Hard time swallowing

[furry life 12]

I am 43 days out from having gastric bypass. I would say about 80% of the time that I eat I wind up throwing up, because it is getting stuck. I am chewing my food until there is almost nothing there. It happens with meat, veggie, eggs it doesn't matter what it is. Things that I have eaten before just fine. Dr. Richards mentioned having my esophagus stretched. Has anyone had to have their esophagus stretched?

[catwoman7 11,211]

you're in the right time frame for a stricture. It's not the esophagus that gets stretched, usually - it's the stoma that connects the stomach with the small intestine. Sometimes scar tissue overgrows there, closing off the hole (this is what a stricture is). They just do an upper endoscopy and use a tool to stretch it out a bit. I had two - one at four weeks out and one at eight weeks out. Strictures, if they're going to happen, are almost always during the first three months after surgery - they're very rare after that. BTW - about 5% of bypass patients have them.

[catwoman7 11,211]

P.S. It could be that your stricture is in your esophagus, although if so, that would be rare - I've actually never heard of that. They're usually in the stoma.

[AZhiker 2,252]

Dilation is a common procedure - very quick. You go to sleep, have a great little nap, and wake up able to swallow. Don't be afraid of it.

[furry life 12]

Thanks. You are probably right it being my stoma. I couldn't remember I knew it was in the general area.

[Darktowerdream 420]

I couldn’t tolerate purée at all so my surgeon ordered an upper gi fluoroscopy and also a endoscopy.

There is a type of stricture that involves the esophagus, called a Schatzki’s ring. I had a upper gi fluoroscopy that showed a hiatal hernia, Schatzki’s ring, and a stoma stricture. It depends how small the stoma is how much balloon dilation you need (done during a upper endoscopy) my stoma was less than 3mm.

the doctor should order tests to know exactly what is going on before deciding how to help you.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

On 7/30/2019 at 4:59 PM, catwoman7 said:

you're in the right time frame for a stricture.

Ha! I was gonna say this exact thing!

Sorry you're having trouble!!! Go get your tests!! ((hugs)) And go back to liquids on the days you upchuck. You should do that for a couple days after you have an issue. It gives a little time to heal the immediate inflammation. I love the Premier Protein Clear drinks (Fruit Punch is the bomb dot com when diluted 50:50 with bottled Water and goes down every easy.)