GERD SURGERY

My husband had GERD surgery about two years ago at the age of 22.  He really does not get heartburn anymore but since the surgery he has this deep cough that comes and goes...but it is never when he is sick...just random times..usually at night.  Ever since I have known him he has had a gag reflex in the morning, but lately it has become increasingly worse.  He often gags in the morning until the point that he throws up.  Nothing really comes up-just stomach fluid and sometimes a little bit of blood.  I have been trying to do some research to see if this is a possible side effect of the surgery and what can be done to fix it.  His PCP gave him an acid blocker to try for a while and took some blood work, but so far doesnt seem to be helping.  I read that there can be damage to the vagus nerve during surgery and that this may possible cause a problem such as this....does anyone know about this??  


This discussion is related to Nissen procedure and Vagal nerve damage.

[CalGal]

If he's bringing any form of blood up when he gags and/or throws up, he needs to contact his GI doc and get it checked out. He may also need to be re-evaluated via pH monitoring in some fashion to find out whether or not he's refluxing acid and if that could be the cause of the cough he's experiencing. If that's happening, he may need to consider changing his diet, if necessary, and possibly going back on some form of acid suppression medication.

[linz5674]

Any idea why he only gets sick in the morning?  

[gnorb]

Nighttime-only reflux is a pretty common thing for people with GERD. A lot only experience their symptoms at night, with some of the symptoms being coughing and sore throat. (Haven't heard about vomiting, though that doesn't exclude it by any means.) Has he tried lifting the head of the bed a few inches (6-12) and not eating 3-4 hours before bedtime? Try that out and see how it works. Of course, also follow CalGal's advice.

There is another possibility, and this goes with the whole "side effect of the surgery" train of thought: the mesh may be coming undone. (I presume that by "GERD surgery you mean a Nissen fundoplication. Partial or whole?) This is something the doc would have to check out.

As for the acid blocker, maybe he's not reacting well to that particular one. Ask for a different prescription. (Guessing that they started him on an H2-blocker like Zantac. He might need something stronger, a PPI like Aciphex or Prilosec.)

The Vagus nerve problem you're talking about is probably gastroparesis, and while that is a possibility, unless he's throwing up undigested food in the morning, or hours after eating, I wouldn't worry too much about that just now.

[linz5674]

Thanks for the advice:)