Stricture questions

[anthony405 1]

I have been sleeved for a week and it is all so new and I think I worry to much. Since surgery I feel like I have a little lump in my chest, and no matter what's in there my stomach constantly gurgles. I have been fully complient with the diet. ( very proud of that. ) lol. Would I still be able to get stuff down if stricture was starting to happen, or is it just cause the swollen factor.

[Richard Foor 655]

It's hard to say for sure, your Dr. would have to do some test to find out if you have a stricture. It is common to have a lot of stomach gurgles because of the stomach acid and decreased stomach size. Good Luck.

[anthony405 1]

Thanks I think I just freak myself out.

[TheGamer 406]

The gurgling is pretty normal post-sleeve, so don't worry about that. I had a stricture that was fixed during a routine EGD. For me, the stricture made getting *anything* that was not liquid nearly impossible, even something as simple as applesauce or mashed potatoes. I experienced extreme acid reflux and began aspirating stomach acid, and ended up sleeping in a recliner because I couldn't sleep any other way. The pain was pretty constant, and I only got relief from keeping a heating pad on my stomach and drinking warm liquids as much as I could tolerate. I don't know that stricture would show up so soon post surgery as I believe it's a result of the opening in the pouch healing too tightly.

One week out you're still swollen and healing. You're probably still on clear liquid diet or possibly progressing to full liquids. Unless it gets intolerable, I wouldn't worry at this point.

[kiki1196 101]

Newbie question... What is a stricture?

[Richard Foor 655]

a stricture is when the remaining stomach forms scar tissue internally and prevents the flow of ingested food almost completely.

[kiki1196 101]

What do they do to fix it? Sounds horrible.

[Richard Foor 655]

Usually treated with dilation which is when they pass a balloon down via endoscopy and inflate it to stretch the affected area.

[kiki1196 101]

Ouch!

[TheGamer 406]

Nah, fixing it doesn't hurt at all. When mine was done (you're under when they do it), I got instant relief from weeks of pain.

[kiki1196 101]

Gamer-sorry you had to go through that but I'm glad you feel better now.

[OneWritersSoul 353]

The stricture repair is the easy part! The waiting to be diagnosed was the nightmare part. I'm so glad mine has finally been addressed!