Laparoscopic Gastric Sleeve (LSG) is a weight loss procedure that surgically removes a portion of the stomach. This reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold and causes the stomach to get full faster and less hungry.
One of the gastric sleeve side effects that some patients suffer post-operatively is acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Unfortunately, with gastric sleeve, acid reflux can develop or worsen due to the restriction that increases gastric pressure while also reducing gastric emptying. Sleeve gastrectomy can improve acid reflux if it is due to excess weight or a hiatal hernia that can be fixed during the operation.
While not everyone experiences acid backflow after gastric sleeve surgery, you may need to seek treatment if it disrupts daily life.
What is Acid Reflux?
When the weakened esophagus muscle, the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), is not closing properly, acid rises from the stomach into the esophagus and throat. This can be very uncomfortable and make it impossible to eat food when needed. It can be most prevalent when lying down and can cause significant discomfort.
Acid backflow is often referred to as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and is a chronic condition that allows the flow of stomach acid and sometimes bile to flow back up. Patients suffering from GERD typically experience these symptoms more than twice a week, which can dramatically change how daily life is managed.
NERD (non-erosive reflux disease) is a type of GERD without injury to the esophagus.
More than half of all pregnant women have a problem with reflux. Fortunately for those pregnant women, heartburn disappears after pregnancy and is not a serious issue.
GERD is common among individuals with obesity and overweight problem. Visceral fat in the abdomen secretes inflammatory hormones that can cause GERD. It can also be associated with the presence of Hiatal Hernia. Mexico Bariatric Center’s weight loss surgeons routinely look for hernias in patients during surgery and repair them if necessary.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and GERD are used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. Many symptoms caused by acid reflux can be very uncomfortable for those suffering from this health issue.
- Heartburn: A burning pain and discomfort that moves up from your stomach to the center of your abdomen, chest area, and in some cases, your neck. This does not in any way affect your heart, despite its name.
- Regurgitation: Acid can back up into your throat or mouth, producing a sour/bitter taste. In some cases, you may even burp or vomit up some of the contents of your stomach.
- Dyspepsia: This term is used for stomach discomforts such as burping, nausea after eating, fullness or bloating in the abdomen, upper abdominal pain, and discomfort.
These symptoms can indicate that your esophagus has become inflamed in your stomach acid. This can damage the lining of your esophagus and cause bleeding.
How to Know if You Have Acid Reflux After Gastric Sleeve?
In some cases, acid reflux in patients that have had gastric sleeve surgery can result from some crucial missteps in how they are recovering. Overeating after surgery can cause reflux symptoms, as well as not drinking enough fluids and eating foods that will not be too spicy.
Another possibility is that the individual had some form of reflux before the surgery. The surgery aggravated the situation by reducing the amount of space for the stomach acid to reside. Whatever the case, it is vital that you seek medical attention if you experience any pain or discomfort, such as acid reflux.
When lying down, bending over, or lifting a heavy object, or after eating a heavy meal, acid reflux may very well occur. The times at which you experience reflux symptoms can vary depending on personal circumstances. However, many do experience symptoms at night.
Treatment Options for Acid Reflux After Gastric Sleeve
Diet and Medication
Treatment for acid reflux that has been caused by sleeve gastrectomy is often a combination of dietary changes and over-the-counter medications. Proper diet and meal plans can help reduce heartburn symptoms. Among the different medications are several options for the type of assistance. Antacids contain a neutralizing effect on stomach acid; some anti-reflux drugs reduce acid production itself, and others block the production of acid.
Proton pump inhibitors, like Omeprazole, can be useful in the early stages of acid reflux while also healing the esophagus. If these do not produce lasting results, a physician can prescribe stronger drugs that might provide better and longer-lasting relief.
Surgical Revision
RNY gastric bypass patients have fewer problems with heartburn and GERD. Duodenal Switch (DS) has the same issues with heartburn as the gastric sleeve. If the heartburn problem continues, a revisional surgery from gastric sleeve to Roux-en-Y bypass is necessary.
The physician can start to help you immediately before the condition worsens. The longer that a person suffers from it, the more likely they will be to do damage that can linger for some time.
More Reading:
I have had sleeve surgery and the acid reflux is so severe I can hardly deal with it, what can I do without taking medicine?
What could be a good option for you, Brenda, is to consult a doctor who can specify options based on your overall condition and individual needs. This is something that we can also look into in terms of content to provide at some point.
I’m 4 weeks out of gastric sleeve surgery and I’m having horrible acid reflux. I did have it before I take omperazole daily now the dr said take 20mg twice daily is it safe.,Eventually does,your stomach after gastricsleevesurgery produce less acid?
We are not allowed to give full advice on here in relation to such questions. However, you are welcome to give us a call at 855-768-7247
Hi Gina. I’m also 4 weeks out of Gastric Sleeve and my GERD is unbearable . Did it get better for you?
Hi I had the gastric sleeve done a yr ago in Mexico next month (april) over all it has worked for me and I had not experienced acid reflux until now, I just had eye surgery and they had gave me a steroid shot in it and will be putting me on it for the healing , and now I am experiencing a bad case of acid, is talking a antacids going to hurt ? And what could I take to counter act this?if it won’t hurt the sleeve or process Thank you
I Had gastric bypass 4 months ago and am now plagued with chronic acid reflux, just cannot cope with this anymore. Tablets don’t work, and I don’t know what more to do
Did you have a gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery? The gastric bypass operation is supposed to cure acid reflux.
I had Gastric sleeve surgery and Hernia surgery in March 2016, I have had severe acid reflux since, to the point of throwing up on average a 3 times a week mostly at night but sometime it just comes, no food just clear stuff. I’m taking Zantac 150 but it only last about 3hr and the reflux is back. I was prescribed Omperazole 40 mg and it works for about 12 hours, but I’m so afraid it might cause kidney problems in the future so I ask my Doc if there was anything else I can take that less threating to my kidney. That’s when he suggested Zantac 150. I have had 2 EGD to see if there anything else going on. My Barictric Doc sd it possible I might need to change to Bypass to fix the acid Reflux, I am miserable and so afraid that this acid is going to damage my esophagus or the medication will damage my kidney. I know you can’t give me medical advise, I just need to know if anyone else is dealing with this problem. Thank You!!
I’m 1 week out of the Sleeve surgery and I have really bad pain in the middle of my chest and I can’t even get the water down it hurts so bad, they tell me I’m drinking to fast but I’m telling them I wake up with this pain and I have a hard time even drinking and let alone having to take my pills which I have to crush up and take with applesauce.. But there is noway I can get 64oz of water plus protein shakes in with this pain… I just want to know can I take a half of a Alka Selzer… When I’ve had this pain before I would just take a whole one and would be great… HELP…
I’m 1 year in after my gastric sleeve. But now I am experiencing more n more acid reflux gerd. I dkk ok have prescription from my doctor. Does tour chest also come sore when it happens. Like a pain that comes and goes??
I’m 1 year in after my gastric sleeve. But now I am experiencing more n more acid reflux gerd. I dkk ok have prescription from my doctor. Does your chest also come sore when it happens. Like a pain that comes and goes?? Or what kind of pain do others have
You may want to look into a revision to RNY.
I am in the process of having Gastric sleeve surgery done if I stay I’m my Prilosec will the Gerd still get worse after surgery? I know what that pain feels like, it’s horrible and I’m a little bit afraid of it
I had Gastric sleeve may 2018 and the reflux is horrible, waitimg to get in for a consult for a revision because its horrible
Dr. Elli I had gastric sleeve with you back in Feb. 2022
i had gastric sleeve surgery 9 months ago and my acid reflux is so horrible some days, what can i do to help the acid reflux go away. What can I do to fix this?
You may want to look into a revision to RNY.
Hello Chad, Have you considered medical therapy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) conversion?