At 3 months P.O., my doctor took me off the acid reducer (omperazole, Prilosec, PPI). About a week later I developed horrible upper stomach pain, gagging, belching, feeling like I wanted to throw up and nausea.

I thought it was something I ate but found out that if you are on these acid reducers for more than 4 weeks it can cause a re-bound effect when you stop the meds and cause the stomach to OVER-produce stomach acid causing you stomach pain or acid reflux symptoms.

I did not know to expect this this prior to surgery and wanted to share in case anyone else developed these symptoms after they stop an acid reducer.

I have a note into my doctor about what we are going to do, but online I’ve read that the rebound effect can last for 2 weeks to 3 months. You can try a different acid reducer or wean yourself off the Prilosec.

I've read about the rebound effect, plus all the harm acid reducers cause so I took myself off them (couldn't get them down well anyway - that chalky taste was too much) at two weeks. I have a degree in chemistry/pathology and I knew its to reduce stomach "acid" and decided to utilize baking soda (a base opposed to an acid) to neutralize the acid with no rebound. Check with your doctor, look up baking soda stomach acid reduction research and see if this would work for you..but check with your doctor first since I'm not a MEDICAL doctor..

? Thank you for that. I understand reducing the acid from the Dr’s POV during the stomach healing after surgery, but the rebound effect is horrible!!

I am all for natural means of getting past this so I will discuss this with my team for sure and look up your suggestions! It’s much appreciated!!

7 minutes ago, DandelionSun said:

? Thank you for that. I understand reducing the acid from the Dr’s POV during the stomach healing after surgery, but the rebound effect is horrible!!

I am all for natural means of getting past this so I will discuss this with my team for sure and look up your suggestions! It’s much appreciated!!

Glad to help, I hope it works for you. I know several friends and family who were prescribed antacids but after reading up on them also switched to baking soda and haven't looked back!

For anyone going through this and wanting to try the baking soda method, please note that baking soda contains sodium, so if you have high blood pressure or watching sodium for other reasons (kidneys, etc) please be aware of this and talk with your doctor about it first!

1 minute ago, DandelionSun said:

For anyone going through this and wanting to try the baking soda method, please note that baking soda contains sodium, so if you have high blood pressure or watching sodium for other reasons (kidneys, etc) please be aware of this and talk with your doctor about it first!

I should have mentioned I don't use it daily..just as needed. Plus, I consume very little sodium as it is!

Oh boy, my dr says I need to take it for the rest of my life!
That could be that I had a huge GERD problem before, I had a huge hiatal hernia fixed during the surgery because my esophagus was in the shape of an L or that my surgeon isn’t really a bariatric surgeon, but a thoracic surgeon that I was sent to because of the L shape in my esophagus.

Oh boy, my dr says I need to take it for the rest of my life!
That could be that I had a huge GERD problem before, I had a huge hiatal hernia fixed during the surgery because my esophagus was in the shape of an L or that my surgeon isn’t really a bariatric surgeon, but a thoracic surgeon that I was sent to because of the L shape in my esophagus.

Oh boy, my dr says I need to take it for the rest of my life!
That could be that I had a huge GERD problem before, I had a huge hiatal hernia fixed during the surgery because my esophagus was in the shape of an L or that my surgeon isn’t really a bariatric surgeon, but a thoracic surgeon that I was sent to because of the L shape in my esophagus.

Oh boy, my dr says I need to take it for the rest of my life!
That could be that I had a huge GERD problem before, I had a huge hiatal hernia fixed during the surgery because my esophagus was in the shape of an L or that my surgeon isn’t really a bariatric surgeon, but a thoracic surgeon that I was sent to because of the L shape in my esophagus.

Oh boy, my dr says I need to take it for the rest of my life!
That could be that I had a huge GERD problem before, I had a huge hiatal hernia fixed during the surgery because my esophagus was in the shape of an L or that my surgeon isn’t really a bariatric surgeon, but a thoracic surgeon that I was sent to because of the L shape in my esophagus.

Wow toodlrue - I’ve never heard of an L shaped esophagus! I hope you’re doing well now!

I’ve had more than one dr tell me I need to take these for the rest of my life to prevent ulcers developing. In fact, just this week a dr told me of someone ending up in the ER with this exact thing! Have to choose your battles. But I would advise anyone that had gastric bypass RNY consult drs before trying to take a different approach.

13 hours ago, BlondePatriotinCDA said:

I've read about the rebound effect, plus all the harm acid reducers cause so I took myself off them (couldn't get them down well anyway - that chalky taste was too much) at two weeks. I have a degree in chemistry/pathology and I knew its to reduce stomach "acid" and decided to utilize baking soda (a base opposed to an acid) to neutralize the acid with no rebound. Check with your doctor, look up baking soda stomach acid reduction research and see if this would work for you..but check with your doctor first since I'm not a MEDICAL doctor..

I didnt understand that i was supposed to take this medication for the first 3 months after the surgery. I thought they were on an as needed basis so i never took them. I read up on the effects and like you decided not to take them. Im glad i didnt!

I took Prilosec for 25 YEARS !!!!! Yep - That long !!!! Now that I've had the sleeve and my hiatel hernia repaired,I was able to wean myself off of them and I don't need them any more No rebound effect. The pathology report came back on the part of my stomach that was removed and it reported multiple polyps in there due to the years of Prilosec use. My doc didn't seem concerned about it . All those years ,I never knew the hernia could be repaired !

When I had my revision from sleeve to bypass, I was on Omeprazole and was slowly weaned off. Just stopping completely can cause that rebound issue, so he had me taking the full dose every day for the first 4 weeks. Then every other day for 2 weeks, then 3x a week for 2 weeks, then I went off them completely. And I had absolutely no issues at all. I had to have the revision because I originally had the sleeve and had MAJOR complications (incredible gerd that required 80mg of Nexium per day, still had break through reflux so Pepcid was added as needed, and then pre-cancerous polyps developed all through my stomach and duodenum, requiring 5 surgeries for remove everything). My surgeon wanted me on the PPI and to do a gradual step down to wean off to protect my stomach and allow it to heal so there wouldn't be any additional issues. I would say maybe try stepping down gradually off the PPI and see if that helps.