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I admit I'm a bit puzzled. I had my J tube for 8 months... 4 before my esophagectomy and 4 after. Where the J tube enters the jejunum is a very small piercing. I'm not sure I've heard of anyone having scar tissue problems in this early segment of the small intestine. And if we did... it wouldn't be something that comes and goes... like a cancerous tumor that may grow or shrink due to treatments taking effect. Are you sure you've been dx'd correctly in this regard?
I'm no doctor... but at such an early stage of your food's journey thru the small intestines (and then on to the large intestine)... how solid would your poop be at this stage of the journey? I mean scar tissue at the surface, where we connect to our J tubes is normal (I swear I have a second belly button now where that stoma was located). But scar tissue in the jejunum itself from J tube placement... enough to block the passage of our foodstuffs... wow!
Was the original installation of your J tube problematic? Was it re-done a few times? Did you use it for all 6 months successfully?
I'm not quite sure what the fear is of resecting this section... and how the reconfiguration after the esophagectomy would affect things... is it because of the scar tissue leftover from the esophagectomy... making it hard to access this upper section of the small intestines? This is sure an interesting and difficult situation... and I understand your worry. Please tell us more... and why an experienced colorectal surgeon cannot handle this. I'm puzzled how this isn't a full time blockage for you... how can it possible "come and go"?
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You have good questions and I hope I can answer them all correctly. The diagnosis by two separate ER surgeons both believe the blockage (based on scans and x-rays) was due to scar tissue at feeding tube site. I did not have any problems while the feeding tube was in and had it for six months straight.
Both times I had the “blockage“ was when I had not gone #2 that day. I have to make sure that I have go number two every day! If I miss a day, somehow it gets stopped up and I’m more susceptible to these. I almost had one recently, and I felt the cramping in the area of the site (at my second belly button) where my J-tube was inserted. I stretched and walked around the block three or four times, drank a lot of water, etc. it eventually went away and I did not have to go to the ER My first visit to the ER, I was admitted for five days to let my stomach rest. I did not eat and they gave me liquids. The second visit. I stayed overnight and went home the next day. After the 2nd obstruction I spoke with my surgeon at MD Anderson , he wanted to wait and see if it happens again before they try to remove any scar tissue. Removal of scar tissue can be make the situation worse as it might create more scar tissue. Another post suggested that I establish a relationship with a surgeon and Anzola, which is the nearest hospital that would have a surgeon that could do the S. I’m going to try to do that and then I don’t know how I will find the fastest way to get there God forbid this happened again. Thank you guys so much for your help..