Anyone developed Ulcers after Surgery

I has a very improtant question for Everyone..Anyone. Has anyone devolped Ulcers after your Gastric Bypass. If so, how was it treated? Did you ahve to have surgery to have it removed? Reason for the question is, I had WLS 8/23/2002, diagnosed with an Ulcer right below my pouch March 2003. After a year finally had it surgically removed, 8/20/2004 because they couldn't get it healed. On 12/20/2004, I had a EGD doen becasue they thought I had developed a stricture. Well NOPE...The Ulcer was back. I am at my wits end......and Don't know what to do or even what is causing it. So I am scheduled to have another EGD 2/14/2005, To see if the meds are working. I have scheduled an appointment at Vanderbuilt. No my surgery was nto doen there or with the dr. I am scheduled to see. Should I contact the dr. who did my surgery and see him or stick with going to another dr. Any Suggestions would be GREAT. Cheri

Hi Cheri: I had a bleeding ulcer in August of 2003 and ended up in the hospital for 5-6 days with all kinds of antibiotic IV's and other medications. When they sent me home I was on protonix, tetracycline, and pepto bismol. I went into anaphylactic shock ...had hives all over my body couldn't breathe...back to hospital for 5 more days 3 of which were in ICU. Had to have two units of packed cells to bring my hemoglobin up to 11 (usual range 12-15 for women). Have been fine up until now...now had two episodes of reflux this week which Dr Owens (bariatric surgeon) assures is from my small intestines and not my stomach. Probably true as the taste is different than the reflux before my surgery. Now time for another trip to my PCP for evaluation of my stomach pain and reflux. But that's my story so yes I guess we are in the same boat bailing except I haven't had to have surgery yet. I hope you will let me know how you are doing and if you really did have surgery. Waiting to Hear, Barb

Hey Barb, I had my 2nd EGD done Feb. 14, 2005. My Gastrologist here said one of the three ulcers looked to be healing just a little bit. So I go back for another EGD on April 18, 2005. One thing I didn't know after my EGD is December was that my not holding down food was where they re-attached my stomach to my intestine was so swollen thats why nothing heavy would stay down. Which my Dr. said looked better this time. He is a great dr. ashame he isn't a bariatric specialist..... One thing is my ulcer isn't bleeding and they haven't. They are also concentrating on why my hemeglobin and iron lrevels continue to drop. I did cancel my appointment at Vanderbuilt til after my next scope. I hate to make those long 2-2 1/2 hour drives. My problem now is I am having to fight my prescription part of my insurance to continue to pay for my Previcid to cover twice a day. Normal coverage is 31 pills per month. Which is $161.00, where I only pay $40.00 of it. They are not wanting to pay $280.00 which I should find out soon if they are going to I think they have approved it just waiting for the letter. So as it stands, I take 1 30mg Previcid twice a day and 10ml/2 tablespoons liquid Carafate four times a day. But it maybe time for me to go ahead and find other options at this time. I personally don't feel comfortable with my bariactric Dr.'s at this time. I am hoping my new PCP will have better answers for me. I have been told he works very closely with the Bariatric program at my local hospital. Let me know if you find something new that I may not know. Did you have the ulcers prior to your surgery? I didn't. My ulcers are in my intestine and not my stomach. Hope to hear form you soon Cheri

Hi Barb, Just reading obesity Help abourt gastric ulcers and read that you had ulces several years ago. I recently had several severe bleeding ulcers, 2 hospitalzations,ICU, 6 units blood, and waas wondering if they found the cause and final cure for your ulcers? I'm a GI nurse post-op of 8/2003 and this is my first problem. Please let me know your outcome. Thanks [email protected]

I had band erosion last summer and what my doctor's office said *might* be an ulcer 2 weeks ago. It was the worst pain I've had in my stomach since surgery and in the same area that I had pain with the band erosion. My surgeon's office just acted like, oh well, it might be one -- take the Carafate and Nexium, if it's still bugging you, we'll give you a script for a scope. Gee, I'm glad I drove 2.5 hours and spent $75 to be told that?! I asked afterward, why couldn't I have just called and had a nurse call me in a prescription if that's all I was getting? I don't know what's happened to Dr. Marema's office, and I don't know about you, but when I signed on for this surgery, they were all telling me how follow ups would be gratis, then they changed their tune a year or so back. All the people in that office have changed. The receptionist told me that it was due to the fact that they weren't charging patients like they should. I thought that was crap because they would have done so if they were told to, and I knew all those people, as did everyone that followed up at the Celebration location. All those people, ladies like Karen, cared -- many were patients of Dr. Marema's that had also invested their health in this procedure. It makes me wonder if there were other issues? Anyway, sorry for my rant. I am thinking of seeking a gastro. doc that is experienced with bypass patients because I don't think my doc can do much else for me. So far the Carafate and Nexium seems to help, but it seems like when I get a flare up, it is sudden. Does the Carafate give you the big D? I noticed that I get Dia. everytime I take it. Hope you feel better soon.