Hiatus Hernia - Did removal help prevent acid reflux with sleeve surgery?

[Blueslily 94]

Hello,

I'm a newbie. I completed four months of the required weight management for my insurance to approve the surgery. I am scheduled for surgery in early April. I had the EGD a few weeks ago for my surgeon to look to see if there are any issues in my esophagus or stomach before surgery. I had already mentioned to him that one month prior, I had started burping and was worried that I was developing acid reflux. Since that was the only symptom, he said it could be anything and that his practice is to fix any hernias that they see during the same WLS to help prevent acid reflux later. He said that if I have acid reflux, he would be able to see it during the EGD. So, I did the EGD and he said he saw a small hiatus hernia. He said for me not to worry that he would fix it during the sleeve surgery and that will prevent acid reflux. I had asked him should I choose the bypass versus the sleeve due to the possible acid reflux. He said that since he is going to fix the hernia, I can still go with the sleeve if that is my preference.

My question is to those who had a sleeve surgery and the hiatus hernia fixed at the time of the sleeve surgery, did that indeed prevent acid reflux for you? I really dont want to have a sleeve surgery now and end up with bad reflux and then need to do a revision. I was very direct with the surgeon about not wanting to have a revision later.

Thanks!

[bellaluna701 5]

I had horrible GERD/ acid reflux for years. During my EGD a moderate hiatal hernia was identified, But my surgeon said he would repair it during the sleeve surgery, which he did. Ever since the surgery I no longer have GERD/acid reflux. I know everybody is different but fixing the hernia worked for me.

[TLE 15]

They found a small one in me also, never really had trouble with it unless I eat to late and then try to lay down, supposed to fix it at surgery.

[mweiss1998 79]

I had a hiatal hernia fixed during my sleeve surgery. I didn't have GERD before and I also do not now. But I am only 3 weeks out.

[lynnh 12]

I have had gerd for years and hiatal hernia was fixed during sleeve. I'm now weaning off omeprazole and haven't had gerd. It's wonderful.

[Blueslily 94]

Thank you so much for the replies. I have been really concerned about having the sleeve surgery due to so many complaints about acid reflux afterwards. It's good to hear that fixing the hiatus hernia was helpful.

[mae7365 372]

Unfortunately, I had GERD before sleeve surgery and it got so much worse afterwards. I was no longer abe to control the GERD on medications, so I just had a RNY in 2020 to resolve the GERD, Gastritis and esophagitis. Since October, I've had no more GERD.

[Blueslily 94]

1 minute ago, mae7365 said:

Unfortunately, I had GERD before sleeve surgery and it got so much worse afterwards. I was no longer abe to control the GERD on medications, so I just had a RNY in 2020 to resolve the GERD, Gastritis and esophagitis. Since October, I've had no more GERD.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Did you have a hiatus hernia? Was it fixed during your initial sleeve surgery?

[tabrielle10 2]

in 2011 I was sleeved with no indication of having a hernia. I believe if the doctor saw that, he would have indicated to me that he would go ahead and remove it, but because it wasnt seen then, the sleeve was a stand alone surgery. Now had he done the gastric sleeve with the rny, I think my weight loss success would have been for a long time before gaining little to none weight gain. Nevertheless, the infamous GERD came to crash the party in 2019 and I was scheduled a bariatric doctor for a revision in September 2020. At that point I started the process which leads up to surgery and I was approved by my insurance company, thus my surgery date was 02/23/21. The doctor chose gastric bypass which he indicated that he tightened up my sleeve and rerouted my intestine where whenever I eat, it would bypass my stomach and go straight to my intestine, hence longevity of weight loss. He also mentioned to me that I had an hiatal hernia, which he repaired during the surgery. Because this is a revision, my weight loss will go moderately slow, however I choose to think that is on a "case by case" basis. Ive seen people with this revision go on to lose around 50-60 lbs in 4-5 months. I may very well fall in with these people, due to my rapid weight loss 9 years ago. my hw in 2011 was 303, sw was 289, fw 179, gw 160. I never reached my goal weight the first time, but I lost a total of 110lbs in 1 year, and then in 2013 I couldnt get the skin to tighten up, so I qualified for a panni, aka Tummy Tuck. i have big turkey wings and that is considered cosmetic, had Ive gotten that done, I probably would have gotten to my goal weight with ease because I went down to 173 after that surgery then the plateau started, but I maintained that weight for 7 years, then in 2019 I went through a depression state and going back to my bad habits, and smoking ciggs, then to make things worse, covid came to join the world so my weight skyrocketed to a shockingly total weight gain in 2 years of 76 lbs of it back. Thats 40 lbs away from going back to my surgery weight! That was a scary thought, but I think if I didnt have the gerd, my hiatal hernia wouldnt have been noticed. I know how to keep my weight down, because I had highs and lows throughout maintaining my weight without having a head game behind the fact that I was no longer 173. I was dating this guy from atlanta for 2 years and all I did was travel, splurge and dine out 3-4 days a week Breakfast lunch and dinner. I didnt work and he took care of alll my bills and my childrens tuition for college and high school. This caused me to be settled and gained happy weight then my happy weight went flat as I got tired of being smothered and controlled by him so I left him right after valentines day. I then joined the gym at the end of February 2018 because I had got to 220 in my weight! I was making 50 that year so I wanted to at least get back into my size 9/10 before my birthday. Well I did. I lost 22 lbs in 3 months and was toned and force to be reckoned with. So I know that this is a long response, but I just wanted to share with you my journey as a 2 time bariatric patient. Im 5 days out from my revision, and I have lost a total 17 lbs which is to include losing 10lbs in 3 days from preop preparation. If I stick to the diet the way my nut and my dr has set forth for me, I could very well get past the goal weight they have for me, which is 180, and thats due to my frame, and my height as an African American female. At the rate that Im going, I will have lost a whopping 80 lbs in 2 months! But because the weight loss will be slow, and if I had to guess, I would say to get to MY gw of 160 would probably take me about 7-8 months to achieve that goal. Who knows with a sustained diet and exercise, I could very well get to my goal sooner. I hope this document of a response helps. lol, but best wishes to whatever surgery you decide to choose and God speed on your recovery.

[mae7365 372]

On 2/26/2021 at 7:02 AM, Blueslily said:

Sorry to hear about your experience. Did you have a hiatus hernia? Was it fixed during your initial sleeve surgery?

Yes, I had a hiatal hernia repair with the sleeve than again when I had the RNY last year.

[lynnh 12]

The sleeve/ hiatal hernia repair Gor me off the omeprazole I've been on for years.

[Gabriatric2020 2]

I had the sleeve in December with the hernia repair. Pre-surgery I didn’t get GERD bad, it was rare and only at night before bed. After surgery I feel like it might have got worse at the 2 month mark, but your surgeon most likely will give u medication and I’ve been taking it and it helps a lot- when I forget the acid reflux will remind you to. There’s one pill u can take before you eat to help- which Is very helpful to take if You plan on eating out. I hope it is just a temporary thing.

[Blueslily 94]

3 hours ago, Gabriatric2020 said:

I had the sleeve in December with the hernia repair. Pre-surgery I didn’t get GERD bad, it was rare and only at night before bed. After surgery I feel like it might have got worse at the 2 month mark, but your surgeon most likely will give u medication and I’ve been taking it and it helps a lot- when I forget the acid reflux will remind you to. There’s one pill u can take before you eat to help- which Is very helpful to take if You plan on eating out. I hope it is just a temporary thing.

Sorry to hear that it got worse at Month 2. I really want to reduce medications and medical conditions by having this surgery. So, I really dont want to add a medication after it. I'm ok with taking Vitamins of course.

[Gabriatric2020 2]

4 hours ago, Blueslily said:

Sorry to hear that it got worse at Month 2. I really want to reduce medications and medical conditions by having this surgery. So, I really dont want to add a medication after it. I'm ok with taking Vitamins of course.

The first few weeks it wasn’t that bad at all, It took time to adjust to not eating so fast (but with so much excitement it was hard) so I only became nauseous when I ate fast or over did it but I learned quickly and had no issues, I wasn’t even taking the medication for acid/nausea. Now that I’m a little past the 2 months and introducing more new foods I do get the GERD, but I’m hoping it’s just temporary and apart of transition- I’ve noticed it usually happens when I take in any vegetables (specifically broccoli, which was my fav). Aside from all the Vitamins, it’s the only medication I’m taking right now- it is as needed, but I take one before I have my “biggest” meal which tends to be lunch. If I don’t take it then I end up with the heartburn, nausea, etc. and will take one and it immediately helps. I have noticed getting up to walk around in between bites helps a lot.