I am in the mood for a grade-A pity party and you're all invited!

Some of you know that I'm 3.5 months post-op and got cleared for solid foods at 6 weeks. My formerly cast-iron stomach is now made of blown glass (thanks for the visual, @Frustr8) and can't tolerate much of anything, especially anything that looks or feels like solid food. I decided a couple of weeks ago to give up on solids for now and stick with mushy foods, like soups and yogurt. I thought I'd try solids again in July.

About 3 weeks ago my surgeon sent me to get an upper GI done to see if he could figure out why I was having so much trouble with solids. I had a follow-up with him yesterday to discuss the results. My esophogus doesn't work! I've never even heard of that! Apparently, the muscles in your esophogus are supposed to contract in a coordinated, rhythmic pattern to push and guide food down to your stomach. Instead of getting coordinated ballroom dancers, my muscles are more like the lanky guy that looks like a spider on a hot plate. The muscles just randomly contract all over the place and do nothing to help the food get to the stomach. So, when I've felt like the food was backed up to the back of my throat, it really was. That was why I was miserable for 2 hours after eating anything solid. My esophogus "tube" literally got stuffed and didn't empty. I've also got severe acid reflux which he thinks can make the esophogus even worse, besides the possibility of acid erosion and increased chances of esophogeal cancer.

So for now, he told me to stick with mushy foods until I see him again in September. At that point, he'll run some more tests and decide if I need a sleeve-to-bypass conversion. It wouldn't help the esophogus muscle contractions per se, but by lessening the chances of acid erosion it would keep the esophogus from getting any worse. He doesn't know when or if I will ever be able to handle real, solid foods like beef or chicken. Fortunately, I can eat ground meats if they are in a liquid, but absolutely nothing without liquid. Fish is fine since it was always on the mushy-food list, but 1 oz. max. And, absolutely no breads, rice, etc. as they would be easily stuck.

I guess I never noticed the problem because I always drank so much with meals that I would just wash the food down. The doc doesn't want me doing that though, probably because that makes it so much easier to overeat. Anyway, he says he's never seen anything like this in the thousands of surgeries that he's performed. Lucky me! WAAAAAAH!

OK, rant over. Feeling better now Thanks for "listening"!

Edited June 13, 20188 yr by Orchids&Dragons

6 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

@Orchids&Dragons good grief girl! that is terrible! I'm glad you are finally getting answers. Something just didn't seem normal. I hope that your surgical team comes up with a solution for the future that doesn't involve eating mushy food for life. I'll always come to a pity party if you are the host

Well, I think when I get to maintenance, I will probably have to go back to drinking when I eat meats. But then I will have to be really careful to not overeat. I just can't believe I never noticed this before!

I just love how long it takes my brain to make connections. Now I understand why there were so many foods that other people bragged on that I couldn't eat at all. @sillykitty loves the 34 degree crackers so I bought them. Could only eat 1 or 2 and had to stop. I couldn't figure out how/why she enjoyed them. Makes sense now. They've moved to my "verboten" list

Edited June 14, 20188 yr by Orchids&Dragons

Oh man, what terrible news. Sorry, been off the site for a few days and just saw your post. It does though explain the problems you've been having.

I would get in to see a Gastroenterologist ASAP. I wouldn't at all be happy with the "see you in September" response that your surgeon gave you. Honestly, he should have refereed you to an GI specialist! Your surgeon may never have seen your issue, but a Gastroenterologist will have! You need to get your esophagus issue sorted first, and your surgeon is already thinking a revision!?!

On 6/14/2018 at 10:30 AM, Orchids&Dragons said:

@sillykitty loves the 34 degree crackers so I bought them. Could only eat 1 or 2 and had to stop. I couldn't figure out how/why she enjoyed them. Makes sense now. They've moved to my "verboten" list

Now this might be the biggest tragedy of all, lol!

27 minutes ago, sillykitty said:

Oh man, what terrible news. Sorry, been off the site for a few days and just saw your post. It does though explain the problems you've been having.

I would get in to see a Gastroenterologist ASAP. I wouldn't at all be happy with the "see you in September" response that your surgeon gave you. Honestly, he should have refereed you to an GI specialist! Your surgeon may never have seen your issue, but a Gastroenterologist will have! You need to get your esophagus issue sorted first, and your surgeon is already thinking a revision!?!

The revision would be because of the reflux. He's just afraid that it could cause erosion or ulcerations in the esophogus and make it even worse than it is now. He might be giving the meds a bit longer to see if they can help. He did tell me to put cinder blocks under the head of my bed. I asked "Instead of my wedge?" He said no, keep the wedge, too! Maybe I will call up on Monday and see if they will refer me to a gastroenterologist. I was just caught completely off-guard and didn't come up with any good questions. I'm great with numbers, not so much with words

16 minutes ago, Orchids&Dragons said:

T Maybe I will call up on Monday and see if they will refer me to a gastroenterologist. I was just caught completely off-guard and didn't come up with any good questions. I'm great with numbers, not so much with words

Definitely get a referal on Monday.

We each are the best advocates for our own health. We all want to think, well, he or she is a Dr., so they know best. But we need to be informed and insistent about our own care. No one knows as much or cares as much about our bodies than we do.

I have nutcracker esophagus. I found out during my work up-the barium pill got stuck in my throat during the upper GI. I had a million tests and they cleared me for the sleeve. I had no idea that I had this problem either. I’m SO sorry that you are having issues. How miserable. From what my GI doc said, if you are having this problem I think a bypass will work for you. It’s a lower pressure system so the food will go down better.

So, there might be meds you can take to help your esophagus work better. My GI doc told me about them during my work up. You need to go see a good GI doc now and see what they can do to help you.

Wow. How miserable you must be! I hope you get some answers soon !

O and D you will like this. My new booklet from OSU, the one called Life after Bariatric Surgery, says level 2 and 3 diets are not considered balanced and you should remain on them 8 weeks maximum. Granted maybe you are getting some vitamin enrichment but still....!

..

So sorry to hear you’re going through this. Hang in there. I’m glad you know what it is bc you can’t fix/ cope with what you don’t know. I’m glad you got answers, but I hope that come up with solutions.

I'm coming to the party, just make some smoothie shooters for me and pass the party hats!!!

So sorry, this news sucks. I concur - get a GI Doc right away and maybe some liquid vitamins. Did you get acid reflux meds? If not get that too.

Keep us posted so we can come to the 'after party' too. I'll even sing and dance.

1 hour ago, Sosewsue61 said:

I'm coming to the party, just make some smoothie shooters for me and pass the party hats!!!

So sorry, this news sucks. I concur - get a GI Doc right away and maybe some liquid vitamins. Did you get acid reflux meds? If not get that too.

Keep us posted so we can come to the 'after party' too. I'll even sing and dance.

Thanks! I have no problem taking any pills because I can drink when I take them. I'm on omeprazole 2x a day for the acid and then Tums as needed. Thanks so much for providing entertainment for the party!

5 hours ago, Frustr8 said:

O and D you will like this. My new booklet from OSU, the one called Life after Bariatric Surgery, says level 2 and 3 diets are not considered balanced and you should remain on them 8 weeks maximum. Granted maybe you are getting some Vitamin enrichment but still....!

..

Well, it's been 10 weeks already with the possibility of another 10 I'd be surprised if it's not a balanced diet, though. I make my own soups with plenty of vegetables. I really would like to get to a whole food diet, though. I really don't like so many processed protein sources (supplements). My vitamin levels were fine at my 12-week checkup. In fact, 2 were too high, iron and calcium. I've reduced my calcium supplement by 1/2 and I'll start taking the vitamins w/iron every other day and vitamins without iron in between.

11 hours ago, madscientistmommy said:

I have nutcracker esophagus. I found out during my work up-the barium pill got stuck in my throat during the upper GI. I had a million tests and they cleared me for the sleeve. I had no idea that I had this problem either. I’m SO sorry that you are having issues. How miserable. From what my GI doc said, if you are having this problem I think a bypass will work for you. It’s a lower pressure system so the food will go down better.

I had never heard of nutcracker esophagus so I looked it up. Seems like we're opposites. Your contractions are too strong, mine are pathetic and uncoordinated. Gravity appears to be my only friend (and LOTS of liquid). Is there a treatment for yours to make the contractions less intense? I spent hours on google and didn't find any recommended treatment for mine. I hope they can help you!

13 hours ago, sillykitty said:

Definitely get a referal on Monday.

We each are the best advocates for our own health. We all want to think, well, he or she is a Dr., so they know best. But we need to be informed and insistent about our own care. No one knows as much or cares as much about our bodies than we do.

Thanks, Kitty. While I am very forceful advocate for my kids, not so much for me. I need to be more assertive. Unfortunately, I spent hours googling this and didn't find any type of treatment. In general, I doubt that it's a big deal for the general population because they just drink with their meals. I will call the surgeon's office Monday and see about a referral, I promise!

I’m so sorry hon