eudys3

Just a quick update, possibly to give hope for healing-
Had my repeat EGD on 11/16, 5 months after my marginal ulcer was found so that I had to take that yucky compounded immediate-release omeprazole w/ sodium bicarbonate & Pepcid & Carafate. I still have gastritis (stomach pouch irritation) but my ulcer has healed! I was really afraid I would need a revision or worse, a reversal. I am able to eat now without pain-yea! I have stopped losing weight which has been a huge concern for my family & friends; my mother says I look "gaunt." I am so glad I did all the online research I did on marginal ulcer healing; Bariatric Times is a great resource, geared to the medical profession so the terminology might be a bit difficult.
Keep the faith, everyone. You could be as fortunate as I have been. Good luck to all.

Just an update: still having intermittent severe abdominal pain in spite of 5 months of compounded Prilosec twice a day, max Pepcid, and Carafate. My surgeon said I should have healed after two months so I got another scope today (my 3rd since May). My ulcer has healed on the inside. He said I may have an ulcer on the outside of the cuff which would need a revision=big darn deal. I could have an abscess touching the liver which has a lot of pain receptors. Or I could have a stricture (scarring) which would be an easy fix. I am hoping for easy. He said to switch to Dexilant and continue Pepcid and just see how I do.

I had RNYGB on 7/19/16. I still say it is the greatest surgery I have ever had. My BMI is down from 37 to 21.
I had no problems until I had to go to the ER on 4/10/18 with horrific abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. My surgeon put me on Prilosec and Carafate for 6 weeks, but I found out later the Prilosec caps were not bioavailable and just went through without being effective. So on Mother's Day I went back to the hospital for pain control and an upper scope to look for a marginal ulcer. Unfortunately the GI MD had no expertise in looking for marginal ulcers and said my scope was normal. So, I had 6 more weeks of unbelievable pain. My surgeon said maybe I had gallbladder disease so I had my gallbladder removed on 5/29/18. Did not help my pain at all. Finally, my surgeon referred me to a bariatric subspecialist who repeated my upper scope, and he found my marginal/anastomotic ulcer.
This is potentially very serious in that the ulcer could perforate and require emergency surgery. I am concerned because I was pain-free after starting Prilosec liquid for the first four weeks, but the crippling pain has returned. My patients compliment me on my weight loss, but nausea and pain is a horrible way to do it!
Does anyone else have experience with having a marginal ulcer?

I have been taking prebiotics with an antifungal agent as well as probiotics for the past year, so no, they did not help after my GB surgery in 5/18. Post-op diarrhea just happens to some folks. Mine stopped after a month. I have an unlucky friend who STILL has it almost 3 yrs after her RNY.

I had a cholecystectomy in May, 22 months after my RNY, mistakenly to cure my abdominal pain which was actually due to a marginal ulcer. So a totally unnecessary surgery. I had 1 small stone that was soft & would have passed.
BTW, nobody told me about the uncontrollable, explosive diarrhea I would have after my GB surgery. I would have to go home and change my clothes in the middle of work. I still carry a spare pair of underwear in my purse. Very embarrassing when they fall out of my purse when I remove my wallet!

I had RNYGB on 7/19/16. I still say it is the greatest surgery I have ever had. My BMI is down from 37 to 21.
I had no problems until I had to go to the ER on 4/10/18 with horrific abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. My surgeon put me on Prilosec and Carafate for 6 weeks, but I found out later the Prilosec caps were not bioavailable and just went through without being effective. So on Mother's Day I went back to the hospital for pain control and an upper scope to look for a marginal ulcer. Unfortunately the GI MD had no expertise in looking for marginal ulcers and said my scope was normal. So, I had 6 more weeks of unbelievable pain. My surgeon said maybe I had gallbladder disease so I had my gallbladder removed on 5/29/18. Did not help my pain at all. Finally, my surgeon referred me to a bariatric subspecialist who repeated my upper scope, and he found my marginal/anastomotic ulcer.
This is potentially very serious in that the ulcer could perforate and require emergency surgery. I am concerned because I was pain-free after starting Prilosec liquid for the first four weeks, but the crippling pain has returned. My patients compliment me on my weight loss, but nausea and pain is a horrible way to do it!
Does anyone else have experience with having a marginal ulcer?

I had the exact same symptoms/excruciating pain starting at 21 months post-op. I went to the ER twice, hospitalized twice, had a CT, an upper scope, multiple lab tests-all negative. I even had my gallbladder removed as a last-ditch effort, to no avail. My bariatric surgeon said he was "all tapped out" & had nothing else to offer me surgically. Fortunately, my surgeon referred me to a bariatric subspecialist who said he did not believe the upper scope results since a GI doc did it & not a bariatric specialist like him. Sure enough, my marginal ulcer was hiding beneath the cuff/anastamosis; the first doctor did not go far enough down & retroflex the scope.
Read about marginal ulcers. Up to 26% of RYBG patients get one, usually in the first yr post-op. There is a very informative story in Bariatric Times regarding the healing of marginal ulcers which my surgeon did not know. You need immediate-release liquid omeprazole w/ sodium bicarb, not the sustained-release caps. If you have a marginal ulcer, I feel for you. I am still struggling with it 4 months later.
Hope you are feeling better soon. Keep us posted re: your diagnosis & progress.