Endoscopy Yesterday

I had my endoscopy to rule out erosion/slip/discover cause(s) of my inability to eat a healthy and balanced diet.  My band isn't eroded or slipped, is wide open (I have pics to prove it) and while the tissue is gathered up inside it, there is still about an inch diameter opening through the stoma.  However, they did find an "irregular z line" which can be indicative of early Barrett's esophagus.  Biopsies were taken of the area, as well as of several areas of the stomach and duodenum, checking for cell changes, heliobator pylori and celiac.  I will get the pathology next week.  In the meantime, the doctor changed my medication for IBS (lower dosage) kept me on the antispasmodic med and PPI.

The doc thinks food is getting "hung up" at the esophogeal-gastric junction.  He also still thinks my ibs-c is causing spasms throughout my gi tract.  I have horrific cramping almost daily, sometimes a couple of times per day.  One thing to know:  I was born with stenosis in many areas of the GI tract and urinary tract as well as imperforate hymen.  As a young adolescent, the stenoses were dilated, and my hymen was surgically removed.  I had a large hiatal hernia repaired when my band was implanted.  

The doctor is confident I can be treated successfully, perhaps have some fluid replaced in my band and lose the 40 lbs I really want to.  I hope he is right.

Hi Steph,

I sure hope you can get those fills and still eat well. Watch that esophagus, though. My insurance paid for my revision based on dismotility. Even wide open and zero saline in my band I got stuck frequently. IBS is a real B****. I have it but mildly. I suffer flares for around 3 weeks about 4 times a year. Those times bite, though.  I am sorry to hear yours is so severe. I hope the med changes help relieve the symptoms.

Thanks! I'm relieved that I don't need immediate intervention, but concerned about the irregular z line indicating Barrett's. My duodenum also shows "scalloping" an indication of celiac, or gluten intolerance. The hospital called today to check on me and let me know the pathology will be ready in about 10 days. Fingers crossed!

Fingers are crossed along with prayers. Hope everything comes back good and the new meds help.

Steph,

Those findings are worrisome, but at least your doctor has more information now to help figure out what's going on and what can be done to deal with it.

Keep us posted!

Jean

Step, I hope everything turns out ok with you and hopefully they will be able to treat the problems without surgical intervention.

Thanks everyone.  I'm hoping that no surgery is needed.  The unanswered question at this point is; with my band wide open (I have pictures to prove it) why won'****er go down and why do I still get stuck on some foods?  Still trying to figure out this new med and get the dosing to work to get things "moving" but not to the point I can't leave the house!  

odd question, but will you share your images?  I had my endoscopy today and there is an image that looks like a lemon wedge protruding on one side and you can see what I believe is the tube to the port attached to it and going through what I assume is my stomach wall.   Do your images have anything like this? 

My GI doc wouldn't say it was eroded, but definitely recommended removal of my band.

They printed them out and I haven't scanned them into my computer yet. Endoscopy is viewed from inside the GI tract, so if you see your port and tubing you might be looking at images from a barium swallow...if not, sounds like something is out of place.

Endoscopy biopsy results, no H Pylori, no Barrets, no Celiac. IBS is the culprit. I'm to continue medications and follow up in January. Yea!