Getting upset

I am just over 8 weeks out by 2 days. I posted about 1 1/2 weeks ago about having an endoscopy and dilation due to stenosis or stricture whatever you want to call it. I was totally closed, but he said I was down to about a 7 mm opening and he dilated to 15 mm. My symptoms where not being able to keep anything solid down. I could still consume liquids. In retrospect, I prob was having symptoms for 2 weeks prior just not recognizing them. Symptoms of what I thought was sometimes hunger and sometimes heartburn. I could just feel something in my chest, not always uncomfortable.  Well, now since Wednesday I have the same symptoms returning. I puked my lunch on Thursday and today. Liquids still go down ok. So does oatmeal and pudding. Today I had about 5 small well chewed bites of chicken salad and 2 saltines--YAK!
I did put a call in but didn't get a return call. I figure it's not an emergency because I can handle soft easily slidable foods. I am just really bummed out. Do you think I will need another scope and dilation? I really want to eat. Shouldn't I be able to eat at 8 weeks post op? THIS SUCKS!! 

 Of course, whatever anyone says on this board, check with your dr's office when they finally call you back.  That being said, I had 3 dilations when I was a few months out.  It took several months before I wasn't puking at least every other day.  I couldn't eat chicken til I was a year out, it just would not stay down no matter how well chewed, stewed, mixed in salad.

As I said, I needed 3 dilations because my opening kept "springing" back closed so you may have started closing back again.

Take heart, I hated my first year out.  I'm almost 2 years out and it is so much better.  (That doesn't mean much when you're leaning over the john, I know).

I have trouble eating breast of chicken if that is what you used in the salad. Also even saltines can clog a little. Try getting a nice chicken thigh, dark meat, about 2.5oz. Eat it very slow, just nibble on it. See if you can get that down. When I went to solid food I was shocked how little I could eat compared to the soft or pureed food. Sorry for your problems.

 Larry, I have eaten chicken thigh meat. In fact, that is about the only kind of meat I can eat. I can eat fish. I just know it is closing up again and I am depressed.

Yes, you probably need another dilation.  It's not uncommon to need two or three.

 I have had 2 dilatations-my doc says its not uncommon to need 2 or 3. I also had a large ulcer and I am just recovering from a perforated stomach repair.

For future reference, how did you know you had a perforateed stomach? 

Hang in there - I had three in 6 weeks... then I was fine.

I was about 5 weeks out when I started having the same symptoms you noticed above. My opening had closed to 2mm and they opened it to about 11.5 mm.  Almost 1 week later I started the same symptoms. I figured, like you, I would need to be redilated. Went in last Wed. for the endoscope and I had 3 huge, ugly ulcers ... and I have been in the hospital ever since. The have me on liquid nutrition , potassium, something that starts with a 'p' via IV for the ulcers.  They have removed the 'normal IV hydration now.'  By the time I got in for the endoscope, I was so weak, I could barely hold my head up.  DON'T WAIT for them to call you back -- CALL THEM BACK!!!  I knew things could go downhill quickly, but I had NO idea how quickly...and how long it would take to comeback. 

You need to be seen again.  At 8 weeks out I could eat just about anything.  No problems unless I wasn't chewing properly.  I could even handle raw veggies.