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

Living with a stricture



Recommended Posts

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry you are having this complication. Hang in there.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sorry you are having to endure this. Is this your first WLS or was this a revision?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.





Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites






I’m so sorry your going through this! I had gastric bypass my self and a month after surgery is when a structure happened! I had 4 dilation total. I remember feeling exhausted, so weak, just because you only able to drink, I couldn’t even keep Protein Shakes down. 4 months after surgery is when I finally felt better. I had major regrets! But I’m at the 9 month mark and I have no regrets. It was a tough time but this experience is still worth it. Try to stay strong and just keep as much liquid down. I drank Gatorade (g2) or power aid zero to help with the weak feeling. If you can mix Protein shakes with Water just to get some protein in you. Good luck. I hope in a few months you will look back on this time as a growing pain. That’s how I looked at it.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had two strictures early out (well, they're almost always early out...). I had to wait a few days before they could get me in to dilate the second one. They said to go to the ER, though, if it got to the point I couldn't even keep fluids down. You can live for a few days without food - but not fluids. Sorry to hear you're going through this. It'll all be behind you soon. I never had any further problems with them after that second dilation, and I'm super happy I had the surgery!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So sorry to hear you are going through this crap with the stricture. I understand the regret. I truly hope that this matter will be resolved and you will achieve great success within the next year on your weight loss journey! May you be healed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had a stricture a few weeks after my surgery and it was during Christmas and I could barely get a sip of Water down each day. Finally got a dialation done around New Years and my doctor says, well the good news is that people who go through this usually lose more weight than those that don’t! It was scary, but 8 years later, I have not gained any weight back. Just hang in there, it does get better!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 1/5/2018 at 6:13 PM, Sarac said:

What is a stricture?

Sent from my LG-K373 using BariatricPal mobile app

Sara, a stricture is when there is a problem with the opening of the pouch, IIRC. It means the flesh inside heals incorrectly and people with strictures have to have a reparatory surgery to fix it and open it up more. Otherwise they have trouble getting down and keeping food and even liquids.

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

    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Still purging all of the larger clothing. This morning, a shirt that I ADORED wearing ended up on top. Hard to let it go, but it was also hard to let go of those habits that also no longer serve my highest good. Onward and upward!
      · 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

    ×