Vagotomy and Pyloroplasty Operation

Hi, @ihatemystomach - I think your user name says it all. I'm sorry that your digestive system has never been what you'd call normal with IBS mixed and dumping syndrome.

I'd like to introduce you to a few members who may have some input for you about improving your condition and/or may be knowledgeable about the vagotomy and pyloroplasty you had previously @beachpoet @stever1 @wanda777 @denisef @brendaharvey @adaiello @aheid.

What symptom is currently giving you the most trouble, ihatemystomach?

I had a high vagotomy because they reconnected my stomach to the esophagus in the neck. They also did a pylororoplasty during this procedure. Thankfully no IBS. I do have dumping syndrome. Medical people will just tell you to "eat small frequent meals" "like a bird". I'm new at this. I'm only 15 months since this procedure, so I haven't normalized yet. Here's what I have found. My symptoms are volume related. If I take that one last bite, I dump. I can take all the liquids I want (including alcohol) and this gets absorbed in the stomaphagus fast enough. I can have food after I have liquids. If I eat food first and then have liquid, I dump. Too much fried foods (shrimp basket with fries and hushpuppies) I dump. Even if I only eat 1/2 of the fried seafood basket, I dump. If I walk after I eat, I dump. Now dumping for me is a little different than most people and no MD can explain this. My normal heart rate is in the low 50's to high 40's. Heart function is great. When I dump, my heart rate goes to over 80 and sometimes to 110. I feel like $hit. Light headed, zero and i mean zero energy. I don't get belly pain. If i do get diarrhea, it happens the next day. I do find that if I notice my heart rate going up, I lay down as quick as possible. Countless times, I have left a restaurant to lay down in the car, or skipped doing dishes and went right to the lazy boy. If I catch it quick, I'm good in 1/2 hour. If I try to power through it, I'll be out cold for 2-4 hours. I did speak with one retired general surgeon and he said that there are a few more things to try. One was a medication that I can't remember the name, but he said to go see a general surgeon from his prior group and if he didn't know it then the young guy can call him. I have yet to do this. The other was some kind of fiber that I also haven't tried yet. He said ignore the instructions and only take it with 3 ounces of water before I eat. that way if I do dump, it will be this fiber that goes into the small intestine first and will be much better tolerated. I will be trying this soon, but I have to figure out what fiber he's talking about first. That's all I have, but will post again after I do some experimenting and consulting the new general surgeon.

These procedures have fallen out of vogue. 30 years ago they were common. I have not had the need to assist on one in past 10 years. When I mention them in M & M conferences I label myself as an “old flatulence” person.

Thank god. So, what operation or treatment is used now? My latest ailment is mucus/phlegm in the top of my chest and throat. It's at its worst first thing when I wake up. When I spit it out, it's brown in colour and thick enough that water doesn't dissolve it away. I've been to my GP, and she thought it was acid reflux! She prescribed Omeprazole 20mg. I'm now thinking about how it is possible after my operation to actually reduce stomach acid and, if my GP is right, if it will have a damaging effect on my digestive system due to the changes that were made when they operated.

I can't answer your questions but if you think you may have laryngopharyngeal reflux (it affects the throat, nose and ears) you can get free advice from the web site of ENT Jamie Koufman. You can try taking her advice and if it works, great. If not, your search continues. Good luck!