Patti's back in the hospital...

Hi! I'm in Scottsdale Shea! I came in yesterday with a stricture. The photos I just saw of it confirmed what I was feeling. Teensy tiny little hole that is now, as a result of an endoscopy procedure a few minutes ago, a nice big food-passing-through-it-now hole. I'll write more when I can! Love, Patti

Hi Patti, Hope you're feeling better soon! Take care, Tammy

Hi! I'm glad that you've had the endoscopy and they've fixed the stricture...I've been in your exact situation 5 times in the last 6 months since my surgery, so i know what a nuisance those strictures are.But you're in great hands with Scottsdale Shea as they took great care of me every time.

Glad your doing well....wondered why you had been so quiet!!!!....Does anyone have any insight as to why these strictures occur? Is this an exception or the norm? or does it depend on the individual. Surely the surgery is the same for everyone.

Here is the research about strictures that I have found...A stricture is an overgrowing and then narrowing of tissue that can develop any where that there is a surgical connection.Some places that you can get a stricture after wls are at the stoma which is the outlet to your pouch, where the pouch is connected to the intestines and further down in your intestines where the intestines have been rerouted.A less common place is at the opening to your pouch as there is no surgical connection there but strictures can form due to acid irritation.Strictures can be caused by your pouch producing too much acid.This can cause an irritation of the lining which in turn can cause scar tissue to grow,then overgrow causing a stricture.The second reason that a stricture can form...is that basically the stoma is a man made outlet and the body realizes that and tries to heal it by closing it up.If your stricture is caused by acid or irritation acid reducers can prevent them from occuring.But if someone is just an "overhealer" then there is nothing you can do to prevent them.In reserching, I found that women get them more frequently than men do.In the research it also stated that,a few years ago,surgeons started using the circular stapler to attach the pouch to the intestines instead of hand sewing it.This decreased the percentage of leaks but has increased the percentages of strictures.The fix for a stricture is an endoscopy.It's an outpatient procedure where they insert a camera down into your stomach via your mouth.They then usually use small balloons to stretch open or dilate the closed tissue.If you get a stricture it is common to have to be dilated 2 or even 3 times before it stays open.People rarely need to be dilated 4 times but it does happen and some people may even have to get the stoma connection redone(very,very rare).If the pouch outlet is totally closed then you will vomit everything up including water and your saliva.However,you can have a partial stricture where the outlet is only partially closed.In that case you are able to keep down some food and water but with some discomfort and vomiting.Strictures are considered a complication of wls but the percentage is about 4%.

Jennifer, thank you so much for that info! I keep reading about a lot of people getting strictures and have been wondering. 4% seems kind of low considering the number of people who've posted about them on the message boards here...or maybe my mind is inflating those numbers...LOL Tammy

Patti, I am so sorry to hear that you had a stricture. The good thing is that you caught it and our wonderful doc's at SBC fixed your right up. When you are feeling up to it, let us know what made you think you had a stricture and all of the detail. Hugs for a fast recovery. Tanya

I was wondering where you had been. I have missed your posts. I am so very glad to hear that things are better for you.