18 years post w/recent Bile Duct problems

[TwinMama 4]

Had my RYGB in the summer of 2000. Over the years, I have lived quite happily w/my altered anatomy. However, starting this past summer (6.18) all of that changed......

During my 1st pregnancy, in 2011, I experieneced some serious tummy troubles; everything from aching to dry heaving, & bowel troubles. Had an upper Endoscopy where my Gastro Doc located a llttle ulcer in my little tummy. "No prob," I thought. " I'll just add Prilosec to my daily medication list!"

So, for roughly the next 7 years, any tummy troubles, both above & below the belt, I attributted to my ulcer acting up. Wow, was I WRONG!!

This June, I was rushed to the ER with THE WORST ab pain I had ever experienced - I was peeing a dark orange/brown & pooping a white-ish color!! (Looking back, I had felt like **** for a few months, but since that had become my norm, didn't seek any help for it.)

After many agonizing tests, I was diagnosed septic due to a bile duct obstruction and excessive CBD dialation. Was transferred to Cleveland Clinic for addition tests & medical intervention.

Due to the fact that I still have my gallbladder, most Dr's/Surgeons assumed I had gall stones - a kind of "go-to" for GB patients. But oh how wrong they were......

It has taken almost 3 months, 100+ Dr's, numerous hospital stays, & every cancer screen/imaging available for them to discover that my gallbladder is just fine. My bile isn't flowing on it's own due to a problem w/my Sphincter of Is Oddi. I'm now scheduled for a sphincectomy

The reason I'm sharing is that w/our altered GB anatomy, standard abdominal & endoscopic tests & procedures are almost impossible to be conducted. Had my anatomy been unaltered, they could've located & treated my issue back during my 1st hospital stay. Wud've saved SO much time, energy & $$$$!!

This problem has really opened my eyes to the true long term effects of not only our surgery, but the complications it causes in diagnosing & treating any other medical issues that we may have for the rest of our lives!!

Every procedure/surgery I've had & will have, has been adapted to fit my anatomy's needs. Not to mention, finding a Dr/Surgeon who knows how to perform these extra risky procedures.

If u've had, or have anything similar, plz lemme know. Very curious to see how ur situation panned out.

Thanx!😄

[Frustr8 7,886]

This is something I want to follow, having had pancreatitis in May,2015m Now,i wonder if that,will,predispose me to such a thing also?

[JustMeInCleveland 1]

Thanks for posting this, twinmama. Like frustr8d, I've had pancreatitis in the past and that worries me about this surgery. I'm still in the pre-op testing phase, and am still weighing the pros and cons of the surgery.

[TwinMama 4]

I feel for anyone going thru similar circumstances!!

Didn't expand too much in my initial posing, but the lengths of drama I went thru JUST b/c I'm a GB patient was scary!!

Due to the limited access to my hepatobiliary system, I was actually scheduled for a CBD removal w/partial Whipple procedure in November - which wud've removed the head of my pancreas & part of my duodenum! My team of Dr's was relying heavily on external imaging of that area. And thought they saw cysts in the section of my dialted bile duct.

Thankfully, one of the Gastroenterologists consulted for that surgery, recognized the issues w/just external imaging, called me to Cleveland that same day (last Tues) and is now heading the laparoscopic ERCP sphincectomy (sp?) On Oct. 4th.

Through all of this, my biggest hurdle was that there are few reasons a stricture develops in your CBD - almost all are cancerous in nature. So, lacking normal access to directly test for it at the site, my Dr's ran every blood test, Fluid sample they could, looking for any signs of malignancy. All of which were negative. But the "just in case" argument reigned supreme when it came to my original treatment plan.

My best advice is 2-fold:

#1) Open ur mouth!! Make sure u ask questions & even challenge ur Dr's first treatment plan. Make them explain to u why they are proceeding in that particular direction - and have them back it up with ACTUAL diagnostic results, not ASSUMED ones!

#2) This is crucial...... U must ONLY see Specialist Dr's that are familiar with ur specific type of Gastric Bypass!! The next year of my life wud be looking quite different if a Specialist, well versed in RnYGB anatomy/issues hadn't been consulted on my case. Life after a lapriscopic ERCP is nothing compared to an open Whipple surgery.

Hang in there, fellow GBer's! Lemme know if there's anything I'd line to know.☺