I'm finally honme !

The stricture was worse than originally thought.  I finally had an EGD with dilation on Tuesday and was able to come home yesterday !  I feel so much better.  The only issue is that there was only a pin hole opening so they were only able to dilate the stricture to 8 mm, the dr would like it to be 2.5 cm.  So I have to go back for serial dilations until it's fixed.  I'm on clear liquids yet again.  My next EGD will be 1/5.  Thanks for all of the thoughts and prayers !

OMG!!  You poor thing!!  Yes, definitely do keep to those clear liquids, girl!  So sorry you have to go through all this.  How do strictures happen?  (I don't understand)  How scary that it was so tiny!! 

I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers everyday and most DEFINITELY on 1/5!
Hang in there, Mandy!
Love, Mary Lou

Thanks for praying Mary Lou !  A stricture is from scar tissue growing and healing too quickly and closing it up.  I'm just thankful to have a diagnosis and be on the road to recovery !! 
How have you been ?
Mandy

Oh wow!  I understand now.  I got the idea that something went wrong and it closed up, just didn't get how it happened.  Awful!! 

Doing pretty well.  I'm on my full foods, just small amounts.  Thankful for that.  I have to be careful about the amounts and have been making lots of notes as to what my pouch likes and doesn't like anymore.  It's a learning thing.  Some foods I loved before (i.e. kiwi fruit, tuna, etc) my pouch no longer wants anything to do with anymore.  :( Not sure why, but since the reaction is strong, I won't quibble.

I have gotten strong pressure if I take one extra sip or bite, so I am doing better at stopping after the first sign of feeling the need to stop. 

I've lost 30lbs since surgery; 70 lbs total since I started my weight management program.  I'm happy with it, but since I had a 3 week stall, I feel like I should have lost more.  I'm having to remember that 2 lbs a week is okay.  Especially since I was barely losing 2 lbs a YEAR before. 

Having enough stamina to do exercising and keeping up with things around the house has been my toughest job in all this.  Not sure if this is because I'm not getting enough protein or what.  Still trying to do better all around.  I think I need to get on the boards here more often to cheerlead and be cheerleaded so I keep feeling motivated to jump around!  :D

Keep staying strong and healthy.  I will be praying that the liquids somehow stay tasty and that you don't get too frustrated with it all.  And that the dilations don't hurt.
Love and hugs to you!!
Mary Lou

so glad you are home and doing better. let us know how the next one goes!  how are you tolerating liquids etc?

I am on clear liquids, but even that makes me nauseated.  I have to take Zofran.

I am sorry you are going through so much, I hope things get better for you soon ((((((hugs)))))))