I'm 5 1/2 years out post-op my original RNY. I've had 2 diagnosed ulcers since surgery. My first ulcer I was scoped, they found it and treated it with nexium and carafate and it went away after 6-8 weeks. My second ulcer I had for 6 months, they scoped and medicated me, and nothing fixed it. I had to have an RNY-revision to surgically remove the ulcer in the anastimosis. I now have the same symptoms as the first 2 ulcers, except they couldn't find anything from the scope. They said everything looks perfect. I've been on Prilosec or  Protonix for 12 weeks with no effect. They've done an EGD and CT with contrast and the doctor says I'm fine. He can't figure out why I'm hurting. I think that it's a problem in the remnant stomach which I believe there are no tests out there that can detect problems with it specifically? He wants to do an upper GI with small bowel series, but it's likely he won't see anything again, because the barium won't touch the remnant stomach.  It seems like he doesn't want to go in surgically again. I've had blood tests done and they appear normal also. Any suggestions or opinions?

Check out the you tube videos for joy672011. Specifically the one titled "7 weeks pos-op VSG". She did have a lot of complications right after her surgery in December 2010. She said she is doing much better now. Also look at Cindyls06 (also on You Tube) specifically "VSG#19 I spent a week in the hospital" and "VSG#20 Post-op recall (Days 1-3) Be your own Advocate!"

Those are two I have found as I have been doing my research on VSG.

I've had this happen years ago. It is probably the Triscuit....a hard cracker, and fiberous. My 2 cents says that you are still early post op for that food. IF, though, you can't tolerate anything but the water for more than 24hrs, you need to call the surgeon that did the surgery. It is possible to have stenosis at the GEJ (gastroesophageal junction) and that will also cause the symptoms you describe. This isn't meant to scare you; just inform you of the possibilities. My gut tells me the HARD cracker is probably the cause.

Wow!  Well I am definately so happy that you are feeling great now.  I'm sorry that you had to go through tha, but it's a real good thing that you had what sounds like a wonderful surgeon.  Good luck to you and to your health for the rest of your life.  I think that it's wonderful as well that you had someone explain the procedure to you as well.  You have definately gave me some additional information that I was seeking and I know that there is a lot of people that will benefit from you.  Thank you again for being open and honest.  Take Care.

THanks for the post and the info. I knew that I had bile refluxing almost immediately post-op, and my surgeon (in VA) told me the fix was a longer roux limb. He made it sound like a BIG surgery, but that is back in 1998 and maybe it was only done open back then. I got lucky in that I had an Organic Chemistry instructor who told me, "Bile is high BASE (high pH) and why don't you try drinking citrus to neutralize it ?" I did so for about 2 yrs, but then the ruby red I lived on had lots of HFCS in it so I backed off....diluting it 50%. THEN...my new Family MD laughed at me and my 'cure' for the bile and I thought maybe I was misinformed. He put me on ACID REDUCERS...10 yrs of them and I was also put on Fosamax in 2006 after falling off a bed breaking my right tibia and right radius & ulna (NOT osteoporosis related at all then).
I got busy raising a son, his teen years and the loss of one of my eyes and just did the acid reducers. I ALWAYS thought it was ODD that when my reflux was really bad that drinking a soda stopped it.  It went against all that the doctors (NONE of whom are Bariatric specialists) told me about reflux.  I finally got a new Family MD and a Gastroenterologist and BOTH have no issue with my participating in my care. I figured it was time to have another Endoscopy to see IF I had Barrett's Esophagus yet OR cancer and to see IF I was able to get the roux limb made longer.

I got my Path results today and am happy to report that I have escaped both cancer and Barrett's for now. I will fill the Carafate script and see if I can heal the gastritis and esophagitis before having any surgery. I have been also keeping a food diary and what foods give me heartburn, and what I do to stop it...what FOOD/DRINK I use to neutralize that bile. I Google each citrus or juice I drink to make certain that it is in fact ACID...very EZ fix. I am betting that the CITRUCEL works in that same fashion, and I certainly appreciate that information.

I emailed The Bariatric Center @ The Cleveland Clinic today and gave them a short synopsis of what has been happening. If I am going ot have surgery, I feel it is in MY BST INTEREST to go to a place with such a fine reputation. I did resear*****harlotte, and the longest any of the current Barriatric docs here have been doing the surgeries is 8 years. IF The Cleveland Clinic can't help me, I will at least see the one Charlotte MD who has the best reputation.

Another positive, is that I have always, my whole life taken vitamins and minerals and worked out with weights. My one small issue now is taking more Calcium and the pills being so large. I still take them. I will know in a year, via another bone density scan, IF the Forteo is working for me. I sure hope so. I fall enough because of my vison loss and the distorted vison in the only sighted eye. I'm well aware of what a hip fracture could do and how much it would change my life, even at 58.

I SO appreciate your email, and will hang out here for friendship and to also let others know what can happen. I am still thrilled to be thinner and have NO REGRETS about having had both the stapling and then the RYGB. It's made my happy and changed my life for the better.