Question:
Anyone have problems with gassy stomach POST op?

Hi all. I'm 4 months out and for the last month, I get major heartburn and stomach acid. I have to take tums all day sometimes just to manage through work. I never had a prob. before surgery (except when I was pregnant). Anyone have this onset after surgery? Surgeon had me on prevacid for the first month post op....anyone have to go back on??? Thanks!    — emilyfink (posted on October 20, 2002)

October 20, 2002
Hi Emily, I would definately see your doctor. I'm wondering if you don't have an ulcer. From all my reading it sounds alot like the symptoms. Good luck to ya!
   — Tabatha M.

October 20, 2002
I am four months 17 days post op BPD no DS. I have been on 300 mg of Xantac a day since I was discharged from the hospital. If I don't take it I get a major burning tummy. I had a history of GERD prior to surgery. Please check with your surgeon and see if he or she wants to put you back on the Prevacid or on something else.
   — Joscelin

October 20, 2002
DON'T TAKE TUMS ALL DAY!!! That is what I did pre-op when I had really bad heartburn all day, and I ended up with a huge kidney stone. It was the worst pain of my entire life, and I could have avoided it. The calcium carbonate in the Tums builds up and makes the stone. Take something like Zantac or Pepcid AC instead, they work really well.
   — Jennifer Y.

October 20, 2002
Ditto on the Tums. I got my kidney stone for Xmas that year--missed Dec 20-26. Miserable. Are you transected? Any chance of staple line disruption? Do you know how your pouch was constructed? Horizontally or vertically? Before my revison, I took Prilosec or Zantac continuously. After transection, no need. Every now & then somethign disagrees, but I keep carrafate on hand to deal with those rare events.
   — vitalady

October 20, 2002
I am 9 months post-op, and I have had to take Prevacid on a continues basis. I stopped taking it about month 2, and had to restart taking it in month 3. The empty, aching, burning pain stopped almost immediately after I resumed taking the Prevacid. Talk to your PCP. Good luck, Toodles
   — Sherry S.