Hi all,

For those of you two years out or further, do you have more heartburn? I have recently noticed an uptick, and I'm not sure if its time related or because I've become a little more adventurous in my post-op eating. Today I had a small serving of spaghetti sauce, noodles (not whole grain), and a bite of garlic bread. I am paying the price! Not sure if it's the Pasta, which I rarely eat, the spaghetti sauce (ditto), or if I am just more prone to heartburn as time goes by. I don't think it's the bite of garlic bread, because I have had that without problems many times.

Lynda

Correct, I have never had a problem with reflux before the sleeve. Like you, I also had a hiatal hernia fixed during my band to sleeve revision surgery. I plan on having follow-up scopes to make sure the damage has been stopped. I pray this is doing the trick.

I did not have a hiatal hernia repair and I was also a lap band revision. Did they tell you how often to repeat hour scopes ? My surgeon said one more then every few years but then said he rather i take care and follow up with my gi

I tried to go off my PPI. I was off of it for 6 months, hoping my body would adjust. It was hell.

I have to take it or the acid makes my life miserable.

My WLS doctor didn't mention getting scoped. And my GI didn't tell me any definate times for scopes. Said to just "keep an eye on it".

I'm almost 3 years out and have been taking 40mg omeprazol in the mornings and never had any heartburn but the last few months I've been having it at night to the point I start choking in my sleep and it wakes me up. My dr changed my dose to 40 in the morning and 40 before bed.. It was working,but I didn't really feel comfortable taking such a high dose. So my dr has me taking 20 & 20 and so far so good. I've tried skipping a does but when I do I always get heartburn.

I'm almost 3 years out and have been taking 40mg omeprazol in the mornings and never had any heartburn but the last few months I've been having it at night to the point I start choking in my sleep and it wakes me up. My dr changed my dose to 40 in the morning and 40 before bed.. It was working' date='but I didn't really feel comfortable taking such a high dose. So my dr has me taking 20 & 20 and so far so good. I've tried skipping a does but when I do I always get heartburn.[/quote']

Wow! Sounds kinda scary. Have you had any kind of scope to see what's going on?

I'm a little over 18 months post op and I can tell the next day if I didn't take my heartburn meds. I stopped taking meds after 6 months but then I got pregnant and needed it cuz the heartburn was so horrible. Now that baby is here I still have heartburn. I guess I will have to continue with the meds for life.

Correct, I have never had a problem with reflux before the sleeve. Like you, I also had a hiatal hernia fixed during my band to sleeve revision surgery. I plan on having follow-up scopes to make sure the damage has been stopped. I pray this is doing the trick.

Where was the damage? Is he saying the acid reflux can cause the cancer or the sleeve?

Where was the damage? Is he saying the acid reflux can cause the cancer or the sleeve?

Acid reflux can cause cancer. It killed a friend of mine in her 50s. The continued irritation on the esophagus causes the cells to mutate.

Here's a link:

Acid Reflux and Esophageal Cancer - Prevention.com

www.prevention.com/health/health.../acid-reflux-and-esophageal-cancer

It might suprise you to learn that acid reflux, left unchecked over time, is the major cause of cancer of the esophagus. Learn how to prevent esophageal cancer ...

Thanks for the information and link. This is another one of those long term VSG side effects that may not be well understood. Is the recommendation to keep taking a PPI indefinitely? Of course, that too can lead to problems...

Thanks for the information and link. This is another one of those long term VSG side effects that may not be well understood. Is the recommendation to keep taking a PPI indefinitely? Of course' date=' that too can lead to problems...[/quote']

My program only requires long term PPI if you suffer from heartburn or take meds known to cause ulcers. I spoke to my doc about long term PPI and she said that since we already have a hard time absorbing Calcium other than calcium citrate, taking the PPI long term is not a problem. What issues have you heard?

Lynda

Just the usual concerns about vitamin malabsorption and, more specially, calcium deficiencies. Note that I still take a Prilosec every morning despite whether I have an active concern or not as a preventative measure.

Just the usual concerns about Vitamin malabsorption and' date=' more specially, calcium deficiencies. Note that I still take a Prilosec every morning despite whether I have an active concern or not as a preventative measure.[/quote']

That's exactly what my PCP told me. He recommends everyone take a small dose daily. I haven't been good about costs gently doing that but have been experiencing more symptoms in the last couple of months and am going to get to it. I'm if the opinion that prevention with sleevers is probably pretty important given our smaller stomachs.

Wow! Sounds kinda scary. Have you had any kind of scope to see what's going on?

I haven't had one recently but I probably should... I have my yearly appointment with my surgeon coming up so maybe I can find out what's going on.

:-)