Question:
Ulcer at opening of stomach

I had an endoscope last week and I have an ulcer at the opening of my stomach and it is swollen all around. He told me he didn't want to stretch the opening at that time since I was only 4 weeks post op. I was given 3 meds to take and I did feel better for a few days. I have started feeling extremely nausea again and having trouble getting my liquids in. Everytime I drink something, it is like it is sitting at the lower end of my esophagus and I then start burping. I am supposed to have this stretched on Monday. However, I have been reading where some people experience this for several weeks and it goes away on its own. Will anyone who has had this experience share with me. It will be greatly appreciated.    — dgd (posted on September 20, 2003)

September 19, 2003
Mine never went away, just got worse. Hang in there and get the balloon to stretch it. It is a non-painful procedure. I got mine at 20 months out and I was having trouble with dropping weight too fast. Everything I at came up. Don't play with this. An ulcer can preforate the stomach. Follow all your docs orders.
   — Oldsoul

September 20, 2003
Get the endoscopy!! I'm 2 months post-op and have been experiencing the same thing since about 2 weeks out - burping, naseua, vomitting, reflux, etc. and could NOT keep solids down. People (my nurse included) kept telling me this was normal for the first few months, and that if I just waited and stayed on liquids and took it easy for another few months, the opening to my stomach would relax and dilate on its own. WELL - after much deliberation and many Q&A postings I decided to go and get scoped anyway, just in case, and it turned out I had a stricture of 3 mm (about the size of a pin head). I very much doubt it would have magically dilated itself to the right size (15 mm) on its own (the size of a dime or nickel). I too have some superficial ulcers near the opening to my stomach, but they are CAUSED by the stricture itself because food and stomach acid ends up stuck there cause it can't pass through. Once you get stretched those problems will go away too. Get scoped!! It's totally worth it and the procedure itself isn't bad. I have a sore throat that will go away on its own in a day or so and otherwise I've had SUCH an easier time keeping food down. You'll not regret doing it!!
   — Tiffany J.