9th Endo and Counting...

Hi! I know people are referred here to read up on possible complications pre-op so I thought I would add my story. I had lap RNY on 9/17/04. All was well for about 3 months and then I had a stricture. Within 3 months, I had 6 endo's with strictures each time (each smaller than the previous one), 2 ulcers, and on the last 2 endo's, I also perforated. Because of the perfs, a revision was scheduled. I had it on April 8, 2005. Since then, I have had to have 3 more endo's. The last time, I was 4 mm by 1 mm..the time before 3 mm in diameter (it's suppose to be 12-15 mm in diameter). Both, extremely small. The game plan at this time is for me to have an endo a wee****il my stoma decides to stay open. People say the endo's aren't any problem...and most of the time, they aren't. But...perforations hurt like a bi@#*! And here's another one... the balloons they use to dilate you back open can also be faulty. My hospital got a bad batch recently and discovered this when they did my last endo. They went to inflate the balloon and it had a pinhole in it and so air was released into my pouch. They removed the balloon and replaced it with another one, put it back down my throat...inflated it...and guess what? Another pinhole! So on the third try, they got a good balloon. Good thing it was an endo balloon and not a condem, huh? Anyway, I awoke with a sore tummy and sore throat. And then there is another 'side effect'. I had to have an IV for the RNY, for the RNY revision, for each of the 9 endo's, for each of the 2 perfs, plus all the bloodwork ran between then and now. Guess what that has done to my veins?!? They are shot. It took the nurses 3 tries to hit a good vein for the last endo. People say the IV is the worse thing to an endo...and normally I would agree....but for me, the idea of getting an IV (or blood drawn) is enough to cause me anxiety (as well as the anxiety I already get for fear of another perf). I know there are people out there who have had far worse problems than I have. But I also know there are people who have have just a few endo's and are ready to give up because of them. Don't! I know it will get better even for me. You just have to hang in there and keep your chin up. I have never regretted having the RNY and would have done it anyway if I had known what I know now. Sherri (-130)

Hi Sherri! I was just reading your post and I had surgery Oct. 11 and had a stricture about a month later, but didn't go to the doctor right away. I finally went on Jan 4 and had my first EGD on Jan 7. I had a total of 4 EGD's by the end of February. I am okay now and after the #rd EGD the doctor that did it put me on a med (forgot the name but like Prilosec) once a day, 30 minutes before breakfast. They did the 4th one within 10 days and they stretched it a little larger (18 mm) and it has worked. We had a bariatric coordinator at our support group meeting last week and when I was speaking to her about it she asked if I was on anything and I told her yes, I take one Prilosec in the morning 30 minutes before Breakfast. She said that they have started their patients on a Prilosec type medication right after surgery and their strictures have almost completely ceased!! I think that is very interesting and you may want to ask your Dr. about taking something like Prilosec and see if it helps. You are in my prayers. Good luck! Christ's peace, Connie (-103) 309/196/150/125

Connie, I will definately be asking Dr. Gupta about Prilosec. It would be wonderful if that stopped this little problem! Thank you so much!! Sherri

Hi- I had surgery on Jan 12, 2005 and I've had strictures from the beginning. I've had a total of 13 EGD's so that's about 1 every 2 weeks. You should read my profile. I am starting to see light at the end of the tunnel now after 5 months of this. They have talked to me about a revision but I want to stick this out. I feel fine and do not want anymore EGD's done. But, they want to keep checking it to make sure I do not close to a pinhole anymore. AND BOY do I ever agree with you about the IV. NOBODY can ever get my veins anymore. I've had to have anesthesia usually put in my IV. They have talked about putting a central line in me. But I never pursued it. That was probably 5 EGD's ago. I just wanted to let you know that I feel for you and hope things work out. Keep up the positive attitude. I'm just now after 5 months starting to come around with a more positive attitude about this. Good LUck, Tammy

Tammy, Thank you for your reply. 13 was the magical number for you huh? I had #12 last Thursday and after this weekend, can say with 100% surity that it wasn't the last one. The game plan at this time is for me to have one every 1-2 weeks until the opening stay opened. During endo 10 & 11, a steroid was injected into the tissue to try to slow down the rapid closure. I was able to go 2 weeks before it went from a 15-18 down to 2 mm. That beat 8 days. My surgeon is on maternity leave and will be back after the 4th. I was going to talk to her about having a central line put in when she gets back. They were able to get a vein last week through alot of patience and the use of a heating bag on the vein to plump it up. I have to go this weekend to have blood drawn for my thyroid. I'm dreading it! At least the endo nurses know I'm going to be a challenge. My revision was due to the tissue ripping when I was dilated. It was something we all prefered not to have happened, but the closing up wasn't stopping, the ripping continued, so something had to be done. At least this time, the endo's are so frequent that the tissue is stayig flexible and not getting brittle & ripping like before. After 9 months, attitude is still positive....except when I'm Sherri

Hi Sherri...Sorry to hear you have been having so many problems. I have been doing great until now. Could you tell me what your ulcer symptoms were. I think I have one but am not sure and scared to call the dr.

Sharon, I've now had 3 ulcers. The first 2's symptoms were different that the 3rd. I think they were in the small intestine and the 3rd in the pouch. The 2st two, it hurt about an inch below the breastbone. After I'd eat, it quit hurting. It was enough to make a person want to eat all the time. The 3rd one made it feel like food was getting hung up. Last thing someone wants to feel when they are having endo after endo for the stoma closing up and food getting stuck! It never hurt...just that 'stuck' feeling. I would definately call your doctor whenever you feel ANY pain that is abnormal and new. If it is an ulcer...worse case scenerio? You have an endo so they can confirm that is the problem and then they put you on meds (prevacid and carafate are the norms for me) to get rid of the ulcer. If it isn't an ulcer, you DEFINATELY need that checked out. Sherri (13th endo was 6/23/05) 344/206/140