I am almost 6 years out and doing well. Except, suddenly I am not able to eat. I spent the other night with such pain after eating that I couldn't sleep and considered a trip to the ER. I could actually feel a mass in my upper left side. The mass has gone away, but now I can't even have liquid without pain. I just switched jobs and my insurance is not in place yet. I talked with the surgeons office yesterday and they gave me the spiel about chewing and no carbs, (which I don't eat because of reactive hypoglycemia) I do have an appointment with them today, but am worried about the finance part as well. Has anyone else had a stricture or blockage in the pouch? If so what did it feel like?

Thanks!

Lynda

I had two strictures - at 4 weeks out and again at 8 weeks out. But I was told that they almost always occur during the first three months after surgery, so it's not very likely that that's what's going on with you. If it is, though, it's a super easy fix. Both times I felt like I had acid reflux. The first time I was puzzled since bypass usually cures that. After a couple of days of that, I suddenly couldn't keep food down, so I called my surgeon's office and they told me it was probably a stricture and they set up an appt, but they said if it got to the point where I couldn't even keep fluids down, to go to the ER (it never got to that point). The second time I knew what was going on because I had that acid reflux feeling again, so I made an appt to have the stricture "fixed". I never had any pain either time, though. It was an acid reflux feeling (which progressed to not being able to keep food down when I had the first stricture)

I hope you got some answers today from the surgeon's office?

The Nurse ordered me in for a STAT CT for today and then told me to stay in town for results, but I can't get in anywhere until Tuesday Morning. She told me I should do a liquid diet but to add in cottage cheese and other soft foods. I wonder if she even heard me that it hurts when I eat? She mentioned a hernia or a bowel twist as a possibility but then told me to eat a soft diet and take laxatives. I am not constipated! UGH

Edited June 6, 20251 yr by Lynda486

Lynda486, that doesn't sound like a STAT CT if you can't get in to get one until Tuesday!! And liquid diet with soft foods when you can't even take in fluids without it hurting. I for sure would look at maybe going to their hospital where you had the surgery, to the ER, and see if they can get an emergent CT to find out what is happening. I know there is an insurance situation, but the old job should have COBRA for you for at minimum of 3 months, you can choose to do that if you are still in the right time frame. Either way, I'm more concerned about the health than the money, right? Being out as long as you have, do you remember what you may have done with your workout or walking, fall, or twist your body then it was a problem or it just happened for no apparent reason? I would seriously get some pictures and get them now. Not knowing where you were for your surgery vs. where you live now, indicating that you needed to stay in town...I'm assuming that you live quite a distance. Instead of paying for a hotel or motel room, go to the ER of the hospital your practice uses for surgery. That way you have the care you need and the pictures done via x-ray or CT. Let us know your progress!!

I can take in liquids and a little soft food like cream soups. Causes a bit of discomfort and my bowels are working fine. Not sure what that means. I did find out that my insurance is active and was given a copy of my card Friday. This seems to have happened for no reason. I live about 30 minutes from where I had surgery. I have now developed pain in my back near my right kidney. Not sure what that means either. I will let you all know what I find out. Thanks!

4 hours ago, Lynda486 said:

I can take in liquids and a little soft food like cream Soups. Causes a bit of discomfort and my bowels are working fine. Not sure what that means. I did find out that my insurance is active and was given a copy of my card Friday. This seems to have happened for no reason. I live about 30 minutes from where I had surgery. I have now developed pain in my back near my right kidney. Not sure what that means either. I will let you all know what I find out. Thanks!

Do you still have your gallbladder ? I had these symptoms when I had this trouble. Whatever it is, i hope you get answers very soon.

Great your insurance is not an issue. Make the appointment with your surgeon. 30 minutes away is nothing, I drive 1 1/2 hours to get to mine. It will be worth the appointment and time to go and see what is going on. That is my strongest advice. Go get those pictures done. Find out what is going on.