nissen fundoplication surgery

Please help My Husband. He just lost his job due to missing 56 hours of work because of this problem. He had the nissen fundoplication surgery aproximately 10 years ago. The Doctor he was seeing told him (after an upper GI Test revealed acid reflux had caused damage enough that the doc said it was a precancerous condition) he needed this surgery or he would get cancer. The doctor did the "wrap" surgery but not long after he developed a herniated area. In other words it came partially undone. The Doc said it had to be fixed and this time he would make sure it was tight. Afterwards he improved but never fully recovered. He kept having pain but not the reflux. The pain continued to get worse until he started having "Heart Attack" type pain aprox. 4-5 yrs. after the original surgery. His original Doc moved to Colorado. Now he has a different Doc.  He went through all the tests again except this time he had a motility test done. It showed his esophogus clamping instead of snaking. I looked for answers and found the only thing that resembled this was "Nutcracker esophogus". The present doc said he couldn't hang his hat on that diagnosis. The Doc put something like a baloon via upper G.I. as my husband was having trouble getting food down and was loosing weight abnornally for him. This helped somewhat but he still has food that gets stuck. He has loss of appetite and of course the pain at times just like a heart attack. He wants to get off the narcotic pain meds. His present Doc says there is nothing else that can be done. We need any and all latest info regarding this thankyou so much

[Tammy127]

I'm a 43 year woman that also had the nissen procedure done 11 years ago. Over the last year I've had significant health problems. I am unable to burp or vomit which has caused complications for me d/t my wrap is so tight. In January 2008 I had my gallbladder removed because I was having significant upper right abdomen pain. This pain would also radiate up to my chest area. After taking out my gallbladder I felt better for 2 weeks then the pain returned and I was having significant problems with my bowels obstructing. In March 2008 they took out my entire large colon. The doctors thought my problems were taken care of. Now I'm having significant abdominal bloating. They have now diagnosed me with Profound Bloating Syndrome related to the nissen procedure. This week I have to have gastric tube put into my stomach to reduce the distention. After everything I went through this last year the doctors finally are stating the nissen procedure probably caused my problems and that I was a failed nissen. On October 30 I'm having my wrap undone. I also had significant heartburn and changes with my esophagus before having the nissen and now I will have reflux again, but I can't live like this anymore because I can't take a chance on loosing my small bowel because that is all I have left. The doctors tell me medicines are better now than when I had reflux 11 years ago so I guess it will mean going back on medication. My doctor who works in a large faciltiy tells me that I'm the second person in 10 years that he will do a take down on and that the reason to do a take down has to be last resort and he feels I'm at the last resort because of the symptoms effecting my life. I hope you can find answers. I know how miserable this is.

[chilibeanz22]

I am chilibeanz husband, I feel what you are going through. It is so scarey and I and my wife will pray for you. Right now I would sure like to here from any Doctor's or people that experience the same kinda pain I am having. It is almost getting to the point of being constant, and it is horrible! Sometimes it will start early in the A.M. before I can take my pain medicine and it just keeps coming back in waves or just shortly after I wake up again.It will last almost the better part of the day. And the next day at work I am very weak.Stress seems to be a great culprit. And now I have lost my job because of it. I 'm fearful of being homeless as my work will probably contest my unemployment and I  get a job because of drug testing. See there I go stressing out again and I am sorry as my mind is going a mile a minute. Thank you for youre response and my wife and I will Pray for you. I can tell you have much more going on than I do. Please lets keep in touch.

[Tabby419]

I had to have my gallblader (gallbladder) removed 4 yrs ago and ended up with barretts esophagus 18 mo after as result of bad surgery. I was then told to get nissen fundoplication or get cancer. If I had to go through it again I probably would not. I had a large hematoma develop in wall of esophagus during surgery and it swelled shut after leaving hospital. I had horrible troubles swallowing and retching. Also I could feel every time my stomach moved or even parastalis. Since, it has gone away but still can not vomit or burp. It has now been 2 1/2 yrs since NF and all of a sudden my stomach has been hurting for two weeks. I am no longer getting the growling feeling when hungry.  My stomach feels as if it fills w/air rolls over and hurts. It is also very tender under rib cage where stomach lies. Has this happened to anyone?? Is this a sign on it coming undone or worse?

[Maltaguy]

I have done the nissen around 5 years ago (open surgery) since was suffering from reflux and doctors said I had a large amount of acid being produced due to a hernia. All went good but I was having problems that when I bend down or I laugh I get a bloat in my chest underneath the ribs and big pain as if somone is tearing me apart and I need to calm down and keep my breath so that pain goes away. I did some research on the net and found out it may be a case of fibromyalgia.

I had a visit to the professor that did my nissen and explained to him these pains and after examining me he concluded that I might have again the hernia in my oesephagus....he recommended a gastroscopy and afterwards maybe surgery.

Can it be fibromyalgia these pains since I have been having them before the nissen or is it true that I have hernia again ?

Thanks to all

Love from Malta