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Nissen Fund Op - to have it or not?
I live in the UK and have suffreed for several years with reflux. Omeprazole has sorted out the acid but I still have reflux at night (probably mainly bile). I am considering Nissen Fundoplication as my doctor and consultant both recommend it. I am concerned about so many negative reports about this surgery. Is there any feedback or statistics of how successful it is? Does anyone have any recent expereinces to share?
Best Answer
I haven't had the surgery, but I know people personally who have. If you can sort out your diet and figure out which foods are irritating the GERD rather than resorting to this seriously major surgery, that is what I would definitely recommend. The people who I know who have had this surgery only did it as a last resort. They still suffer from the GERD. I have GERD pretty bad myself, and I know I am not doing the surgery at all until it's the only option left.
Avoid the foods your GI told you to avoid. But, also look into a food elimination diet. Some foods that don't ordinarily bother GERD sufferers turned out to bother mine, which means that they are food sensitivities for me. Avoiding such foods has even made it possible for me to be able to avoid using the PPI meds the majority of the time. Such meds were not meant to be used long term and do more harm than good when used the wrong way. So, oddly enough, certain legumes are fine while other legumes wreak havoc with the GERD.
Avoid the foods your GI told you to avoid. But, also look into a food elimination diet. Some foods that don't ordinarily bother GERD sufferers turned out to bother mine, which means that they are food sensitivities for me. Avoiding such foods has even made it possible for me to be able to avoid using the PPI meds the majority of the time. Such meds were not meant to be used long term and do more harm than good when used the wrong way. So, oddly enough, certain legumes are fine while other legumes wreak havoc with the GERD.
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Acid reflux was so strong that acid started dissolving the enamel from my teeth, my vocal chords were burned and I lost my voice, and I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. Had I been offered the surgery prior to all this, I would have jumped on it. I do believe, after lots of research, that the surgery is extremely effective.
I feel like a new man. That being said, I do believe I following the operative directions is extremely important.
Following the surgery I ingested only liquids for a week, then extremely soft foods for three weeks. I don't eat red meat so that is an advantage, and started eating fish after six weeks. I also checked out surgeons carefully and chose one that had done over 100 procedures. His approval rating was extremely high, and from what I've read, this procedure is extremely effective, as long as the patient doesn't screw things up by rushing a diet not recommended. I'm six months post surgery and thought I'd try a beer. Wow! That didn't work at all. A glass of wine is no problem, but beer or a hard cocktail is a problem.
If your symptoms are severe, I'd have the procedure done in a New York Minute. I just had to have my teeth capped at considerable expense, and the erosion took place within a two week period. My singing voice was eliminated in the same time period, and I have a pre-cancer.
I don't think the procedure is dangerous at all as long as the patient understands they have to follow directions. The success rate overall I found to be 90%, that's very high for a surgical procedure. I'm thrilled with my result. Keep in touch.