Question:
Can someone tell me what are strictures!!!!!

Hello all, Im 7 months post-op -76lbs, and pretty happy with that. I wanted to know what are strictures, because i hear about them all the time on this website. Is it something that stops your weightloss? Are they painful? Thank God i don't have no major problems. The only thing that i have issues with is eating to fast or to much and the food will get stuck in my stomach and i will have to vomit it back up or/and making bad choices of food sometimes. Im having a endoascopy done next month, to make sure things are alright there. Good Luck to u all 260/184/160    — sexysag37 (posted on October 2, 2003)

October 2, 2003
If you're going to get a stricture it normally happens between the first and fourth month. I had one exactly 4 weeks after surgery. It's due to scar tissue forming at the beginning of your new pouch and your esophagus. At this time nothing will go down not even water. It's not really painful just frustrating.
   — tat1997

October 2, 2003
I had a stricture at 4 weeks post op. The opening (stoma) from the pouch to the intestine closes up. Food nor water would go through, whatever I swallowed I would vomit back up. It was a VERY uncomfortable feeling, tightness in my chest and hiccups. I would say it was painful. I went into the hospital for a scope and the Dr dialated my stoma. I immediately felt better and have had no problems since. My WLS (open RNY Micropouch) was on July 11, 2003 and I have lost 79 1/2 lbs so far.
   — Lois B.

October 2, 2003
A stricture can develop any where that there is a surgical connection.Common places to get a stricture after wls are at the outlet to your pouch, where the pouch is connected to the intestines and further down in your intestines where the intestines have been rerouted.A less common place is at the opening to your pouch as there is no surgical connection there but strictures can form due to acid irritation.Strictures can be caused by your pouch producing too much acid.This can cause an irritation of the lining which in turn can cause scar tissue to grow,then overgrow causing a stricture.The second reason that a stricture can form...is that basically the stoma is a man made outlet and the body realizes that and tries to heal it by closing it up.If your stricture is caused by acid or irritation acid reducers can prevent them from occuring.But if someone is just an overhealer then there is nothing you can do to prevent them.I was told that women get them more frequently than men do.A few years ago,surgeons started using the circular stapler to attach the pouch to the intestines instead of hand sewing it.This decreased the percentage of leaks but has increased the percentages of strictures.If you get a stricture it is common to have to be dilated 2 or even 3 times before it stays open.People rarely need to be dilated 4 times but it does happen and some people may even have to get the stoma connection redone.If the area totally closes up then you will vomit everything up including water and your saliva.You can just get partial strictures where the outlet is only partially closed.In that case you are able to keep some food and water down but with some discomfort and vomiting.
   — jennifer A.