Advice - ThinnerTimes

carlasauv · 01-04-2008, 10:37 AM

I am 18 days postop and having some issues. Last week, I was able to down yogurt and sugar free apple sauce with no problem. This week, I can't get them down at all. It seems that I have reverted and I can only do liquids and broth. Is this normal?

Carla

fisher1000 · 01-04-2008, 10:40 AM

From what I understand, and keeping in mind that everyone's experience is different, is that if you have an issue post-op, it's best to listen to your pouch and go back to square one...with the liquids, and begin again. I've heard it from countless people on here and my doctor. It sounds like you are doing the right thing. If it lasts for even another day or two, and you're not able to keep anything down, you may need to go back to the doctor and be checked for a stricture.

Just take it slow, and sip, sip, sip!

Good luck!

Mike

Tashini · 01-04-2008, 11:02 AM

The bypass is a mysterious thing. You can spend ages eating a certain food and then one day, for unexplainable reasons, you get a reaction with it. This has happened to me so many times. At this early stage it will be very trial and error I'm afraid and if you react with a certain food, leave it alone for a while and try it again further into your journey.

T xxx

Zenomia · 01-04-2008, 11:41 AM

If it gets to the point where you are having diffuculty getting liquids in, be sure to call your Surgeon. There is a possibility of Stricture at your stage, however if you can get fluids in as you were before, then odds are it's not that. If however your consumption gradually decreases or ceases over time, then you really should put a call in to your Dr.

Any time you have a concern about your surgery or the effects it is having on you, CALL YOUR DR. That is what they are getting the Big Bucks for...No questions are stupid to them and their answers may relieve some of your anxiety.

JMO.

PepsiGuru · 01-04-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

The bypass is a mysterious thing. You can spend ages eating a certain food and then one day, for unexplainable reasons, you get a reaction with it. This has happened to me so many times. At this early stage it will be very trial and error I'm afraid and if you react with a certain food, leave it alone for a while and try it again further into your journey.

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

'Sometimes you fell like a nut, sometimes you don't'

Just roll with the punches and try to make it through the first couple of weeks. They are hard but the light at the end of the tunnel is nice and bright.

CeeCee · 01-04-2008, 12:10 PM

Normal! One day I could eat pork (really, really well cooked- chew, chew, chew!), the next day- nope! Eggs were my friend at the beginning, then I couldn't eat them for almost a month, now I'm fine with them. The pouch has a mind of its own!

fisher1000 · 01-04-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CeeCee

Eggs were my friend at the beginning, then I couldn't eat them for almost a month, now I'm fine with them. The pouch has a mind of its own!

Eggs were a BIG problem for me at the beginning...especially scrambled. Boiled eggs seemed to go down a little better, but it was several weeks before I could eat eggs, and even now, they are few and far between. Fickle little pouches!

-Mike

marine · 01-04-2008, 12:27 PM

Carla,
I was at certain point like you, and then could not even drink liquids: I had my first stricture, when to the hospital, where they had to dilate my anastomosis.
Be careful, call you MD, tell him/her, and if you get worst, go directly to the hospital.
Do not leave it so. It can get out of control

LWoeRNer · 01-05-2008, 12:11 PM

What happens with a stricture, where does it occur and how do they dilate it? Also, how do you know you have one?

marine · 01-05-2008, 01:49 PM

Stricture is a narrowing or stenosis of the gastrojejunum anastomosis, and is one of the complications of the RY GBP. What happens is that the lumen becomes smaller and smaller, thus not allowing food and if very narrow, liquids do not go through either.
The symptoms are simply that the opening is so small that even liquids cannot pass through. THis translate for the patient continuous throwing up.
It is a very unconfortable and painful situation, at the same time we become very weak. This leads to dehydration and more

The treatment of choice for this complication is balloon dilation by gastroendoscopy in ambulatory settings (by endoscopy they will introduce a ballon and open the narrrowing up to 1.2 generally, but can go up to 1.5 cm.

After initial dilatation, recurrent stricture can happen in about 18-20 % of the patients . The treatment will also be ballon dilatation in ambulatory settings, and if still not successful, there were case where the gastroenterologists would decide then to place a stent at the anastomosis in order to keep it open. But this happens rather rarely.