Does gastric sleeve make Cyclic vomiting Syndrome worse?

[Nellie D Perron 1]

I had a failed lap band, and decided to get a gastric sleeve. I suffer from Cyclic vomiting Syndrome.It is an uncommon disorder, many doctors know little about it. There are 4 people on my CVS support group who had bariatric surgery and now their episodes are out of control. Two of them went from episodes once a month to daily, and are now in wheelchairs due to malnutrition.I asked my surgeon, but he didn't say there were increased complications with CVS and gastric surgery.I cannot find any info out there, but there aren't many of us CVSers who are obese. Does anyone know ANYTHING about this topic?

[gonefromhere 32]

Do you have a doctor who manages your CVS? I would suggest asking them, they would be more familiar with the disease and would know what aggravates it.

[Nellie D Perron 1]

Thank you for your reply. I have been unable to find a specialist in my area proficient in CVS management. As it is, it took 12 years and 10 GI doctors and got nowhere. My GI doc now is willing to try the suggestions I get from the cvs group, but does not have alot of knowledge on his own about it. It is very uncommon.It was a good idea, just wish i had a doctor who would actually know to ask.

[gonefromhere 32]

Ugh, I'm sorry that sounds terrible!

There are some thoughts that CVS may be related to Migraines (especially abdominal migraines, which I have had before). I had daily migraines for several years, but treating my sleep apnea bought them down to 1 a month or so. I'm 4 weeks post op with the sleeve and I've already had 3 migraines.

Have you considered the bypass instead? It's reversible and the sleeve isn't. Usually I wouldn't suggest picking a procedure based on its reversibility, but if the sleeve doesn't go well you might be vomiting forever and that sounds terrible.

[Nellie D Perron 1]

There were a couple of people who had sleeve, a few who were Bypass.All have said the are now vomiting almost daily since the procedures. One has quoted Dr. Nowzarden from 600lb Life as saying no one with CVS should ever undergo gastric surgery where they are cutting the stomach organ. This is hearsay, but I am thinking I need to do more research and pass up the surgery date for the immediate future.Since i can't find any clinical research, and the only people who have actual real life experience are the patients themselves, I am afraid to take a chance unless someone knowledgeable about CVS can say otherwise. I was just hoping for some positive experiences, but I don't think there are too many CVSers who are obese. Most are underweight.

[Jaswin 0]

Hi there,

Was wondering if you ever made a decision or found doctors or patients who could share more details on doing bariatric surgery if you have cyclic vomiting syndrome?

I've suffered from CV for over 15 years (when I was a young teen). The epidodes have become fewer thankfully over the years and i use medicine like fenergon and Migraine medicine to lessen the severity of episodes which are usually triggered when I get sick with a cold or virus. Last year I think i had about 4 episodes in total which is an improvement from when I would have monthly episodes as a teen

All my doctors seem to think that doing the sleeve is the right choice for me especially as I have developed chronic back pain which is making weightloss even more difficult. I know any surgery is a risk but I would feel so much more comfortable about this situation if I knew of literally anyone who has CV and was able to live a normal life after surgery. There is no research that I know of. So few doctors are even familiar with this syndrome and so they dont see this as a potential problem for surgery. But I am in so much fear about doing something irreversable and slipping back to having multiple episodes of vomiting or if this could actually become a daily problem which would be a living hell.

Hoping there is someone out there who might have insight on this.

Thanks!

Jaswin

[ambcoen 1]

Hi,

I have cvs, have had it around 5 years now. I just found out from my friend that our insurance might cover weight loss surgery for me. I started gaining weight before I got cvs, but now its been more the last couple of years. I sometimes blame medication, but I started gaining before I started taking preventative medication for cvs. I have episodes way less because of medication, and I added the mito cocktail to my regimen(vitamins) and now even less episodes. Im afraid to change anything that might make me sick again. I haven't spoken to a dr yet, bit just doing research on it. I also noticed in some of my cvs support groups that there are a few who've had weight loss surgery and are way worse, or they didn't have cvs until after surgery. Please any info or insight would be appreciated.

[sydkid20 0]

Hi there, Im on a cvs group online where a few years ago one of the members passed away after getting the sleeve due to non stop episodes/malnutrition. Desi was her name and it was such a horrible thing to happen. Also there was a lady that had the bypass reversed due to it causing more episodes. But being someone who suffers also and am overweight, I wish there were more answers on this subject as far as success rates vs. Failure/ reversed stats