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Can Laproscopic Nissan Fundoplication Surgery cause Vagus nerve damage?

Can Laproscopic Nissan Fundoplication Surgery cause Vagus nerve damage?

I had Laproscopic Nissan Fundoplication Surgery 2 years ago. GERD completely returned 6 months ago.
I am now experiencing Gastropresis. I had an Upper GI, had fasted 15 hours prior to the test, and still had food present at the time of study. I suffer greatly daily. I never feel like my stomach is empty even after hours of not eating.
I can eat a small meal and feel full after a few bites. My abdomen hurts and is very swollen. My weight has gone up over 10 pounds in the last 2 weeks. I do not overeat, don't eat sweets, and am very careful.

I am scheduled to see the surgeon that performed the Nissan on me in 2 weeks. What questions should I have for him? His nurse called and told me the results of the upper GI but said the doctor needed to discuss the results at greater length with me. I am very worried. Is there a specific topic I can research to get ready for this appointment?
Has anyone else had any experience with this situation?
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Avatar universal
I had fundoplication procedure in Jan. 2015.  Shortly afterwards I developed severe nausea.  I could not vomit because of fundoplication, although my body went through the horrid process of trying to.  Eventually my gastroenterologist ran tests that proved my stomach was immotile and was not emptying. The nausea continues with relief only by prescription Reglan.  Tomorrow I see my primary care physician and plan to discuss what my options are for the future
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Just curious, do you have the sensation of excessive pressure in your upper body and head when you are trying to vomit or cough very hard, or when bending over or squatting?  That's been my experience since my Nissen Fundoplication, and it's very painful, like the capillaries are exploding.  I now have what looks like "varicose" capillaries.
Avatar universal
I had the surgery on September 19, 1999. I remember the day because that was the last day I had heart burn or GERD, ever. I know there are risks and complications with every surgery, but I would not go back for a million times what the procedure cost me. My surgeon was Dr. Steven Rowe in Chattanooga, TN. He teaches this procedure all over the world, and when I had mine, had already performed thousands of these procedures, with few complications. Everyone may not be a candidate, but, thankfully I was.
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May I also add, he says that he just wants the terrible burning sensation from his mouth and throat to go away. Have you ever eaten a red, hot, chillipepper before? That is the terrible sendation he has 24/7.

He will tolerate the food coming into his mouth. He will drink liquids the rest of his life. He will tolerate his teeth rotting away. If there is a way to get rid of the burning sensation from his mouth and throat that is cause by this acid reflux? If there is, then we can avoid this surgery. Otherwise, he is begging me to find the best surgeon for this surgery, who will answer his questions and discuss the risks and side-effects up-front rather than get a nasty surprise the rest of his life.
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Has his doctor checked him for pyloric stenosis? Egd with Botox injection to pyloric may help
Avatar universal
By the way, where can I find list of side-effects for this surgery? Better to know about this in the comfort of our home, rather than when they wheel and exhausted patient into surgery and shove a piece of paper in their face to sign, without giving them the chance to carefully read it over.

Few minutes ago I spoke to my dad about this thread and all your experiences and I am telling him better burn his money than pay some surgeon to perform this surgery and have a situation much worse. His reply was that he is suffering so much he still wants to have surgery, because "how much worse can my suffering be?"
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Have him read my story! My life has been irreparably changed for life. Still hopeful but getting fed up and the light at the end of the tunnel is darkening as each Gastroparesis flare. I've never been on a site such as this but it's made me realize that I am not alone in my suffering. I was misfortunate enough to have a failed nissen fundoplication to fix my severe GERD and hiatal hernia 3&1/2 years ago which left me immediately sick afterwards. I went from NEVER being in the hospital to being hospitalized over 100 times a year. After a dramatic 75lb weight loss in just a short 3months, the surgeon decided to repeat the surgery but this time it was not laparoscopic. They split my rib cage open and deflated my lung. I awoke with a 6in incision PLUS a chest tube. I was so hopeful that I was fixed. Unfortunately this was not the case. I still suffer with severe, sharp pain that radiates from the left side of my diaphragm through my chest and out my left shoulder along with severe nausea and vomiting. This then led me to Temple for a gastric stimulator. I have had it for a little over a year now and offers me some relief. My GI doctors where I live say they have no more options for me unless I wanted a gastrectomy!! REALLY??? Finally after some pushing, they are sending me back to Hopkins for a G-POEM. Before I go, I'm hoping to get some feedback from you all on this site. Please, any input would be greatfully appreciated. I wish I knew this site was available before my 1st surgery. I went from severe GERD to Gastroparesis overnight.
Avatar universal
I am really sad and frightened to hear about your horrible experiences. My father has GERD that is not controllable by these recommended lifestyle changes, diet, etc, etc. His doctor recommended this drastic surgery and I have been unable to perform adequate research on this. As it is, my father says he feels half-dead with the terrible burning, rust taste in his mouth and throat, plus food coming out of his mouth.

It seems this surgery may not even be worth it. Just now I've spent an hour with American Medical Association's voice menu and cannot get a human being to ask which surgeons perform this surgery. When I go to their website to perform a doctor search, you must know the name of the doctor. If I knew the name of the doctor, why would I perform the search?

I really don't know what to say that will make you all feel better. For your reference, I have created a blog to keep track of my dad's medical history so I can try to help him best I can, and so that others may find valueable information pertaining to their conditions.

http://researchmedsurg.blogspot.com/
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Avatar universal
my husband is experiancing the same thing. showers or a heating pad provide some relief but otherwise our life is hell.
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Avatar universal
I had a lap nissen 11 years ago. I am an RN. I had been pleased with the result in that I have had no reflux since. However, I have had three small bowel obstructions and numerous ileus beginning about six months after sugery. I also have explosive diarrhea daily, unless I'm obstructed, along with bloating and the inability to belch or vomitting. I could not vomit with the first obstruction until fecal matter was in my stomach, I thought I had a really bad virus until that point. I had always followed up with my surgeon until this week when I went to a gastroenterologist who said it sounded like I have vagal nerve damage. I wish I had gotten a second opinion years ago, although he said there is nothing I can do about it except manage the symptoms.
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I had a Nissen Fundoplication in 2000, and suffered most days with diarrhea for about 15 years.  I started using a good probiotic and that has lessened the frequency of diarrheal episodes.  Still have diarrhea sometimes, especially if I eat fruit or have other sugary things, but some relief is better than none.  I also developed Fibromyalgia symptoms within two months after surgery.  It all seems connected because after hearing that a low-carb, raw vegan diet could heal Fibromyalgia, I gave it a try.  When I stopped consuming high-glycemic carbs and animal protein, my pain decreased dramatically.  This made me curious about how things are digested, and if, perhaps, I can't digest certain things because of the stomach modification.  I did some research to find out where different digestive juices are produced, and found the fundus is one location.  Well, that's a problem, because after a Nissen Fundoplication, the fundus is pinched flat and stretched around the esophagus.  The inner surface may not be making contact with stomach contents well enough to trigger the production of digestive juices.  I'm still searching for answers, but my guess at this point is that the fundus can no longer do it's job, and food goes through the system without being properly digested.  That can lead to malabsorption of vitamins and leaky gut, which I also have.  Slowed motility has been a problem at times as well.  I believe the vegas nerve was damaged.      
Avatar universal
My good friend had the fundoplication procedure on 9/1/09. Her life has been hell since. She can only tolerate several ounces of fluid at a time. Sometimes all stays down and other times not. Her MD plans to do a"gentle" dilatation in 3 weeks. If no improvement another in 3 weeks. If  still no better redo surgery. She had a laproscopic procedure. I am an RN so she looks to me for advice but I have had no experience with this procedure. I am beginning to think she needs another opinion. Any comments would certainly be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Fundoplication surgery can damage the vagus nerve of the stomach. But one of the side-effects that is noted in the papers that are signed before the surgery probably states that changes in stomach emptying can be a side-effect of the surgery. If you google 'gastroparesis following nissen fundopliation' you'll find listings for the issue and publications starting around 1996. They say it's an uncommon problem, but also state that with the increasing numbers of fundoplications being done, increasing numbers may be expected.
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