Reaching the point where my doctor is recommending a gastric stimulator, but I think I want to try for a gastric bypass instead

Questions

I have tried prokinetics and diet changes and am still having issues maintaining my weight and struggling with debilitating fatigue. I'm currently maxed out on motegrity and it's not doing enough for me. Meeting with my gi doctor yesterday, they said that the next step would be a consult with a surgeon for a gastric stimulator, as surgery seems to be the next step for me. She said that I'm not a candidate for gastric bypass only because I'm a healthy BMI (22.3). I have mixed feeling about the stimulator, but do have GERD with minor esophageal changes and would like something that will help both, instead of a possible temporary fix that will require maintenance surgeries over time. I was just diagnosed last fall and I've failed with Reglan too. I started at like 150 lbs and am now 125 lbs, so I have lost 25 lbs since my diagnosis. I'm starting to have joint pain, the doctor attributed to malnutrition, which was super disheartening because I had thought that my stomach was doing better over the last few weeks, but it isn't. I guess I'm looking for multiple things. For those with stimulators, how has your experience been? For those that got their insurance (US) to approve bypass surgery while in a healthy BMI range, please tell me what it took and how your results have been. I'm so frustrated and really struggling right now. I didn't think another surgery would be in my near future (this will be my 5th surgery since April 2025). Any help/advice would be appreciated

Posted Jul 29, 2026, 9:34 PM UTC

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