After Tijuana gastric sleeve surgery, it is not uncommon for people to experience heartburn. In fact, about half of all patients report experiencing GERD at some point after gastric sleeve. If you are wondering, “How can I fix my acid reflux after gastric sleeve surgery?” don’t worry. There are many different things you can do, though, to help manage this uncomfortable feeling.
Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals
One of the best ways to manage heartburn after gastric sleeve surgery is by eating smaller, more frequent meals. This helps reduce pressure in your stomach and will prevent food from coming back up into your esophagus, which can trigger that familiar burning feeling. It also reduces bloating since you are not overloading yourself with large portions at once.
As an added benefit, this is also the best practice for eating after bariatric procedures in general and should help you lose more weight.
Pay Attention to Dietary Triggers
Another thing you can do is avoid certain foods that may worsen your heartburn. These include fatty or fried food, chocolate, caffeinated beverages like coffee and soda, peppermint, garlic, and onions.
Don’t Eat Close to Bedtime
Make sure to also stay upright for at least three hours after eating and try not to lie down right away because this can increase the amount of acid reflux after gastric sleeve that you experience. If lying down is unavoidable, then it may help to raise your bed up with blocks or even just stacking books.
Break Those Bad Habits
You should also stop habits that can trigger acid reflux, as difficult as that might sound given you are already changing so much after surgery. This includes smoking and consuming alcohol. If you feel like this might be a struggle, don’t be afraid to get support from a therapist.
Medications Sold Over the Counter
Another thing you can do to manage your heartburn is taken over-the-counter antacids such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, and esomeprazole. These are usually used for the short-term management of symptoms. However, you need to clear their use with your doctor first. Not all patients can safely use these, and which medications are best can vary based on how far you are into your recovery period.
If you are struggling with acid reflux after your surgery, know that we are here to help. Contact Dr. Jalil and his team with whatever questions you may have about bariatric surgery in Tijuana.
