Thoughts on acid, dilations....

Just as a little recap, i have some narrowing (stenosis) at the bottom of my stomach (which was NOT present at 3 mo post op as indicated by CT/Upper GI but did appear during EGD a couple months ago).

Ive also suffered from bad acid problems since surgery. 

Some days I just want to call and ask for my RNY my surgeon wants to do (but I can't...I need the nsaids)

So, my other option is 1) nothing (suggested by my surgeon since im still fat, need to lose weight and could benefit from this reduced capacity) or 2) a dilation suggested by my GI doc or 3) start a war with my insurance to cover a PPI that worked for me when they gave me a 30 day trial.  

Nothing isnt an option - the acid and hunger is killing me. Its horrible to feel starving, eat, and then it gets worse, and at best doesnt subside at all. My surgeon doesnt quite understand that regardless of any capacity, Im going to keep eating more trying to get this hunger feeling to go away...

I was very hesistant to do the dilation....I dont really want a bigget stomach, but im wondering...if my GI does stretch my stomach out a bit (and he said its not going to be a huge difference) - do you think it might help with the excessive acid? I have no idea, the doctors have no idea...Since making the stomach smaller seems to cause the issue, what about the reverse - and making it a little bigger? I dont know if it'll make a difference. I guess it's just worth a shot?

Ive already started the appeal process for getting the meds I want, but its a lot of headache and stress that I could live without if there was some other solution. Im afraid to start mesing around wtih my stomach though...im too young to screw it up :-/

 

 

Sorry for the millionith whiny post this year - there's only a couple months left and then it has to get better....right???

 

BUT in other news...like...2 weeks until OH conference time :))))))))))   I'm ready !

I'm sorry, I don't have any idea of what the best solution to your situation would be, I just wanted to lend a little moral support and also I wanted to say I love your avatar picture...when I see it I don't know, it just makes me smile.

It was a very memorable night in LB with some good OH friends :)  Thank you!

My insurance would not pay for Dexilant.  All my doctor had to do was send in a form saying I had been on two other PPI's and this one works.  I also have a discount card that saves me $20.  It wasn't really a deal at all.  Maybe your doc can do the same.  

 

I tried and it was denied. BUT im meeting with my surgeon so so he can tell me short of the medicine, my only remedy is a bypass and then I have a much stronger case for them to cover it. Its like why do a needless and dangerous surgery when I just want a PILL!!??

Does your doc have samples??  Mine gave me two months + :). You might ask...

If I didnt just start dating this guy (who is a med student doing clinicals at UCLA) I would totally ask him to raid the sample closet. That might be a little awkward at this point but maybe soon ;-)

I always read your posts because you share both the days of light at the end....and the darkness of the tunnel.

I have had good success with insurance appeals and hope that you do too. It seems the common sense option at this point. My heart goes out to you - feeling good is something we sometimes take for granted. I hope you get there soon.

Annie

I was on a PPIs  6 years before surgery and after surgery up to this year. Slowly i got off of the PPI's.  I discovered that once in a while have the worst acid reflux.

l log food on MFP and the noticed that it only happens when I eat or drink liquids a bit too much, and some random,  but acid issues were not happening often enough to really for me to go back on PPI's

It seems this year has been all about damage control, I have had a lot of issues and procedures. But I noticed that during the times prior and after, procedures when I was told not to take NSAIDs (and it was just a low dose coated aspirin). I didn’t have reflux or heartburn, not a hint of it, so I just stopped taking daily aspirin and acid problems for me so far are gone. ( I tested this about 6 times) Maybe it’s worth exploring if a particular food or medication combination is making things worst for you. 

You have had a rough year, hope you get to feeling better.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Hi sweetie!  More and more suckitude!  I wish I could come give you a big hug. What a ****ty year!  My vote is to fight for the PPI. I was lucky and when I needed yo go up BCBS just took a medical necessity thing from doc. So fight on!  Also, I'd find out about the size if your stomach post-dilation. It might really not be that much bigger. The idea of having a bigger stomach is so scary to us, but the reality might be different. 

 

Meanwhile, sending big hugs and endorphins!!!!!!