Severe indigestion and desperate

[lighterdad2014]

It's been several weeks since I've posted and unfortunately, there's a good reason for it. I am sorry to say that the past 8 weeks have brought alot of pain and anguish.

It's been 3 months since my sleeve.

I've lost a significant amount of weight but it's come with quite a cost (I have actually stopped weighing myself). About 2 weeks after surgery I developed severe, painful indigestion. Enough to take my breath away. I had just started on stage 2 liquids and of course quickly jumped back to stage 1 on the advice of the surgeon.

I have been in the hospital no less than 6 times since. Each time coming in with debilitating, painful indigestion and nausea. The indigestion is so unbearable, I've had to force myself to wretch just to get any temporary relief. I've really not been able to stomach anything but water with the occasional Popsicle or baby spoon of Greek yogurt.

It's been a miserable experience. Each hospital stay, I am put on pain meds, given countless IV's and sent home thinking all is fine only to resume the nightmare only a day later.

Currently, I am a bit better. My doctor prescribed a pain med which I use to partly control the indigestion. This has allowed me to hold down some of a protein smoothie during the night and the next morning. But getting by on 100-200 calories per day just wont cut it much longer. I am hoping that I'll be able to hold down more each day without the indigestion so that I can get stronger.

I basically have very little strength during the day and especially at night, I am completely wiped out.

The surgeon says there is not much that can be done. Except to keep tryinig to hold things down.

So my questions are:

1. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Surely I cannot be the only one who is ever experienced this
2. Does anyone have any type of miracle cure or way to address this aweful indigestion? I feel if I could get that under control, I could progress with the foods I know I need to eat to sustain me.

i need your help.

Any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated.

[MELR]

Oh I wish I had an answer for you. Unfortunately, I don't but I pray someone will. Have you tried other forums? Even calling other bariatric doctors/clinics? I have read some horrible stories about indigestion waking people up at night? Maybe you can brainstorm with other members about what helps them....

I will pray for you and pray for you even now.

[Kindle]

...

[taisha]

i'm sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with your surgery, i wish i knew what to say to make you feel better about your problem but i will pray for a healing over you if you don't mind.

[MELR]

Sorry to pipe back in here but I agree with Kindle. Please go to another doctor and get a second opinion. What your surgeon is saying, in my mind, is unacceptable.

I really hope you get well soon. Please let us know how you are doing.

[greenmomma]

What ppi are you on? I was allergic to prilosec so take dexilant. Very effective for me.

[Luann]

I agree to get a second look from a different doctor. Maybe a gastroenterologist, or internal medicine specialist instead of a surgeon. The old saying "if all you have is a hammer, everything's a nail." You can't just leave it up to hope that things will get better if all you take in is 100 or 200 calories a day.

[JRC]

Do you still have your gallbladder? I would think with so many hospital visits they would have checked already, but know some people who have had gallbladder attacks that seemed like extreme indigestion or panic attacks.

[Metread]

I had a hiatal hernia repaired during my sleeve. I had CHRONIC hearburn for several weeks after. It was so bad at times that I wouldn't eat or drink anything but water, because of the pain. I was taking prescription Protonix, and the doc increased it to twice daily. I was still getting it. I chewed Tums like candy, with no relief. The only thing that helps is liquid Mylanta. I was doing shots like a sorority girl.

At 3 months out, I still have heartburn, but not nearly as bad. I can usually manage it with my prescription and Tums, but keep the Mylanta close by. It does get better... Just takes a while for some of us.

[HeathierMe]

I am feeling just so sad for you right now. Along with the pain this must be frightening. I agree that a second, third , fourth opinion - whatever it takes until you have answers is best. Did you have any kind of heartburn or indigestion issues before the surgery. If so I do know from a lot of research that sleeve can actually make those symptoms worse from people who already had a previous history. Full bypass is a better solution. For 60% of sleevers there are issues afterwards with heartburn and indigestion - even for those with no prior history - although for most it does settle down within 6 months. How you are eating now is no way to live !! I wish you all the best in recovery and please update us with your progress !

[sociologist]

I am sorry you are having such a difficult time. I had heartburn prilosec and prevacid didnt touch. Zegred worked great...until the 14 day course was done. Now Im on Protonix 40mg once a day which works the same way as the Zegred. As others have suggested, you should try to get a second pair of eyes looking over things. Thats waaaay too few calories to support you. That could lead to reflux as well because theres too much acid and not enought food to digest. I hope you get some relief soon:-)

[Marvinator]

gastroparesis definitely causes similar symptoms but you would think the surgeon considered that. though there isnt a lot that they can do for gastroparesis anyway. Most treatments are only mildly successful. Hopefully as the stomach completes healing, this will go away. At three months it should be healed however if its been inflamed the whole time maybe thats slowing healing down. I had acid but prilosec made mine go away very easily. Very sorry to hear of your experiences. I hope that it resolves one way or another very soon.

[denise.jordan39]

Unfortunately, this is a risk with VSG. My surgeon tried to talk me out of it for this very reason. He ended up finding a very large (not seen on xray) hiatal hernia which he repaired. I have had very little problem. He explained that the reason is there is a valve at the top of your stomach. when they reduce the size of the stomach sometimes the pressure is just too much for some people, and they end up with permanent reflux. I've seen where some people have to have the sleeve converted to a full gastric bypass to cure the problem. go see a gastroenterologist so he can run more extensive tests. really your surgeon should have done this already, but you have to be proactive with your health. good luck I hope you feel better soon.

[Luann]

I had a hiatal hernia repaired during my sleeve. I had CHRONIC hearburn for several weeks after. It was so bad at times that I wouldn't eat or drink anything but water, because of the pain. I was taking prescription Protonix, and the doc increased it to twice daily. I was still getting it. I chewed Tums like candy, with no relief. The only thing that helps is liquid Mylanta. I was doing shots like a sorority girl.

At 3 months out, I still have heartburn, but not nearly as bad. I can usually manage it with my prescription and Tums, but keep the Mylanta close by. It does get better... Just takes a while for some of us.

Metread, just don't let them leave you on twice a day protonix if you get to a point where your symptoms improve. That's what happened to me. My gastroenterologist bumped me up to twice a day, and it was just left at that dose for years even though my symptoms had improved somewhat. My primary care doc finally caught it & said it was not good - I have a big family history of osteoporosis and also a spinal fusion that has not healed properly. A higher dose of protonix isn't good for bone health & can increase odds of B12 deficiency.

[Metread]

Metread, just don't let them leave you on twice a day protonix if you get to a point where your symptoms improve. That's what happened to me. My gastroenterologist bumped me up to twice a day, and it was just left at that dose for years even though my symptoms had improved somewhat. My primary care doc finally caught it & said it was not good - I have a big family history of osteoporosis and also a spinal fusion that has not healed properly. A higher dose of protonix isn't good for bone health & can increase odds of B12 deficiency.

I have dropped back to one ad day unless I need a second. Good to know. Thanks!