GERD

[carrier]

I have GERD really bad. Does the surgery increase or decrease instances of heartburn??

[snowbird]

I don't have any stats on this, but generally the surgery helps GERD. The surgeon will correct a hiatal hernia during band surgery if he finds one, and that is the main cause of GERD from what I have read.

I was on Nexium twice a day prior to surgery, and even then I would wake up several times during the night and need some Tums or Mylanta. Now I still take Nexium, but I'm back to one a day, and usually don't wake up during the night with GERD problems.

In some cases, people who never had reflux develop it after band surgery. This is often due to band slippage, or being filled too tightly. I have even heard of some people regurgitating through their noses at night after a too tight fill.

[dreamhappy07]

Hi,

I had GERD really bad too and was taking 15mg of Prevacid every days for years. Since being banded, I have never taken or even needed my medication once. Only once I took a tums, but that was because I ate too fast and/or too much and had slight reflux. Most people do at one time or another, but it is nothing like GERD was. After taking that one tums, I have never needed it again.

Hope this helps because I, too was really worried about the reflux from the GERD totally ruining my band, but it seems to have been cured.

Take care and good luck on your weight loss journey!

Peace,

Judy

[Dontondan]

I had "Gerd for many years and had been on a variety of medications to control it prior to banding. When I went in for my fill Dr. Romero asked me about my medications and I told him I was takingNexiumand he told me to try to stop taking it and see what happens.........I am GERD free! This is the first time in over 25 years that I have not been on something for GERD! It has been a whole month now without it! WOW!