Fixing a stricture with a stent? any succes stories and experiences? Help!

[ArthurTower 3]

Hello

I was sleeved on September 9th...and I have already been endoscopic dilated twice due to a stricture close to my pyloric valve.....Im still having a hard time eating and drinking so my surgeon wants to put a stent on to try to fix the stricture....

Im terrified....but I don't know what to do, to try to ride it out and see if the stricture dilates with time, which is possible or get the stent put on.....

Any comments of anybody who has had a stent after the gastric sleeve are very welcome!

Thanks!

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

Hind sight is 20/20 so I can only speak from my own experience. I had a leak and then a stent put in. The pain was horrible. I was on heavy pain killers and got addicted to them. then when one did not work they put another over top of it...for a lot of patients the one stent works and so I think it is a good choice to give it a shot.

But I would not in hind sight go through 2 of them or even the clamps. I would ask for the Roux n Y after the first procedure if it does not work....

Some of us end up having difficulties and complications. Fortunately we are few and far between. That is what I would do if I had to do it all again.....

All the best..Keep us posted okay!

[BeagleLover 1,020]

I suggest going to a surgeon in a Bariatric Center of Excellence and getting a second opinion.

[chubbsey1 126]

Get well soon.

[ArthurTower 3]

My surgeon is a very well known and highly experienced. But I we asked for a second opinion with another surgeon and he suggested exactly the same.

So I guess Im going to do it.

Anybody else would like to share their experiences with a stent after bariatric surgery? Particularly regarding strictures?

Thanks

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

What I had was a stricture. It was nauseating and painful when they put the stent in...and then the next. Putting a stent in is the first point of action.

What I am trying to encourage you to do is not have a bunch of procedures that they offer and end up with a Roux n Y anyway.

I say do it..and if it works...YES! then it is a done deal and you are on your way. For me it was not the happy ending I hoped for. Please don't go through a bunch of things and then end up with the Roux n Y. Don't let them convince you to do all of that.

Have the stent and know that it is not easy to endure it. It bloody well hurts. It feels like you have pressure in your chest and a bloated stomach not to mention cramping. Some say it is more painful then the surgery itself. I am not trying to scare you and I think it is a great idea....Just please don't let it go on for more then 6 weeks and if it does not work..opt for the Roux n Y.

[ArthurTower 3]

Thank you for sharing your experience. i agree and that is what Im going to do. As much as I dislike the idea of another surgery, this is the last time Im going to try to save my sleeve. if this doesn't work I will do the conversion to gastric bypass.

I'm sorry you had to go through all that and I hope you are healthy and doing fine know.....

Wish me luck....

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

I wish you much luck and a speedy and healthy recovery @ArthurTower. You got this!

[ArthurTower 3]

Anybody else here that would like to share their experiences with a stent....mine is going to be put on on Monday and Im very scared....

[BitterSweet* 835]

@@ArthurTower, I don't know how long you've been on this forum but I've been perusing threads here for over 8 months and @RJ'S/beginning and Diane are the only people I've seen who have experienced stents repeatedly. RJ's advice to you is dead on.

Leaks are very difficult to correct and what she's telling you is that your doctor will subject you to procedure after procedure in an attempt to correct this problem, and the chances of the stent working are very small. I agree with her that they should absolutely try it, but if it fails, please remember her words and advocate for yourself.

In the end you may end up being in the same place you're trying to avoid (a gastric bypass), and your route to get there can either be a straight path with a slight deviation in the beginning (trying the stent), or a very long, winding, and exhausting path (multiple stents, clamps, TPN etc.), and still end up having to get a bypass. Knowing that information from someone first hand (RJ), I would definitely heed the advice. I'm terribly sorry you are going through so much. Good luck with your procedure tomorrow. Sending a little prayer your way. =)

[ArthurTower 3]

Thanks and I agree. i just hope that strictures, which what I actually have are easier to fix than a leak.....I can only hope!

Thanks

[RJ'S/beginning 5,357]

The difference between a stricture and a leak is the stricture is the narrowing of an opening. That a stent may help you with to widen it....Like I said if it works...great, wonderful..But if it doesn't there is a chance for a leak to take place. Just

skip to the By pass combo

Please don't let them mess around with you and try and try other things..It is your body and the more you go through the weaker your system becomes. It can be a long road to recovery...It has been for me

I hope all the best for you!

[Mowgli19 9]

I ve had a total of 7 stents...three metal and 4 pigtail. The metal ones were horrible! I was on a feeding tube in my nose at the time and was vomiting/uncontrollable dry heaves 3 to 7 times á day. I had to " suck it up" for 6 weeks...the nausea was unbearable. I still have 2 pigtail stents that will be removed the end of January. For me, it has been going on since June.

This is just my experience, yours won't necessarily be the same. Best of luck on Monday!

[ArthurTower 3]

So sorry to hear that mowgli19.....your stents were to fix a leak or a stricture? and how are you doing now?

I truly hope that much better!

I had my metal stent put on last Monday...and it has been has as bad as expected, the nausea and the pain are simply horrible....I cant drive and of course I cant work either.....

The Zentram for the nausea help and the same with the oxycontin for the pain.....I just hope I don't get addicted, because Im taking one every four hours or the pain is too much to handle....

This is going to be a very long 4 weeks.....

[ArthurTower 3]

Anybody?

apparently stricture are very uncommon......trying to find some support and hear some experiences....