Question:
Is it pretty common to have the stoma close up?

I have been reading alot of people's postings and seeing that they have had to have an endoscopy to open the stoma so they could drink or eat, without throwing up. Is this pretty much common and will we all need one at one time or another? Is there anyone who has not had to have one? It seems like it is pretty prevalant between 4-12 weeks post-op. It has me a little "freaked out" to think about maybe needing one. Thanks, Cheryl A.    — cherby56 (posted on April 10, 2003)

April 10, 2003
I would think that this would be a relatively rare occurrence. I'm 9 months out and have had no problems with my stoma (or anything else related to the surgery. Despite reading a lot of postings about people with endoscopies, you have to remember that bad news gets publicized more than good news...JR
   — John Rushton

April 10, 2003
I wouldn't say that is is very common, but it does happen. I don't have any numbers (percentages) or anything. It did happen to me at around 3 months. It got so bad I couldn't even keep water down. I went to the GI and he did an endoscope to open the stoma back up. It really wasn't that bad, they sedated me, did the procedure (I don't even remember it) and I woke up. I had to have my husband pick me up but I was able to keep liquids down and later that evening I ate something soft. The next day I was back to normal. This does not happen to everyone, but if it does it really isn't that big of a deal.
   — Ali M

April 10, 2003
A stricture (narrowing/closing of the stoma) is not common. It generally happens to about 5% of the WLS patients. It most commonly occurs around week 3, and if it happens once, it is very common to have it happen a second time. I had mine dilated twice. I remember at a support group meeting, my surgeon called on me out of over 100 folks in there and called me his 'problem child' in humor. It just isn't very common. The reason that you seem to see it often on this board is that...1. there are over 100,000 people that are members on this site, and 2. people generally write in about their problems, not when things are going perfect. You don't hear from the other 95% that their stoma is a good size and working well. If you do the math, at 5% incident rate, that would be about 5000 patients on this board that get a stricture. And you don't hear from all of them. So, no, don't get freaked out, it is really unlikely to happen to you, although there is a small chance.
   — Cheri M.

April 10, 2003
Hi Cheryl: I had to be dialated at 5 weeks because of my stoma closing, I have had not one episode of vomiting since. I can eat ANYTHING that I want. Not one food upsets my stomach at this point. I got pretty freaked out when I read one of the posts that said if it has happened once, it most likely will happen again....It was so horrible having my stoma close....I'm crossing my fingers and toes that that is false information and that I like others are good to go.....
   — Joi G.

April 11, 2003
I have to say "ditto" almost ver batem to the last poster, except mine was almost 6 weeks. I was not sedated enough apparently and remembered everything and was very uncomfortable throughout the entire procedue. But since then, I have been able to eat, thank God. I only get sick now with greasy food or chicken breast, so I have learned my lesson with the greasy stuff!
   — kim V.