Question:
What is going on? I thought everything was pretty much healed...

Gee whiz! When it rains, it pours...!!! I'm wondering if my esophagus is closed vs stress reaction. That's what the sub topic of this question is...Okay, this is a long one, so please bear with me, please...I had the LAP RNY on 9/3/02, so as of today, that makes me 41 weeks and 1 day or 9 months, 2 weeks and 2 days out, right? Well, you know my story, I had the surgery and during intubation, there was an *accident*, and my esophagus was punctured, leaving me with a 1-inch tear into it (no fault of either of my surgeon(s), mind you), so by now, you probably know who that left...the one that administers the anesthesia. It bled for several days, then began to heal...a slow process. There is something real strange going on now, though. First of all, it seems like my esophagus is closed or is closing or something, I'm having trouble swallowing. Just to drink water or ANY liquid, is a MAJOR event. It really has me going through some changes. I'm still doing all of what I've been doing (but not eating potato chips). I can barely get 70g of protein in, water and other liquids, for the past 1-2 months, has been decreased to about 50 ozs. No, I haven't exercized in about 2-3 weeks,. I've not had the desire to because I'm not with it going through this with not being able to swallow, comfortably. It doesn't hurt and I have no pain when I swallow, it's just like something is "stuck" down in my throat that prevents me from swallowing like I did before the surgery and it's getting increasingly difficult. I have to wait awhile for every single bite when I'm eating, more than 5 or so minutes. In November 2001, I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus w/Hyperemia???I know I had a stricture, web or something at surgery because they said the tube wouldn't go down easily~~which we fould out this was attributed to my having a critically severe case of GERD. Last week, I posted that I was concerned whether Barrett's Mucosa/Esophagus would eventually turn into the big "Ca" word. What should I do now? I thought about just holding off for a few more days to see if I was just "anxious". That maybe it's a nervous reaction due to my going through some very stressful situations on my job, but even when I'm relaxed, calm and quiet, I still feel it. I don't like the way this feels AT ALL!! I dare not call my surgeon unless it's a real emergency. I was dilated when I had to be admitted a second time, but now I'd be really embarrassed if it turned out to be nothing, but then again, it could be. I'm so angry at myself for eating what I told you several weeks ago. What's left to do? I don't want to eat any solid food for the fear that the food will get stuck. Any and ALL suggestions, comments, or recommendations are welcomed...I just NEED your HELP!!!LAP RNY 9/3/02 265/158/115-126 and at a standstill..:(~~~~~Hadiyah, a.k.a.->    — yourdivaness (posted on June 18, 2003)

June 18, 2003
I would call the MD, perhaps the healing has produced scar tissue which is causing a partial blockage?? You will drive yourself crazy wondering..just call!
   — ~~Stacie~~

June 19, 2003
I agree with the previous poster. It sounds like scar tissue in the esophegus. You need to call the doctor and get a scope done. There is something wrong and you need a diagnosis, you can't go on like this. Please don't ignore it, it could get worse. Listen to your body and don't hesitate to bug your doctor, your care is their job.
   — mary ann T.