is done laproscopically, or open surgery. He will go down my throat and into the pouch to the stoma with a long tube and staple device - so my down time should only be a 1-2 days. I'll keep you posted. Love ya, Reenie

wow...............dunno what else to say here.... 22 cms too big....wow....................

you are so good at taking care of yourself and getting the right answers.

Good for You!! I will get checked out when I am closer to my Doctors office that did the surgery. My Doc retired, but, there are others in the office that are doing re-checks on us. I think that is what has happened to me. I can eat & eat. Take care & hope you can get this done quickly. Is your Inusrance picking it up? Or out of pocket stuff? Ladybug Marilyn P.S. Will be out of contact for awhile after Friday. Will check back in when I can.

Reenie is this called stomaphyx or something like that??? I found a doctor listed around here that does it as well. I hope you are feeling positive about the results and are able to work everything out. THAT is good news! hugs! Nic

I am so glad you took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and got this checked out. I haven't had an appt with my surgeon in ages, but I do have one scheduled for a week from today. I would love for him to schedule an endoscopy just to make sure everything is where or what it should be. I've gained weight since my lowest point (around 12 pounds or so) and I just chalked it up to me being weak. But maybe not. Maybe there is something going on that I don't know about. Please keep us posted on how you're doing! Love, Joanie