Honest Thoughts Please...

[megancd 48]

Sleeved on July 29th. Since then I've struggled to keep down anything. If I try even the littlest food (i.e. a bit of scrambled egg or creamy chicken soup) I vomit violently. Some liquids result in violent vomiting also. Every liquid results in spitting up at the least. Last night when taking the pills they've prescribed I got sick and lost all of them. Every time I drink/sip there is a sharp pain from sternum throughout my right chest. Two days ago I was in the hospital for dehydration and further testing. The upper GI series has ruled out a leak but they say that there is inflammation and narrowing and that the contrast wasn't moving through as quickly as it should. The Dr gave me some steroids to hopefully reduce this inflammation. Now I'm home for the weekend and they told me hopefully the steroids will be enough to relieve these problems but if not, the surgeon will do an EGD Monday with possible dilation. The surgeon is worried a bit about doing this procedure only 2 weeks out of surgery. I guess my question for all of you is if you've had or heard of anything similar and if I should go forward with the EGD? Also, what's the difference between a "narrowing" and a stricture? I'm scared that I've had such problems this far. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

[LinSmargiassi 22]

I've heard of this happening, but I haven't experienced it myself. In general though, if Water is all you can keep down drink it. Have you tried Gatorade or frozen pops for dehydration? Pediasure pops... something like that. At least they give you some salt to support your electrolytes. Stay away from food for now. Think more about the importance of keeping liquids down until the inflammation passes or gets better. If you are unable to keep down any liquids than you need to be hospitalized until they can figure out what is happening. You may need to be very insistent, so get a family member or friend to go to bat for you. Good luck. Hoping this passes quickly for you!!! Whatever you do, take extremely small sips as you are drinking.

[DeniseM 238]

A narrowing and a stricture are the same thing- it is caused by scar tissue forming. I have had a dilation of my esophagus (several years ago, before my sleeve) and you are asleep during the procedure so it is not a big deal, and I felt better immediately after my procedure, although I did have a sore throat. Hopefully they can do the dilation for you on Monday and you should feel much better.

[megancd 48]

Thanks gals. Guess I'm just one of those paranoid types that doesn't want to go through all that for them to tell me: Nothing's wrong.

[Canary Diamond 186]

While I have found the people on this forum offer excellent advice, the person to whom you should be addressing these questions is your doctor. If the surgeon is unavailable, speak with your PCP or perhaps a bariatric nurse. Asking about others' experiences is very different than asking for medical advice.

[ChristineR 128]

So glad it's not a leak. Not sure what the next step is for a stricture but it's definitely a possible side effect. (At least that's what my doctor emphasized to me). You can't live like that, obviously, so I'm glad they are taking steps to fix it asap.

Have the steroids helped yet?