Ongoing Story, Post-SADI Patient

Good evening everyone,

You've seen me posting here since my journey started last year. I'm continuing to share aspects of my story in case it helps someone else along the way.

I'd been having GI symptoms for a month and a half and reported them to my WLS clinic the whole time. Initially, they passed it off with the traditional feedback to take smaller bites.

After I wasn't eating solid food anymore, they ordered the EGD, which showed bile reflux. I got tossed a couple prescriptions and told to call them in 10 days after the Levsin course. The Levsin did help. I called back and asked for a refill. I carefully described my symptoms and evolution again and they tried telling me that by the time the new prescription was gone, I'd be all better. Yeah, I knew that wasn't happening.

Every day I'd been spending time massaging my stomach and intestines as a pain management technique. I decided to just keep calling them. They finally asked to schedule a CT scan for last Tuesday (over a week out from the call because full).

The scan showed mild thickening of the terminal iileum. They called me on Wednesday, May 3rd with a referral to a GI specialist to schedule a colonoscopy. Said it was indicative of Crohns or Ulcerative Colitis. I started calling the specialist to get scheduled.

I'd been on leave for the unexplained neuropathic pain and had tried to return to work that day. Early Thursday morning I had an emergency symptom. I'd eaten very little since Tuesday, drank less, and only took my supplements. I still felt massively full. Dr. Google told me pretty much the only reason for said symptom was a bowel obstruction.

Don't be me. I waited hours so I could drop my dogs off somewhere. I knew it wouldn't be a quick clinic visit, and it wasn't. The hour and change drive in to the ER was excruciating. They still dismissed my symptom until the second CT scan came back showing a bowel obstruction. They basically accused me of eating slabs of meat when I'd barely been on any food for weeks.

Anyway, they rushed me into an exploratory lapararoscopy to see what was indicated. Fortunately, there were no twists or hernias or other issues he could find. Thankfully, no resection needed. They inserted a tube into my stomach through my nose and proceeded with bezoar protocol. That part lasted two days and I do not recommend it.

Ultimately, I spent over five days in the hospital after fighting to be heard about my symptoms for over a month. The surgeon has no idea why I went from a clear scan Tuesday to obstructed Thursday. He's not convinced it's because of surgery but the likelihood is higher because of our rewiring.

His advice is the same things we all hear. Small bites, chew well. I'm not a fan of how it went down and I'll work on being an even more vocal advocate in the future.

Please, please say something if you have symptoms. It's scary how fast things can turn. Have a wonderful evening. Thanks for reading the ramble!

First of all, congrats on losing 142 pounds. It's a great accomplishment. Sorry to hear you are in pain. As you know, I also had the Sadi in 2014 and also have a 300cm common channel. I continue to take Omeprozol (also took pre-wls) for silent acid reflux but have not had the issues you are experiencing. I think it may just be a coincidence especially since your surgery was 9 or 10 months ago.

I might consider having a different highly experienced bariatric surgeon review your issues with a GI specialist to confirm the source of the issue, if possible.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thanks for your feedback! Yep, I think you're the only other active SADI poster, really, and I appreciate your insights as someone who's lived this.

My CC is the same length as yours. Candidly, I don't think the surgery caused these issues. Some of it is for exactly what you say...I was already months post surgery when the GI problems started. They really ramped up after gallbladder removal. I do take omeprazole as well, though not sure if that helps with bile reflux.

I have now been referred to a GI specialist who is familiar with SADI and DS patients and am working with them to get sorted. They think there may be a possibility that some of the medications helped to cause a perfect storm in this case that landed me in the hospital.

Goal now is to stabilize my weight. Technically a normal BMI but even my PCP told me to eat something today. While I don't think surgery caused this, it's the tool I'm working with throughout for sure.

Again, thank you for contributing your experiences! I keep sharing in case it helps the folks *****ad and don't post. Cheers!