Bile Reflux

[flyingcarb 1]

Hello All,

I am trying to choose between the mgb and Roux en y. I was pretty set on the mgb but the doctor who would be performing the roux en y told me bile reflux is common in mgb. The mgb doctor told me it's less than 1%. I'm feeling so confused right now.

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

Not enough studies to say for sure but studies I've seen thus far suggest the incidence of bile reflux is higher than I'd personally be comfortable with.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28214959

http://www.bariatricnews.net/?q=node/1344

Are you on a PPI?

[Deactivatedfatgal 377]

56 minutes ago, flyingcarb said:

Hello All,

I am trying to choose between the mgb and Roux en y. I was pretty set on the mgb but the doctor who would be performing the roux en y told me bile reflux is common in mgb. The mgb doctor told me it's less than 1%. I'm feeling so confused right now.

I read that Mgb can cause reflux also.

[flyingcarb 1]

2 hours ago, PatientEleventyBillion said:

Not enough studies to say for sure but studies I've seen thus far suggest the incidence of bile reflux is higher than I'd personally be comfortable with.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28214959

http://www.bariatricnews.net/?q=node/1344

Are you on a PPI?

What's a ppi?

[PatientEleventyBillion 851]

33 minutes ago, flyingcarb said:

What's a ppi?

Proton pump inhibitor for reducing acid in the stomach. Irrelevant question since I don't think you even had the surgery yet.

For bile reflux it might be reduced with a PPI since if one would have bile reflux that would go through the intestines back through the stomach and to the esophagus then they likely have acid reflux issues too so might help both.

[MarinaGirl 609]

My research is that bile reflux is not a big complication in MGB patients - only 0.9%, so less than 1%, which is the same rate for RNY. There have been some poor studies that had a hypothesis that it "might" occur but nothing was accurately determined and yet some Bariatric surgeons in the U. S. tout this bad data for MGB.

Note that the incidence of acid reflux in VSG patients is much higher than in MGB or RNY patients.

Edited May 13, 2017 by MarinaGirl

[GBLady41 393]

I agree with MarinaGirl. My research has come up with the same information. The surgeon who performed my MGB told me that an experienced surgeon will know how to correctly make the pouch to eliminate any chance of bile reflux. I'm almost 5 1/2 months out and have had no issues with any reflux.

[flyingcarb 1]

11 hours ago, MarinaGirl said:

My research is that bile reflux is not a big complication in MGB patients - only 0.9%, so less than 1%, which is the same rate for RNY. There have been some poor studies that had a hypothesis that it "might" occur but nothing was accurately determined and yet some Bariatric surgeons in the U. S. tout this bad data for MGB.

Note that the incidence of acid reflux in VSG patients is much higher than in MGB or RNY patients.

Hi MarinaGirl. Where did you find this stat?

[Caligirl88 23]

My brother had regular bypass and I had the mini bypass. Both of us now take acid controller meds. : (

[MarinaGirl 609]

I experienced acid reflux (GERD) prior to MGB and took Prilosec for 4 months post-surgery, but now I don't take any PPIs as I no longer have reflux.

I also do things to minimize ulcers and reflux, such as no smoking or alcohol, no caffeinated or carbonated beverages, minimal coffee (decaf), and very little sweets or sugar.