Sleeve Revision to Bypass due to GERD?

[KristieAtkinson 589]

I had very mild heartburn prior to my gastric sleeve. I wanted a bypass based on my high BMI but my surgeon was really pushy about the sleeve being a perfectly viable option even with my heartburn. He fixed a hiatal hernia when he did the sleeve. Heartburn was controlled for a year and a half, however it got so bad I was strangling on acid every night and 3-4 days a week I would wake up with acid coming out of my nose. I was taking two to three acid blockers and sleeping almost sitting up on 5 pillows. My surgeon did a bunch of tests including an EGD and gallbladder tests. Stated there was no hiatal hernia and no signs of abnormal gallbladder-function. He insisted it was a gall bladder issue though and removed my gall bladder. The heartburn did not get better. It got worse and my surgeon wouldn’t consider any other options. 6 months later I transferred all of my records to a new surgeon who looked at my old EGD and said I had a huge hiatal hernia and he operated and fixed it. Instead of nighttime heartburn, I had all day GERD. That was a year and a half ago. Now my new surgeon has done another EGD and a colonoscopy. He says the hiatal hernia has not recurred so he is in the process of getting an approval for revision to bypass. My understanding is the sleeve in some patients causes pressure that causes horrendous GERD & the bypass does not have this problem. It is my utmost prayer that that is the case. Highest weight was 358 and lowest was 179. I am 5’7. I’m now bouncing around 230.

My questions to all of you.

1. Have you had a revision to bypass due to GERD?

2. Did it get better?

3. How much weight did you lose afterwards? I know it won’t be as substantial because it is a revision.

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

I have no experience to add, but there are others on this board that still get gerd or ulcers after the revision in that stomach portion that is unused, you just don't get reflux in the esophagus. They had initial relief but became very ill again after 2 years. My PCP's nurse had bypass 7yrs ago and has a bad ulcer in that unused portion of her stomach. Just something to consider.

Some have regretted the 2nd surgery. One suggestion is to try every medication, especially suggested was Nexium even if insurance won't cover the brand.

This is the name of the thread on here, put it in the search function - Sleeve revision to gastric bypass tomorrow

Edited November 6, 2017 by Sosewsue61

[KristieAtkinson 589]

I have no experience to add, but there are others on this board that still get gerd or ulcers after the revision in that stomach portion that is unused, you just don't get reflux in the esophagus. They had initial relief but became very ill again after 2 years. My PCP's nurse had bypass 7yrs ago and has a bad ulcer in that unused portion of her stomach. Just something to consider.
Some have regretted the 2nd surgery. One suggestion is to try every medication, especially suggested was Nexium even if insurance won't cover the brand.

This is the name of the thread on here, put it in the search function - Sleeve revision to gastric bypass tomorrow

Thank you very much. I tried to do a search but it doesn’t seem to be working for me. I’ve tried all words, a few words , just keywords and it won’t pull.

Can you tell me where it is located? Maybe I can find it that way.