Will Gastric Bypass “fix” gastroparesis symptoms?

@lharrell256
Hello,
I am so sorry you have been dealing with this. It is SO difficult and distressing.
I am two years out from having had my gastric bypass surgery. I was extremely anxious about the surgery prior to having it. However, I can honestly say that it turned out to be the very best decision for me. My life drastically improved following this surgery. When I say drastically, I mean that I felt like I could live again. And mind you, I was a difficult case. I had a failed LINX. Then had (literally) a botched fundiplication. Because of the botched fundiplication, I had a DM score of 125 - my esophagus was literally burning up. The second fundiplication to correct that was good and was done by a great surgeon, but slipped - note that my esophagus is extremely short. That’s when they recommended the gastric bypass.
First, I want to emphasize the importance of having an excellent surgeon. I ended up seeing Dr. Lee Morris, at Houston Methodist. I do not live there, but travelled there for my 2nd fundiplication and my bypass. He is a great surgeon.
Second, I also want to emphasize the importance of following post surgery instructions to the letter - for the rest of your life. I am religious about my vitamins and supplements. I NEVER miss a day taking my bariatric vitamins and I maintain a good diet that is very high in protein.
I think because of that, my lab results remain very good and I’ve had no deficiency issues.
You will have to do yearly blood tests to be sure you are getting enough nutrients. But for me that is both motivating and reassuring. Ironically, I just had my blood work done a couple of weeks ago and most everything looked good.
Again, this has been live altering for me. I have not taken any Nexium in almost 2 years - after having taken four to six Nexium a day - remember my DM score was 125 prior to bypass surgery.
Obviously, I can’t say that your surgery would be as successful as mine, but certainly hope that it is.
What a long response to basically tell you that I am doing great since my surgery two years ago and I anticipate that continuing.
I sincerely wish you all the best and hope you can get the same level of relieve that I have experienced.
All the best.
Terri

@terrijwright I also wanted to ask if you had the gastric bypass surgery and, if so, how you're doing. My surgeon is recommending I have bypass due to gastroparesis, three failed Nissens and a pyloroplasty. I have severe reflux with aspiration so he is recommending this not for weight loss, but to control the reflux/aspiration. I am so afraid any surgery may cause more problems than I have now instead of helping with my present issues. Any info you are willing to share would be helpful. Thanks!

@terrijwright Hi! Did you undergo the gastric bypass surgery? How are you doing now?

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful response.
I have extensively talked with my gastroenterologist, at MD Anderson. He referred me to my surgeon, who is at Houston Methodist. Im lucky that I have two great doctors and trust them. My gastro doc has expressed that I “have” to do something, due to (like you) the extensive damage to my esophagus.
I know this is not really a “fix”; hence the quotations. I also know that I will still have to be very cautious about food. Im already having to do that; I cant eat so many things and can only eat a small amount at a time already. I am just hoping it will give me some relief in terms of the nausea, bloating and pain.
Thank you again for your great response. I appreciate you taking the time.

I am worried about having the surgery. However, my gastroenterologist, at MD Anderson, said he knows a gastric bypass is drastic, but says I have to do something. He is concerned about the continual damage to my esophagus more than anything else. He said they could just try to redo the nissen again, but given my history he predicted it would fail and I’d still end up having to do the bypass anyway.
Given this, I am also worried about not having it done. I’m taking 80 mg of Nexium daily again along with zofran, simethicone and laxatives.
I worry about the long term effects of taking all of these regularly too. I feel like no option is great

@terrijwright

As far as I know there is no cure for gastroparesis. I have heard some success with a gastric stimulator implant.

I had some help with gastoparesis symptoms with taking a probiotic .. tried different ones and Align helped the most. Also just watching your diet.

I had a gastric bypass in 2014. My stomach (pouch) is about the size of a large egg .. because I lost bits of my stomach with Nissen .. repair .. and take down of the Nissen. It has not expanded much .. the surgeon told me it would not. I can eat at most .. depending on what it is … 1 1/2 cups of food. I eat often to keep my weight up.

Constipation is still a problem at times. I cannot eat raw foods .. except ripe banana and I can eat dried fruits .. and eat fruit and veggies cooked tender and canned ones. For my higher fiber I can eat Bush's baked beans. They are tender and give me very little gas. I sometimes eat canned kidney and black beans .. like in chili or soups. Just one meal in a day and a big break before next bean dinner. I get full and can't eat much … it takes a bit to digest higher fiber foods. I eat meats but avoid stringy, tough meats.

There are risk with gastric bypass … I had complications and mine was done at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Nothing the surgeon did .. just my body acting up. 1% chance my esophagus would shorten. It did. It brought up 1 loop of my intestines and shredded part of my diaphragm where they attached the hernia to. They repaired what they could during that surgery but I was too weak for it all. I was put on a feeding tube .. after a time I could eat by mouth, but still needed the tube to survive. About 6 months later two more loops of my intestines came up into chest (I cannot explain how that felt) and I had more surgery. It had to be open and had to be done .. or I would have a slow death. My intestines had pushed against my left lung and collapsed the lung. During this repair surgery they had to get my lung off my ribs. The lower portion of my lung is still collapsed, but I breathe fine. I was on the feeding tube just a little over a year. Not great to go through, but kept me alive.

Don't let this scare you from having the surgery. My esophagus was messed up pretty bad from acid reflux before the surgery. So the damage from reflux is stopped. Because of the last surgery I still have chest pains. .. and achalasia is still there from before to cause chest pains. (I don't think any real cure for it either .. just a little relief from a couple of types of surgery). I burp just as much and sometimes bad bloating if I was bad and ate too much high fiber. You may be able to eat higher fiber .. everyone is different. Sometimes I take a stool softener or laxative.

I don't have as much symptoms of gastroparesis now. I had dumping syndrome with it and I still have it, but not as often and usually solid bowel movements.

I suggest talking more with a surgeon before having the bypass. Write your questions and concerns down. Read all you can .. but don't trust Dr Google. .. it can lead you to quack sites .. stick with the major hospital sites.

ZeeGee

I’d avoid surgery! They’ll probably cause worse problems than you have now.

@terrijwright

As far as I know there is no cure for gastroparesis. I have heard some success with a gastric stimulator implant.

I had some help with gastoparesis symptoms with taking a probiotic .. tried different ones and Align helped the most. Also just watching your diet.

I had a gastric bypass in 2014. My stomach (pouch) is about the size of a large egg .. because I lost bits of my stomach with Nissen .. repair .. and take down of the Nissen. It has not expanded much .. the surgeon told me it would not. I can eat at most .. depending on what it is … 1 1/2 cups of food. I eat often to keep my weight up.

Constipation is still a problem at times. I cannot eat raw foods .. except ripe banana and I can eat dried fruits .. and eat fruit and veggies cooked tender and canned ones. For my higher fiber I can eat Bush's baked beans. They are tender and give me very little gas. I sometimes eat canned kidney and black beans .. like in chili or soups. Just one meal in a day and a big break before next bean dinner. I get full and can't eat much … it takes a bit to digest higher fiber foods. I eat meats but avoid stringy, tough meats.

There are risk with gastric bypass … I had complications and mine was done at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Nothing the surgeon did .. just my body acting up. 1% chance my esophagus would shorten. It did. It brought up 1 loop of my intestines and shredded part of my diaphragm where they attached the hernia to. They repaired what they could during that surgery but I was too weak for it all. I was put on a feeding tube .. after a time I could eat by mouth, but still needed the tube to survive. About 6 months later two more loops of my intestines came up into chest (I cannot explain how that felt) and I had more surgery. It had to be open and had to be done .. or I would have a slow death. My intestines had pushed against my left lung and collapsed the lung. During this repair surgery they had to get my lung off my ribs. The lower portion of my lung is still collapsed, but I breathe fine. I was on the feeding tube just a little over a year. Not great to go through, but kept me alive.

Don't let this scare you from having the surgery. My esophagus was messed up pretty bad from acid reflux before the surgery. So the damage from reflux is stopped. Because of the last surgery I still have chest pains. .. and achalasia is still there from before to cause chest pains. (I don't think any real cure for it either .. just a little relief from a couple of types of surgery). I burp just as much and sometimes bad bloating if I was bad and ate too much high fiber. You may be able to eat higher fiber .. everyone is different. Sometimes I take a stool softener or laxative.

I don't have as much symptoms of gastroparesis now. I had dumping syndrome with it and I still have it, but not as often and usually solid bowel movements.

I suggest talking more with a surgeon before having the bypass. Write your questions and concerns down. Read all you can .. but don't trust Dr Google. .. it can lead you to quack sites .. stick with the major hospital sites.

ZeeGee