Thoughts on PPI's being linked to dementia later in life?

30 years damn i'm complaining about 3 or 4.

Hey there!  I had the sleeve three years ago, and as a long-time GERD sufferer, also still take PPIs. I was told at surgery time that if my GERD got worse, they could revise to RNY -- but I your signature indicates you had an RNY -- so I'm curious about the need for a PPI after an RNY, since I was told that RNY almost always "cures" GERD.

I certainly don't want to go down the RNY road to help my GERD, if that's not the case -- but I am concerned about long-term use of PPIs -- my mom had early onset Alzheimers -- so I've seen dementia up-close and personal -- and want to do everything I can to avoid it!

This, exactly. Alzheimer runs on my husband's side of the family and it is heartwrenching. But, cancer runs strong on my side so the whole idea of just gutting your way through it just is not an option either. Ugh. I would like to sign up for the option of managed acid without crappy side effects please!

I have not had symptoms of GERD since RNY, but I have do Barrett's Esophagus.  I had 6 pre-cancerous tumors removed prior to my RNY.  The PPI is pre-cautionary.  Most of your stomach acid is produced in the lower half of the stomach.  After RNY, the pouch still has some cells that can produce acid.  I had a VBG 29 years ago and the surgeon totally messed up that surgery to the point that 6 specialists told me they could not fix the problem and I would eventually die of esophageal cancer.  I was told there were two surgeons in the whole country that might take on very difficult gastric surgeries. 

I was referred to the top surgeon at Mayo Clinic and was finally told that he might be able to fix the problem.  My RNY looks very different from everyone else's.  Due to MASSIVE scar tissue, my esophagus and the muscle that closes the stomach off from it, are destroyed.  Stomach acid flows freely up my esophagus.  Before my surgery I was in constant pain, I had acid sores in my mouth the size of dimes and I had to sleep almost in a sitting position to keep the acid down. My surgeon told me that I had a 1 in 4 chance of not waking up from my revision surgery.  That surgeon saved my life.  I am pain free.  The acid is controlled.  I have a yearly endoscopy to check for new tumors  and changes in the old lesions. 

 RNY did cure my GERD.  The PPI is just insurance for me.  Considering my history, I'll take it gladly.   

The moral of the story is:   Make sure your surgeon knows what the hell he's doing before he cuts on you.  I was very young and did not vet that first surgeon and it almost cost me my life.

Holy yikes. I am so sorry you had to go through all of that. I cannot even imagine.

My dad died of esophageal cancer caused by years of acid reflux. If I needed a PPI, I would take it in a heartbeat. Esophageal cancer is horrible and 90% of people diagnosed with it are dead within a year of their diagnosis.

I am so sorry about your father. Cancer sucks. It claims all of the women on my side of the family, so I hear you. I too will opt to risk the dementia to keep the cancer possibility at bay, especially given my history.

It does have me worried.  I take a pretty hefty amount of PPIs each day to keep my GERD in chec****ep telling myself two things: ****sophogeal cancer is an actual thing, and (2) Correlation is not causation.  I await further info.

I glanced at the study earlier today. This type of study by nature is full of potential confounders.  That doesn't make it a bad study,  this type of study isn't meant to "prove."  It shows an association which makes worthy subject of future studies that are more appropriate for proving causation.

It isn't a game changer when it comes to changing treatment plans in my opinion. 

The other issue with the study is it focused on up to 75 yr. old peeps...well I think any stat will show that using a kleenex will increase your chances of dementia after 65.

Besides we all knew going into this there would be tradeoffs but remember we were willing to trade off anything to get rid of Morbid Obesity, so I'm with Kairk - bring on the prunes 'n rice pudding down the road, it's way better than the road I was on as an MO sufferer