Question:
Does anyone else have acid reflux after surgery?

Although I know we no longer have acid on our stomaches, I am getting acid reflux lately. I am almost 4 months out. Anyone else experience this? Please advise. Thanks.    — Katherine K. (posted on January 3, 2004)

January 3, 2004
I had horrible reflux the first 2 months following my surgery. Now, as I enter my 5th month, I find that the reflux successfully attempts to make a guest appearance every now and then, particularly at bedtime. I take Nexium whenever the reflux arises. Fortunately, I have not had to take the medication on a daily basis and my surgeon said that eventually the reflux should cease altogether. Good luck to you!
   — dreamernsc

January 3, 2004
Gastric bypass surgery, in most cases will cure acid reflux but not all....I still have acid reflux and still have to be on prescription meds for it.
   — jennifer A.

January 3, 2004
I have acid reflux ten fold what I did pre-op. I'm on Nexium, and if I miss a day, I pay for it.
   — jengrz

January 4, 2004
My surgeon could not understand why I still had acid reflux after the surgery. At times, it was worse than before the surgery. He finally put me on Prevacid and this worked great. Just before Thanksgiving, I ran out and decided to try going without it to see what happened. Lo and behold, I haven't had very much reflux since then and have stopped the medication hopefully for good. Occasionally I have a little reflux but it is controlled with taking a couple of Rolaids. Before surgery, I had been on anti-reflux medications for over 20 years. I could not go one day without the medication or I would regret it. The time that my reflux stopped was just over 4 months after surgery. Hopefully things will get better for you.
   — Checker B.

January 4, 2004
My surgeon puts me (and I guess all her patients) on Zantac for 3 months post-op. So I haven't had a problem at all.
   — Patricia T.

January 5, 2004
I have had very bad reflux on 3 occasions since surgery, all happened at night after I had gone to sleep. All 3 times I got sat up in bed, felt like I was going to throw up, then it just became the worst heartburn I've ever experienced. I believe (and so does my surgeon) that the culprit all 3 times has been Crystal Lite pink lemonade. I was drinking it in the evening all 3 times I had the reflux. I quit it totally a week or so ago and haven't had any more problems. So I guess a lot can depend on what you're consuming. I don't take any meds for this, at least not yet. The times I had it happen, I took Tums and it helped a bit. I hope yours gets better. Lap RNY, 9/11/03, 254/198/???
   — Carlita