Have you had weight loss surgery, but now you are dealing with daily heartburn? Please know that you aren't alone, and you don’t just have to live with it. Here is what is actually going on, and how we fix it! Welcome to the Reflux & General Surgery Corner.

Getting Chronic Acid Reflux After a Sleeve

The gastric sleeve changes your stomach into a narrow tube, which then naturally increases the internal pressure found in your stomach. This pressure then is what forces stomach acid upward, causing severe reflux that even over-the-counter meds can't fix.

Signs it may be time to come see Dr. Davis:

1. There is a constant burning in your chest or throat

2. You may wake up at night coughing, choking, or gasping

3. There is often a bitter, sour taste in your mouth

Here's how we can fix it:

1. Sleeve-to-Bypass Conversion: This procedure lowers stomach pressure and can instantly redirect acid away from your esophagus.

2. Hiatal Hernia Repair: This is a quick and minimally invasive procedure that stops your reflux by correcting your stomach if it has been pushing up into your diaphragm.

General Surgery for Bariatric Patients

A sudden and rapid weight loss greatly changes the body. When you need routine general surgery, you want a surgeon who knows bariatric anatomy inside and out.

Gallbladder Removal:

Sudden and rapid weight loss can frequently trigger painful gallstones. If you have a sharp pain in your upper right abdomen after eating, this may mean that it needs to come out.

Hernia Repair:

Large weight loss and even old incision sites can greatly weaken the abdominal wall, which can cause a visible and possibly painful bulge. We perform surgeries to close any openings in your abdominal wall, and help put everything back where it belongs to get you back to your normal routines quickly.