RNY 6 YEARS OUT AND HAVE ACID REFLUX!

Hello all,

It's been a very long while since I've been here, but was a member from 2005-2008.
Well, here she comes crying back with an awful case of refux..

I'm 6 years out and it started last November. The doctor put me on Prilosec for two weeks and it helped, but the reflux came back with a vengence..I have been off and on prilosec ever sense..Now.. that is not helping anymore and I've lost my voice, and have a cough. The doctor told me to not talk and to eat something soothing that I could have a virus. What?

I've been on line looking for help and found many whom suffer with this. I have never had reflux before in my life. 
I found some losenges called Slippery Elm. I ordered that. It's supposed to coat and protect the throat. But I can not get a cure. I have cut out all the spicy foods and my coffee. I don't eat right before bedtime and I sleep elevated..I even searched to see if menopause could be the problem. I'm 53. Just became post-menopausal..I read that it could be a symptom.

I use to have pain and knawing in my stomach, but I don't anymore, 
I have the fire in my throat.

Does anyone else, RNY graduate have this problem?

I was on Nexium and still had the burning throat. I had an Upper GI and it showed a hiatal hernia and the reflux of the barium occuring. I had a revision and the hernia fixed in September and things are better now, but if I miss a day of Nexium I have to chew tums at night before my next dose kicks in. =( 8 years next week...

Hi there. I am 4+ years out and had reflux before my RNY. It went away for about two years following my weight loss but it has been back now for some time. I just wanted to suggest that you go see a Gastroenterologist about your reflux. Your Bariatric surgeon should be able to refer you to someone who is used to dealing with WLS patients. They wil probably want to do an EGD to check your esophagus and pouch.
After my reflux returned, I had an EGD and was dignosed with Barrett's Esophagus. It is a condition where the tissue cells in the esophagus change often related to overexposure to gastric juices (like what occurs in reflux). I now have a follow-up exam every year to make sure there are no changes. Not to scare you, but Barrett's can be a precursor to Esophageal Cancer. I am not implying you have cancer, just that reflux can be very minor or quite major so.... if you have ongoing reflux you should get checked out! 
The reflux could also be caused by an esophageal hernia which may need repair or you may simply need to have ongoing treatment with an appropriate acid reducers. Stomach acid can due serious damage when not treated appropriately and there can be many different causes so please get checked out.

Best wishes and JUST SAY NO to Jalapenos!!!!!!!
Mary

hmmm...interesting.  I'm a long term post op as well.  I had a hiatal hernia that was fixed during my wls.  I hadn't had any problems until about 3 months ago.  I've had heart burn many times and am really surprised by it.  I see my surgeon in May and will ask about it then.  Let us know what happens!

Hi!

Short and sweet, I had stomach stapling in 1984. October 2009,  I had my annual colonscopy and endoscopy. Found out that I have Barrett's and the surgeon said that bypass was the best thing to do. So, I did, and took Prevacid for 9 weeks, and they said I was good. Well, I had another endoscopy in October 2010, and the Barrett's was getting worse. So, its back on Prevacid for life! I do not limit what I eat, in fact, I crave things that have flavor. Let's hear it for salsa, mustard! Since I am also sugar intolerent,  I do splurge on the hot stuff!

Thank you all for your input..
I've been taking the prilosec and started taking extra Magnesium and calcium..
also some probitotics
added an extra B12 subs..and started eating mostly veggies and fruit..
I'm doing better..
I'm going in for some testing for homorne imbalance..I've learned that sometimes hormones cause a gastric reflux..
I've been getting heart paps and flutters, with a cough..but getting better. I am just now post menopausal..UH..
.I also got some Slippery Elm losenges..they are very helpful.
Thanks again!!

Update:

My metibolic tests came back perfect.
I was high on D3
High on B12
empty on Estrogen
empty on all hormones except my thyroid was good. 
I have been on Bi-Est compounded with Prog. Test. DHEA for the past 3 weeks and I am feeling fantastic. It works.. I take Centrum silver chewables, Calcium Citrate and Magnesium. I also take probiotics every day. That's it.

During the process of menopause, my first problem was nasty headaches went on daily for about 4 months, it felt like I wa**** on top of the head with a hammer. then the acid reflux came and lasted about 4 months the dryness of my skin and hair and the aging was alarming..My hair was falling out, I was feeling depressed and tired all the time.
I wondered what in the world is NEXT. I am glad I chose to try bioidentical hormone therapy! My skin and hair is looking and feeling so much better and I'm not even fully reaping the benefits of the therapy yet..My GYN said it will take another check in 3 months to adjust the compound more. That it takes that long to get the hormones into the system fully. Wow. Just Wow.

So my RNY is still working for me and not being the culprit of my stomach distress and I am relieved.

I am 54 years old, 5'9" and weigh 152lbs. Looking good and feeling good too!!

Thank you all again for your support! I have spent a lot of time looking for help all over the internet, going to doctors, talking to friends and family and finally got my answers..Just wanted to share what helped me.

It has been just about 2 years since my surgery. I had severe GERD and that was one of the main reasons I chose RNY. I am still taking Nexium twice a day and the GERD is fully controlled. If I go down to 1 Nexium, the GERD is back with a vengeance. So for me, I'll probably be on Nexium for life. But that's ok. I spent 9 years on all kinds of acid reducers with no relief. Good luck to all of you. Lisa

I am almost 6 years post op.  My reflux is at it's worse.  I have to find a GI and get an appointment schedule.  The one I had always sd that I chose to change my anatomy that I chose to have these problems.  Just a jerk.   I am swollen like my bypass is inflammed.  I get hiccups all the time too.  

 Hello, everyone!  I'm 2 years post op RNY and two days ago I had sudden reflux at the worst ever!  I got so scared and it didn't go away so I ended up going to the ER because I was worried it might be something (even more) serious.  I then realized that two days ago I drank some OJ (which I usually don't drink) and it made me throw up and it was really awful tasting.  Anyways, they think that might have been the acid that splashed onto the esophagus.  Either way, it's burning so bad!  I really hope the Nexium works after a couple days.  I'm going to try to schedule a upper GI and endoscopy just to make sure it's not something else.  

Any support would help right now!