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[bucklebj]

I had a ''nissen fundoplication'' 22 years ago. Sure, I can't burp, I get build-ups of saliva froth,and I am a real slow eater of meat. These are minor problems which one soon learns to handle.The operation has been a complete success.
However for the last few months I have been having a persistant cough and throat clearing. I am 73 years old, am a jogger and can do up to 50 press-ups. My breathing is not being affected, but I am concerned that that I may be getting some complications from that area. Any ideas ?


This discussion is related to Nissen Fundoplication.

[jjones08]

I'm a 23 year old male, who has unfortunately had severe acid reflux since about the age of 15 or 16.  I don't have "heartburn" per se; however, my primary symptom is what my father (an M.D.) calls "acid reflux cough."  Apparently, some people have acid that refluxes to their vocal chords, bronchus, etc and causes them to cough to try to clear the irritation.  I am very active, and the cough is worst when I run/lift/workout.  I didn't think my breathing was being affected either; however, I just had an experimental procedure done (an endoscopic fundoplication), and a couple days after, I feel like I'm breathing through tubes, not straws.  I guess my question to you is, are you on any medication?  If so, when and how do you take it?  How is your eating?  Do you elevate your bed?  And when do you have coughing bouts?  It doesn't seem likely that your symptoms are "complications" of your nissen; it seems like you're having some secondary reflux that needs to be taken care of.  Whether or not your condition warrants surgical/medicinal intervetion is something you should discuss with your GI guy.  However, it is my experience that medication can greatly improve the coughing symptoms of reflux, and allow you a great improvement in quality of life.  Before I started my medication regiment (around age 18), I would frequently vomit, and cough during exercise.  Since beginning medication (I took 40mg nexium twice daily and prilosec at night before bed) all of my symptoms became far less severe.  The fundoplication I just underwent last Wed has already reduced my symptoms further (although I'm not eating normally ye).  Good luck, and I hope you find the treatment that is right for you.