Got GERD?

Long time lurker, first time poster, etc. etc. :)

I'm currently in month two of the 6-month medically supervised weight loss program that is one of the requirements to get my insurance to approve bariatric surgery. I did a ton of research before any of my initial appointments back in April and May, and I have really been leaning towards the VSG. One thing that really worries be though is the issue of acid reflux/GERD, which seems to be a pretty common occurrence with the VSG. I don't have acid reflux now, and my doctor actually scheduled and upper endoscopy in August to confirm that everything's good in my stomach and in the VSG is even an option given what they see. I have a feeling it will be fine, and I'll have to actually pick one. My doctor said either option is fine (assuming endoscopy goes well), and though they probably would recommend the RNY because I have ~175 of extra weight to lose, I know people have been successful on the sleeve. So I was hoping I could hear from some of your VSGers regarding your experiences, particularly with Acid Reflux/GERD. Did you have any issues before? After? Is it managable? How? Do you wish you'd gone with RNY? Is there anything else regarding VSG-specific ramifications you wished you'd considered?

This is such a huge decision, and I'm a bit of an obsessive planner. I want to make sure I really look at it from every angle before I commit.

I had no issues with acid pre-op and I've had no issues post-op. (Well, I have issues if I have too much fructose, but that's because I have fructose malabsorption.)

There are a number of people here who have lost that much weight with VSG. You'll lose as much weight as you work to lose with VSG, RNY, or DS.

That's good to hear! And yes, that has been my thinking as well, you definitely seem to get out what you put in.

I didn't really have it before (once in a blue moon - maybe 5 times a year for a few hours after tomatoey foods?), but I have it now. I can control it with a PPI, but I worry about taking one long term. I haven't had a chance to talk to my surgeon about it yet, so I don't know how much I should be concerned... Otherwise, I'm quite happy so far with the VSG.

I, also, have had acid issues very rarely, but I do worry they'll become a full-blown thing with the VSG. It looks like you had your surgery fairly recently--how quickly after did you develop issues with acid? Also, when you say control, does the PPI just reduce the intensity, or does it work pretty well to completely eliminate the feeling? Sorry for all the questions!

My surgeon puts everyone on a prescription strength PPI for 3 months after surgery to promote healing of the stomach. I was fine that whole time. No acid issues whatsoever. So when the prescription ended, I stopped taking them as instructed.

Day one was fine, day two was bad, day 3 was horrible - like nothing I'd ever felt with my few times a year getting a little heartburn (I never had it when I was thin, only when overweight so the surgeon wasn't concerned. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired during my VSG so he thought that may have contibuted to the few times I felt it).

So I started back on OTC PPIs, which are half the dose of the prescription ones. I went back to fine. I tried to wean off of them, taking the OTC dose for 2 weeks, then every other day (still okay), then tried to switch to Zantac which is an H2 blocker and some think are easier on you than a PPI. That didn't work. Back to bad acid on Zantac. So I'm doing the every other day OTC PPI until I meet with my surgeon in September and we can talk about it (I'm away for the summer, or I'd make an appt now).

He told me 40-50% of patients develop GERD after surgery, so it's not like I didn't know it was a possibility, but I was bummed to be one of them.

This was really helpful! Thank you so much for sharing. I've also heard that 40-50% stat and that's what makes me nervous--it's so high! Lots to think about, and you've given me some more questions to ask my doc at my next appt!

Me too, Cecily. I never had it before and now I am on 20 mg omeprazole a day. I've been on it for months now and someday I'd like to get off of it due to the long term issues. I don't have the common gerd feelings but after a day or so of not taking it, I get a slight burning in my esophagus.

I didn't have reflux or GERD issues before surgery, and I don't have them now. I deal with some excess acid now and then, but then I take a PPI to combat that and it's fine.

My initial goal was to lose 125 pounds after surgery (had already lost 60 before). I am within 15 pounds of that goal, and fully intend to lose another 25 because that was my "secret" goal all along. So when I get there, I will have lost 150 pounds after surgery (210 total). I have seen many here who have lost even more, so I believe VSG is a viable option for you if that's what you want to do.

I chose VSG over RNY because I had one major food issue (among many) that kept me from keeping weight off when I lost it...portion control. I knew I could eat the right things and all that because I'd done it a dozen times before. I could diet like the dickens, but even if I was living on 500 calories a day, I tried to figure out a menu that allowed me to eat the MOST food I could for that number of calories...like salad as big as my head! So when I stopped eating "diet" food, I ballooned right back up again! I knew VSG would be the answer for my portion control issues...and I was right!

Congrats on all the loss! And I'm totally smiling about the "secret" goal, because I haven't even had the surgery yet, but I have one of those too. :)

I also have some issues with portion control, but I also really love carbs...I've been doing really well on the carb/protein goals for the medically supervised diet though, and it's good to remind myself that I actually can enjoy eating healthy, it's just hard to maintain on my own. :/