GERD and VSG = Concerned

I just read a topic on the WLS forum about the sleeve not being a good fit for those who have GERD.

My surgeon knows I have reflux.  Why would he suggest the sleeve?  Has anyone here had GERD before getting VSG?

I had GERD before surgery, and since the hiatal hernia repair plus the sleeve I have had it only once in the early days following surgery.  I haven't had any problems since. I suspect my GERD was related to the hernia I had.  I don't know how common my results are, though.

Thank you.  I just found out, through a pre-op test, that I also have a hiatal hernia.  I meet with my surgeon this week and I will ask him about this.

I also had gerd, but it was very mild & likely caused by the hiatal hernia that was repaired during surgery. I haven't had any problems since then. You should ask your Dr why he suggests the vsg, did you have any tests done?, maybe he thinks its caused by a hernia too?

Thank you.  I will ask him this week when I meet with him again.

Surgeons tend to think a long the lines of well I'll try this surgery first, and I can always do a revision surgery to RNY if the patient develops terrible GERD and becomes at risk for cancer of the esophagus. They are not the ones who have to live with the side effects, buy the drugs to control the side effects, suffer through the recovery from surgery, or pay the medical bills. In this way, their interests are not aligned with yours. Personally, I wanted my first surgery to be my one and only surgery, so I wasn't willing to take that chance or be on an acid reducer for the rest of my life. Some surgeons are just on the sleeve bandwagon right now and have gone to recommending it to everyone. Just like some surgeons still recommend RNY to everyone.

Thank you.  My surgeon ruled out RNY because he thought I'd be at greater risk of developing kidney stones from calcification.  Since I already have one low functioning kidney, he felt the sleeve was the better choice.  

Like you, I want only one surgery - the right surgery for me.  I will talk with him this week.  Perhaps I am not a good candidate for WLS.  That would be very disheartening.

The key is finding out if your current GERD is being caused by a hiatal hernia.  If the answer is "yes", then VSG and hernia repair should fix you right up.  

I didn't have GERD before surgery but I have issues with it now and have to take a PPI for it.  I'd rather deal with this than the 100 extra lbs. I used to have and all the problems that came along with it.  

Some surgeons actually care about their patients!

I did, and lots of it. My surgeon fixed a hiatel hernia during surgury and no issues with acid at all for a long time. This past summer all of a sudden lots of acid, so dealing with that now and taking 40 mg of a ppi daily. Overall though, it was the right path for sure.