Question:
What is it like to have the endoscope & balloon to open up the stoma?

Could someone please explain the procedure to open up the stoma with the endoscope & balloon? Are you out or awake? I can't imagine being awake & having something going down my throat without me gagging, especially when I feel terribly nauseous all the time. Also, can they also use endoscope & some kind of tool to unblock or clean out your stoma that's blocked up with food you didn't chew well enough? Or does this problem require a surgery? Sorry if this sounds rediculous. My imagination and fears are running wild. I had open distal RNY a month ago, on 5/21/01, so I'm really scared about these things happening to me.    — lalasmommy (posted on June 21, 2001)

June 21, 2001
No, you will not be awake.....they will give you a light sedation, you won't even know what happened,,,,,
   — Marie B.

June 21, 2001
Hi , that is not silly to ask,I was scared about things like that too. When I was about one month out of surgery my pouch shut up due to scaring. I had the balloon done and it was completly cool , in fact,had to have it twice. Once at three weeks and then at 6. The last time the nurse and Doctor's aid and myself laughed and talked about yard sales and how the doctor was keeping us form them by Him being late. When they finished I went with my husband to Outback Steak House and ate srimp,felt wonderful. You will sleep while they do their work ,you will be asked to swollow while they spray some numbing stuff on the back of your thoat and they will have an IV in you so that when they're ready they will give you just enough to let you sleep while they work. You don't have to be in a recovery room,or at lease I wasn't anyway. As soon as I woke,I sat up and went out to see my husband .DIDN"T EVEN HAVE TO UNDRESS! lol Good luck my friend ,God bless!!
   — sarah2cu

June 22, 2001
I too have procedure done, I put it off for months I was scared to death, not eating for three months and all my wls were eating no issues I felt deprived vs endoscopy I felt something had to be done, I found profile on obesity.com she described the whole procedure and we had same doctor that was familar with WLS. read my profile i beleived i mentioned her name and you can read her posting. I was awake for procedure the meds didn't put me to sleep it took less than five minutes, no pain at all i was very surprised how quick it was. no recovery room just sitting for about 30 min until released. I feel 100% every since. nothing to worry about take it from the biggest chicken on this earth. hugs jamie
   — Jamie C.

July 26, 2001
I had this procedure done two times. It is painless! Takes about 20 mins...The stuff they put you under with doesn't even make you feel groggy afterward..Just feels like you woke up from a great nap. Afterward, go out for dinner. You'll feel like you could eat a small kitten :)
   — jammie B.

July 27, 2001
I was completely sedated. The procedure itself is painless; however, the gases used during dilation settled in the non-functional portion of my stomach and were trapped for about three days. The morning after my procedure, I woke up feeling paralyzed and like I had been beaten from the inside out. I couldn't lift my head from my pillow or move my extremeties. I just couldn't move. My surgeon prescribed hyoscamine, a g.i. tract relaxer, and it got better slowly. After that, everything has been fine, and no problems since. I'm sure what happened to me was a rare complication. Try not to worry yourself over potential complications. Instead, focus on the positive changes going on in your life!
   — [Deactivated Member]