YIKES! I HAVE DEVELOPED AN ULCER!

Hello Dear Bari-Buds, Last Saturday I was admitted to the hospital with internal bleeding. Tests and procedures determined that I had developed an ulcer in my pouch where it connects to the small intestine. I was pretty sick for a while and received two units of blood while hospitalized. Yesterday I came home and have three new medications to take to help heal the ulcer. No one knows why this ulcer developed. It may be due in part to the fact that I am presently experiencing a lot of stress as my husband is very ill and needs a liver transplant. I do not believe though that stress in and of itself can cause an ulcer but I do think it can contribute to the development of one. Some people think that I have the ulcer because of the bariatric surgery I had last July. However, I do not think there is any evidence of that. Even if somehow that where true, I would have the surgery all over in a heartbeat because the positive changes it has brought to my life outweigh anything negative. The DRS. and Phy. Assistants at MMPC kept a close watch over me and I am so very grateful for their expertise and concern. Thank you Dr. Foote, Dr. Baker, Todd and Matt. Your visits and encouragement is very appreciated! Also, to the staff at Blodgett Medical - Thanks! I look at this as just a little "bump" on my road to re-gaining my health and will continue to forge ahead. I also want to thank all of you "bari-buddies" for taking the time to read this rather lengthy post and for all the encouragement you have given me so often in the past. You are indeed very special people! If any of you have a similar story to share I would love to hear from you. Blessings. Pam

Hi Pam: Man, you've been through the wringer! I am glad you are feeling at least somewhat better. I think of and pray for you and your husband often! Keep us up-to-date on how you are doing on your meds! I know Kris Bley had an ulcer and was on medication for a little while and has been doing okay since then. So you might want to write to her! We are very lucky to have MMPC doctors and PA's aren't we!? Keep taking care of yourself, sweetie! Love, Pam

Thanks Pam for all your prayers. You are a dear friend! Is there anything going on in terms of a gtg for those of us in the West Michigan area? Maybe something like meeting at a restaurant like was done before? If there isn't anything going on - maybe we should get something started! Hugs, Pam

I also had ulcers in my pouch and they are not fun. I am glad that Dr Foote and Todd were able to help you and get you back on the road to recovery. I was also admitted to the hospital when I had my ulcers. I was really dehydrated and malnutrition so I can relate that the staff at Blogett are great and so is the staff at MMPC. I will be praying for you and your husband. Hugs Tricia

Yup, ulcers are a bummer!!!! They can cause major eatting problems, dehydration, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency. I had it all, and it was from an icky ulcer. My ulcer wasn't bleeding, so it took two months to be diagnosed. In the mean time, I got sooooo sick when eatting!!! It was horrible. It took being admitted for malnutrition to find the ulcer. I was told my the nutritionist at the hospital to avoid acidy things (especially orange juice) and spicy things. Good news - The medicine works pretty good. I'm feeling 1000 times better today then I was a month ago!!!! It will heal and you'll be feeling better in no time. Hugs, Laurie

Pam, I'm sorry to hear that you have an ulcer. Keep me in mind if you have a West State get together, especially around late March and April. I don't have a surgery date yet. My father who lives in Grandville want me to recuperate there so I may be in the area. Jeanne raised in Grandville, living in Detroit.

Pam, sorry to hear about your ulcer and having to take three new medications. I have heard that drinking high quality liquid aloe can help soothe the GI track (acid reflux, ulcers, even chrones disease). A friend of mine has chones and he is off his treatments since drinking the aloe. Aloe is completely natural and has many medicinal characteristics. I hate to see someone having to take medications of any kind since there can be so many nasty side effects; natural is always better when ever possible. Good luck to you! Mike

Hi Pam, I am sorry to hear about you and your husband. I devoloped an ulcer in my esophagas and irritation in my pouch when I was 1 1/2 months post op. I was told that 5% of bariatric patients devolope ulcers. I was very nausated and could not eat. I was given meds that healed it. I agree with you, that I would still have this surgery in a heartbeat as well. I will keep both you and your husband in my prayers. Blessings~Chris

Hi Pam- I am so sorry to hear that you have an ulcer. I don't know if you knew it or not but I have had ulcers 3 or 4 times since I had my surgery done. I was actually in the hospital in GR on the day that you had your surgery. Dr. Foote and the PA's will take good care of you. They have taken great care of me. I am considering having my procrdure reversed. I know that that sounds scary but I am so sick of suffering. I have dealt with pain ans nausea for far too long and the Dr's aren't sure what to do about it. Take care and you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs- Charla

Anastomatic (Stoma) ulcers are usually the most common are where an ulcer can develop postop. I had a few, went through countless EGD's and meds..nothing helped..finally my surgeon who is a genius (I mean that seriously!) decided to perform a truncal vagotomy (total severing of the vagus nerve..halts acid production altogether)..was done lap..took 35 minutes and I was home in 4 hours. BEST thing ever..ulcers healed, have never had an issue again and never have to worry about it anymore..my ulcers were NOT surgery related though..as are most..most postop who develop ulcers probably would have developed ulcers whether or not they had surgery..some of us are predisposed..even though there is no presence of H Pylori. It's a pain, but it is very treatable