Question:
What about the other stoma, the RNY limb?

What are the symptoms of the RNY limb closing or obstructed? That is, the connection between the unattached stomach and bypassed intestine where it is supposed to empty back into the connected intestine?    — Robin H. (posted on September 4, 2001)

September 4, 2001
What would possibly be obstructing that? The only thing passing through it would be some gastric juices and it is the original opening, so nothing was done to change it during the surgery. However, if you have pain, it could be that you are developing an ulcer in the 'old'stomach, which is relatively common after WLS unless your surgeon performed a vagotomy.
   — Cindy H.

September 4, 2001
You do have anastomases (stomas) after RNY surgery. That is just the tech term for the connection of the intestine to the stomach and the connection to the lower part of the intestine. Anyway, I would think that if the "other" stoma closed then you would be having problems with digestion. I'm no doctor but I'd guess that since there wouldn't be as many gastric juices to help break down the food you would experience "back up" of juices in the old stomach causing pain/ulcers. Also the lack of gastric juices in the intestine would cause bowel problems (constant constipation?). Sounds like a great question for your doc. Good luck!
   — Kimberly L.

September 21, 2001
Well, I was checked by my gastro doctor and he did confirm that my unattached stomach was distended and full which I could feel. A couple of months previously, my BM's were NEVER solid, in fact, looked like they had gone in. You know, tiny, chewed up pieces of stuff. They smelled really nasty and vile. Sort of like my dental crowns when they fall out. Rotted food and saliva has a certain stench and that is what it was like. But, knowing my doctors, none of them would have a cause for an alarm with this. But, a couple of days after seeing my gastroenterologist, it opened with a gush! Basically, I drank and drank well over a gallon of fluid in the next 12-16 hours. My BM's became instantly formed and even hard! I had not had anything like that for well over 2 months. I felt good for the first time in months. I finally felt like what I ate gave me strength and I started to sleep less and have energy for the normal things in life. Just goes to show that they don't know everything. My surgeon denied that it happened (without any examination, just dismissed it) and even said the gastro doctor he sent me to must have been mistaken. My gastro doctor at least admitted that he has only seen it in very new post-ops, not someone a year out. Since I wasn't "very" sick, he decided to try and consult with the surgeon. In the meantime, the pressure popped whatever was blocking it into my intestines and all is now well. If not, I would have had to have a G-tube put back in (YUCK!) or surgery. They did order an upper GI going through my unattached stomach which showed no significant narrowing or blockages other than my belly fat hindering my intestines from moving the dye around when I was laying down. Robin H
   — Robin H.