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

[JudyAnticola 2]

I just had a bezoar removed that formed after gastric sleeve surgery. I had nausea and vomiting for some time but did not seek medical assistance until after I was completely obstructed and did not keep any thing down, even liquids. After the bezoar was removed one of the stitches let go and I had a leak. It was and is a long recovery, but I think it will be a full recovery. Mentally I am afraid every day. It will take me some time to mentally recover.

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:

[JudyAnticola 2]

I read an article that said there are various enzymes that will help depending on if the bezoar has meat or vegetbles in it.

I wonder if pro-biotics would help- if so, this website has very high grade products:

http://www.nutrimedi...product.id=3687

[JudyAnticola 2]

My bezoar was removed laproscopically. I just hope it never comes back. I had a leak after and was in the hospital a long time.

So what is the plan Vampy? I am just wondering what your doctor is going to do. I would not want that thing trying to move out of my pyloris valve. That will be painful.

What a mess. Please keep us updated. I am worried about how you/your doctor are going to get it out.

[feedyoureye 3,087]

My bezoar was removed laproscopically. I just hope it never comes back. I had a leak after and was in the hospital a long time.

Are you the lady whos friend was here trying to find out what you had? Wow! Do you know what it was you ate to create the Bezoar? Hope you feel better soon...

[Rootman 1,101]

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

[chilo1 62]

My bezoar was removed laproscopically. I just hope it never comes back. I had a leak after and was in the hospital a long time.

So i guess you're recovering well? How long after having your sleeve did this happen? Best of luck

[pumpkin07 32]

I know this is a very scarey and serious conversation, but it has made me laugh so hard I had to go pee.

Maybe if you eat some of my cats Iams indoor hairball reducer food it would work.

Don't laugh, it might work.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

Wow!!! This is the first I've heard of this. I'm so glad I seen this thread. I'll never eat coconuts and celery again... ever.

[Tiffykins 672]

Wow!!! This is the first I've heard of this. I'm so glad I seen this thread. I'll never eat coconuts and celery again... ever.

Even at almost 20 months out, I avoid celery, and other "stringy" fruits for this exact reason. I think my "transit time" has slowed down tremendously from what it was early out. Just meaning, foods hang out longer than they did before. Especially dense Protein, and I can eat 4oz of steak, and still have food in my stomach 2 hours later. I can feel it when I drink after my meal. I'm petrified of eating celery. I'm not a huge fan of coconut, and have a tiny amount in some German chocolate cake frosting.

I think I've had it on a couple of occasions post-op, and I chewed it to literally nothing, but still couldn't get it out of my head that I was going to have issues.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

Ive probably had a tiny bit of celery a few times at most, its not something I really ever ate a lot of. Same with coconut - mostly in candy which I'm avoiding like the plague right now, and I know I haven't eaten any of it since getting my sleeve. I don't feel weird or sick like those with the "bezoar" mentioned as symptoms. I hope I didn't do anything damaging... how scary!!

[pattimomof3nj 21]

So what ever happened to the OP, did the Dr have to take it out or did it dissolve? Inquiring minds ya know????

Patti

[pumpkin07 32]

I hope everyone is okay. No more coconut and celery....I hope we don't forget.

[pumpkin07 32]

I keep following this because I'm hoping you are okay. I think since you found out early you were okay, right? I'm assuming you were able to dissolve....please respond so we know what happened. Scarier than scary, right?

[Disney 20]

Does anyone know if it is ok to eat celery that has been put through the food processor? I never have liked eating celery as it is, but I like the flavor. I have always processed it and chopped the chicken, added mayo and had a nice chicken salad.

I just wonder if the processed celery would cause the same problem?

[pumpkin07 32]

I don't know. I would think a small amount would be okay. Like not celery salad, but chicken salad. That would be a shame to never eat celery again.

I have a friend that had similar surgery 30 years ago and she drinks bloody marys and Chomps celery constantly. I'm sure she never heard of that and since it has been 30 years I didn't mention it to her.

But admittedly, I am now scared of it. I'm assuming cooked is okay, like in Soup. But I'm very confused. Never heard any of this and first it sounded minor, but then the one person had late complications from it.

I'd err (have no idea if that is correct spelling of that word) on the side of caution until we know more.