Feeling down...just learned I have GERD

[A_ReNUDE_me 148]

I'm preop so as a final procedure I had a EGD done today and the MD found out I have erosion in lower esophagus from GERD...now I have known something was going on for some time, but have never taken any meds for it. Now I am afraid when I go to my final appt on 10/15/13 to schedule surgery, he may decline it due to this one factor..btw...my insurance company already approved the surgery. I may just be freaking out, but would love to hear from some veterans on this issue...and find out if the GERD got worse after sleeve and how they've coped.

[SJMusicalman103 25]

Your surgeon may postpone it and get you on some meds for a month... I knew I had it and had been medicated... My doc upped my dosage and after a month did the upper GI and it cleared up any erosion issues.. Mine were minor to begin with since I had already been medicated... I continue to take my meds now and have no problems... According to the research I've done this surgery CAN make it worse but every body is different! Good luck to you!

[A_ReNUDE_me 148]

Thanks for the insight...SJMusicalman103

[No game 14,437]

Yep it can make it worse and does for some.. There have been more than a few people here that had to convert to bypass afterwards because it was so bad...

But some get better afterwards..

You will see some here that say it was "cured" and they feel great now!

The studies on it are all over the place, just like the doctors recommendations. Some will treat and operate some will say that you should not have the sleeve and should do the bypass.

[MuttLover 15]

I had the sleeve done in Nov. 2012, and I've had GERD for more than 20 years. Mine is controlled with Nexium 40 mg, twice a day -- both before and after surgery. Right after surgery, and every once in a while, I do supplement with Pepcid Complete.

With VSG - some people with GERD get worse, some better. Some people without GERD get GERD after VSG -- and there has been some research showing that GERD is showing up in VSG patients and the 3+ year mark. My GERD did get worse immediately after surgery (but the Pepcid Complete took care of it) -- but it has calmed down.

Just do your research and talk to your docs -- then be sure to make a decision you are comfortable with. Bypass is considered the best for people with GERD because it typically "cures" GERD, but there are other considerations.

Best of luck in your decision-making process.

[gettingAllieback 15]

As a pre-op with GERD (which notably has been worse at my heaviest), no Barrett's, no hernias, would you (any of you) take the gamble on a VSG, when it's the surgery you prefer? That's what I'm trying to decide. I know I could convert it to a bypass down the road, which would suck, but my mom's bypass has not cured her GERD...I feel like no procedure can answer my issues and GERD is my only issue!