Strictures

I had my bypass on Jan 26th 2009.  About 3 weeks out I began having severe nausea and vomiting, and on Feb 26th I had an EGD and had a stricture dilated.  I made it not quite a week and began having the same symptoms, so two weeks to the day after my first EGD I had another one and another dilation.  That was this last Thursday.  How common is it to need more than one or two?  My MD also said that I have a superficial ulcer, could that be from the initial dilation?  I'm not getting my protein in because I have been so sick.  I have been getting my fluids, but I'm concerned that I've now been not eating properly for about a month now due to the N&V.  Any suggestions would be appreciated!!

Michelle,

Who did your endoscopy? I am assuming that it was your WLS surgeon. If he was the one who told you that you had an ulcer, her should had started you on meds that will help heal the ulcer.

Unfortunately, ulcers & strictures aren't that uncommon with us. Ulcers can happen with the slightest irritation. That is why the post-op diets are so strict for the first few months. It really takes some time to ease our pouches into being able to handle food again. I'm not saying you ate/drank something that wasn't allowed. All of our tummies are different. It took about 3 months longer for mine to accept ketchup than what the allowable sheet had on it.

Where your intestines are connected to the pouch is called the stoma. As the stoma heals, it develops scar tissue. Scar tissue IS the healing for any incision. Without it, the incision lines would not heal. Sometimes, it tries to do it's job too well. That is what a stricture is. About 20% of post-ops have to have an endo to have a stricture dilated back open. If you have to have it done once, you usually go through another 1 or 2 endo's to ensure it stays open. On VERY RARE occasions, someone may come along that has extremely stubborn scar tissue and it may take many more endo's or even the assistance of steroids injected into the stoma during an endo to get the idea across to it to stop. Trust me, after 15 endo's with steroids injected twice, the scar tissue does eventually get the idea.

I don't believe at all that the dilation had anything to do with your ulcer. The surgeons who perform the endo's are very good at what they do. If you aren't on meds for the ulcer however, you may want to ask him about them. In the meantime, be very diligent to avoid any citric acid and caffeine.

Sherri