Stricture

I am wanting to know if someone can tell me what the signs are for a stricture? I am 3 weeks post-op and everytime I eat meat (or something that is not real soft) it feels like it gets caught in my chest and I immediately get sick (vomit). I can eat soft foods and drink liquids. Please let me know. Thanks

It could be that your not fully healed inside yet. I know it's hard to re-learn but you have to really chew, chew, chew. Or it could be that your eating to fast. I would call your doctor and see what they have to say. They may tell you to wait or they may want to check you out right away. Keep us posted. Robin

Hi Michelle, I am about three weeks out as well. I have been slowly adding some foods to my diet as per Dr. instructions and that has been happening to me as well. I was thinking I have been eating to fast and not chewing well enough. I still have to practice, I finally got the hang of eating unblended cottage cheese but I tried some unblended spaghetti sauce with meat and it did not work. I eat the same thing blended all the time, I think I just did not chew enough. Good Luck. Julie

Michelle, 3 weeks out is really too early for a stricture. You probably just have edema (swelling) of the connection between the pouch and the small intestine. It will more than likely go away on its own. Having said that, I don't think you should be eating meat 3 weeks post op. We don't even start our patients on soft solids (much less meat****il 4 weeks after surgery. Good luck, Dr. C The Deaconess Surgical Weight Loss Center Cincinnati, Ohio (513) 559-2545

Hello Michelle... I had a stricture at 2 weeks out then again at 9 weeks out... Hopefully I am done with them... I guess we will see... I wouldn't wait too long to get looked at... I was doing the same thing that you are... I would eat then my chest would get real heavy like it was stuck...within 10 minutes I was throwing up... you know your body better than anyone... If you feel like something is wrong then you call your doctor and get it looked at... God Bless !!

Hi Michelle. i had a stricture but it was about 6 weeks out I think. Also I am 11 months out and I cant eat alot of meats even now. I never eat steak,pork. I can eat hamburger once in a while. It was months before I even tried it without some sort of gravy on it. Be very careful with meat. Try to eat fish and a little chicken but make it so soft for at least 6 weeks. I cant remember how long but I enjoyed alot of soup for months. I still do.Rice is really bad for me.It just grows in my pouch for about 30 minutes,stick with soft foods for a long time and then it seems like you will be fine,Cindy

I am almost six months out and I get the same feeling now and again. Usually when I eat too much or the food that I am eating does'nt sit well. You find out pretty quick the the best thing to do is vomit, immediately the pressure and pain is gone. I am not advocating purging, but for me when I get this feeling, that is what I have to do. If not I will be in pain for hours. I have even tried to make it overnight, and in the morning still had the same feeling. The key is to chew and then chew some more. According to Dr. C the swelling of the stoma peaks at like six weeks post op, and then swelling starts to subside. I am sure that this has some to do with it as well.

I agree with Dr. Curry. Early strictures are possible but rare. I would seek evaluation if the types of food that you eat become progressively more difficult. Solids to Soft to liquids. I also agree that it is much too early for you to be eating meats and with time and healing this should improve. Sincerely, Dr. Selwyn UC Center for Surgical Weight Loss