Question:
Massive Heart Burn...

I am 3 months post-op open RNY... For the past 3 days I have had massive heart burn... constantly! I've tried to take tums, but they really don't work. Any suggestions?? Before surgery I would have heart burn once and in a while, but it wasn't very common. Thanks for any help!! ~Sarah 9/18/03 -- 325/271    — sibarra (posted on December 5, 2003)

December 5, 2003
MY SURGERY WAS 11-4,I HAVE HAD A LOT OF HEARTBURN,MY FAMILY DR. STARTED ME ON NEXIUM,ON TUESDAY,OF THIS WEEK. BY THE WAY,MYLANTA OR MAALOX SEEMS TO HELP ME,MORE THAN TUMS.LOTS OF LUCK. HUGSSSSSSSSSS SUE KYLE
   — SUSAN K.

December 5, 2003
Call your surgeon. This isn't necessarily normal and you need to talk with your doctor.
   — Patty_Butler

December 5, 2003
I am almost 8 weeks post op, and have been on regular foods for atleast 4 weeks. I haven't hand heartburn once since surgery, where as I was having it everyday before. Have you eaten something you normally don't eat? Otherwise, I'd call the doctor. Good luck.
   — Michelle J.

December 5, 2003
I would definately call your surgeon regarding this, however, I know a way to give you immediate relief from heartburn. Mix almost a teaspoon of baking soda with a very small amount of water and drink it. It tastes horrible, but I guarantee it will get rid of your heartburn. It will cause you to burp a lot, but that is your body releasing all that gas that causes the heartburn. I suffered with acid reflux for years prior to surgery and had severe heartburn and when I learned about this and tried it, I was amazed at how quickly and effectively it relieved the pain of heartburn. Good luck.
   — Dawn P.

December 5, 2003
You should definitely call your doctor. RNY usually cures heartburn since our pouches don't contain the digestive juices our stomachs did. I've never had heartburn post-op and it doesn't even seem possible anymore, and I used to get it fairly often pre-op.
   — sandsonik

December 7, 2003
Heartburn usually does go away with rny surgery however in some cases it does not.I had surgery 6 months ago and still have heartburn.You need to tell your doc and get put on a prescription acid reducer.The excess acid could irritate the stoma area and cause a stricture to develop.
   — jennifer A.