Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Obstructed by a "bezoar", has anyone else heard of this?



Recommended Posts

I eat celery in tuna and chicken salad all the time. I cut it up very tiny. I think it's fine if it's cut up small and chew it up very well.

Anyone who still sees their doctor can ask them. Since I went to Mexico, I can't talk to Dr. Aceves. I'd be curious to hear what other doctors say.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

A quick way to get rid of a bezoar is to get endoscopy. I have a friend with a VGB (vertical banded gastroplasty) of 22 years duration. She would get them all the time - the gastro doc removed them from her pouch.

It is the lack of stomach acid but mostly the size of the stomach why bezoars form in weight loss surgery patients. Gastric bypass patients get them also. If you eat foods that are fibrous, you might want to use something like the "Magic Bullet" - in the weight loss surgery community (and the GERD community - I have the latter) the Magic Bullet is our best friend! :rolleyes:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I remember a while ago there was an episode of House MD on TV about a guy that was making money hiring himself out as a guinea pig and taking all kinds of medications, one antacid he was taking allowed the bezoar to form and some other drugs got caught in the thing and failed to dissolve - hence his problem he was hallucinating because of the undissolved medication was breaking loose and finally hitting his system at a much higher dose then originally planned. That's how *I* know what a bezoar is.

Who says sitting around and watching TV isn't good for something :)

Haha, that's where I hear of bezoars as well. Also heard it later on Strange Addictions with a girl who pulled her hair and ate the follicles.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What is VGB (vertical banded gastroplasty)? How is it different from the sleeve?

I wish the OP would have come back and told us if they had to go in and get it out or if she was able to dissolve it.

I'll have to remember this post if I try to eat an Almond Joy!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I put about 1/2 cup of fresh papaya in my Protein shake each morning. Papaya acts like an enzyme, in fact I think it is the main ingredient in meat tenderizer...try it. Might work.

Lots of Vitamins too!

I don't like the way it tastes by itself, but in a shake, it just adds sweetness.

HI everyone!

After 6 months trouble-free since being sleeved, maybe I was getting a little too cocky? 5 days ago, feeling fine, I ate half of a fresh coconut. I ate slowly, chewed well, and stopped long before I had any discomfort & went about my business. I have not been able to hold anything down since then!

For the first 2 days, I was in agonizing stomach pain & vomiting everything I tried to eat or drink. I felt like I had a rock in my stomach. The following day I felt better but kept to liquids just to be safe & everything was fine other than still feeling like there was a lump in my stomach. The day after that (yesterday) I tried to have some chili & got about 3 spoons into my stomach before I felt nauseous again. The vomiting resumed with a vengeance.

So last night I elected to do a barium study on myself (lucky to have access to radiology at work!) and after 5 hours there was still a perfectly round mass in my stomach that the barium was stuck to. Showed this to my doctor this AM & he sent me for endoscopy. He said I had a bezoar, which is a concretion of undigestible material in my stomach, basically from the cellulose Fiber of the coconut.

The endoscopist is telling me that this is a common finding in people who have had gastric surgery. This is the first time I've heard anything about it!!! Has anyone else had this experience? Can anyone provide me with a list of foods I should avoid, so I don't have to go through this again? I asked my doc, but he basically just said coconut, pumpkin seeds, and celery. There has got to be more to it than that!

Any advice or input is appreciated! Thanks, y'all!

Natalie

:001_wub:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Cajun! Good to see you. I don't think I have seen you posting in awhile.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

That sucks!

My doctor told me coconut was a no no forever because it can ball in the stomach. This must be what he was talking about.

My post op instructions were similar NO Coconut meat ever again in any form shredded like in coconut cream pie or any other form I think the Water is ok it is the meat that is restricted.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hi everyone.

I'm not sure if anyone is still monitoring this discussion (forgot about it myself for a while), but just in case anyone else has issues with bezoars I would like to report that I successfully dissolved mine by sipping Coca Cola, all day & all night, for about 10 days. Dissolved my bezoar and made me so sick of Coca Cola that I'll probably never drink it again. So, double success!

About a year later, I thought I would try eating a smaller amount of coconut just because when I had my original bezoar, I felt like I had a rock in my stomach and was not hungry for a week. I thought if I just ate a smaller amount of coconut maybe I could kill part of my appetite without getting obstructed.

Sadly, the attempt was a failure. I successfully re-formed my bezoar but also successfully re-obstructed myself. I was too embarrassed to go back to my doctor, so I started back on the Coca Cola and was normal again a week later.

So my advice is... don't eat coconut. But if you do, keep a case of Coca Cola handy.

Cheers!

Natalie

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Natalie,

I'm relieved to know that you finally dissolved the bezoar with Coca-Cola. I like coconut, but, after reading your story, I'm willing to live without it. I wish you the best and wonder if drinking coconut milk would satisfy your taste for it.

Thank you for sharing this story.

Roberto

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Coconut is a BIG no-no on our post op for life list!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

yup..one of the first things on the pre op paper work was not to eat fibrous foods like coconut, and celery! no more of that stuff for anyone. if you need to have your fix on coconut flavor, there are extracts that you can use. dont have to worry about that because it is in liquid form.

hope it disolved for you. great that you shared your story so other avoid this problem!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

YUP! I was also told no raw celery or coconut EVER!!! But, not pumpkin seeds. I eat them all of the time.

I was not supposed to have seeds/nuts for 3 months tho. Maybe that is why.

Kelly :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

pineapple, asparugus, Rhubarb.

HI everyone!

After 6 months trouble-free since being sleeved, maybe I was getting a little too cocky? 5 days ago, feeling fine, I ate half of a fresh coconut. I ate slowly, chewed well, and stopped long before I had any discomfort & went about my business. I have not been able to hold anything down since then!

For the first 2 days, I was in agonizing stomach pain & vomiting everything I tried to eat or drink. I felt like I had a rock in my stomach. The following day I felt better but kept to liquids just to be safe & everything was fine other than still feeling like there was a lump in my stomach. The day after that (yesterday) I tried to have some chili & got about 3 spoons into my stomach before I felt nauseous again. The vomiting resumed with a vengeance.

So last night I elected to do a barium study on myself (lucky to have access to radiology at work!) and after 5 hours there was still a perfectly round mass in my stomach that the barium was stuck to. Showed this to my doctor this AM & he sent me for endoscopy. He said I had a bezoar, which is a concretion of undigestible material in my stomach, basically from the cellulose Fiber of the coconut.

The endoscopist is telling me that this is a common finding in people who have had gastric surgery. This is the first time I've heard anything about it!!! Has anyone else had this experience? Can anyone provide me with a list of foods I should avoid, so I don't have to go through this again? I asked my doc, but he basically just said coconut, pumpkin seeds, and celery. There has got to be more to it than that!

Any advice or input is appreciated! Thanks, y'all!

Natalie

:001_wub:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

What other things have people had stuck?? I need to know things to eliminate. Thanks

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×