Gastric Bypass revision due to unresolved stricture

It's been a while since I've posted on here. Just scheduled my gastric bypass revision surgery after unsuccessfully trying to resolve a stricture with dilation and stents for the last almost 2 years. I have a rough go of it since first discovering the stricture. I had endoscopic dilation 3 times between Feb. 2016 and April 2016. The 3rd one ended up perforating my stomach and led to emergency surgery to repair it. Still had the stricture and tried another dilation in July 2016 and had extreme pain afterwards and automatically assumed the Dr perforated my stomach again but luckily everything was fine. After that one I had to take a break because besides the physical toll it took, mentally I was a disaster. Finally in April this year I decided it was time to try again and had a stent placed in that would gradually open up the stricture and hopefully when taken out it would stay that way. With the stent in place I was able to eat chicken and beef, something I hadn't been able to do for 2 years. After about 6 weeks I had the stent removed and hoped for the best. Within a day I was right back to the way it was and I was unable to eat much. My Dr almost immediately put another stent back in, this time with the intention of keeping it in as long as possible. He said the longest he's ever kept one in is 6 weeks but mine was kept in for twice that long. Had it taken out 2 weeks ago and again within 2 days I could tell it didn't work. At this point my surgeon decided it was time for the revision. So after my rambling here I guess I'm wondering if anyone has had a revision like this and what I can expect. Is it like the original surgery? Is the post-op diet the same, where I have to progress slowly from liquids to solids? Since beginning this 2 year battle to fix this I've been dealing with depression, anxiety, anger, etc. Now I'm really anxious because I'm worried about the surgery but I'm also anxious to see if this is it and it'll be fixed and I'll be back to eating normally again. Any info or support from anyone would be great.

I don't see how a revision is going to fix this problem. There is something about your body making scar tissue rapidly that is the problem.

Whst is a revision going to change? Nothing. It is just going to be the same thing again.

i wish you well.

Ok, thanks for making me feel even more hopeless.

Are you going back to the same doctor whose work resulted in the stricture? At this point, I would be really tempted to get a second opinion.

I am. Reason being everything I've read and been told is the surgeon has nothing to do with who ends up with a stricture. Strictures are caused by the way the body heals. My surgeon is one of the best and I wouldn't trust someone else to go in there and do a revision.

I haven't been here in a while but I remember people used to come here for support and encouragement. I come here being honest about being depressed and having anxiety about this hoping someone who has been through it can help me and maybe ease some of my anxiety and I get one person telling me the surgery is pointless and nothing can fix it and another one telling me to get a new surgeon. I hope this isn't the norm here now.

But they are two very true realities you need to consider. Did your surgeon explain to you what this revision would entail, how it would help? Cause, from what I know about surgeries and revisions, I can't figure how it would either. Help us understand-- maybe then we can encourage you. And If your surgeon didn't explain the mechanics-- I'd be shopping around two. You deserve to know the details before hand.

I assume you've been losing since your eating is so restricted. How is your overall nutrition? Cases I've heard of with these constant stricture battles tend to lead to malnutrition fast. Pay attention to that too, as that seems harder to turnaround.

You drew the short straw with your surgery experience. That sucks. But I'm not the type that's gonna blow fairy dust up your butt. Your anxiety is warranted, but you need to take active steps in your healthcare to hopefully minimize the anxiety. For me, knowing I've exercised all my options is reassuring. OH is a resource, not the resource.

Obviously he explained it to me, I'm not going to agree to surgery without knowing what was going to happen. Basically they will go in disconnect the where the stricture is, cut the scar tissue out and reconnect it again. As far as losing weight I've managed to maintain the last few months. After the surgery to repair my stomach perforation I was malnourished but after working with a dietician for a few months I was able to put on some weight and I've maintained since then.

I'm not asking anyone to blow fairy dust up my butt. I was simply looking for people who've been through this to share their experiences. What I didn't ask for was someone telling me it was pointless doing the revision because it was just going to happen again if they were basing that nothing more than their lack of knowledge.

Personally I'd be inclined to get a second surgeons input, even if only to confirm this is the best course of action. I'm wondering if there is any type of technique, drug, etc etc they can do/use to minimize re-occurrence of the same.

Your experience is unique, so I'd be surprised if you find someone active on the boards who can share. (Though I hope you do ...). I wish you well.

Hi and so sorry about all of your pain! Sounds awful with limited solutions. However, there is HOPE! Trust me, I am one of them. Got rid of almost all my reflux, swallowing problems and motility issues due to revision from sleeve to RNY.

I am a three time revision due to improper banding, prolapse, undetected hernia and chronic GERD. Also had achalasia of the esophagus due to autoimmune problems. I am all about 2nd, third and 4th opinions no matter how good a surgeon is. Just because someone is a great surgeon doesn't mean they are great at revision. Revision surgeons are used to fixing problems from original surgeries. That is why many surgeons will NOT take on other surgeons patients. Revision surgeons do not have the issue and thrive on the complicated solution. Personally I would only go to someone who specializes in revision.

Some of the questions I asked them were:

How many revisions have you done? Have you had any patients with similar problems to mine and what were their outcomes?

but it is not based on nothing. It is based on common sense. If your body makes too much scar tissue too rapidly, how is going in , cutting out the scar tissue and reconnecting it going to keep it from forming again, and again and again?