hello fellow "grads"(LONG)

Hi everyone,
I'm a "graduate" too, just wanted to introduce myself.

A quick background on me, since I've been off the boards a long time...

Had RNY surgery 2005.  At goal weight now.  Starting weight 299 lbs.  Weight today 160 lbs. (I'm 5'9" tall)  I had gotten down to a low of 169 lbs., but only for about a day.  then bounced back up slowly to around 178 and stayed there for the longest time. 

Then last year I started gaining.  All because I had gotten complacent.  Not being careful, snacking, and definitely eating the wrong things.  So I think I climbed back up to 188 lbs.  And there I was, up to 192, back to 188, etc etc.... and figuring "I still did good, I still lost so much, and I just won't gain any more"  "I'll get it back under control"... basically doing a lot of thinking about it but not a lot of DOING anything about it.

Then I started having this weird problem, out of the blue.  First, it was frequent heartburn.  Not long after, I started feeling immediatly full when I would eat.  And most things were causing pain.  After a while I started noticing that fiberous things like chicken, steak, salad, shrimp - all would be painful and I would inevitably throw them up.  But all softer things like cottage cheese, soup, eggs, anything smooth or very moist, would stay down.  But still, it was similar to first year out of surgery where the smallest amount of food made me very very full. 

So I'll say this problem started happening in September.  So, mind you - this problem STARTED 4-1/2 years afterr surgery, no previous problems with throwing up, no previous problems tolerating any kind of food.

Couple of months ago I did go back to the surgeon to do an upper GI.  Swallowed the liquid, saw it go down.  There is a very, very narrow opening from my stomach to intestine.  It looked on the screen just like a stopped-up drain.....I drank the liquid, the pouch filled completely, and then very slowly drained out.   Which explains why everything makes me feel immediately full and why a lot of things get "stuck" and come back up.  BUT, the question is -- why did this start happening out of the blue, so many years after the fact?  The upper GI was able to show that there is no blockage, growth, tumor, etc. to be worried about...but it doesn't answer the 'why'.  He said it could be scar tissue, or it could be the beginnings of an ulcer.  But he was very hesitant to hypothesize...  said he would want to go in for an endoscopy next to see in there with a camera.  If there is nothing "wrong" he could try to stretch the opening slightly with a balloon.

Personally I don't see how or why it would be scar tissue when it occurred so many years later.  So i feel it's most likely the start of an ulcer.  (I also suspect that becasue I get heartburn a lot now, even wake up in the middle of the night from it sometimes.... never had that before in my life.)

So, since this problem began, I lost all the weight I had put back on, plus some.  It wasn't until now that I really truly reached my goal weight.  As silly as this sounds, unless I eat something that bothers me I feel great.  I can't eat much at once, get full fast (like ridiculously so, think back to 1st year post op), but then eat when hungry again.  As long as I manage it with foods that go down easy for me, it doesn't bother me at all.  I look good and feel good.  And quite honestly, I'm enjoying it!!

So I've been putting off having the scope done.  The problem isn't getting worse, and I'm managing to eat healthfully.  I'm not continuing to drop any more weight, I've been holding at 160 for some time now. I suppose I should have it done so he can get a look in there "just in case" but I can't help feeling like it's just precautionary and I've kind of gotten used to this...so basically have just been putting it off.

I guess I felt like I wanted to post this for two reasons....

1) Even though the "completion" of my weight loss came because of a problem, LESSON LEARNED!!  I definitely was not on a good track, having gained back around 25 lbs. or so and my old habits had crept back in.  Not just eating habits, but more importantly the procrastination - not doing anything about  it.   If I could eat like last year from now on, I feel like I learned this lesson and would never again ignore the fact that I am totally  responsible for my own weight and health and it won't STAY OFF without effort and commitment.

2) I am curious whether anyone else has ever experienced a problem like this, and if so, what your experience was.

Thanks for listening.  Anyone with any insight, please share!

Looking forward to participating.

Marie

Congratulations on your weight loss and getting back in control.  I'm 2 years out as of 3 days ago.  Before surgery I had acid reflux really bad.  Took Nexium and that really helped but I also had a cough for 8 years due to acid reflux.  After surgery no cough.  Occasionally now I get a burning that may be heartburn if I eat something spicey.  This is so crazy.  Before surgery I ate the hottest picante sauce I could find.  Loved hot foods.  Now, just can't eat it.

Wonder if you have a hiatal hernia.  My husband has one and if he gains weight it really bothers him.  I would think your doctor would have thought of that if that's a possibility.

If you're feeling good, you can probably forego further testing although an Endoscopy isn't painful so maybe you should have it to just check things out.

Im on my way out (SPA-CATION BBY!!), so i'll have to finish reading your post when i get back.
But i did at least want to offer my congratulations on your successes & welcome you back!

Get the scope. Frequent heartburn can cause Barrett's Esophagus which is a pre-cancerous condition. There could be something else serious going on as well. Or it could be nothing. You won't know until you get it checked out.

Thanks, Jo, Candace, and MacMadame for the replies.  Valuable feedback!

I'll keep you updated.  I had forgotten that my surgeon gave me a scrip to get bloodwork done prior to the scope.  I think maybe I will try to find that and at least get the ball rolling with that.

Have a great night!  :)

You can tell your surgeon that you DON'T want the dilation, but to go ahead and do the scope to see if there's something else going on. The last thing you want is an undiagnosed ulcer. We don't have enough of a stomach left to take chances with an ulcer eating away at the wall of the pouch. Let them take a look, and just not do the dialation part.

HOLA!! Im back from my SPAAAA-Cation :) I wasnt to be sure & get back to you as I noted in my earlier post.
"Then last year I started gaining.  All because I had gotten complacent.  Not being careful, snacking, and definitely eating the wrong things.  So I think I climbed back up to 188 lbs.  And there I was, up to 192, back to 188, etc etc.... and figuring "I still did good, I still lost so much, and I just won't gain any more"  "I'll get it back under control"... basically doing a lot of thinking about it but not a lot of DOING anything about it." < Good Job!!

This problem STARTED 4-1/2 years after surgery, no previous problems with throwing up, no previous problems tolerating any kind of food. I get heartburn a lot now, even wake up in the middle of the night from it sometimes.... never had that before in my life.)
I would like to ask what meds you are taking. Reason: I had something VERY SIMILAR happen about 3 yrs post op which continued into 4 yrs post op.
I had the upper GI done & it didnt show anything. I drank the chalk & everything "looked" okay, yet i was still getting heart burn & chest pains - although i still pretty much ate anything.
It wasnt until they were treating me on the roadside for a a friggin heart attack & rushing me to the ER at 2am one morning that we all figured out that I had a massive case of GERD which was caused by my taking ALEVE & Rx strength Naporsyn for a knee injury.
**Yes - i was taking both (which are essentially the same thing mind you - but i had no idea).**
According to the ER Dr. Naporsyn (over time) eats away at the esophagus - ??
"Naprosyn can also increase your risk of serious effects on the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation (forming of a hole). These conditions can be fatal and gastrointestinal effects can occur without warning at any time while you are taking Naprosyn. Older adults may have an even greater risk of these serious gastrointestinal side effects.
Read more: http://www.drugs.com/naprosyn.html#ixzz0tV1S8LOb


I look good and feel good. And quite honestly, I'm enjoying it!!  Dont want to rain on your parade - but instead be a voice of logic & reason - you look & feel good RIGHT NOW as long as you play by its rules (eating things that dont irritate your tummy).

So I've been putting off having the scope done.  I suppose I should have it done so he can get a look in there "just in case" but I can't help feeling like it's just precautionary.
You took the words right from my mouth. Yes, you absolutely should go & have the scope done. Yes, it IS only a precautionary measure - but with WLS it really is better SAFE than sorry. 
This is your health & well being that we are tlaking about here.  I dont know if you have children - but if this were your child, would you not have the scope done just in case!?!?

I dont know who else that replied to the post that said (something like) acid reflux is an early warning & a potential precurser for a more serious condition. I agree w/ them - check it out now - Fix it now so you dont have to deal w/ that more serious condition later!