I contemplated my revision for a long time and like many others, researched for months. Before I had surgery, I asked my doctor and members of his staff what were the most common sleeve complications that they see. They seemed to search their brains and were still unable to come up with any complications. In fact, they all said that they just don't see complications with the gastric sleeve. Today while on my daily visit to my doctor's office to have my lapband port removal site packed (it wasn't healing properly on it's own) , I also reported my recent acid reflux since being sleeved. The assistant quickly offered to call in a prescription commonly prescribed by the doctor for acid reflux. She said she'd call in granules, but I got tablets instead and since I'm not cleared for tablets, I'm calling the on-call doctor tomorrow for something else. The weekend can be long if you're uncomfortable. Here's another thing, I asked his assistant if gall bladder removal is common after WLS patients. She said, "You know, it's funny you should say that because I've noticed that to be true since I've been working here." She couldn't provide more insight, but promised to pose my questions to the doctor. I'm wondering 1. how common is acid reflux as a long term issue and 2. how common is gallbladder surgery and why and how/if it can be avoided.

Umm.,. It's really common! How they would not know that is beyond me!! As a matter of fact a lot if doctors prescribe actigal to take for the first 6 months to reduce the risk...

Yeah, that's a bit unexpected. Although I guess it's not really a complication of the surgery. It's an issue that is common with all forms of rapid weight loss.

I lost weight quickly 4 years ago and had to have my gall bladder out and this wasn't from surgery as I just had it in March. Basically what happens is that your body gets used to a strict diet in high protein and low fat then you go and eat something high fat and your gall bladder over reacts. Crazy thing and intense pain, but not uncommon.

To help prevent gallbladder issues, we were prescribed ursodiol (actigall) for 6 months after surgery. We were also advised to take 1 prilosec each morning for the first month to help with acidity issues. After that if we felt that we needed it we could continue (It helped at first, but I didn't need it towards the end of the month).

I am still pre-surgery but I already have GE Reflux. I take Prilosec daily. It is a capsule. There is also Zantac which comes in liquid but has to be taken three times a day.

Judy