Update...

I haven't posted for a while or been on so I thought I would touch base and ask for some special prayers.

I had surgery on May 26th. Everything went okay with it, out in two days. I went through the pissed at the world stage, but was able to drink and take vitamins...until two weeks out. I took my vitamins one morning and ended up seeing them on a quick return trip out the mouth. After that, I was unable to take anymore vitamins. On June 13th, I went to our local ER and was given 4 bags of fluid for dehydration. I told them about my problem with drinking - the liquids seemed to just stop in my throat and then at that point I really didn't want to take another drink. After rehydrating me they went ahead and sent me home. Of course, I still had the problem with liquids - didn't even try food.

On June 20th, I started my afternoon work shift with a really bad backache. Thanks to Tylenol with codeine I made it almost through my shift. After I was done working I tried more pain medicine and went to bed, but it just got worse. I decided it was time I go back to the hospital where I had my procedure done thinking it was bypass related. In the ER, they found that I was (of course) dehydrated, had a urinary tract infection, and a kidney stone - all thought to be due to dehydration. I was put in the hospital for pain control and hydration. I told the medical team working with me about my problem with liquids passing and they consulted Dr. de la Torre's office. I was taken for a scope and was found to have gastrojejunal stenosis, my anastomosis was strictured. They dilated me and I actually did well with that and Carafate. I left the hospital on June 23rd without passing the kidney stone. I finally passed it early Friday morning, but by Friday night was back to the same problem with fluids passing.
I called Natalie today at Missouri Bariatric because I tried to drink this morning and it came out violently along with many, many dry heaves. She said I probably need to be dilated again. I am going back to the University this afternoon to do the process again and get hydrated.

This may sound selfish, but please say a few prayers for me. This has been the roughest thing I have been through and I am losing my ability to stay strong.

Thanks for listening!!

Prayers going up for ya girlfriend.....Keep us posted on how your doing...
Hugs

you betcha. your not being selfish at all. prayers are being said and God is listening. It will get better i promise. and that is what this board is really for ...you tell us what is bothering you and we will try and come up with some solutions...keep us informed. probably we would have told you to go to the
ER sooner than you did......

I am so sorry to hear you are having these problems.  Noone knows why some people develop strictures.  I know they will they will take the best care of you and get you fixed up in no time.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers and before you know it this will be a distant memory and you'll be on the road to a smooth recovery. ;) Lou

What you are experiencing is not totally unusual. As Lou says, some people have strictures and have to be dilated several times. You will get through this and you'll be good before you know it. Keep your chin up.
Hugs,
Lana

 I am so sorry to hear you have the problems. I will pray for a quick recovery,mentally and physically.I know this is hard to deal with but it will get better.

First of all THANK YOU to all *****sponded and prayed for me, it is so much appreicated.

I am back home and drinking, back on stage 2 diet, which I don't mind because everything is passing through wonderfully (if you know what I mean).

I was admitted from the ER. I had continuous hydration, magnesium, calcium, and my least favorite postassium. I was taken for an EGD yesterday and re-dilated. The doctor said most people are good being dilated to 12, which she did to me last week. I had just started restricturing this week and she dilated me this time to 15. A stent was not used, but after being told by another doctor that I could have to have this done several times (EEWWWWW) before I am fixed, I really want one. That doctor also said that 15 is still pretty narrow so I could get dilated bigger next time. (By the time I'm done not only will I be able to stick my foot in my mouth, I'll be able to swallow it, lol!!)

They took wonderful care of me at the University I do have to admit, but I'm so glad to be home again. Going to Missouri Bariatric for my one month followup appt. and class tomorrow. I am in such a much better mood today than I was Monday. The support here is awesome, thank you all again...so very much!!

I went through the same thing you are going through. I had a stricture....was admitted to the hospital numerous times...was dilated twice...was told one thing but late told another... I finally had a stent but in. Let me tell you, the stent was hell! It by no means fixes things. The day after having it put in I was begging them to take it out. It made me nauseous 24/7. I ended up keeping it in for 3 1/2 week and was nauseous every minute. I had to take medication every 2 hours to help. The stent was removed 3 weeks ago. I still go through vomiting spells but for the most part I am better. Let me know if you have any questions.

OMG Jody, thank you for telling me about the stent. I just knew it was my fix all. I am miserable now, but I couldn't imagine how I would have felt with a stent.

Do your vomiting spells just hit you for no reason? Mine do and then they worry me - like what am I doing wrong? Is this normal? etc.

I am just beginning to hold down clear liquids this wee**** is the only "water" I can drink. It seems all other water has a nasty taste (most ice too). I know I am just aiming myself for another hospital stay, but when you are so sick to your stomach that nothing will go down without making a reverse trip, you do what ya gotta do.

How are you on food now?

When my stricture was closed I was vomiting all the time. I was even vomiting saliva that I had swallowed. After being dialted I was great for about 2-3 days. Then the vomiting started again. When I had the stent put it I rarely vomited BUT I was nausous ALL THE TIME. I was able to eat but most of the time I didn't feel like it because I was so sick to my stomach. They told me it was because my stomach knew there was something foreign in there and it wanted to get it out. I was on 5 different medications for the nausea. As of now, I am able to eat but I still get sick at times. I was just like you, I kept wondering what I was doing wrong. Just know that you aren't doing anything wrong. Just be sure to chew your food good and eat slow. This stricture ordeal (and I had ulcers) was the most difficult time for me physically and emotionally. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't regret the surgery. Hang in there. Let me know if I can do anything.