I keep reading/hearing more and more about the reflux after the sleeve. Is this very common or not very ?
My doctor gives all his patients a prescription for one month after surgery for acid refulx. I took it for 30 days and that was it. Never had a problem. Not sure if I even needed that first month prescription or not.
Many people have reflux before the sleeve, because it's a consequence of obesity.
Some people lose the weight, have less pressure on their abdomens, then the reflux is gone.
For others, it's different, but it's really hard to predict the what and how. The only thing I know so far is that for people with a really bad reflux before bariatric surgery, surgeons recommend the bypass. But when a hiatal hernia is discovered pre-op, the surgeon has also the option to do a nissen-sleeve (repair the hernia when doing the sleeve). I guess relux without a hernia is not a indication for the sleeve, because the LES is to lax and it could become worth.
I had surgery in Asia, surgeons also prescribe a PPI for one month post-op.
Before my surgery, a test with barium did show I had a small reflux which was mostly silent. I was only bothered twice a year if I was eating really spicy food. The rest of the time I was fine.
Post-op, I couldn't stop the PPI after one month. Took it more than a year, decreased the dosage, had a low acid diet etc. to be able to stop it.
Last November, I had some complicated issues, huge anemia triggered my asthma, asthma attacks and pressure on my abdomen gave me a hiatal hernia.
Now I know it's complicated to repair a hiatal hernia post-sleeve, most surgeons only offer the bypass.
I was tested for everything under the sun and do not have pressure on my abdomen, the awful reflux is the only consequence of the hiatal hernia.
So I'm going to have surgery to repair it.
My advice would be to make sure you get tested really well before surgery.
Also I discovered that in Europe (France and England) they prescribe a PPI for one full year post-op. It gives people the time to lose the weight if that's the reason for the reflux.
HW : 150 kgs
09/02/2014 : 142 /1st apt
01/20/2016 : 134 /surgery
01/30/2016 : 130 /1st post-op
02/27/2016 : 126 /2nd
04/23/2016 : 118 /3rd
07/16/2016 : 109 / 4th
10/01/2016 : 103 /5th
01/21/2017 : 98 /1 year post-op
February 2017 : 100 lbs lost
07/22/2017 : 96
10/21/2017 : 93
12/22/2017 : 91
01/02/2018 : 96!! regain (medication)
I took an antacid for 30 days. I ended up getting heartburn really bad on day 31. He had me take Omeprazole for one more week and then I was fine. At 3 months post-op, I had a MS relapse, was on 1,000mg of IV steroids a day for 5 days. I had to be on Omeprazole for 10 days during that time but i haven't had any issues other than that.
HW: 315 lbs (2008) Maintained at 296 until 2015.
SW: 255 lbs (10/11/18)
1 mth post op: 229 -26lbs
8 weeks post op 213 -42lbs
3 months post op 197 -58lbs (at home)
3 month post op appt 196 -59 lbs (1/28/19)
6 months post op 171 -84 lbs (4/11/19) (at home)
9 months post op 150 -105 lbs (7/11/19) (at home) *GOAL*
1 year post op - maintained at 150
My husband, who hasn't had surgery, suffered from acid reflux and our bariatric fitness instructor told us about a product. George's 100% Aloe Water, is sold at the Vitamin Shoppe and on Amazon, he takes a "shot glass" full morning and night and hasn't had a bit of reflux since. The studies for products that help reflux isn't very positive, dementia, etc. so he tried it and is hooked. I actually told a few bariatric friends and they've achieved success using the product. Just don't overuse as it may cause some loose stools, which some of us might actually appreciate lol... I usually don't make recommendations especially working in bariatrics, but it has helped him and others. I've tried it on occasion when my stomach isn't feeling up to par and it helped me also!
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