Reflux Surgery

[chrism]

I go in for laparoscopic fundoplication ( reflux surgery) next Friday. Those of you that have had this procedure, do you have any thoughts or words of wisdom here? I currently control my reflux/heartburn through 40mg Nexum. It works great but don't want to stay on drug treatment for the rest of my life. One of my concerns is not having the ability to regurgitate. Also in reading some of the side effects I am not so sure I want to go through with it. Would love to alleviate my reflux/heartburn but not sure if I want to live with the side effects, especially when Nexum currently works well. Any advice would be more than appreciated.

[theclansmom]

A related discussion, Nissen Fundoplication - pain was started.

[emotions327]

hey science im having your same pattern. I have been sick for 10 yrs with reflux since i was 8 im now 18. Ive had two nissan fundo's both of which have failed but because of the presense of the wrap my reflux cant make it up all the way to my mouth so it aspirates into my broncial tubes. Ive had a bad cough the doctors diagnosed me broncitis and asthma 7 or 8 times last winter. i went to a pulmonary doc and they found out about my aspirations. There is too much scar tissue to do another surgery,  im in prilosic and ive been on ever med in the book and still have reflux and hyper acidity.. i have a hard time swallowing i had my surgeryu 4 yrs ago and swallowing was fine until recently when i started aspirating, im on like 3 inhallers which makes me jittery as all hell andm akes my heart race. but no one knows where to go next. im constantly bloated and in extreme pain, very tired and low on enery, always very nausiated  can barly eat anythnig. im only 18 and ive been in the hospital more than more people have been in there whole lives.

[Mrs. Science]

My symptoms are exactly like yours. But,I am 61 years old, have been suffering for over 20 years. In the past two years I have noticed I am always hoarse, have a sore throat, and cough constantly because of the tickle in my throat. Now my bronchial tubes are being affected. Did you experience this pattern?

[caracell50]

This acid reflux is not something to fool with, if my husband would of went 3 years ago to have himself checked for this? and treated for this, he would be far better off then he is today.
In February 2001, he was diagnosed with esophagus cancer, the tumor had been growing for 2 years prior to being diagnosed.
He underwent a 14 hour surgery in July 2001, he had 1/3 of his stomach, and 1/3 of his esophagus removed,
He eats everything, but gets sick, he's in alot of pain at times. and he's on drugs to which he is now addicted to.
He has been given a 15% chance of survial rate for 5 years, considering he's had cancer for the last 3 and maybe longer then that.
and the mortality rate is very poor for this cancer. :(
I wish I could turn back the clock and knew then what I know now. We were told, this was started by acid reflux, and I think I have stock in the rolaid company,
He's still taking rolaids, and drinks malox often, he still gets this reflux.
So, if your being treated for reflux, keep going, I see first hand what this can do to a person. and it's not easy watching someone you have been with most of your life like this. Not to mention having 2 sons who are having a problem dealing with all this.
Their dad has changed drastically this last year. making it very hard on everyone.

[Kayleigh]

I had the Nissen Fundoplication about 1/2 yr ago.  EXTREMELY POSITIVE results.  I had suffered for 4 yrs with no voice or minimal voice, extreme coughing, severe chest pains, shortness of breath, tired all the time.  Was on every medication with no relief.  I never experienced the heartburn.  The acid was getting on my voicebox.  I stayed in the hospital one night!  Minimal pain.  It took me about 1 month to get my eating back to normal.  Mostly pain upon eating that felt like a baseball passing from one junction to another.  Mostly when I ate things like bread, rice, potatoes.  I lost 10 pounds the first month...and the second month I gained it back.  I had an excellent doctor.  My quality of life has improved 90% and I am happy I had the operation.  I had another 24-hr PH Probe after the operation and it showed I still have reflux..and currently take 40mg of Nexium twice daily.  But on a scale of A-D (with D being the worst)....I have improved from a D- to a B- since I had the surgery.  I can eat anything I want now with no problems. I'm glad I had the surgery.

[chrism]

Thanks to all that have responded to me so far. Excellent input and I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Is there anyone out there that has any positive comments regarding the reflux surgery?

[Brandy3059]

Hi I'm 16 and I just had that surgery done in December.  It wasn't worth it.  After you have that surgery done you can't throw up anymore.  I still have problems with acid in my stomach and when i went to another dr he said i got Barrets Disease because of the surgery.  He said that it isn't for everyone and i should have gotten a second opinion.  So make sure you have had second opinions.

[toy drive]

Hello, I am like you . A marathon runner for 11 yrs i am used to running 6-7miles per day running 50 miles per week. I was  getting short of breath for months it was found that i had bad reflux . I had the surgery 4 weeks ago, still cannot eat .I can only eat baby food , jello etc. When i try to eat get bad pain across chest and very gasy. I wonder if my wrap is to tight,does this sound like you.I had a great dr success rate of 95% and has done over 600 hundred in 10 years. I just can't get rid of pain . I can't eat anything.The pain i get is very bad pain across chest like a bad burning pain.

[4RUNNER]

I HAD FUNDOPLICATION SURGERY 5 YEARS AGO. I WAS 180 LBS, JOGGED 4 MILES A DAY, TAUGHT MARTIAL ARTS 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND COULD WORK 70-80 HOURS A WEEK.THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT DONE IT WAS TO TIGHT,I KEEP TELLING THE SURGEON I COULDN'T EAT,MY STOMACH BLOWED UP LIKE A BALLON AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT PUMPED TO GET THE AIR OFF.ALSO MY HEART RATE WENT FROM 50 BPM TO 28 BPM. I KEEP FEELING DRUNK AND THE DOCTORS IN MY SMALL TOWN OF 80,000 STARTED TELLING ME AND MY FAMILEY I HAD CANCER WHEN I HAD LOST 60 LBS. FINALLY WE WENT TO THE KIRLIN CLINIC FOR BONE MARROW BIOPSEY AND FOUND I WAS MALNUTRITIONED. THE SURGERY WAS REWORKED TO MAKE IT LOOSER AND I CAN EAT A LITTLE BETTER. A TEAM OF DOCTORS ALSO FOUND THAT MY VAGUS NERVE WAS DAMAGED WHICH CONTROLS YOUR HEART RATE,PANCREAS,AND COLON. MAKE SURE IF YOU NEED THIS SURGERY YOU FIND A DOCTOR THAT KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING AND ASK FOR REFERENCES FROM PREVIOUS PATIENTS. I STILL SUFFER EVERYDAY FROM SUGAR PROBLEMS,COLON PROBLEMS AND LOW HEART RATE. IF DONE CORRECTLY THIS SURGERY CAN HELP IF DONE INCORRECTLY YOU COULD END UP MISERABLE.

[Baseball_Mom]

I had the Nissen Fuduplication done 5 1/2 years ago.  I would recommend that if the Nexium is working great for you that you don't have the surgery.  My heartburn/acid reflux is back with a vengence and I now have to take 2 Nexium a day.  Just wanted to let you know that if your surgeon has not told you the average "working expectancy" of this procedure is 7 to 10 years.  It does not last a lifetime like I was told when I had the procedure done.  At the time I had this done, Nexium was not out on the market and Prilosec just didn't control the acid reflux very well.  If you decide to have the surgery, best of luck to you.

[toy drive]

well good luck.I had the surgery almost i month ago by a Dr who has done more than 600 hundred of these. First I spent 2 days in hospital-that was enough.Now i still can't eat solids or really anything. I eat scrambled egg- yogurt-banana baby food-jello-that is really it. I have tried mashed up food but it does not work i get very bad pain.I went back to work last week.(Sit behind desk)just feel very weak because i can't eat.I still get some pain but dr said normal. If you are in bad condition like i was Then it is worth it. I had shortness of breath, coughing all the time very bad.I had a 24hr ph test it showed 255 refluxes in 21hrs and 5.2 les pressure.I was on nexium 80mg for 17 weeks only got 30% better. Well good luck. I am a 31 year old male, a runner and reflux has beening controlling my life so it was worth it. take care.