Question:
does anyone else have this problem? strictures

I am a little of 10 months post op had my first scope saturday, had scar tissue build up..Now all day today have been throwing up foam...How do you deal with this issue... THank you Coral...315/164    — Coral E. (posted on May 28, 2004)

May 28, 2004
I have been trying to find out if I have strictures or not for quite some time now. I throw up quite a bit now, I am over 3 years out, and find throwing up comes easy when I eat 1)wrong foods 2)too fast or 3)sugar. I am wondering if that is why I throw up so easy now. Let me know if your doctor says anything about the strictures causing the throw up. I am now experiancing many weird problems, smelly bowels, the throwing up, and pain in my lower right side of the abdomen. Thank you for posting this question, it makes me wonder what now is going on. As for foam, I wonder if it is because of what you have eaten, or havent eaten, that would make it come up like that? The only time I have had foam is with sugary drinks, or soda's. E-mail me, we can discuss more. [email protected]
   — MAGICG9

May 28, 2004
Coral...I had a problem at about 6-8 weeks post op where I would become extremely uncomfortable after eating only about two bites of food. It didn't matter what I ate or drank, it always was there. I started to vomit if I ate anything after that point where I felt uncomfortable (remember that was only two bites or drinks). When I did throw up, it was always a clear foamy material. I thought it was because I have such severe sinus drainage that my pouch was full when I got up in the mornings. But, after about 3 weeks (around the 9 week post op mark) I called the surgeon and they wanted to see me. He decided to do an EGD (gastroscopy) and he found my stoma was too small due to some scarring. From what I've read here on this site and on his site, this is a fairly common occurrence. He used a balloon to stretch it out and the whole procedure probably lasted only about 5-10 minutes tops. I also had some terrible burning in my lower right side about 6 weeks post op too. At first, they thought I was constipated but a laxative didn't ease up the pain. Then, I thought it may be related to taking my blood pressure medicine on an empty stomach (or nearly empty). So, I deliberately didn't take my BP meds for a whole day and still the burning. I got to thinking that it felt exactly the way my stomach and gut felt if I took anything containing aspirin. So, I called the surgeon and asked if I could go ahead and go back on my Nexium. I'd been on Prilosec or Nexium for 11 years and thought it could be excess acid production that made it to the last part of my small bowel at the junction of the large bowel. As soon as I took the Nexium, within a few hours the pain was gone. I haven't had it again except when I don't take the Nexium. This is just my experience and you should alert your surgeon about your problem but maybe something I've told you might give you an idea. Feel free to e-mail me.
   — Katherine F.

May 30, 2004
HI! I am the queen of strictures. I've had 7 of them!!!! I began getting strictures at 6 weeks out of open rny, and continued to get them EVERY 2 weeks there after. I had an open rny proximal on June 23, 2003. I developed a football size incisional hernia that prompted the 7 strictures. I had to have EGD's every 2 weeks!!! Thank God for versed. I had the first 2 EGD's without being knocked out. Panic attack city! The other 5 EGD's were given with versed and other quick in/out drugs. I wasn't aware of anything with the last 5. The vomiting foam is classic with a stricture. Funny thing...after I had 7 strictures balloon dialated and the football size hernia removed in November 2003, I've never had another stricture. THANK THE LORD!!! I am down 112 pounds and 8 pounds till goal. I have a t/t scheduled self pay 2 days before my one year anniversary of my surgery date!!! What a great life, and a wonderful present to myself for my one year anniversary! BEST OF LUCK on the stricture. They are not bad to deal with at all if you have versed, just make sure to have a driver, or they can't/won't knock you out. Best wishes, Kathy/June 23, 2003......-112 pounds...-8 pounds till goal...t/t June 21, 2004. Life could not be better, more healthy, etc. Would I do it all again, even with ALL my health problems?? You bet I would, in a heartbeat. :):):)
   — Kathy R.

May 30, 2004
Ugh!!! Strictures are the worst!! I'm 2 months post-op and developed a stricture soon after surgery. As long as I ate pureed "mushy" foods, I was fine. Once I added anything with even the slightest consistency, the pain and "froths" would begin and last sometimes for several hours. It got to the point where I was afraid to eat. I finally had an Upper GI which was negative. Due to my symptoms, my doc decided to pass a scope to see what was causing my discomfort. My once 12mm opening had narrowed to 3mm's. A balloon dilation was done and although sore for a few days, Im able to eat REAL food!! Id suggest anyone with "frothing" and pain who is following their diet notify their surgeon. Chances are good that a stricture may be the reason. Good luck to all!!!!
   — Barbara F.