Hi all,

I have a nurse friend who went to surgeon today for a consult, was told she could not have the sleeve because it would make her gastric reflux worse? But the the by pass would cure it? What...tell me this is wrong@! Tracy w.

When I went for my endoscopy they discovered I have Barrett's esophagas, caused by acid reflux. I consulted with the bariatric surgeon and the gastroenterologist, and then they consulted each other. Here is what the gastro doc said: "I strongly recommend you don't have any surgery at all. You have no idea how many patients I treat who are literally starving due to malabsorption issues, who vomit all day, etc. Find another way to lose weight." I then asked, "Were those sleeve patients?" He said, "Oh... no. Those are all bypass patients. I don't have any problem sleeve patients." I asked him a lot of questions about whether the reflux would increase my chance of getting cancer one day, if the sleeve would make treatment more difficult if necessary, etc. He explained that there's a difference between acid reflux and reflux, and meds would control the acid. After a long conversation, he said he was comfortable with me getting the sleeve. My surgeon didn't agree, but after they talked, he told me I could have the sleeve with the understanding that if I'm totally miserable from reflux I'll have to undergo a bypass. He said the anatomy is changed to the point where reflux is not a problem. I may be crazy for doing this, but emotionally the bypass feels like mutilation to me, and I swore I'd never have it. Let's just hope and pray I never need it. Hope this helps. If she has doubts, she should speak to a gastroenterologist.