Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Heartburn Questions



Recommended Posts

So I had my consultation with my surgeon on Monday. Based on my own research I had thought gastric bypass was the best option for me. However my surgeon said that at my weight (I'm currently 265lbs at 5'3.5") and given my heartburn/acid reflux isn't bad enough to warrant daily medication, he feels like a sleeve would be the better option because there is less risk involved and the weight loss expected would be about the same. I now have an endoscopy scheduled for later this month so they can see if there is a hernia in play, and check damage/issues with my esophagus to confirm my issues aren't severe. This was thanks to the nurse, who was sort of advocating on my behalf for double checking the issues weren't severe. After the endoscopy we'll make a decision on bypass or sleeve then. I'm self pay though, so I'm really nervous that we'll go with sleeve and then my heartburn issues will get worse and I'll need a revision (which I'll also have to pay out of pocket for).

So I wanted to check with some folks that have had the surgery about heartburn after. Currently I get heartburn/acid reflux 3-4 times a week and I medicate with tums/milk. It started when I was pregnant and didn't ever go away (even though I lost some weight while pregnant). Usually issues happen if I eat too close to bedtime, eat too much at dinner, or eat acidic foods. Sometimes it's bad enough that I'll wake up coughing in the middle of the night, feeling like I have stomach acid in my lungs (this is when I attempt to drink some milk to get the throat burning to calm down, not that it works well). If you have had similar heartburn prior to surgery, and went with the sleeve surgery, did the issues worsen? Did they get better with weight loss (my surgeon suspects it's a weight issue and will go away after the weight is gone)? Am I being reasonable in my concern or should I just listen to the surgeons recommendations regarding which surgery to get and keep my own fears out of the decision?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm close to your height and started out around the same weight (5' 2" HW of 271) and had some heartburn before I started my program. My symptoms were milder than yours (lots of discomfort after eating, able to tough it out without tums, but miserable for hours after eating). I found that when I lost some weight pre-surgery it mostly went away. May have been self-inflicted pain from my habit of eating too much and too fast.

I did have an endoscopy and menonotry done which was enough information to make my Dr. comfortable with VSG for me. He waved the 24 hour PH study for me, but that is normally part of tests my program does to ensure someone with GERD symptoms is a VSG candidate. Turned out that while I had a little bit of stretching in my esophageal sphincter everything looked great and I was given the green light for VSG. I'm 1 week out from surgery now and feeling really good. Part of my program's protocol includes putting VSG patients on omeprazole for the first few months which is supposed to help tame the stomach acid while your healing and eating very little. You might ask if this is something that your program does.

All that said, I really understand hesitating. The prospect of GERD misery getting worse with surgery is scary. My understanding from my program is that the results of the menometry, PH study, and endoscopy are pretty reliable in determining if someone is not a good VSG candidate because of current GERD, but that there is also a chance that anyone could develop GERD with VSG, so there is some gamble for everyone. Weighting the % risk of this vs. that was one of the hardest parts of making my surgery decision. It took me 2.5 years from beginning to consider the option of WLS to signing the papers to confirm that I made the decision. I am only a week out, but so far I am really glad I did it and none of my worst fears have happened.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had heartburn prior to surgery- generally I had it about 1x a day, sometimes more or less. I always controlled with Tums. I have been on 20 mg of Pepcid since I had surgery in early November and *knock on wood* I haven’t had to have a tums since. I am not sure if it is the Diet change or the weight loss or just the Pepcid, but it has been a welcome change. I’m honesty kind of concerned about tapering off the Pepcid in case it’s that because this is the longest stretch I think I’ve had in years without heartburn.

So, so far so good from my perspective.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for the responses. The surgeon did casually throw out that if I develop GERD I can be put on a prescription for it, but I wasn't a huge fan of that attitude. Part of the reason for getting the surgery is to get off the medications I'm on that are related to issues caused by obesity. So the thought of having to put on something new due to the surgery when I was really hoping the heartburn would go away was a bit of a downer. I'll try to get my anxiety over it in line and just wait to see what the Endoscopy says. The surgeon I have has been doing this a long while now, so I should probably listen to him. It's just the self pay and thought of needing revision for GERD later that is giving me the ickies.

Edited by SunnyinSC

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had bad heartburn for years. Same frequency as you but probably more severe because no amount of tums would alleviate it. I needed PPIs for a while, then when the script ran out, I thought I would be fine, but it came back again 3-4 x per week but bad enough to cause severe chest pain.

I had the same concerns as you regarding sleeve. My endoscopy was normal.

Since my heartburn was controllable with daily PPIs pre-op, I went ahead with sleeve hoping for same response to PPIs post-sleeve.

I'm about 7 weeks post-sleeve now and on daily PPIs (I'm on once daily only, which is standard but could be increased to twice daily for some).

So far, I've had mild heartburn about 3 times, always after meals, and I think all were related to me missing a PPI dose!

I haven't lost nearly enough weight yet to say that my heartburn is better due to weight loss post-op. So I attribute the almost absence of problems with heartburn to the daily PPI.

I would have thought twice about the sleeve if my pre-op heartburn was not responsive to PPIs.

But for me, since I was PPI-responsive pre-sleeve, it seems my symptoms are PPI-responsive post-sleeve.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • vsg.with.sharon

      Hey everyone!
      I’m new here! Looking for some friends! 🥰
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×