Problems 14 yrs post RNY - anyone else

Initially, I had a very successful Gastric Bypass Surgery (ROUX-en-Y). Six years ago, I started gaining weight back which I attribute to crappy eating habits I resumed.

About a year ago I started having trouble eating so I went back to the post-gastric bypass way of eating (high protein). Now, after eating, I go through this process within 30 minutes:

1. Belching
2. Vomiting what I ate
3. Diarrhea
4. More vomitting
5. More belching
6. Vomiting giant foamy bubbles (clear liquid)
7. Swelling between under breasts to belly button
8. A feeling like my insides are knotting up
9. SEVERE pain that causes me to head to ER via ambulance
10. Relief is only attained via an IV that has a shot of Dilaudid and a shot of Phenergan. By that point, my blood pressure (normally 120/80 - perfect) is up to 200 over 148 due to pain alone! That's scary stuff!!!

Has anyone else experienced this? I have had an endoscopy, colonoscopy, multiple CT scans (with and without contrast) and a swallow test where they watched the barium travel it's route through the intestines.

I do not live near a gastric bypass specialist now and my general practice Dr. is great, but he can't figure this out and we've tested for darned near everything. After tonight's episode, I'm having to go back to a liquids only diet as I cannot risk another attack.

I have had to go to ER two times this week alone. Tonight's ER visit was post my eating approximately 1 oz of rotisserie chicken.

Hope to hear some feedback from others who have been post-op for an extensive length of time also.

Thank you!

I am 9 years out but have not experienced any problems. I hope others here can give you suggestions.

Where do you live? Can you travel somewhere to see a bariatric surgeon? If I were having trouble, I would head to The Cleveland Clinic. I have had several friends go there to find answers when all else failed.

I hope you find relief soon!!

Thanks Laura! I can travel to Nashville (Vanderbilt) but when I went there when I started to gain (6 yrs ago) they seemed a tad indifferent to my personal "crisis". Wasn't impressed at the time. I did get some input from another member and am going to follow up on her input! Merry Christmas!

I had 2 internal hernias that were not detectable on CT or any other tests. In 2 cases - based on symptoms alone - my doc did exploratory surgery, and found and fixed hernias. Another issue that happened to my friend- were adhesions. She could drink liquids but she was not able to eat solid foods.

My 3rd abdominal surgery- found that I had flipped intestine. Intestine were folded over itself, causing 2 places that were narrow and food would get stuck there- pressure would build and pushed the food through the narrowing. That was causing pain - app 20-30 min after I ate, then again app 45 min after , when the food reached the second narrowing.

On top of that ' most likely I have SIBO. That causes for me to have low motility- slow transition of food. Food gets processed by bacteria in small intestine, cause gas in small intestine, and that can cause very ba pain- pain that can wake me up from a deep sleep, moaning in pain, unable to breathe, or move. Pain that feels like a internal spasms, or like someone is puting knife into my gut and twisting it.

Most of the time I try to follow a low FODMAP diet (google that) and when my SIBO gets out of control- I take antibiotics to try to kill the bacteria. Unfortunately- as far as I know-how I can control the SIBO with diet and antibiotics, but it's close to impossible to get rid of it.

When I get am attack like that now - I know what to do. And my partner knows also. I will take sublingual medication for internal spasms (3-4 at one time depends on severity of the pain) . I sip on warm water that has minerals dissolved into it (magnesium, potassium, etc- mineral mix). Last but not least ,- after the major pain passes- I massage the belly for at least 10 min- reaching deep inside it- pressing fists into my gut- trying to massage the area that was spasming. Moving the water and food inside my gut. (I can feel and hear gurgling inside me). That I do after most of the pain subsides and I can do that without causing more pain.

Because of SIBO - I have to repeat the antibiotics treatment every 4-6 months. Plus go a very strict diet and treat Candida at the same time as I treat SIBO.

After the treatment- I take large doses of good probiotics, to repopulate my gut with good bacteria. (The antibiotics kill everything- SIBO but also the helpful bacteria)

Google SIBO, Candida, FODMAP diet, etc.

Thank you so much for all of the great info! Funny timing, my GP just told me about FODMAP diet and I had looked it up the day after my appt w/him. Going to print out your replies and bring w/me to my next visit w/him. Truly appreciate all of the info!!!!!

Sounds like you have totally found a way to manage yours!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

Have you tried Oil of Oregano for the SIBO? It will definitely stop the candida.

I use 27-30 drops/day of the ones that are 6-7% active ingredient..( I use alternate brands from Now to piping rock.store brand..I break into 3 doses, morning noon and night. I put in a teaspoon of warm coffee or hot tea and hold under tongue for a full minute then swallow. If you have trouble with drops it comes in capsules, but I have not used those enough to tell you how many to take for effectiveness for me.

I used that in the past, a while back before I had RNY. I become allergic to it, and my Candida got used to it.

I use silver and other herbs. I alternate the herbs to make sure I don't become allergic and to make sure the SIBO and Candida is not getting resistant to them. When things get out of control, I use RX antibiotics and diflucan.

Hey HALA, are you eating any probiotic foods or taking pills? They can help prevent recurrance of SIBO by keeping the population of beneficial bacteria thriving in your intestines. For some reason, those of us with intestinal bypasses are subject to bacteria imbalance.

I found my answer in a daily shot of raw unfiltered apple-cider vinegar (ACV) every couple of days. I feel my bacteria levels tilting just by the odor of gas and stool, and the ACV shot works overnight. I prefer a natural approach whenever possible. I started with Dr.Bragg's ACV drinks and they were good but expensive (and I'm cheap). I started making my own with the recipes I found online and eventually found my way to downing a shot like one would tequila with a similar face afterward, too.

Other probiotic rich foods are things like yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, kefir, kumbacha.

I do take probiotics. But with SIBO - the issue is that the small intestine gets populated with bacteria that is not suppose to be there, good or bad. The bacteria then start to digest the "otherwise non digestible" elements like fiber, SA, etc. causing gas and fermentation in small intestines. That's why I am sensitive to FODMAPs. I have dairy allergies and some food - including sauerkraut, kimchi, etc - can cause a severe pain.

I tolerate low fiber, non dairy fermented stuff like kambucha, as long as my gut is processing food. Best for me is when I get food transition through the gut no longer than 24 hours. 18-24 is idea for me.

I do IF - pushing a lot of liquids in the morning. That so far- is the best rating plan for me. as long as my food travels and don't get stuck - even if I get gas - it does not get trapped and hurts too much.

I tried so many probiotics and right now - the best combination for me is the daily Florastor + VSL#3 or like that. When I added florastor - I can eat more fruits and even a slice of pizza without it trying to kill me.

FYI: you may need to find a good surgeon to do lap surgery to eliminate possibility of internal hernia - also known as Peterson's space hernia. Google that.

Fyi- there is also condition called intestinal intussusception. Things like that can also cause symptoms you described. That thing can only be detectable while it is happening. This can come and go and it can be very difficult to diagnose. This can happen to anyone- not only to someone who had WLS, but to a "normal" person.