I had my surgery in TJ so figuring out a lot of stuff on my own. Do VSGers stay on antacids for life? Or just the first few months? TIA!

My Dr. said to take them for 6 months after surgery.

My doc has me on them twice a day for the first month at least.

My dr has me take 1 a day for the first 3 months.

I was instructed to take them daily for the first two weeks, then start skipping days after that as long as I didn't notice my GERD reoccurring. I was able to wean off them completely by about a month and a half out, and now I only need the occasional one if I eat something too spicy or acidic.

I was taking Prilosec daily before surgery, and I've continued taking it since my sleeve was done last November (7.5 mos ago). I had a hiatal hernia repaired at the time of my sleeve surgery, so I have tried once since then to wean off the Prilosec. It didn't work - my heartburn came back within a day or two, so I resumed taking the med. I may try again some time to wean off, but it's not important to me either way.

What I'm super glad that I no longer have to take: Insulin and blood pressure meds.

Mine didn't have me take any. Just carafate for 5 days after surgery. I feel great and have no problems with acid in any way. I'm 1 month out.

My Mexico surgeon required 2 months of 40mg Omeprazole (which he sent home with me) after that I weaned to 20mg for a couple weeks, and with no GERD symptoms he told me to discontinue. I occasionally took Rolaids or Maalox after that, but haven't taken any in at least a month. Just over 6 months out.

I was on 1/day for a minimum of 1 month, but I was provided a 2 month supply because many people would need it for 2 months or longer. I occasionally take it (I'm 4 months out in a few days) a few hours after certain food. I can feed the burning in my esophagus sometimes.

Thanks everyone! I never needed antacids pre surgery. So I guess I'll go to two months then start skipping days/weaning off it and see how it goes.

My Dr. said to take them for 6 months after surgery.

Mine requires this as well because he said he wants to make the most healing environment for the stomach as he can.

@@JeanZ_RN hi! I know this is an old thread, but I've been trying to find out how prilosec is taken after surgery. I take it before as well, and my dr said he would get me an Rx for it, so it will be even cheaper for me. But how do I take it once I have the sleeve? There's no way a pill or capsule will go down, will it? Plus I won't be able to "gulp" Water to get it down. I think this concerns me more than anything else. Thanks!

@wannaBthinsoon My Prilosec are very small, I just take with a sip of Water... no gulps required! I was okayed to take those and the pain pills the day I was released from the hospital.

@@liannatx Thank you. Mine are large capsules. But I also have seen the smaller ones. I wonder if I should pick some up before Thursday (Sleeve day) or just plan to open the capsule and shake it up in my Protein. what do you think?

Not sure... my doc sent me home with 10 days worth, I take 2 a day. Now I just buy the generic Prilosec at Walmart.

Your surgery day is getting SO CLOSE!!!! I am excited for you. Just be prepared for those first few days to be the worst, because they really are... then it just gets easier every single day after!