Question:
I need a comparison between overfilling the pouch and acid reflux

This may sound strange but my I'm curious. I've been without my prilosec for 5 days now and have been absolutely miserable. I'm sure many of you can relate. I feel like anything I eat is sitting at the top of my throat and the heartburn is almost unbearable. Is this anything similar to what it feels like when you overfill your pouch? Or will you basically throw up if you overfill. I was what you actually go through if you overdue.    — Tina H. (posted on February 14, 2002)

February 14, 2002
Overfilling your pouch feels like you have a brick inside your chest, right underneath your breast bone. You also get this kind of wierd filmy feeling in your throat like you need to throw up but can't, (until you do, that is.) I don't know if that's what you're feeling like but I can definately tell the difference between heartburn and overeating. Neither is pleasant at all!
   — [Anonymous]

February 14, 2002
It is possible that not all of the 'acid pumps' were removed. If this is bothering you, there is no need for you to suffer with it. You need to call your surgeon, tell him your problem, and I am sure he can give you a liquid prescription. I had to be on liquid pepcid for a couple weeks in the beginning. The heartburn is very different than overfilling your pouch. The brick comparison is a great one. And if you overfill too much, you will more than likely throw up.
   — Cheri M.

February 14, 2002
One of the benefits to having RNY is that it seems to "cure" acid reflux. I am not sure that you can actually still have true acid reflux once you've had this procedure. If you are experiencing something like this, I believe it should be diagnosed by your surgeon. Shelley
   — Shelley.

February 15, 2002
I am not sure as to how long you are post-op but I had it at between 3and 5 weeks . I talked to the DR and he told me that it was heart burn and to chew some tums. I tried this with a little regret. But I did as I was told and it did stop after the 5th week . I still keep tum on hand just in case but it doesn't happen very ofen now. The DR. said it was just something that some people go through . Hope this helps . REX
   — Rex C.

February 15, 2002
I stopped taking Prevacid the day of my surgery and have not needed it since! Only once in almost 8 months have I felt anything like reflux and it was more like a little heartburn after eating a bit of Mexican food. But I have eaten a few jalepenos with no problems another time without problems so it varies with each meal. The differences? Hmm, hard to say, but if I have eaten too much or something that did not agree with me or had hidden MSG (I did not have a problem with MSG pre-op but I do now, I know it within a few minutes to about 30 minutes after eating and with reflux it would hit me in the late evening or in bed. Another difference for me is that I had had to throw up at times, not often and I did not do this with reflux. Hopefully, as we go along and learn our limits we know when to stop when we get the first signal in opur pouches. I wish you luck and it is a wonderful feeling to be off all meds of any kind since the day of the surgery!
   — Molly S.