4 weeks post up - acid reflux has returned

[Keona1323 11]

Hi All,

I had a sleeve revision to mini bypass 4 weeks ago. I had a brief period of relief from the acid reflux (due to GERD) but now it is back. I am taking a PPI every PM and find I wake in the middle of the night with a burning bile sensation. I chew a few tums.
Also during the day, I don’t have much of an appetite (yay) but I find that if I don’t eat every 3 hours or so, the burning returns and I can taste bile.
Has anyone had this? I had really hoped this revision would be the end all for this issue and I was so optimistic but now I’m almost worse off than before the surgery…….

[catwoman7 10,867]

I know regular gastric bypass usually cures GERD, but I don't know about mini-bypass. It might (usually, anyway), I just don't know enough about that surgery to know one way or the other. I'd let your clinic know what's going on. Hopefully it's just a flare-up and bumping up for PPI for a while might help - but ask them before doing anything (I'm not a medical person...)

[catwoman7 10,867]

PS - I just did a quick google search on this. This is NOT a scholarly article, so there's that - but it does mention that bile reflux (as opposed to acid reflux) can occur in about 5% of mini-bypass patients. It goes on to say they see it more in sleeve to mini-bypass revision patients than they do with non-revisions. Again, I don't know what kind of research is behind this because this isn't a scholarly article - they may just be basing this on their specific patients. But again, let your clinic know what's going on. Hopefully it's just some kind of flare-up.

https://mexicobariatriccenter.com/bile-reflux-after-mini-gastric-bypass-surgery/

[ChunkCat 675]

I agree, this may be bile reflux which is different to stomach acid reflux. They might be able to give you a medication that will help absorb the excess bile in addition to the PPI to protect your stomach. I'd definitely call your surgeon, mine today mentioned that sometimes bile reflux can happen as a flare up in certain surgeries, but often calms down with the right meds.