Question:
1971 Jejunoileal intestinal bypass surgery

My mother is currently experiencing facial flushing caused by excessive amounts of histamines, extreme asthma, osteoporosis, choking sensations at night. The doctors suspect a blind loop, but can an overgrowth of bacteria be the cause of the histamine release? She is considering having a reversal, while her liver and kidney are still functioning normally. Our medical system is stumped,...any advice? Similarities? Thank you, Cindy    — cinderella (posted on June 24, 2004)

June 24, 2004
same surgery here, 1981. Also a victim of Blind Loop Syndrome. It does not produce the symptoms your mother is having except the osteo. and that is not caused by blind loop but malabsorption. I also have that. Blind loop nearly had me in a wheelchair. Docs suspected it for ten years but nothing ever showed up in the labs and other tests. It affected my joints. When the bacteria filled up the loop, it would spill over going into my blood stream and i broke out in a rash when the spill first happened. Within two or three hours of the rash, I could not move. Literally paralyzed from the neck down. Extreme pain. It would last about 24 hours then leave as suddenly as it came. The only thing labs ever showed was an extremely high sed rate anywhere from 70-120 and very high white blood count. The only thing that will help is a reversal which i fought for ten years. Finally I went to see a surgeon and he refused to reverse it saying there was no proven data in black and white that it would help the joint problems. it all came to a head in 2002 when I had an emergency bowel obstruction surgery to save my life and my insides were a mess so it was reversed. I immediately within six months gained 85 lbs and one year later had rny. If I can help any further please contact me. Oh, the reversal did stop the joint problems and blind loop.
   — Delores S.

June 25, 2004
There's something called 'blind loop arthritis dermatitis syndrome' that sounds much like what you're describing. E-mail me and I'll forward to you what I have on it.
   — MsBatt

June 26, 2004
judith, i don't know who you are addressing but the original poster is not having any arthritic or dermatitis issues. Mine were resolved with my takedown. Thanks
   — Delores S.