ulcers after WLS

I'm 4.5 yrs out and have recently begun having an uncomfortable, achy feeling to the left of my incision. it does this when I sit or bend over, and my stomach is constantly gurgling. I have NEVER had any problems post op until this. I've been under tons of stress this year, could it be an ulcer? How do they check for it and what can they do for it since I've had this surgery? THX.

I have had several different ulcers. They check for them the same way they check anyone that hasn't had the surgery and the treatment is basically the same. In fact, I have been hospitalized twice for bleeding ulcers. AND FYI, contrary to what people on the board say sometimes, they can also check your "old stomach'. the part that is transected. I had surgery to remove part of mine a little over a year ago after a mass was found on the back side of it. CT Scan found it.

"They check for them the same way they check anyone that hasn't had the surgery and the treatment is basically the same. " When they thought I had an ulcer pre-op (turned out to be gallbladder), they checked me by sticking something down my throat into my stomach and down into the duodenum, and when they couldn't find anything, gave me oral medications to treat it. They finally diagnosed my gallbladder by giving me a numbing agent to swallow in the middle of one of my attacks. When the pain got sharper instead of duller, he knew it wasn't in the stomach or early part of the duondenum. None of that would be possible with a transected/blind stomach. How did they check/treat yours? "AND FYI, contrary to what people on the board say sometimes, they can also check your "old stomach'. the part that is transected." Again - how? I'm not trying to be argumentative, but as one of the people who does tell people that this can't be done, I'd like to be educated if my information is incorrect. Thanks! --BT

I have sent you an email explaining how I know these things. But, truth is, my medical history as well as my times of nearly dying are well documented. here on the boards and of course in my medical records which i suppose i could get copies of if I have to,and mail them to you to prove that what I am saying is true. i didn't mean to be offensive at all to you if you took it that way and i don't think you did. But, I am one of the rare ones that can say, been there, done that. Have all the scars to prove it and am very thankful to be alive. It is a common misconception that the old stomach cannot be examined but that is wrong information.

No, not offended at all. Honestly, I would love to see your medical records - but not because I don't believe you. I spent hundreds of hours pre-op reading clinical data on the DS - I just find things like that really interesting. Did you have this 'ring' that the other gentleman spoke of? Do you notice a difference (other than the pain being gone) from having the transected part removed? Less hunger, for example? Able to eat different foods because you're not having the acid production from before? --BT

No, I don't have the ring. The old part was left hanging, "by a thread". They didn't remove it all. The only part that was removed was the part that was folding over and trapping the fluid. He told me it was really hard to get out. Unfortunately, I am making an appointment tomorrow morning for what feels like the same problem again. I sure hope not. This is the first year I haven't been operated on or in the hospital several times since I had my RNY. Theree has been no difference in my eating from any of my surgeries. Even my gallbaldder. i just cllick right along eating pretty much what I want to. I lost too much and got sickly and frail and was ordered to gain from 109 back up to 1334. That has been over a year ago and I am just now at 125 and this is where I want to stay. 134 is too heavy for me. Until these stomach problems started up again, I have felt good for a few months.

Coleen, I would see the Dr. he/she may just put you on meds. to see if you improve. If necessary, the Dr. can view a possible ulcer by EGD (scope) they sedate you and you wake up a bit later. It's quick and painless. Black Thorne, yes, the blind stomach can be examined. Not all RNY's have this, but I have the ring attached to the abdominal wall to provide a location to access the blind stomach. Either way, an ulcer is nothing to mess around with, mine was nearly silent, and landed me in the hospital due to blood loss. That's been the only trouble, 9# to goal! Good luck

That's fascinating, actually. What kind of ring, and attached where? Someone else also emailed me privately & said they could be scoped......but again, I'm not understanding the mechanism by which that can be done. Wasn't the whole point of stapling off the pouch & attaching intestine to it to PREVENT access to the blind stomach? Are they taking the long route - out the stoma, down the alimentary limb to the common channel & back up the bilio-pancreatic limb? If it's accessible from the throat, how do you prevent food & liquid from accessing the blind stomach, too? And in an emergency situation, do ER's know this? Or do you have to explain it to them? --BT

In my past eemergency room experiences, I have always been given pain medication almost immediately and my doc called. he has ordered tests and labs and by the time they get those back, he is there. or one of his associates. You might say I am put on the "fast track' when i show up at the ER. BUT< I always go to the hospital I had surgery at. Except once I went to my hometown ER and upon hearing I am a bypass patient with a terrible medical history, I was shipped out.

The docs that are "in the know" on the latest stuff are now leaving a tiny , tiny, link between the pouch and old tummy because of all the problems associated with examining it. I was told that fluids and stomach acids are continually going in and out. Food? i don't know about that