I am currently 3 months post op and living with a stricture. Right now I have been on liquids for the past week because my stricture seems to have swollen up almost over night. It’s too early for another dilation. My last dilation was on the 5th. I’m so exhausted all the time and even having trouble with liquids backing up into my esophagus. I have so much regret since I had this surgery done. I feel like it’s the worst thing I’ve ever done. I really could use some advice from anyone who’s gone through this.
According to the internet, kidney stones can cause horrible vomiting and abdominal pain. Since you are 8 weeks post op RNY and experiencing constant acid reflux and vomiting, there may also be another issue.
Strictures can occur once you are about 4 to 8 weeks out from surgery. A stricture is a narrowing of the new stomach outlet where it surgically attached to the small bowel. Symptoms include difficulty with eating solid foods, developing increased saliva or mucous, reflux symptoms, and in severe cases, difficulty with liquids. A stricture, with time, can resolve on its own, but often the waiting time to heal can make you feel miserable. Once you are out at least 4 weeks from surgery, balloon dilation with endoscopy can be performed to open up the narrowing. Several balloon dilations might be needed to fix the issue.
An endoscopy or an upper gastrointestinal study can help with this diagnosis. Since you are scheduled for an upper GI tomorrow, this might identify if a stricture is the problem.
After my RNY surgery, my surgeon prescribed Prilosec (Omeprazole) for the first year to allow my stomach to heal properly. I had severe acid reflux before surgery and used Prilosec to treat this condition. I am now over 4 years post op and haven't used Prilosec after the first year and severe acid reflux is no longer the problem for me. If a stricture is not the cause of your problem, then perhaps you might try Prilosec for the first year.
izzy2246 got a reaction from NatureLover888 in Living with a stricture