stricture

Has anyone had a stricture and how did you know that was the problem?  Some days I can literally only eat a bite (and a small one at that) and cannot not swallow one more thing.  My pouch starts complaining and I have to lie down to get relief.  I realize that some days you can eat more than others but some days I cannot eat at all.  I had RNY in October 2008 and a bowel perforation in December 2008 that led to an ulcer. Maybe this is normal... I would appreciate any feedback.  Thanks.... 

Call your Dr if she is anything like Dr C she will want to know now not later!! 
Stricture?? Nope when I had a proiblem and they had to go back in I asked Dr c to put a stitch in mine so food would stay a little longer!!! I felt like it was draining out to fast!!

Linda kay

I switched to Dr. Cacucci when Dr. Gupta left.  I have only met with her once but will be following her to her new location.  So it is good to hear from someone who has followed up with her on an issue before.  It sounds like this could lead to another outpatient procedure. 

Been there, done that, several times. A stricture for us typically happens at the stoma...where the new pouch connects with the intestines. Scar tissue tries to do the job it is meant to do...close up a 'wound'. It doesn't realize that 'wound' is a meant to be there opening. When this happens, it makes it difficult for food...and eventually water...to pass through. The normal response is throwing the food right back up. If this goes untreated, the person not only isn't getting the nutrition from the food they need, but they also get dehydrated.

To diagnose & correct a stricture, the patient is put into 'la-la' land. Not really asleep..but no memory of what happens either. The doctor inserts a tube down the patients throat that has a camera on the end of it. This is an endoscopy although most on here refer to it as an endo or a scope. With the camera, the doctor can check for ulcers, loose staples, and strictures. If it is a stricture, the doctor will correct the issue right then. There is a special type of balloon that is on the end of the tube that will slowly inflate and vibrate to gently force the stoma back to an acceptable diameter (typically 10-16 mm),  The entire procedure takes about 15 minutes. You will be instructed to be at the hospital an hour prior to the procedure so they can start an IV, do paperwork, etc. And then it takes about an hour afterwards to come out of the drugs completely. Then you can go home. The rest of the day you are instructed not to drive.

After some scopes, I've had a little bit of a sore throat, most the time not. After some, I wanted to nap the rest of the day, other times not. Most people have not complications from having a scope. I have, but that's my screwy body. As to Dr. Cacucci, I also started out with Dr. Gupta and I've had several complications besides the multiple strictures. Dr. Cacucci was involved with trying to resolve those along the way. When Dr. Gupta left, it was a natural fit for me to switch to Dr. Cacucci. She most recently did surgery on me Dec. 1st and I am finally getting relief from an issue that started in October 2007.

I cannot urge you enough to call your surgeon when you have new or unusual pain. That is your body telling you it needs help. Dr. Cacucci should be all moved in to her new office space. The move took place the end of January.

Sherri

Sherri,  you rock!  Thanks so much for the info.  I will call her this week and see what she wants to do. 

What great information, I have not had any problems but if I ever do you saved me a bunch of questions.  Thanks for sharing. 

I had a stricture a month after surgery. I am not sure how it does with solids, as I was still on liquids at the time.  I called my surgeon's office, because I was vomiting everything I drank. They got me admitted back to the hospital, and did a scope. They stretched the stoma back out and I went home the next day. Haven't had a problem since. If you're feeling something is wrong, you should call your surgeon. They'd rather hear from you when you're just uncomfortable about something, than when it turns into an emergency.