Can you guys and gals define these for me? - ThinnerTimes

Gina in WI · 01-17-2007, 06:56 AM

I'm a newby and need to know what the following mean...

What is a stricture?

What is obstruction?

Can dumping be just diarhea with out pains and cramps or vomitting?

Anything else I should be aware of?

Thanks!

fitbefore40 · 01-17-2007, 07:38 AM

What is a stricture? There should be lots of people who can describe a stricture and what it feels like . . . I've never had one - but I did have an ulcer - so I'll tell you about those - my experience - about 3-4 hours after I ate, I would have pain that would KNOCK me off my butt - I couldn't drive - it was totally overwhelming - about 4 inches down from my stoma (connection to my intestines) had ulcerated and anytime food would pass through the stoma into the intestines the food would touch the ulcer - which to me was like salt being rubbed into a wound. But, an ulcer is not the worst complication - there is much worse!

What is obstruction? Never had one . . . so I'll let others answer this.

Can dumping be just diarhea with out pains and cramps or vomitting? I tend not to have cramps with my dumping . . . but I do have this horrible mouth watering thing . . . like I'm a St Bernard. And I get the chills and shakes . . . it's NOT pretty - I avoid ALL my dumping foods!!! Sometimes if I do carbs before protein = or even try to each a sandwich with white bread . . . I just feel crappy! Like I should throw up, but don't have to . .. sort of like a hang over . . . Yea, I don't do sandwiches - I do wraps if I'm at a sandwich place - or a salad.

Anything else I should be aware of? Oh, girl . . . there is so much . . . I read the book Gastric Bypass for Dummies before I had surgery . .. it helped me prepare.

Zenomia · 01-17-2007, 11:05 AM

A stricture is a closing or tightening of the anastomosis or place where the intestine was attached to the pouch. With this procedure there are two such sites where organs have been re-connected to make a new junction. One at the base of the pouch, and one where the intestine reconnects. Either of these juncture can constrict and or close therefore blocking anything from passing through. The stricture at the base of the pouch is the most common place for it to close/swell shut. It usually happens gradually over a period of time, sometimes though it can close in a matter of a few days. Symptoms are the gradual and persistent inability to keep foods in the pouch progressing to not being able to keep liquids down. Vomiting is likely - but its more like evacuation...you swallow and it just comes right back up. There usually is no pain involved, though some people do experience pain. Progressive vomiting and inability to eat or drink is a sign of a stricture. (The first one...at the pouch site.) Lower belly pain, inability to keep food/fluid down, vomiting, lack of stool all point to a possible stricture or obstruction in the bowel.

An obstruction is anything that BLOCKS the passage of contents through your system. IE: A piece of chicken not well chewed is swollowed and blocks the opening at the base of the pouch. This is considered an obstruction. Or if the intestine becomes bunched and kinked...also considered an obstruction. (Correct me if I am wrong please....This is the info I have as I understand it....I am not playing it as gospel though!!)

Dumping is most often related to a variety of unpleasant symptoms not just diarrhea. The odds that one is dumping with only diarrhea as the symptom is slim. Dumping is an event that will be realized and recognized for what it is when it happens! Trust me on this. Although everyone's experience with dumping is varied....there is NO mistaking it when it happens. Symptoms can include but are not limited to: Shaking, racing heart, chills, fever, dizziness, passing out, vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, cramping, etc...You will KNOW...IF you think you may die, it lasts anywhere from 30 min - to 4 hours depending on what you ate that is causing the reaction.

Best advice...use the search feature here and search these topics for past posts...and Google those key words as well for more information.

Knowledge is power and it removes fear!

JenBear7 · 01-17-2007, 12:38 PM

I looked up gastric bypass on Wikipedia a few months ago before I came to this site.. they have pretty good definitions of the things you are asking about....

MiladyB · 01-17-2007, 07:14 PM

Zen got it all.

Nothing really to add.

kittens4 · 01-17-2007, 08:48 PM

I've never had a stricture or an ulcer (Thank God!) However, I did have an obstruction 1 week after surgery. I was feeling fine one minute, then started vomiting. That continued for awhile..everything I ate or drank came right back up. I couldn't even keep down ice chips! I had an xray in the ER which said I had a partial obstruction. They tried bowel rest and iv fluids, but nothing resolved, so back to the OR I went! My official diagnosis was Gastric outlet obstruction and obstruction at jejunojejunal anastomosis. I'm feeling great now! After a nice bout with pneumonia after the 2nd surgery...It's one of those freaky things that can happen. They warn you of complications, and you think it happens to other people, but no, sometimes it happens to you! So, that's my 1st hand knowledge on obstruction! Good luck~!