A Stricture!! Hooray!!! - ThinnerTimes

goblin · 03-24-2006, 06:54 PM

Hi all --

I had my scope today in Medicine Hat and LO and BEHOLD, I did indeed have a stricture. It was down to 5mm and he dilated it to 13.5mm. What a difference..it even felt different. I had a nice modest lunch of half a poached egg and 3/4 strip of bacon (I took the other strip in the car as a high protein snack for later!). I was able to drink water freely. Everything went down like it should.

He read the documentation from the other surgeon about my abcess and seemed very concerned (as much as you can read anything into that face). He gave my belly a feel and said he didn't think I'd have any more problem from the abcess nor did he think it would have any impact on the surgery. I said, "Well then I think this is the beginning of the beginning for me." He said he thought so too.

I"m BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't have got through this without Lisa my podmate and all of you.

Lisa A.

PS. The scope is a piece of cake, pardon the reference

Sweetgirlinsd · 03-24-2006, 08:23 PM

Welcome back!! Everything will get better from now on

SO glad to hear things are better!
Hugs,

MiladyB · 03-24-2006, 08:49 PM

Lisa, I'm so glad to hear your stricture has been resolved. You must feel so much better. Things must seem easy now compared to what you've been through.

HeatherT · 03-25-2006, 11:17 AM

i hope the one stretch works for you

i had to go in on 11/6 because it was completely closed they had to probe it open and went to 10mm then the next day went to 13 - sent me home i felt GOOD
on 11/14 started having trouble again on 11/16 went back in it had closed down to 10mm again so they took me to 13mm and than the next day to 16mm
on 12/4 started having trouble went in 12/6 for another scope i dont know what i was down to but they took me up to 14mm than on 12/7 to 16mm again and on 12/8 to 18mm in hopes that it would stay open...they were a little concerned it would stay to open and i would be hungry sooner but at that point i said fine i will work at it if i must i was sick of throwing up and not being able to eat...

That was it since than it has stayed open and i have had no trouble, i have felt like my tummy does empty quick but i can deal with it at least i have not thrown up since Dec. and my weight loss is ok i am at 5 months out and have already lost 75% of the weight i needed to lose ad if i stayed at 158 i would be fine i can wear a size 12 in every kind of jeansand sometime i can wear as small as an 8 i like the way i feel and look i would love to have the extra skin removed but will wait until i am at least a year out and the weight is steady because i think i am no longer losing felt stuck at 160 and i get on the scale and i am down another 2 lbs

weighed 158.5 last night hubby is still at 148 i know he has a very physical job which helped him go from 176 to 148 but i am trying to feed him more because i want to weigh less than him! but on a good note he can pick me up now and he likes to throw me over his shoulder and mess with me - (I LOVE IT)

good luck with the stricture staying open!

LisaBoston · 03-25-2006, 11:23 AM

Hey poddy..enjoying food are you now. Thats so great. I am 2 weeks out from the scope and food is having a little bit harder time getting in than right after the scope. I was told by our doc that he dialated me to 15mm and that would go down to 12mm, which is normal. I am sure I am there now, or even a little bit smaller. Ok for now.

I am SO HAPPY for you...you have had such a rough time the past weeks. On the road to good health my friend.

goblin · 03-25-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100tolose

i hope the one stretch works for you. Ggood luck with the stricture staying open!

Thank you! My doc said 80% of people only need one stretch. If you get stretched a second time, then there much less a possibility of you needing a third. So, basically, every time you're stretched there's less of a possibility of you needing it again.

Sorry for what you've been through. But of all the tests I've been through, this is the easiest. Other than the distance I have to travel to him, I'd have no problem getting it done again. It's helped so much.

Lisa A

goblin · 03-25-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaBoston

Hey poddy..enjoying food are you now. Thats so great. I am 2 weeks out from the scope and food is having a little bit harder time getting in than right after the scope. I was told by our doc that he dialated me to 15mm and that would go down to 12mm, which is normal. I am sure I am there now, or even a little bit smaller. Ok for now.

I am SO HAPPY for you...you have had such a rough time the past weeks. On the road to good health my friend.

Hopefully there won't be as noticable of a difference for me. He dilated me to 13.5, thinking I go down to 12. That's not a huge difference. How big is a normal stomach outlet, I wonder?

Lisa A

HeatherT · 03-25-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goblin

Thank you! My doc said 80% of people only need one stretch. If you get stretched a second time, then there much less a possibility of you needing a third. So, basically, every time you're stretched there's less of a possibility of you needing it again.

Sorry for what you've been through. But of all the tests I've been through, this is the easiest. Other than the distance I have to travel to him, I'd have no problem getting it done again. It's helped so much.

Lisa A

yeah i had to drive about an hour & a half each time i went for a stretch - from sac to san fran. -my surgeon said i could go locally to get a scope but i was afraid - if its getting hard again dont let it go to long or you could get dehydrated - i am happy with my stretches - i can gulp water but about 2 hours after a meal i have to watch it a little with snacking now but so do most at 6 months who didnt have a stretch

LisaBoston · 03-25-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 100tolose

yeah i had to drive about an hour & a half each time i went for a stretch - from sac to san fran. -my surgeon said i could go locally to get a scope but i was afraid - if its getting hard again dont let it go to long or you could get dehydrated - i am happy with my stretches - i can gulp water but about 2 hours after a meal i have to watch it a little with snacking now but so do most at 6 months who didnt have a stretch

Be very thankful your drive is not far. Goblin has about a 6-7 hour drive, I have a 14-15 hr drive. That is of course, if there are nice dry roads, you add in the mega snow we have had the last while and that drive increases greatly!

What is the difference between those who had a stretch and those who didn't?

botchy · 03-25-2006, 06:59 PM

Yay, so now you're fixed. I had stricures... note the plural. I had to be dialated three times. THe first time I didn't know what I was experiencing and thought that it was normal post surgery stuff and I was less than 1mm !!!! My surgeon marvelled that I could drink water!!! She put me at 13, but I was back a second time and down to 5mm. She put me back at 13. The third time I went in for a dialation I actually didn't need it. The tube down my throat so many times was causing my espophegus to spasm which felt alot like the stricture symptoms. SHe went in and saw that there was no stricture, buit put me to 15 to be safe, and the symptoms subsided within three weeks or so. To anyone with this issue give your body time after "the scope" to be sure it's not your body saying STOP THAT!

Edited to say I only had to drive two hours and I was thankful for the smooth ride minivan post op!!!