GERD....it is just regular heartburn?

[gina171 626]

So I get heartburn, probably 5-7 times a week. Esp if I lie down shortly after eating something, even a snack. Not terrible heartburn that last for hours, but I certainly feel it a bit and sometimes I grab some Tums.

Is THAT GERD? Or is GERD another type of severe experience?

Trying to decide between RNY and sleeve, and this GERD question might make it a lot easier. Bc I do know that I DON"T want to feel more frequent heartburn after my surgery.

I just don't know if what I am feeling is normal, what most people have. Or if it's another one of those things I never consciously tied to my weight issue?

Thanks!

[KristenLe 5,979]

Sounds like GERD to me. Try taking Zantac before bed and see if it helps. You may also have a hiatal hernia.

[Maggie Journey 126]

I've had GERD for years and have been medicated daily for it. My prescription is called Pantoprazole, or Protonix. In just the past few months I learned for sure that I have a hiatal hernia and it needed fixing, which I just did on 5/16 along with my sleeve.

My surgeon says I have a very good shot at curing my GERD with the hernia repair surgery and eventually getting off my med. For now, I'm still on it. I'm really excited at the prospect of being healed from GERD, off the prescription, and maybe even able to reintroduce foods that I had given up due to intolerance (like tomatoes).

[gina171 626]

Maggie, so your doctor was OK with giving you the sleeve even though you suffered from GERD? That's encouraging.

[Andrea72 510]

@@gina171 I suffered with gerd for almost two years prior to surgery. I was taking Omeprazol on a daily basis. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it did not.

Even with this info, and after a thorough EGD, my surgeon still recommended the sleeve.

I honestly wasn't sure what I would find on the "other side" but I know I wasn't expecting this.

I am 8 weeks post op sleeve, and I can honestly say I have yet to experience any signs of gerd.

Someone once stated it was because of being in the liquids stage. Yeah....I did so well with everything I was allowed to start normal foods the day after my 2 week post op appt.

I know everyone is different, but I do know at this point, it seems to have worked some sort of gerd miracle. Lol.

Good luck in your decision. It's definitely a lot to think about.

Edited May 21, 2016 by Andrea72

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Yes, GERD and acid reflux and heartburn are all pretty much the same thing. But as with many things, the symptoms range from minor to OMFG!

I had GERD pre-sleeve, but it wasn't awful.

Post-op, I still have GERD, but it still isn't awful.

[Maggie Journey 126]

Maggie, so your doctor was OK with giving you the sleeve even though you suffered from GERD? That's encouraging.

Yes, definitely! He seems very confident that I will likely be healed from GERD due to the hernia repair he did. I have trust in him- he's the best in this part of the state, has done many, many of these procedures. I have high hopes.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I should have added that I had a hiatal hernia repair as part of my VSG surgery.

Also, the New York Times over the years has reported considerably on heartburn / GERD / reflux. Here's a good summary description of the condition and treatments:

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/heartburn/causes.html

[gina171 626]

I should have added that I had a hiatal hernia repair as part of my VSG surgery.

Also, the New York Times over the years has reported considerably on heartburn / GERD / reflux. Here's a good summary description of the condition and treatments:

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/heartburn/causes.html

VSGAnn....thank you for this! I have read lots of your posts as I try to decide between RNY and sleeve.....I worry that there's not enough data on sleeve and that there is the opportunity to cheat the sleeve AND THEN I read your posts and I realize that if someone is committed and responsible like you, it could be the perfect tool. Your success and very committed attitude gives me hope.

My BMI is 49 and I am 48 years old, so some doctors are suggesting RNY bc of those factors but again....I think of how well you did and I wonder if the sleeve might be enough of a tool for me, without the fear of nutritional deficiencies and rerouting my insides...

Thank you for all your insight on these forums.

Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Edited May 21, 2016 by gina171

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Thank you, @@gina171 .

FYI, my starting BMI was about 39.5, just under 40 -- but I had enough qualifying comorbidities to obtain insurance coverage. Happily, I didn't have diabetes or hypertension or any form of cardiac disease -- but mostly arthritic and skeletal issues.

It sounds like what you're doing (smartly) is looking at people who started about where you are pre-op in terms of BMI, age, perhaps similar approaches to health self-care, etc. and trying to predict from their comparative successes how well you would do. That seems only sensible.

Some other things I've been persuaded of that seem to influence long-term WLS success are:

* the skills of the surgeon who performs your surgery, e.g., does she/he shape the sleeve correctly at the top (below the hiatal valve) and at the bottom (above the pyloric valve) and remove all the fundus and shape the sleeve well in the middle to discourage twists/strictures and has long experience and great skill using the stapler tool that does all this to build your new sleeve or pouch (depending on the procedure you're having)

* your general health

* the medications you have to take that could affect your metabolism and appetite

* the amount of constructive support you have at home for your weight loss and new weight maintenance lifestyle

* your ability and resources to handle life's stresses without reverting to self-medicating your anxieties with food or other substances -- because you can take it to the bank that life's stresses do NOT end with WLS and sometimes even increase

Your decision is an important one. If I knew which procedure you should have, I'd say so. But I don't. Again, I think your decision-making process is like mine was -- collect all the information possible, analyze it, and then take a deep breath and say, "I choose Door Number X!" and COMMIT!