stomach ulcers

[wilsond537 6]

I just got out of the hospital recovering from a severe stomach ulcer caused by my gastric bypass surgery. this has happened to me several times and I have almost died each time. I was wondering if anyone else has had this complication. my wife had gastric bypass too and has had no problems. the docs said since I don't have good blood flow I am able to get this ulcer. I also am not supposed to take any aleve, iv profin or much of any pain meds but Tylenol. I also have arthritis and was taking Celebrex but that aggravated the ulcer. I wondered what other people do if they have this problem or am I like usual just have weird problems. my weight is stable and surgery was easy and I don't regret since I think I would have died without the surgery as I have heart failure and cardiomyopathy. I am 65 and had my surgery back in 2003. when I had gastric bypass by cardiologist said I would die on the table but I did fine and my heart improved a lot after losing over 100 pounds. I hurt when I see other obese people and want them to have surgery too although it is their decision not mine.

[James Marusek 5,244]

According to the internet:

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

So the reason why you are not suppose to take Aleve (a naproxen which is a NSAID), Ibuprofen (a NSAID) is because these drugs can aggravate the ulcer condition. There are many drugs that contain NSAIDs.

One of the things that they recommend is using a proton-pump inhibitor. One of the common proton-pump inhibitors is Prilosec (omeprazole). This may provide you some relief. So you might discuss this with your doctor.

The third thing is to have yourself tested to make sure that you do not have Helicobacter pylori infection. This is one of those hidden conditions that could be responsible for your root problems.

[Djmohr 6,965]

I am so sorry that you have been having this very serious complication. I worry about getting one all the time. I have psoriatic arthritis and osteo arthritis of the spine and I miss the relief i would get from Ibuprofen. I am in chronic pain every day. The only thing I take currently is tylenol and honestly it doesn't help at all. I also use heat and ice, meditation, bio freeze, tens unit....pretty much anything that will take my mind off of it even for a little while. Some days, it helps, other day when I am tired, I simply wish i could just go to sleep.< /p>

When the pain gets bad enough, I really want so badly to take an Aleve or go back on Celebrex. Then I read stories like yours and I remember that it could be even worse.

I really hope that things get better for you and the ulcer improves for you and you get your health back.