I've done the 5 months of monitored weight loss. I'm having doubts. My acid reflux has gotten so bad I now have to take omeprazole everyday because apparently everything I eat now gives me heartburn.

I'm doubting my surgeon, the type of surgery I originally picked, the hospital and this whole thing.

The surgeon hasn't followed up with me at all. I've seen him once since my first meeting. Are they supposed to follow up?

The sleeve makes acid reflux worse, I'm teetering with the idea of bypass but not sure my surgeon will agree to do it. The other surgeon in the practice that I originally met with does bypass but he is seemed so impersonable and quick to pass me to another surgeon that I don't know if I would want him to do it-but he's been doing it for 32years.

If I move hospitals I'm afraid of issues with medical records and tests being transferred over.

I know deep down I want to do this-so bad, but I'm having so much anxiety.

I need help please.

I only met my surgeon once before the day of surgery, and it was early in the process. I thought he was a bit of a cold fish and very intimidating, but I also believe that his beside manner is beside the point. I was unconscious for the most important part of our relationship. He just needs to be good at cutting me; the rest of the team can look after my emotional well-being. So I stuck with him because he's the head of the program (which is a Center of Excellence and all that) and is in his third decade as a bariatric surgeon who's done this literally hundreds (thousands?) of times. I'm really glad I did, as I have warmed to him considerably since the day of surgery and through the aftercare. Also, the nutritionist, nurse practitioners, aides, and support coordinator are all stellar and I have felt very comfortable with them all along.

Having said all that, you should definitely challenge the team on the choice of surgery between sleeve and bypass. If your reflux is as bad as it sounds, sleeve is most likely the wrong choice and it's not too late to change course if that's the right thing for you long-term.

Good luck!

Edited June 22, 201511 yr by anaxila

I know exactly how you feel....

first off, i think you need more opinions...i think you need bypass and not sleeve

i have my date but very scared, other than my weight, i am in really good shape inside! am i gonna be skinny and unhealthy? instead of fat and healthy???

I wanted the sleeve and had my mind set on that until I had the reflux test and it was so bad the surgeon told me the sleeve was a big NO! I cried in front of him and he asked why I did not want RNY. I couldn't give him a good answer at all. I think in my mind that the RNY was such a huge surgery, but he told me he would give me a week to think about it and that if I was his family, he would highly recommend it. Needless to say, I went with RNY 10 months ago. I never had 1 problem at all. I'm so glad I went this way as I know 4 people with the sleeve and they struggle bad with reflux and their weight loss. In 10 months I lost 125lbs. I work out hard cardio daily and feel the best I have ever been. I am 30 lbs away from my goal weight. I eat so healthy daily too. It's work. I have been on 2 heartburn meds daily at my surgeons request for a full year, but do not have reflux ever. They will be taking me off of them cold turkey in 2 months????????. I was in your same boat, but it all worked out. Good luck

Just what I have gone thru on my short journey. I have had acid reflux for years. I wanted the sleeve and only the sleeve. The surgeon recommended the sleeve hands down. Never mentioned any issues with reflux. Only that it can be due to eating too fast and not allowing for to go into stomach before more food met it. I was on some acid meds different than ones I was on prior to surgery. I haven't taken it for weeks and haven't yet had any acid reflux. Just be comfortable with your surgeon and the office. Know about each option, as one is better for some and not others. Good luck!

Like others here, I had initially been dead set on the sleeve, but during the pre-op tests I discovered I had severe acid reflux and Barrett's, so RNY became my only option. It took awhile for me to wrap my head around this new surgery (since I had initially been against it), but now I am completely for it. So, my first suggestion would be for you to switch from sleeve to RNY. But, really you should research as much as you can about RNY, about gerd vs sleeve, and about Barrett's, about esophageal cancer, so you can get a much deeper understanding as to why the sleeve is so bad for someone with acid reflux, and why the bypass helps it so well.

Second, while I can understand there may be very competent surgeons with terrible bedside manners, I would suggest you at least check out other surgeon/weight loss surgery team options in your area. A consultation doesn't cost you anything, and it's very important, when going through a decision and lifestyle changes as large as this, to be 100% comfortable with the people involved with your process. And, if possible, try to have another sit-down with the bypass surgeon - maybe he/she was just having an off-day and another meeting would set you at ease.

It's a big decision - just make sure you're doing your due diligence in terms of researching it all - the surgery types, the surgeons in your area, the hospitals, the post-op support programs - everything.

Good luck - we're here for you!

I'm still taking Prilosec, I'm 3 weeks out, and I'm experiencing reflux. Is this normal?

Maybe (having reflux after rny isn't common,but it does happen to some people ). I'd let your surgeon's office know, though. I started having reflux issues a few weeks out, and it turned out to be a stricture.

Yep i had reflux with rny but it was a stricture as well. Not fun but easy to fix. Im not on any meds after.