Hi from Winnipeg, Manitoba - ThinnerTimes

Muzikah · 06-13-2007, 11:28 AM

Hi all!

I just had gastric bypass surgery on May 7th, 2007, and am doing quite well except for one problem. I am finding that certain pills and some foods (even after I have chewed them well) are feeling "stuck" in my chest, and it is extremely uncomfortable until I vomit, which I realize I should not be doing. I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this, and if so, do you know if anything can be done about it? I look forward to hearing back from you. Hope you're all doing well!

Muzikah

AlabamaChick · 06-13-2007, 12:43 PM

You are at the prime time for a stricture. That's when the opening between your pouch and your intestines scars over with scar tissue and closes down to a smaller size. It can actually close off all the way. Mine almost did before I got help. I was in terrible shape by the time my dilation was done. Mine was done on an emergency basis. You can become severely dehydrated very quickly. Some people's bodies heal really good and scar over TOO much and that area has to be stretched back out to the proper size so you can eat and drink. I had to have two dilations. There are some people that have had to have more than that..... They are a very common thing at your stage of the journey. You need to let your surgeon know now that you are having this problem. It can become very uncomfortable very fast and give you complications you do not want such as dehydration and you will have to be hospitalized. So, get it checked out now before you get that far. I let it go too far and I was almost too weak to keep going by the time I was taken care of. I was begging and crying at that point for some help. I couldn't even get trickles of water down my throat. I could feel my body thirsting and screaming for fluids and nutrition. I was also a nervous wreck because of it. We are not all educated about this complication after surgery and it happens frequently afterwards. I wish surgeons would make patient more aware of this going into surgery so they know what to look for and don't have to find out after the fact like I did. Good luck and keep us posted on your condition and progress.

CeeCee · 06-13-2007, 05:23 PM

Definitely check with your surgeon! It is especially important if those are prescription pills that aren't going down well! Good luck, and keep us posted!

Muzikah · 06-13-2007, 05:50 PM

Thank you so much for this information! I really appreciate it! And you are absolutely right that the surgeon should have warned me about this, but quite honestly, my surgeon told me very little prior to surgery, and didn't communicate with me much after surgery. I will definitely call both my G.P. and the surgeon tomorrow to let them know what's happening.

Nette72 · 06-13-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muzikah

Hi all!

I just had gastric bypass surgery on May 7th, 2007, and am doing quite well except for one problem. I am finding that certain pills and some foods (even after I have chewed them well) are feeling "stuck" in my chest, and it is extremely uncomfortable until I vomit, which I realize I should not be doing. I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing this, and if so, do you know if anything can be done about it? I look forward to hearing back from you. Hope you're all doing well!

Muzikah

I don't have any advice just wanted to say, Congratulations and welcome to the forum..

Princess · 06-13-2007, 07:05 PM

WELL HELLO PODMATE!!!!! ( we had our surgery the same day, same hospital and walked the ward together!)

I just got your email to say that you signed up after I gave you the link, great to see you on here Rochelle!!!

I replied to your email but with regards to your question, you shouldn't be throwing up and struggling at week 5 with stuff you have chewed up! Like the people B4 me said this could be a stricture. Are you going back to Nohr for a scope in about a month???? You may need to go back B4 then.

MiladyB · 06-13-2007, 07:31 PM

Welcome....and listen to the advice of these very knowledgable ladies. You are at the prime time for a stricture and it needs to be checked out before you start getting dehydrated. For now try to go back to primarily liquid protein and see if that goes down any better. Do that for a few days and then try to slowly advance it to soft foods. Take good care of yourself.

LisaBoston · 06-13-2007, 07:44 PM

Rochelle, hello from another Nohr patient. key thing at your stage is to watch for changes and progression. On the sheets you left the hospital with from Nohr state you need a scope at 6 weeks post-op. He will check for a stricture at that time and dialate if necessary. Did you book this apt. already?

Sometimes its hard to determine if its a pissy pouch vs. a stricture....so watch and see if the issues are with all foods, or just some. With a stricture, it progressively gets worse day after day and with almost any food and then liquids. If its selective, then could just be a pissy pouch.

Welcome to the board.

Muzikah · 06-13-2007, 10:22 PM

Hi again Sam!

How are you doing? To answer your question, I am hoping to get the gastroplasty done here, if I can get an appointment next month. (Long waiting lists to see gastroenterologists here.) If that doesn't work out, I already have my appointment booked to get it done with Nohr at the end of July...so we'll see.

For everyone else, thanks so much for the information and support. I'm thinking it's probably just a "pissy pouch" as LisaBoston said....because sometimes it's fine, and then seems to act up a few times a week, sometimes because I try to take a pill, sometimes because I try to eat something too chewy (my fault...I forget I had the surgery sometimes and that I can't eat everything right away...duh! lol)....and sometimes for no apparent reason. I'm really glad to know that I should have it attended to though. I thought it had stopped last week, and told my doctor so...only to realize this week that it still happens occasionally, and I've been procrastinating telling him so. I promise all of you I will call tomorrow and let him know it continues. I appreciate your concern.

Oh, and btw...I've lost over 20 pounds already! Unbelievable! I've heard after the first month it slows down to about 10 pounds a month...but that's still awesome. I'll by thin by next summer at this rate!