I had an RNY 3 1/2 years ago.  I had severe GERD and was taking Prontonix 2x a day. After the surgery the GERD resolved.  In the last several months I had been experiencing some symptoms again, primarily a sore throat.  Even went to an Ears/Throat Dr. to rule out post nasal drip for the sore throat.  He said that there was irritation on my esophagus that appeared to be from GERD.  My internist put be back on (this time Prevacid) -- but it didn't seem to be working, so I was told to double the dosage.  Still, it has only gotten worse and I started taking Pepcid AD in addition!

 Today I went to a nutritionist who said that the problem may actually be too little acid (apparantly, not only does the small pouch produce little stomach acid, but the PPI's (meds) were shutting the acid production totally down, causing my food to ferment and not digest with symptoms similar to GERD).

 He suggested I take Betaine Hydrochloride (Betaine HCL) -- [2 tablets with every meal] -- well I started this evening and so far not only do I have the throat soreness, but now the burning goes all the way down, and my stomach is rumbling up a storm. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this problem, and if so, what helped? ~ Thanks ;)

Hi, My name is Patty and I just found this site. It is wonerful there is a place that other people can really understand what you are going through. I had my wls in 1995. My dr did a modified roux n-y with j hook up. I have had many complications. He bypassed my entire stomach (found out from a gastroscopy test )with no pouch left.After all these years I still have the dumping syndrome. I have gone through severe hypoglycemic swings, pernicious anemia and do weekly b12 im injections. I have a low ferritin level. It went down to 4. Ihave had 4 rounds of infusions with 4-8 infusions per round.I have also had two packed red cell infusions due to severe anemia. My vitamin d is nonexistent and my teeth have been crumbling. I have raynauds now and cannot even get near a freezer. I use to scuba dive but last year i tried snorkling in the warm waters in cancun and my hands turned purple. My thyroid is low. But, the worst is my immune system has gone wacko. I have developed a severe allergy to nuts and cannot even be in the same room as someone with nuts. I have to carry several epi-pens with me at all times and have made many trips to the ER. I lost from 296 (post twin baby weight could not get down) to my lowest was 125. I am six feet tall and currently weigh 145. The iron infusions are the one thing that has helped me with energy. There are months that all I want to do after work is come home and do absolutely nothing. I spend many weekends laying in bed because of no energy.I am currently going through a set of 4 infusions. I had my second yesterday and i feel so much better I was up at 4am fixed several things around the house I had let go. I went out bought many flowers. I got my deck ready for summer putting up the table and chairs and swing, planting flower pots all over and made it look inviting all before I went to work at 11:00. Afterwork, I stopped and got more flowers and food to do a barbque. We had a wonderful evening. The first in a long time. Anyway ask your hematologist about your ferritin level. If you do need an infusion, I hope it makes you feel like I do today.