Complications

[asantiago 89]

Hello everyone,

I am 8 month post op since my gastric bypass Surgury I had in Dec 2015. I been very depress because after my gastric bypass I had to have a second Surgury a month later due to a bowel obstruction. After that I have been dilated 3 times having a endoscopy and dilation. I haven't been able to keep food down. It's rare when I can eat without vomiting. I just saw my gastro Doctor and she stated that she can't dilated me because it's like she is starting from the beginning. It closes up. She spoke to my surgeon and he said no more dilation. He wants to see me this Tuesday to discuss a possible 3rd Surgury. I have a picc line due to not having enough Vitamins and I get tpn every day for 12hrs. My albumin level was dangerously low and reason I had to get TPN iv. I am nervous about having Surgury. At times when I vomit it smells like feces. A few month ago my surgeon said he could not jeopardize doing Surgury since too weak and he wanted to build me up strong before since Surgury is 7 hrs long. The doctor states he would have to undo the bypass and re attach and cut an area where scar tissue keeps narrowing and can be reason why food doesn't stay down. Does anyone have any suggestion? I don't want to depend on TPN and want to be able to have a normal life and eat without vomiting. I know at times I forget to eat slow and chew. I want to avoid Surgury but Will see what surgeon tells me on Tuesday. Anyone have any similar issues? Suggestions?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Djmohr 6,965]

I am so sorry you are having this complication. Is this the same surgeon that did your surgery? If so, just to be safe I would get a second opinion.

So he is suggesting a reversal? Do they know why this is happening to you?

I hope things get resolved very soon for you. This is quite scary.

[James Marusek 5,244]

I am sorry to hear about all your pain and suffering. I was wondering if they checked you for an ulcer and if they tested you for a pre-existing condition called Helicobacter pylori infection.

According to the internet:

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include avoidance of NSAIDs, antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition, H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

[asantiago 89]

Hello Djmohr

Thank you for replying to my post. Yes this is the same surgeon who did both operations. He works where I work and he is the chief of bariatric and General Surgury. I went to a second opinion and they told me everything was done correctly. The surgeon is saying that I develop scar tissue and there is a area just where the food passes through intestine that needs to be cut out (scar tissue) . His plan is to undo the bypass and do the bypass all over again and cut the scar tissue. I will know more this Tuesday coming up when I meet with him. This is so scary for me because o seem not to be getting better. The most I can eat if I don't vomit is about a few bites and that I get that feeling like food is sitting there and here all kinds of noises in my stomach.

[asantiago 89]

Hello James

Thank you for this great information you provided. I haven't been tested for anything like H pylori or ulcer. I will be seeing the surgeon this Tuesday and will ask him tons of questions I have for him. I am scared and part of me do not want to have Surgury again. Today for Breakfast I was able to eat a few bites without visiting. What is the most you eat per meal like ounces ? I am so confused about how much to expect to eat per meal and how long should it take to finish a meal. I need to keep in mind not to eat to fast and chew.