Question:
Has anyone developed esophageal reflux after bypass?

I never had reflux before the bypass. I'm 2 weeks post op and it is waking me up at night. I take Prilosec 20 in the morning and in the evening. Why is this happening? I tolerate food without dumping. I have slight nausea in the am which resolves after a few hours.    — drmaryrn (posted on April 18, 2008)

April 18, 2008
My doc gives all his patients a perscription for Nexium to take for one month post surgery. If it doesn't pass by next week I would get the perscription. I think Prilosec and Nexium are two different drugs. Reflex is usually cured immediately by the surgery - I have heard of a few people saying they had it for a very short time post-op/
   — jannmyers

April 18, 2008
Mary i am 5 wks post opr rny and have been suffering with the same thing for 3 wks. i live in Ga so at first i attributed it to the pollen since it has been high. Just today I went back to the doctor because it is not getting any better and i am not trying the priolec and histamine if this does not work he is going to have me undergo an gi exam. i continue to have sinus drainage and when I vomit it is nothing but mucus. Hope you get some relief b/c I desperately need some.
   — cbraxton

April 18, 2008
I had a RNY and it cured my Gastroesophageal reflux disease, because the stomach was disconected, and my pouch does not make much acid. I still have a issue with Sliva backing up, but they have sampled the reaction, which occurs after dinner once in a while and found that it is not acid. GERD or acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates into the esophagus. The liquid acid inflames and damages the lining of the esophagus. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach not a gastric bypass pouch. Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach. The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from the duodenum, which is also removed during a RNY and conected to the last third of the small intestine. (The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine that attaches to the stomach.) Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid. Pepsin and bile also may injure the esophagus, but their role in the production of esophageal inflammation and damage is not as clear as the role of acid. If you had a Lap Band then you could well have acid reflex. I would talk to your doctor and have him perscribe something to help until your next office visit where he could explore the cause more closely. In some cases of RNY more stomach material is used to created the pouch and this may be producing some acid. Best of success to you. GERD is a chronic condition. Once it begins, it usually is life-long. If there is injury to the lining of the esophagus (esophagitis), this also is a chronic condition. Moreover, after the esophagus has healed with treatment and treatment is stopped, the injury will return in most patients within a few months. Once treatment for GERD is begun, therefore, it usually will need to be continued indefinitely although it is argued that in some patients with intermittent symptoms and no esophagitis, treatment can be intermittent and done only during symptomatic periods.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 18, 2008
I HAD GERD BEFORE GBS AND I STILL HAVE IT AFTER GBS. IM ON ACIFEX.BEFORE SURGERY AND STILL ON IT.GBS OPEN RNY -2002.
   — deb44m

April 19, 2008
One thing, make sure you wait a few hours after eating before you lay down and go to sleep. when you start on regular food it takes longer to digest. it will take your stomach a while to heal and be able to deal with food. This is a major operation. I am 3 years out and I still have to be careful. I can't eat everything still or eat before I plan on going to sleep. I have found that 2 hours at least is best and I try not to eat hard to digest meat at night- i only try that at lunch or a very early dinner and then I wait 4 hours. The last thing I do is drink a glass of water, finish my bedtime routine and it's 10-15 minutes and then good night, havent had much trouble if I stick to this.If I don't I pay for it.
   — Cdavis226

April 20, 2008
It could be the foods you are eating. I couldn't eat normal foods for a very long time after my surgery.
   — nascar_angel_3_2003

April 23, 2008
My Doc said that I should try either Pepcid or Tagament. The problem is different than it was before surgery, and the same meds like Nexium or Peilosec won't solve the problem. I also use Malox or Gas-x if I have a problem and they also help. I am 7 wks. post rny. Good Luck Paula B.
   — paulajaneb