KateinMichigan

This is great! I'm going to steal the link to this article and repost on my post. I have covered this topic and I'm currently on the hunt for a surgeon. Read my latest post and follow me for updates. I was recently told that RNY confession was my only option and as someone with Anemia - this isn't an option.

I have covered this topic and I'm currently on the hunt for a better solution. Read my latest post and follow me for updates. I was recently told that RNY confession was my only option and as someone with Anemia - this isn't an option.

Hi Why are you on a omeprazole or any PPI? (It's a very hard medicine to get off of and has horrible side effects.) There are a ton on PPI lawyers that make a nice living off of that drug. Wondering why your doc would automatically put you on it. Is this a new standard? I had my surgery 14 years ago and am on the hunt a some sort of help with crippling VSG GERD. I've been trying to get of PPI's for years - but wasn't put on them until a few days after surgery and I struggled...

OMG - you are so lucky!!!! The fact that your surgeon is proactively looking for the HH and going to repair it at the same time will save you years of VSG GERD suffering! (see my past posts) Upfront pain during recovery is a small price to pay when you consider the alternative. Your doc knows the consequence and is trying to save you from a future of intense pain.

Hi Wanderingheart. Absolutely reach out to your doctor and schedule a pre-op and ask the questions. If his answers are dismissive, I'd advise that you find someone else. I know that seems harsh. You've been waiting for this day! But believe me, waiting a few extra months for the right surgeon is better than suffering for years.

Me too! I've also spoken with Dr. Jossart in California who has done many hiatal hernia (HH) repairs post sleeve for those with GERD. This sounds perfect for you. He said he's done 125+ repairs with a 90% success rate. Only 1 of these patients out of over 125 needed a conversion to bypass. As someone with no energy, horrible anemia (iron infusions) and low final weight - the bypass conversion sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, so I'm praying for a HH to show up on my latest swallow test. I've had several scopes over the years, and they can never find a HH, but according to Dr. Jossart that isn't uncommon, and he feels there is a very high likelihood that it's small and the doctor's I've seen are missing it. This gives me hope - that's why I wanted to share it. Hope is everything. I also feel I should share that new research on PPI's show that they are now linked to depression (PPI's rank #1 as OTC drug that causes depression) and eye problems (including blindness). This is new research coming out to add to the list of problems it causes. We all need to get off PPI's! Lastly, a few surgeons are now doing the sleeve with HH repair first, and with other GERD preventative measures DURING surgery. These doctors "get it", and are being proactive because they've seen the pain that GERD causes. I would suggest that ALL sleeve pre op patients have this discussion with their surgeon before moving forward, if he downplays it, RUN. If you are in the 30% that suffer, it's severely lowers your quality of life. I've been suffering for 14 years with too many dead end Dr. Appointments to count. Stanford, UofM - I've consulted with the best "experts" over the years and found found many shake their heads with a sort of "you're on your own" attitude. I truly believe that the only hope we have is with a bariatric surgeon who really understands what was done and who has done the surgery - but also does GERD repairs. These doctors are rare and you need to really hunt for them. When most hear "acid reflux" as a potential side effect, they think "so what, I'll have to take a tums once in a while". It's NOT that sort of reflux. It's debilitating. It's vomiting after half a cup of water. It's pain after every single meal. It's instant dependency of horrific drugs with a myriad of side effects - including blindness and cancer. If my doctor had told me I had a 30% chance of this version of GERD, I would have run for the hills. If your doctor does the whole "very rare", etc. (my doctor did), he's either: not reading recent studies, not listening to his patients, not following up on them (my doctor just pawned me off to a GERD doctor), minimizing this horrific side effect, or all of the above. Don't settle of a doctor who acts like it's super rare or no big deal. Find one that is proactive and discusses HOW they avoid it. Please share with me all your research. I'm rooting for you!

Hi Sleeved K, I am seeing Dr.Hawasli who wrote the article on the 15th of April 2021. It seems old - so it'll be interesting to see what he says. I'll let you know.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000296102030814X#!