gastric sleeve stricture diagnosed over 1 year post op

I have received regular care. Until recently the closest bariatric center aside from the lap band place was hours away. You clearly see yourself as educated on the matter and assume quite a bit. Many people act as educated consumers for their procedures. Additionally one can have a Dr that leaves a practice, people move and transfer care etc. Get over yourself

I gather this was directed at me. One has to assume when incomplete information is provided, which is why I asked if I understood your situation correctly. The advice is solid, even if you disagree. I have nothing against medical tourism, but having proper medical care in place prior to surgery elsewhere is essential. So if you decide to go back to your original surgeon, hopefully someone local can be available if complications, such as the relatively common stricture, develop.

You also asked for help with your situation, in regards to revisions and GERD, which I provided to you. It?s not as uncommon in VSG patients as you seem to think. The bend in the stricture may be, but revisions due to acid are not.

You've been pretty rude and snarky to most of those who took time out of their day to help you. I think you?re the one who needs to get over herself.

Best to you.

Look, I am not trying to be snarky or rude. From my perspective your posts have been snarky and scare mongering about medical tourism. I probably am defensive about that. So many people just here in the United States who NEED WLS never get it because of fear, misinformation, cost, whatever. I know for a fact that many people have had lives transformed because of the opportunity surgeons such as mine have extended to people who are willing to go the extra mile to change their lives. To SAVE their lives. VSG stricture, especially the one such as mine is not my fault. It isn't the surgeon's the fault. It isn't common. It just IS. I would still have VSG again. I would go to the same surgeon. I would do it all the same. I am frustrated, anxious, sad, so many things...but against medical tourism I am not.

I stand by my point that people have the RIGHT to go to another provider to get the health care they need. I definitely tell people constantly to do their research and know what they are taking on for their health and safety, both those having WLS in Mexico and here in the States. I have witnessed so much misinformation and outright discrimination from people against those who have had their procedure done in Mexico. I also stand by my assertions that many people who go to Mexico do have Drs in the States. They receive all the advised care. We live in a mobile society. People move. Drs change practices and situations change. Transparency in care is a huge struggle in America and it is hurting and killing people. Arrogance and ignorance, lack of access to the right information or bias from providers hurts patients. Patients have the right to seek second opinions. I encourage it. You can do all the right things and still have problems. I have seen it in support groups all over the United States online. Sometimes you just draw the short straw. You can only play the hand you are dealt. I am not trying to be hurtful, snarky or rude but having care in place did not help me. I was dying from health conditions worsened by morbid obesity and I knew I had to do something then. I didn't have the energy to fight with my insurance company or jump through the hoops and still travel several hours for each of those to "maybe" get WLS in my State. I trust that each member is capable of making the decision that is best for themselves in context of their own life and what resources are available to them. Do you?

I am so frustrated. I had VSG about a year ago. I had a great surgeon and followed all the rules of the sleeve, stayed on track with mindset and have worked very diligently to be successful.

Along the way I realized that I felt something wasn't quite right. I went to several different Drs and told them about my struggles to stay hydrated and increasing intolerances to foods etc. but they brushed me off saying I had weight loss surgery and was to be expected.

I kept on track but my symptoms increased. I started having episodes of orthostatic hypotension. I was told the same thing by Drs regarding WLS and they suggested I see a neurologist. (I clearly thought it was bariatric related).

I finally received an appointment at the local bariatric center. They finally started offering the sleeve although they haven't actually done one locally yet. They still really push lap bands (I don't like that at all and it makes me wary fwiw) but I was finally able to get a full bariatric lab panel and an upper GI. The upper GI showed aspirations. This was bad because I take a biologic injection called Humira that really lowers my immune system and I have a higher risk of aspiration complications in my lungs etc. My Dr who prescribes that told me to stop injections immediately so that my immune system can start to rebuild. I had an EGD the next morning and he found that my sleeve healed in a way that the scar tissue formed a stricture. That led to increased pressure in the sleeve and my symptoms, a hiatal hernia and GERD. My throat is sore most of the time and I swallow constantly. It often takes me an hour or more to finish a protein drink and getting enough hydration is a full time necessity. I have nausea, pressure, food intolerances and reflux, GI symptoms etc.

The local surgeon wants to place a stent for 6 weeks or more but my original surgeon thinks the solution is conversion to RNY. I trust my original surgeon very very much but I am so sad to think that I would convert to RNY. I don't want the stent placed. I don't think it will work and I am a single mom and I have concerns that the stent would be very difficult to live with (pain, more nausea, risks when inserting and removing, risk of migration or perforation etc.)

I can find very little online about people who find they have my issue over 1 year post op gastric sleeve. I know that eventually I will have to make a decision. I am posting this because I have been so frustrated with not finding very much online and if anyone finds themselves in my situation to know they are not alone and to trust your body if you feel that something isn't right don't give up.

I am 5 foot 9 and my weight has dropped to 129 pounds. My goal was 160. I am so thin and I don't even really like to leave my house any more because I feel like people are judging me when they see how thin I am. I look very ill like I have cancer or something. I am angry and frustrated that this is happening when I have invested so much into doing everything I can to make it go "right'". I had VSG / WLS to change my life so I could be a healthy mom for my kids and I am angry and frustrated because I wonder if local Drs had listened to me if this could have been more easily managed or dealt with rather than where we find ourselves now.

If anyone has any input on longer term stents for late gastric stricture or conversion from sleeve to rny for my issue rather than for regain please post. I would really value input here. Thanks if you have made it this far

You state that you have GERD to the point you have a bad taste in your mouth. People who have VSG are more prone to develop GERD or worsening GERD. Most surgeons don't recommend VSG for individuals with GERD because of this side effect.

If you didn't have GERD prior to your VSG, it may have caused it. Over sufficient time, severe GERD can cause scarring of the esophagus and a stricture. Sufficient GERD over time can lead to Barrett's esophagus which is a precursor to esophageal cancer.

Interestingly enough, RNY surgery is the treatment for people with excessive GERD or Barrett's esophagus even when they don't need to lose weight.

It's not fully clear from what you wrote that your stricture is due to GERD, but you do say that you have GERD. In that case, it would make more sense to have RNY to improve or eradicate your GERD so that you don't develop future GERD-related strictures.

It would seem that a stent might just worsen GERD and lead to further stricture formation.

Just my opinion . . .