GERD

I have GERD (which is really bad ACID REFLUX****ep reading post about ppl having really bad heart burn. Its scary. Surgeon told me I would be relieve of this issue after I got the Lap-Band. Is this really true or should I prepare for it to get worst. I have been on medicine for it for 6 yrs.

Hi Veenie...I had GERD too and had been on 40mg Nexium for 10 years.  Two weeks prior to my surgery, I had a barium swallow and was diagnosed with a large hiatal hernia, which was repaired when I had my band surgery.

It lengthened my surgery to almost 3 hours and recovery was a bit rougher than it would have been, but I am not taking Nexium any longer.  I do still have a bit of heartburn with spicy foods and take omaprazole 20 mg about every other day, but it is nothing like it was before.

Hope this helps you!

Hey Steph M.
Thanks. I didn't know anyone who had GERD. So you know what its like. Hope it will get better...

Since your surgery is aware of this issue, they will most likely keep you on medication until you have lost some weight and slowly take you off of it.

Gerd is caused by excess caffeine, laying down prior to two hours after a meal & smoking! If you start to cut any of those things down, you may find some relief. And spicy foods of course can make it worse. I used to love spicy foods prior to being banded, now my band does not like spicy at all. I don't get heartburn, but my band reacts to it.

Good luck on your future banding!

Laura~by no means is that they only things that cause GERD. Weight plays a huge part of it. That is why most likely the surgeon will keep that person on a medication and slowly take them off over time to see if the problem has been resolved with weightloss.

GERD runs in my family and I guess I just picked out the bad habits that my family has and I know my doctor has made reference of those things making it worse or causing issues. The not laying down prior to two hours after a meal I got from my oncologist when I had chemo. I was getting bad heartburn then and they attributed it to that!

I pray that weightloss will cure the GERD or at least make it more controllable!

Hi Veenie,

I also had GERD prior to being banded.  I don't remember when it started, but it got progressively worst all the way up until I had my surgery.  I used to be full of indigestion ALL THE TIME and some nights I would have to keep a gallon (not exaggerating) of water by my bed because I'd wake up in the middle of the night with my chest burning. 

I also had a hiatial hernia removed during my surgery and feel like a brand new woman   I haven't had any reflux since then, and even my little sister asked me "Why don't you burp anymore?" with sad little puppy dog eyes.  LOL!  

I also had GERD prior to surgery and have not had to take any acid reflux medications since my surgery. I can't speak for everyone, but the lap-band sure cured my GERD. Before the surgery, I used to have to take two ranitidines(pepcid) a day.