Questions about Strictures

I have to go in tomorrow for my 2nd Endoscopy since Mar 30th to dilate the opening of my pouch due to strictures. It is also frustrating trying to drink and eat. It's extremely hard to keep any food down, even soft foods like pudding. Has anyone else experienced this? Do you have any idea how long this can continue to be a problem? IT is making me crazy, not to mention very weak, not being able to get in all my protein & liquids. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I can't answer your questions, but I really admire your fortitude. I'll be praying for your good health, Suzy.

I am praying for you. I know how you feel, just had mine stretched Monday and hope I never have to experience that again. I'll pray that you don't either . Good luck, Billie

I'm so sorry to hear you're having a problem. Do they know what causes the strictures? What is it exactly? A speedy recovery to you, Heidi

Hi Heidi, Strictures are when the opening to the pouch start to narrow and it becomes difficult for food and/or water to pass through. They basically do an Endoscopy (take a scope and put down your throat) to look to see the problem and then use a balloon to stretch the opening. Believe me when I say they are not fun. The 1st time it happened I was scared to death as I couldn't even keep a small sip of water down. When the Dr. did the 1st Endoscopy he said I would probably need it done again, as they can only safely stretch it so far each time. The risk is perferation, which would require immediate emergency surgery. So, they scheduled me again for Mon, May 9th, however, I had problems as of mid week so they did the 2nd one yesterday. I'm doing better today, just have a very sore throat. The Dr. again scheduled me again in 3 weeks. I'm hoping that maybe the 3rd time will be charm. According to my surgeon, these strictures usually can be taken care of with 1 procedure. (Guess I'm just lucky, not!) Anyway, he said after 2 or 3 months they usually do not present a problem any more as they seem to soften up. Not sure what all this means, but I hope he's right, as I will have had 3 endoscopy's before it been 3 months after surgery. He said I just healed to well to quickly. Anyway, I'm sure this has been a contributing factor to my emotional being which has been a mess! It's just very scary when you are following all the rules and still can't eat or drink....it's out of your control. I hope that I will have better results this time since it's only been 1 1/2 wks since the 1st one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. Sorry for the lengthy response but thought I'd do my best to explain. I hope you don't experience any of these problems. Thanks again for checking in Heidi.

It's basically one complication post-op that some patients experience. The opening the the pouch conSTRICTs and makes it hard to swallow things. Even water comes back up in some patients. It is painless to fix - an endoscopy identifies it and then they put like a balloon down ya to open it back up. They numb your throat and esophagus so you don't feel it, plus they give you a "twilight" drug so you are awake, but out of it kind of. I remember my endoscopy last year for something unrelated, and I remember after they gave me the drug, the walls were moving like ocean waves. I'm like "the wall is moving". It was surreal.

Hello Everyone Anniston AL here. I have had one stricture so far at one month, but now I am at 2mo. and having problems again. The think I am eating to fast or taking to big a bites, so trying just flluids for a week. Don't really understand this, because before I didn't have any problems with fluids before. So how are they going to tell from that? They told me yesterday that after 3mo. if I could endur until then that the ring at the opening relaxed and would get bigger. So hopefully they wouldn't have to do back in again. So trying to do what they said and watching my speed of drinking and eating and my bite size. HOpe this helps some of you. Wonda

Hi Wonda, I would definitely contact your surgeon again. I have already had 2 endoscopy's and have to have another one currently scheduled for June 2nd. I can totally relate to what is happening to you, because when everything is fine it's easy to eat and drink liquids. However, once it narrows, it's a whole other ballgame. I thought the same as you, that I had eaten to fast.....believe me that was not the problem. I was in agony and an emotional basket case. They did an upper GI on me originally to see that the liquid was just barely able to trickle through. If you are continuing to have problems, I would insist that they check you out. After all you are the one having to deal with it! Good luck and take care. Sue