Surgery to correct reflux

[CGTMHI]

I would like to hear from patients who underwent surgery to  correct the acid reflux problems. My Dr. informs me that I can eliminate all my reflux problems by having this surgery and that it can be done liposcopically. Comments can be posted in this forum - thank you all for this forum!

Mary from Texas

[Diane]

I too am facing the possibility of a redo of my nissen.  For a month post op I couldn't swallow a thing, not even water without severe spasm and it would just sit in my esophagus and not enter the stomach for hours.  Now two years later, food is still getting caught in the esophagus, and apparently the wrap was done tooo tightly.  I have had four dilations and was told that it could not be done again.  I may have to have the surgery, since I can't live with the severe chest pains and spasm.  Also I can't burp or vomit (and after a bout with the stomach flu, believe me, I prayed to vomit!).  I would like to hear from those who have had the wrap redone and find out what complications arose from a second surgery.

[Gregory L. Crane]

Mary,
I had the surgery done liposcopically in March of 1999.
The surgery went fine, but the wrap was to tight so they went back in (liposcopically) and losend the wrap.  The reason they had to do this was because I could not swallow anything, even water would not go down without me vomitting. A month later they went back in, this time they could not do the surgery liposcopically so they made a 12 inch incision across my upper stomach and loosened the wrap even more. I now am scheduled to go back to the hospital on December 14, 2000 for an Endoscopy. The heartburn has come back and they have put me on Prevacid.
In the process of the doctors trying to get this right for me I had 10 Endoscopys done which took a tremendous toll on my body becasue of all of the IV's and also from being put under so many times. After the last surgery I ended up back in the hospital because I had dehydrated so bad because I could not swallow.
In my telling you all of this about me please understand that I am not downing the surgery.  My bosses son had the surgery done a month before I did and it was like a miracle for him, he can eat and drink what he wants and is very pleased with the surgery.

[Terry Brown]

I had severe reflux for about 10-12 years and used baking soda (it was the ONLY thing that helped me) to relieve the pain.  I finally gave up and saw a young, eager, informed surgeon who put me on Prilosec.  This worked for about a year but at the time there were no long term studies on the drug and my doctor suggested a Lap Nissen Fundiplication.  This surgery was performed in August 1994.  I only stayed two nights in hospital. I have to admit I had a rough go of it for several weeks, having to eat baby food for awhile, feeling full after only a few bites. But I haven't had heartburn since the day of my surgery.  I could finally lie flat to sleep...Hell, I could finally SLEEP!  I'm a nurse so I don't usually look for a surgical intervention for a problem but I'm glad I got help when I did.  I'd do it all over again!  If your reflux is as bad as mine was, I highly recommend it.

[Vata]

I am considering funduplication for my 1 yr old daughter who has a huge hiatal hernia and severe reflux which has caused esophagitis.  She is on zantac which controls her acid so she won't throw up blood.  We have very difficult nights because this is when the hernia/reflux act up the most.  Niether of us sleep well.  I average 2-4 hours of sleep a night as I am constantly waking up to clean up her throw up which she does throughout the night.  I'm not crazy about keeping her on zantac as medication has many negative effcets such as leeching the body of important nuturients.  I feel that if surgery will correct the problem once an for all, we should just do it so that she does not suffer with this any longer.  However, some of the comments I'm reading here are scaring me.  I don't know what to do.  Because she's so little, she can't tell exactly how she feels.  What do people out there suggest?  Has anyone had experience with infants and funduplication for a hiatal hernia and reflux?

Vata
***@****

[Vata]

I am considering funduplication for my 1 yr old daughter who has a huge hiatal hernia and severe reflux which has caused esophagitis.  She is on zantac which controls her acid so she won't throw up blood.  We have very difficult nights because this is when the hernia/reflux act up the most.  Niether of us sleep well.  I average 2-4 hours of sleep a night as I am constantly waking up to clean up her throw up which she does throughout the night.  I'm not crazy about keeping her on zantac as medication has many negative effcets such as leeching the body of important nuturients.  I feel that if surgery will correct the problem once an for all, we should just do it so that she does not suffer with this any longer.  However, some of the comments I'm reading here are scaring me.  I don't know what to do.  Because she's so little, she can't tell exactly how she feels.  What do people out there suggest?  Has anyone had experience with infants and funduplication for a hiatal hernia and reflux?

Vata
***@****

[Vata]

I am considering funduplication for my 1 yr old daughter who has a huge hiatal hernia and severe reflux which has caused esophagitis.  She is on zantac which controls her acid so she won't throw up blood.  We have very difficult nights because this is when the hernia/reflux act up the most.  Niether of us sleep well.  I average 2-4 hours of sleep a night as I am constantly waking up to clean up her throw up which she does throughout the night.  I'm not crazy about keeping her on zantac as medication has many negative effcets such as leeching the body of important nuturients.  I feel that if surgery will correct the problem once an for all, we should just do it so that she does not suffer with this any longer.  However, some of the comments I'm reading here are scaring me.  I don't know what to do.  Because she's so little, she can't tell exactly how she feels.  What do people out there suggest?  Has anyone had experience with infants and funduplication for a hiatal hernia and reflux?

Vata
***@****