Scar tissue concerns

lesserman
on 4/9/12 5:21 am - Chicago, IL

I've run across a number of posts (though I can't find them now) in which scar tissue (can't even remember the proper medical name for it...st-something) from the sugery has become a major complication for some.

How does one become aware this is becoming a complication?

Weight at Heaviest: 320 lbs.
Weight at Surgery: 283.6 lbs.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

Bettisima
on 4/9/12 6:04 am

I think you are referring to a stricture. It is something that happens to RNY folks. Where the pouch attaches to the intestines, is called the stoma. The scar tissue builds up as you heal, and can make the opening smaller.

Early signs include a pain in your chest, under the sternum when you eat. A basic need to go backwards in your food progression. Where maybe you had started on solid foods, but find after a period that stuff gets stuck. So you start to move back towards pureed and liquids more. Vomiting is not normal for anyone, and if you find yourself vomiting often after eating, that's another sign.

Call your surgeons office and talk to them if stuff like this starts to happen. Fixing a stricture is very easy. Sometimes folks have to get a stricture dialated a few times. Some don't. And only about 30% of patients ever get one.

Cheers

lesserman
on 4/9/12 6:39 am - Chicago, IL

Yes!

Thank you, Bettisima!!

Weight at Heaviest: 320 lbs.
Weight at Surgery: 283.6 lbs.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

lesserman
on 4/9/12 8:44 am - Chicago, IL

What does the dilation procedure involve?

Is it done on an out-patient basis?

Weight at Heaviest: 320 lbs.
Weight at Surgery: 283.6 lbs.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

Bettisima
on 4/9/12 8:57 am

Dilation can be done as out patient. I think it depends on the patient and the surgeon. I have seen posts that talk about a hospital stay foe dilation.

My personal experience was a 10 mibute procedure done under sedation. The prep and recovery took the longest. I had gotten dehydrated because I kept thinking the issue was me not chewing well enough, or eating too fast. I was struggling to keep fluids down. It was a 2 step process. Rehydrate and then fix the stricture.

lesserman
on 4/9/12 10:06 am - Chicago, IL

One more reason (not that it is needed) to remain hydrated...keep taking in fluids...

Thanks!!

Weight at Heaviest: 320 lbs.
Weight at Surgery: 283.6 lbs.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

LosingSally
on 4/9/12 7:30 am

A stricture can happen to anyone who has surgery on their stomach, not just weight loss surgery, or just RNY.

deactivated member
on 4/9/12 7:52 am - Mexico

Revision on 12/06/06 with

On April 9, 2012 at 7:30 AM Pacific Time, LosingSally wrote:

A stricture can happen to anyone who has surgery on their stomach, not just weight loss surgery, or just RNY.

LIKE!

Very true. People swear sleeves and DSers can't get strictures. Not true.

H.a.l.a. B.
on 4/9/12 8:32 am

RNY on 05/14/08 with

There is also internal-inside your guts scar tissue... that may attach itself to your intestines. Anytime they open you up - even lap - they create injury inside you (blood, little bit of tissue, small "scratches" on the inside..etc). That start healing - but it may go overboard and cause more scar tissue to grow inside you - binding all of the insides and organs together... How would you know? you would not unless you end up in pain and they can't figure out why - and decide to open you up and discover that. Any abdominal surgery - (GB removal, c-section, etc) will - may create scar tissue.. Sometimes the doc plans to have lap surgery - but once they go in they may discover lost of scar tissue and have to do open surgery (any surgery)

H.a.l.a RNY 5/14/2008 Lost over 100 lbs, now app 162-166..
Maintenance phase of my life; size : 6-10 (depends on a brand)

"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell..."
"So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."

lesserman
on 4/9/12 8:42 am - Chicago, IL

Wow...fortunately, I like to know both the good and bad.

While the info is not exactly encouraging, better to be made aware than not.

H.B.;

What you describe would, by now, be more the exception than the rule, yes?

Specifically, the healing going overboard...obviously, it occurs, but with less frequency, yes?

Weight at Heaviest: 320 lbs.
Weight at Surgery: 283.6 lbs.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion...

H.a.l.a. B.
on 4/9/12 9:57 am

RNY on 05/14/08 with

What you describe would, by now, be more the exception than the rule, yes?

Specifically, the healing going overboard...obviously, it occurs, but with less frequency, yes?

Not really IMO... Most of us get scar tissue and never know about it because it does not create an issue...unless you need another surgery...

Google....it
i.e.
http://www.scar-tissue-facts.com/what_is_scar_tissue

http://www.adhesionpain.net/2010/02/internal-scar-tissue.htm l

H.a.l.a RNY 5/14/2008 Lost over 100 lbs, now app 162-166..
Maintenance phase of my life; size : 6-10 (depends on a brand)

"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell..."
"So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."

cicerogirl
on 4/9/12 6:54 pm - OH

RNY on 08/27/07 with

No, actually almost everyone gets adhesions... They just don't cause severe problems in most people. The more surgeries you have, the more adhesions you will have, so people with multiple aurgeries are much more likely to have problems with adhesions.

Lora

5+ years out... maintaining 190 pounds lost!
******************************************************

“You don't drown by falling in the water.
You drown by staying there.”

******************************************************

lady_myst
on 4/9/12 11:11 am

RNY on 09/09/10 with

I was just wondering....and yes i will google it......does anyone know if this can present at 19 months out? I just sailed through my GB. No issues. I stay strict with the nutrition rules and water and vitamins and stomach meds....and yet...i am now having pain for the first time! Sometimes it is even when i drink. My doc and I are seeing if it isnt a ....well tmi i guess....constipation issue maybe or something else. He has told me that if i am in serious pain like i was to go to the e.r. and not mess around one little bit. Sometimes it hurts when i drink, sometimes it is better. i dont know. The thought of another surgery...ugh. but i dont want to mess around either. I am not complaining and i dont regret my decision at all. just a little concerned about this thing. anyone had this? just wondering. thanks.

MacMadame
on 4/9/12 10:58 pm - Northern, CA

VSG on 09/24/08 with

At 19 months out, it's more likely to be an ulcer or possibly a bowel obstruction.

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mamakat
on 4/11/12 11:36 pm

RNY on 05/26/09 with

I had this problem- adhesions- at 12 months and again at 14 months. After the second surgery I felt like a new person.
May of 2009 had wls, then in May of 2010 I had GB surgery but when the dr was in there he saw that the GB wasn't really the problem it was adhesions. He removed them and the Gb but I never really recovered and had to go back in to surgery in July of 2010 to have more adhesions removed. I haven't had too many problems since then. Occasional pain but not too much.

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Scar tissue concerns