Pinhole Size Opening--Again

I went for my 4th EGD/dilation this morning and woke up in pain again after the procedure. Sigh.
The doctor said my opening is down to a pinhole again and he could barely find it. He also said it will take another 2-3 dilations to enlarge it back to the size it should be. Wah! I'm so upset.
I'm supposed to start a new job on Monday--what do I tell them?

I am so sorry you've had so much trouble.  This is beyond ridiculous, isn't it?

Are you able to go to work Monday?  I know you'll have to take off for the next dilation but are you sick right now or can you work?  If you're able to start work Monday, I would just let them know you have to have a medical procedure done on whatever date and that unfortunately it's impossible to schedule it outside of business hours and it absolutely has to be done.  Have your surgeon write a note to that effect and give it to them.  You don't have to explain what the procedure is if you don't want to.

It is beyond ridiculous--thanks for understanding that!
I can work on Monday and that is excellent advice; I will take it for sure.
Thanks Kelly, it's getting hard to think straight about all of this.

I would be so fed up by now if I was in your shoes!

You know, I have no idea if there is any other option for treatment of strictures, but since you've had them so many times, have you thought about getting a second opinion about the treatment?  I know they just happen to some people and there's no way to prevent them, and it's common to need several dilations to fix them, so your doc may very well be doing all that can be done.  But since your stricture problem has been much worse than what many people experience, it could be possible that another doctor would have some other idea about what to do about it.  Just a thought.  I'm not trying to suggest your surgeon isn't doing a good job.

I really feel certain that a year from now (hopefully sooner!), you're gonna be doing just fine and you'll have lost a whole lot of weight and this will all be behind you and you're gonna say well, it was rough in the beginning but it was still all worth it.  I sure wouldn't blame you if you didn't feel that way now, though.

I know exactly how you feel.  I was to have my 3rd dilation tomorrow.  However, I developed a blood clot last week and am on blood thinners now.  The Dr. could barely get to my opening last dilation.  I have to wait and spend the days throwing up before I can stop the coumadin for the procedure.  I know it's just a bump in the road....but sure is frustrating. 

Best of luck to you!!!! I hope it gets better soon :)

I am actually getting the dilations from a doctor other than my surgeon (his recommendation after he perforated me during the first dilation). This gastroenterologist said that what is happening is that my tube goes down and then takes a sharp right angle turn, causing the tube to keep healing to pinhole size. He suggested to my husband today that I may need to have some kind of corrective surgery to take care of this problem--I need to do some research to check this out. Have you ever heard of this? My surgeon is supposed to call me this afternoon and I will discuss with him as well. You're so knowledgeable, maybe you have heard of this happening before, and I would love to hear about it if you have. Thanks!

I haven't heard of it.  My guess is that it's not very common.  When the doc calls, ask him what the medical name of the condition is and then you can google it.  I'm sure you don't like the idea of another surgery but on the other hand, it would be very nice to have a way to fix the problem once and for all.

I found this info on this site:

Medical issues complicating Gastric Bypass include marginal ulcer, stricture, and severe dumping syndrome. These conditions may often be treated conservatively, but when conservative treatment fails, revision surgery is indicated. Treatment for ulcer or stricture may involve resection of the ulcerated/strictured connection between the pouch and the intestine. Another approach is to convert to a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy-based procedure, as stricture and marginal ulcer are conditions that arise as a result of the intrinsic physiology of Gastric Bypass. This approach is favored for cases of severe dumping as well, as it is the inherent nature of the Gastric Bypass itself that results in the condition.

I had a total of 5 dilations the last two by a GI specialist. He finalkly used a drug called kenalog to inject in all four quadrants of the scar tissue so that when he went back in two week later he was able to dilate to the mm necessary to keep it open. No prblem since. You may want to suggest this to your doctor. Not a proven treatment but for me it was the answer.
Worth a try before another surgery that creates more scar tissue

Audra