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Upcoming Nissen Fundoplication - Looking for Guidance & Support

Hey Everyone,

This is my first time posting here but after doing a lot of research on Nissen's, this forum seemed to be the most updated. I am 32 and have been suffering from GERDS since I was 18 when I was diagnosed with it after it put me in the hospital for trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. On the 3rd day the Dr's did an Endoscopy and located several ulcers in my esophagus and said I had GERDS.

My family doctor treated me for about 8 years but every new medicine that he would give me would last around 2 years and stop working. Finally, he referred me to a digestive disease doctor. He continued with medications and performed an Endoscopy on me every two years. Again, around that time the previous medicine would cease working. Eventually, I ended up taking the most recent medication, Dexilant (formerly Kapidex). I started off at 30mg, then 60 mg. Back in December it stopped working and he then put me on a cocktail of Dexilant, Pepcid, and Protonix. That cocktail worked for 3 weeks and quit working in January.

My GI Dr. said I was a great candidate for a Nissen and referred me to a surgeon trained in performing the procedure. I hesitated at first and decided against it, but the symptoms were getting worse. My last Bravo gave an above average reflux reading every 15 to 20 minutes with or without food. He told me that there were no more medications on the market so I went and saw 2 highly recommended surgeons in my area. After choosing the one I felt the most comfortable with, he scheduled me for the motility test (which by the way calling it hell would be an understatement) and then he also did a stomach emptying test on me.

I am scheduled for the surgery in June. I understand that sometimes the Internet can be the worst of enemies but it seems like for every 1 feel good story that I read, I am reading 9 horror stories. Needless to say I am not wanting to have the procedure done to simply stop taking medications, nor am I wanting to have it done because I have had reflux for only 6 months so I think after suffering from it for as long as I have, I would possibly have a more positive outcome then others who rushed into the surgery. But needless to say, after reading forum after forum, this procedure really has me scared. I had a ventral hernia repair done 4 years ago so I am well aware of the uncomfortable recovery that comes after a abdominal laproscopic procedure and I am prepared to handle that. But I just can't get past wondering if the side effects of a Nissen is better than living with GERDS which has just become a common part of my life?

The surgeon was very positive (of course). He did tell me the recovery would be long, that I would be on a liquid diet for 2 to 4 weeks, that I would not be able to burp or vomit, and that after 10 to 15 years the surgery MAY become ineffective so it wasn't like he blindsided me, but I am still very hesitant to have this done.

I am not sure if I am looking for support, reassurance, or just a reason to run but any comments would greatly help me either way.

Thanks everyone!!
39 Responses
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Avatar universal
Did you have the procedure? This post was a few years ago and you should be an expert by now if you had the surgery.  Please post your experience.  Thanks.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
I had this procedure and it went seriously wrong for me to this day my voice is a mess and I lost my job because of it and damaged my vagus nerve which in turn made my soft palate stop working for a few months but my voice is never been right since constantly raspy
I still also have reflux problems it was a very difficult surgery my sister also had it fifteen years ago and she said she would never do it again I would never do it again and I wish I could turn the clocks back your vagus nerve is a very tiny nerve that runs from your brain to your intestine and works everything in between they put a long plastic tube down your throat to rub your stomach to fix your spankster if they accidentally lay it on that nerve and it compresses while the result is what happened to me so now I am no longer a public speaker because I can't speak for more than 20 minutes at a time and sometimes I can't speak even if I haven't spoke it all that day it's a mess and I feel like I can't breathe a lot of the time and I choke a lot they say it is a vagus nerve response took them almost 2 years to figure out what went wrong and many many many many many doctors
620923 tn?1452915648

  Hi and welcome to the GERD forum.

I am not familiar with that issue, but since you refer to it as a spasm, I can relate to a different type of surgery I did have...and I also got spasms post op.....I used a muscle relaxer to help ...talk to your Dr about trying one until the muscle and or nerves relax on their own.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there, i am 4 weeks post fundoplication which i had due to pulmonary aspiration ie the stomach contents would reflux up into my oesphagus and then lungs - destroying parts of my lungs and leaving me with bronchiectasis. I really felt i had no choice -do nothing and destroy my lungs more or try this op. What i didnt know was that as soon as i woke from anaesthetic i would experience the most unbelievable pain which was oesphageal spasm. Over the past 4 weeks this is getting worse. It starts as a crushing pain in my chest and spreads up my throat, jaw and now into my head, they are worse at night and wake me from my sleep, usually coming every few minutes and then settle for an hour and then back again. 4 weeks on I am still only able to tolerate puree, have lost an enormous amount of weight, am lethargic, anxious and really disparing that i have simply swapped one horrendous situation for another. My surgeon told me prior to discharge he had never heard of the pain i described - although i have easily found numerous forums on line and people who describe similar pain. Will this go away - or is this it? destined to watch my kids play around me because i cant do anything else from pain and lethargy?!
Has anyone else experienced this and found that it goes away? or tricks to control it. Pretty desparate for advice. Not due to see surgeon for 2 more weeks and a few attempts to ring the practice nurse have not been helpful.
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620923 tn?1452915648

  Wishing you all the best with your surgery....as with any surgery you will heard both good and bad stories and unfortunately more bad as bad info is shared more often then the good.....

I know we have a member that had this surgery with positive results...and I will try to have him contact you and help calm your fears.

keep  us posted on your progress post  op..
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Scheduled for Fundoplication in 3 weeks and after reading horror stories not sure I should go through with it.  The only thing pressing me on us damaging my esophagus.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had it done in August,. Had the usual recovery, slowly reintroducing food, liquids the first week, then 2 weeks of mushy food. Once you are on solids again you have to chew to your food well, and you will fill up fast. I did great on that. Me personally, fried food and Mexican food gives me a hughe belly ache and major gas. I had to have surgery, I had a giant hiatal hernia, and my stomach had moved above the diaphragm. It's worth having it done, no more Gerd!
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63984 tn?1385437939
You had a breathing tube inserted to assist you during the surgery, and it is common for this to irritate your vocal chords.  I had the same thing, plus also had my jaw lock up after my heart bypass surgery where of course a breathing tube was incorporated.  I'm betting you will be fine in a week or two.  Keep us informed.
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434278 tn?1324706225
That is horrible!  I would definitely post this in a separate post, and not in addition to another post.  And maybe in the surgery forum too.  I pray it works out for you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Twelve days ago I
had  fundoplication surgery to repair a hiatal hernia . My voice was fine when I
went into surgery. I woke up with  Velopharyngeal Insufficiency or deficiency  .
I have a hyper-nasally voice and if I drink or eat to quickly it comes out my
nose. I have spoken with several doctors including my primary care surgeon and
an ENT  all have said they never saw this happen to anyone for no reason after a
surgical procedure. The ENT said it happens after tonsil surgery but not after
hernia surgery. I have searched the internet with no luck. If you have ever
heard of this or know anything please get back to me I'm desperate. I want my
voice back.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
How is the wine drinking going ? I am two weeks out and can't wait to try but am afraid.
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Avatar universal
I can't gag either I'm am two weeks out today. However I developed VPI after surgery, I woke up with it. No one seems to know why. i think it's the vagus nerve. I would love to know how you are now.
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63984 tn?1385437939
This is probably a question best answered by your doctor.  I told I could have a glass of wine about 7 days after the procedure, just a swallow to see how it went. I don't take opiates of any kind, and found a glass of wine a nice way to ease stress and pain, but just a smallish glass for at least a month.
I marvel at those who can drink cokes, pepsi's and beer.  I craved very, very cold water or wine for the first month.  I literally gagged when I tried to drink some scotch on the rocks about two months after the procedure.
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Avatar universal
Is there anyone out there who can tell me when I can have a glass if wine post op nissan ?
There seems to be a lot of info regarding drinking beers / carbonated drinks but nothing on non carbonated alcoholic drinks such as wine ?......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had the Nissen 11 years ago and it was a rough couple of weeks but that was a very small price to pay for the 11 years of relief.  My nissen has come undone and am scheduled in 3 days to have it done again.  The relief is so worth the recovery.
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63984 tn?1385437939
I'm almost five years post NF surgery, and haven't had the need for any type of  GERD medication.  As for repair of damage to the vocal chords, they aren't any worse, but I am not aware that they will repair themselves.  That said, follow up Endoscopies determined my Barrett's Esophagus symptoms have abated and maybe reversed.  The acid reflux had removed the enamel from my teeth and much to my horror, they turned black.  I had them re-coated where necessary, but there is no sign of that problem.
I'd stay completely away from ANY type of carbonated beverage.  The less pressure you can put on your LES valve and wrap the better, I'm told.  I keep Beano and Immodium close at hand, particularly Beano, as burbs now result in, frankly, farts.
  
I'd strongly urge you to continue to eat small meals.  Do you like fish or scrambled eggs?  they are a great protein source and easy to digest.  Just take it slow.  A family member with an eating disorder had the procedure, and what a mistake, she ate too much too early and forced herself to vomit, and you can imagine the result, she forced a failure of the wrap.  

I still talk like Louis Armstrong talked and Kim Carnes sings, but my women friends tell me I sound like Barry White.  I'll take that!  :)
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434278 tn?1324706225
It seems like I took Nexium about 6 - 8 months after the surgery.  This Feb. will mark 2 yrs.  

I am starting to get the cough and burning in my throat again.  But I'm trying not to take Nexium because I have osteoporosis very badly and I haven't gone through menopause yet.  
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Avatar universal
Can I ask, how long after the surgery did you stop the Nexium? Im two months out and have been told to stop, feeling a little reflux here and there, wondering if it is a mistake to stop so early. Also, did your esophagus vocal chord conditions heal, and if so how long did it take?
Helpful - 0
434278 tn?1324706225
It's been a year and 4 months since I had the surgery.  I literally thought I was going to starve to death.  At first I could only eat a tablespoon of food (once I could eat food - which took maybe a month).  I found I really don't like cokes anymore.  There is definitely a recovery period.  I wished I would've been more prepared.  I would've bought some things like jello....and more jello... and maybe some more jello. They told me not to eat potatoes, but I didn't have trouble with them.  Actually they were a welcomed addition to my jello.  Eat very slowly and chew 100 times before you swallow.  Pills were my BIGGEST struggle.  I take meds I absolutely need and vitamins I would like to take.  But I would take 1 pill and wait 30-1 hour, and then take another pill.  It took me all day to take just the med I HAD to take.  This went on for over 6 months.  

I know all of this sounds scarry, but I finally was able to get off of Nexium (which I think has caused me to have osteoporosis at an early age)  I still had to take Nexium for a while after the surgery.  I still have some occasional acid reflux, but not to the point it affects me like it was.  The acid reflux was causing my vocal chord to be very red and irritated, thus causing me to have continual choughing fits all day and all night.  So in the end, I'm thankful I had the surgery.  But there for a while I actually thought about having it undone.  If you over-eat or take too many pills, you will dry heave all night.  Not pleasant at all!  Or eat and take (a) pill...more dry heaving.  Couldn't do both!!!  

The actual surgery was a breeze.  I had more surgery pain from the gallbladder surgery than with this.  Praying all go well for you.
Helpful - 0
63984 tn?1385437939
I had the procedure four or five years ago.  It's a big surgery, I'd approach it with the attitude that you will have to make changes in your diet for quite a few months, and some will have to be permanent.  
Regarding Caffeine, I drink coffee every morning now.  I didn't for a couple of months after the procedure, however.  
Regarding carb drinks, I can't and won't drink them.  Beer, soft drinks, whatever is carbonated, I won't touch.  I worry that I'll build up enough gas to tear loose the Nissen wrap.  For me, it was an easy trade-off.  My GERD was bad enough that I developed Barrett's Esophagus and acid was destroying my vocal chords, and my tooth enamel was eroded.  
I'd suggest that you obey the follow up diet very closely, stay away from solid foods for at least two months after the surgery.  Expect to lose about 15 or 20 pounds the hard way.  
I haven't had to take any antacid product since the surgery, but I followed directions, and it has been a lifesaver for me.  Keep us informed.
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Avatar universal
have my surgery booked for july 18th, 2013....very scared....is it true I can't have caffeine or carb drinks afterward.....is this a permanent change ?
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Avatar universal
I am waiting to be able to have a fundo done.  My surgeon tried to tell me I needed it done years ago---sure wish I had done it back when I was 34 and not having other health issues.  I have trouble swallowing food and have had to have my esophagus dilated 4 times, 3 times i have had a shotzky's ring, and now I have developed eosinophilic esophagitis, which my GI feels is secondary to the severe reflux I have had for 22 years.

I am now on high dose prevacid, 30 mgs 2x daily--i have fought taking PPIs for years, and I am also on a liquid steroid that I have to swallow twice a day to hopefully get my esophagus in good enough shape so I can get the surgery done.

I have changes in the surface of my esophagus from the EE.  I have rings--called a feline esophagus, and I also have furrows that run up and down the esophagus---I'm not sure where each of these changes is located, but I have seen pictures of them.

My daughter had a fundo when she was almost 10 months old. She was born with a hiatal hernia (we did not know this until surgery) and her esophagus was getting ulcerated when she was only 8 months old.
She never had any complications and I would do the surgery again in a heartbeat.

My daughter is able to burp with no problem, but she cannot throw up.  When she gets nauseated, I give her saltines and a pop to sip, just like I give the other kids.  She also wants a bowl, like they keep nearby for throwing up---but all she does is spit in it.

My father, who will be 78 in 2 days, just had the surgery last month and is doing great.
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434278 tn?1324706225
Hi Keely,
Glad surgery went well for you.  For a long time I wasn't sure I had done the right thing.  Its been a year since my nissen was done.  I think I've been able to drink cokes for about 6 months.  But just start out small.  I couldn't drink a big jug.  And sip really slow.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi ya, I have come actions your post and was wondering if you have had the surgery yet? I'm a 39 ye woman and had the nissen 3 weeks ago, I have suffered with reflux fir years and I must admit since the surgery I feel much better and best thing is I can sleep at night which I wasn't able to do without choking! I'm still early days with my recovery and not eating much but hoping that changes soon as I miss my food, I have lost loads of weight but so far I'm glad I had the surgery!
If there is anyone also out who can tell me when can I start introducing carbonated drinks back into my diet as my doctors have given me no advise!

Thanks Keely
Helpful - 0
329165 tn?1515471990
Hi there,

Did you get a date for your Surgery yet?
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