Is the acid reflux permanent?

[steve-o 0]

I've had GERD for 15 years. PPI's worked for me: Nexium was wonderful, but my crappy insurance company refused to keep paying for any of it, so I eventually was moved to twice the normal dose of generic Prevacid, which worked pretty well. (I know that there are some long-term risks to using PPI's, but in my mind they were outweighed by the potential damage caused by reflux, by the need to stop the torture, and by the fear I was left with after waking up choking on stomach acid a few times.)

With my sleeve surgery, my surgeon repaired a small hiatal hernia, and I was really hopeful that GERD would be behind me. I had read that WLS often greatly improved GERD. Maybe I read that about the bypass, and just assumed that it would be true for the sleeve, because I've seen a lot of posts here about people having reflux problems.

(I've been on just the normal dose of Prevacid since surgery. I've had two days within the last week, postop week 4, where the reflux has been terrible, and one time waking up choking on aspirated stomach acid, but otherwise no big reflux issues.)

My question is this: For those of you whose doctors put you on PPI's after surgery for reflux, were you ever able to get off the PPI's and still not have terrible reflux?

[Tiffykins 673]

I hope some of the others pop in here. I've chosen to stay on my Prilosec, and not wean off of it. The long term side effects are truly minimal, and I'm not willing to feel like crap just to avoid popping a Prilosec. I know there's a few around here that have had success getting off the PPI.

I am not willing to deal with rebound acid, or any of the other symptoms of acid reflux. I didn't have reflux before my revision, and I don't plan on suffering from it now. My surgeon agrees that me staying on it is not an issue. I won't even test the waters to get off of it. Some patient's reflux improves, or is resolved, and others have it worsen. It's kind of "luck of the draw" on this one in my opinion.

[wannalise 15]

I never had any type of reflux preop, and what I experience now is rarely classic reflux. I have false hunger, and occasional heart burn. On a few occasions I have tried to ween myself off of it and the symptoms were horrible and not worth it to me. I am dilligent in taking extra Calcium as that is one of the side effects and I've done really well. Double check with your surgeon and maybe they will have the answer you seek.

[lmmore 0]

Talk with your doctor. In your case, it sounds like you should continue taking the PPI. I don't plan on weaning myself off until a full year. It helps minimize any hunger and prevents the heartburn I was having prior to surgery. Some people here have been successful on weaning themselves off of them. Your doctor would be the best one to advise you. Good luck.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I don't have the feeling of hunger being off mine. I do get heartburn and some days it's bad and some days I have none at all.

I've been off mine about 6 weeks now. I've heard of people getting off of them without any trouble. Since you had GERD before the sleeve, you may need to stay on it.

If I were you, I would try the generic of Protonix. The generic is very inexpensive and I think Protonix works extremely well.

Make sure you take calcium citrate but not within 2 hours of taking your PPI. Men get osteoporosis too. I was shocked when I found out I had the beginning stages of it.

[steve-o 0]

OD, what's the connection between calcium citrate and acid reflux?

Thanks!

[Jaffa 5]

calcium citrate is said to have a better absorption rate for people who have less stomach acid....which is anyone on a PPI.

My wife takes the PPI....30 minutes before she eats anything in the morning, and takes the Vitamins and Calcium at night.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

It takes acid to absorb Calcium. calcium citrate it better absorbed than any other calcium.

I've been taking calcium for years but still have the beginning stages of osteoporosis.