Did your reflux get worse or better?

[Avonlea]

I'm nearly eight weeks out. All is going well, but I've noticed a distinct worsening of acid reflux. I am taking omeprazole twice a day now, instead of only once, but it's still getting steadily worse.

I know I'm early out. Did any of you struggle with acid reflux at first?

[Deleted]

much worse - even taking Nexium it was bad the first bit - for OTC I also took Gaviscon - then after the first few days it was better, I think when the nexium was kicking in.

but taking it twice a day is as much as I've had to - so yours is worse. what does your surgeon say?

I noticed when the makers of omeprazole started making it timed release, it didn't work as consistently for me. I posted about this over there and I don't think anyone else noticed this.

I switched to (OTC) Zegerid and I'm still on it twice a day (I drink too much coffee, keep meaning to cut back)

hope you find what works SOON!

[Deleted]

One the other side of the coin...mine is MUCH better.

I had GERD pre-op, it's gone. I still take a PPI cause my surgeon insists on it tho.

With the exception of Zegrid, all PPI's (at least prescription strength) are extended release...if in doubt, ask your pharmacist about it.

Liz

[hoosiermama]

I'm almost 4 months out. Early out after surgery I thought I would die. I had Omneprozole twice a day along with Pepto and a few tums. I was dying!!! I kept adding pillows to sleep on in the hopes of slowing the reflux. The burning day and night was miserable. Now, I've noticed that I'm not so sure I need the PPI twice a day any longer. I haven't woken up in over a month with reflux and I can eat anything before I go to bed without issues.

I had a "bit" of Gerd before surgery but normally didn't take a PPI.

me

[Deleted]

Mar 7, 2012 2:20:30 GMT -5 Avonlea said:

I'm nearly eight weeks out. All is going well, but I've noticed a distinct worsening of acid reflux. I am taking omeprazole twice a day now, instead of only once, but it's still getting steadily worse.

I know I'm early out. Did any of you struggle with acid reflux at first?

I don't know if what I had early out was reflux or just the stuff of healing. I took Prilosec OTC religiously for a few months, maybe three, and then was fine, until a year or so ago. I had this idea that reflux meant fire burning acid in the back of your throat and did not realize that a certain chest discomfort was actually reflux. I took some Tums at some point, got relief and didn't think more about it.....until I looked around some months later and realized I'd gone through two big bottles of the suckers in a month at most, maybe a little faster.

Color me dense. Off I went to the family doc, who said probably reflux, use Prilosec rx strength. Didn't help all that much, so I went to gastro doc and got scoped and biopsied. I was pleased to hear it was garden variety GERD and that there were no narrowing or scarring issues.

Now I take a miracle pill called Dexilant and have my life back, with just a few minor adjustments to my routine, like not eating or drinking a few certain things (like soda and tomato laden foods) within some hours of bedtime.

[citizenk9]

I had horrible reflux before surgery. I would wake up with it coming out my nose. I get sick just thinking about it.

I stayed ahead of it as a post op. I took Prevacid religiously for the first 6 months and then when I stopped it, it was gone. I have only had reflux twice since surgery (2+ years) and that was because I ate too much right before bed.

[califsleevin]

The VSG (and DS) leaves us with nearly full normal acid producing capacity along with our smaller stomachs, and it takes our bodies a while to get the message that we don't need to use all of that capacity; as usual, there are individual variations in how quickly we adapt to the changes, and some may never fully adapt. Most seem to be able to drop the PPIs (protein pump inhibitors like Prilosec/omeprazole or Protonix) after a few weeks or months. I was on the OTC omeprazole twice a day since surgery and tried a couple of times to wean off of it without success, but now, at around ten months out, it is working well at just once a day, so things are adapting finally.

Another thing to note is that the various PPI drugs, while being in the same class, are somewhat different and one may work better for you than others. I tried changing from the OTC omeprazole to the OTC Zantac and it didn't do anything for me, so it was back to the omeprazole. So it's certainly worth talking to your doc about it as there are alternatives out there.

[nandmsmom]

I've been on omeprazole for 10 years now. When I had my surgery 2 months ago, they fixed a hiatal hernia. Was started on zantac post op and had to go back to omeprazole after a week. I would like to try to come off of it, but will probably wait another month or so and then try to slowly wean myself off of it.

[muffinsmom]

Mine got a bit worse. I was on OTC Prilosec for a couple years before surgery. Afterwards, Prilosec didn't do it for me, for some reason, and I cycled thru several different ones, OTC and rx (including Dexilant) before landing on Protonix rx, a generic version. I take it twice a day and it works for me. Very occasionally I need to take a Zantac or Pepcid to handle higher-than-usual acid levels, and I always make sure not to eat anything for a couple hours before going to bed.

[MontanaGirl]

my acid reflux was bad in spurts for the first 2 months or so. i don't know if it was due to my abscess being right next to my stomach causing it to inflame my stomach and cause acid. as of right now though i don't have trouble. there is maybe one or two days in 2 weeks that i have to maybe eat a yogurt or 1 tum but thats it. lets hope it stays that way:)

[grdngrl]

I'm 10 weeks or so out, I had reflux before and was taking PPI - when he got in there, he saw a hiatal hernia that must have been caused by the crap band era (it had been out for a year) so he fixed it. I'm still taking the PPI, I think he said for three months post-op, I'll ask him at my 3 month appt.

I'm thankful I pursued having the sleeve done - I'm glad he fixed that HH and perhaps in the future I won't need a PPI . . . time will tell.

I would say time will tell for you too - hang in there, I hate reflux!!!!

[Avonlea]

Okay, thanks for all the feedback. I'll keep up with the twice a day pills and see how things are in a few months.