I am 5 weeks post op, and am in phase 2 of my eating schedule (soups with small chunks primarily). I was doing fine until yesterday. Last night my food got stuck in my throat. I had to use the “two finger method” several times over the course of an hour to resolve it. The same thing happened after breakfast (watery grits) and lunch (cottage cheese) today. I called my doctor and was told I probably have a stricture. If so, he told me I will need an endoscopy and a balloon stretch to open the stricture. After the current blockage passes, he told me to try to see if pre-op liquids would pass. If so, he will schedule the procedure next week. If not, I will need to go in tonight to avoid dehydration.

Has anyone else dealt with this?

No, but my surgeon explained it was relatively common with a relatively simple solution. You'll be fine. Just make sure you can drink water and add rehydration salts to the water in the correct quantities

I had two - one at four weeks out, the next at eight weeks out. The "fix" is easy-peasy, and you'll feel better right away.

strictures happen to about 5% of RNY patients. They can also happen in sleeve patients, but they're pretty rare with VSG.

and yes - you can live without food for quite awhile, so it's fine if they can't get you in until next week. On the other hand, you can only live a couple of days without fluid - so they'd need to get you in ASAP. That's why they asked...

Thanks for the feedback on this. Fortunately, I’ve been able to get water and protein drinks down without any problems. Hopefully, I’ll get this resolved next week.

Just now, wdbiv said:

Thanks for the feedback on this. Fortunately, I’ve been able to get Water and Protein Drinks down without any problems. Hopefully, I’ll get this resolved next week.

if it turns out to be a stricture (which it sounds like it is), it's an easy fix...

8 hours ago, wdbiv said:

Thanks for the feedback on this. Fortunately, I’ve been able to get Water and Protein Drinks down without any problems. Hopefully, I’ll get this resolved next week.

And, while it's obviously unnecessary, you can get dissolvable vitamins and pretty much anything else you want, in liquid form.

On 3/5/2022 at 8:01 AM, Pollito said:

No, but my surgeon explained it was relatively common with a relatively simple solution. You'll be fine. Just make sure you can drink Water and add rehydration salts to the water in the correct quantities

Actually...yeah, I think I have it now. Damn.