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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/24/2009 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
I stopped my nexium yesterday and I start my Bravo test Monday. I drop off the box on Wednesday. And then my surgeon will call me Wednesday night and we will make a decision if we do the Nissian wrap on Thrusday. The OR is booked for me at 0840 Thursday morning. This is the last test I have to do and I hope it all works out.

I have been reading alot of the posts and I am hoping for the very best. I have had GERD for about 30 years now and I was able to control it with meds. But the meds stopped working 2 years ago. So after many tests it has come down to maybe surgery Thrusday and it will all be over with luck. I will try and keep everybody up to date as I go through this.

Will

Posted 7/24/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Will,
Best wishes with your test and possible surgery. I know it is a difficult decision to make, since the results are all over the place, and so dependent on surgical skill. I had mine done on February 27th of this year, and was amazed by the comfort and simplicity of the recovery. I was expecting MUCH worse. I had had GERD/gastritis episodes that were far more difficult.

I don't know if you read my post surgical posts or not. If you haven't seen them, and would like to, I can post a list of the links for you. I don't know how the formatting buttons work here, so you'd have to paste them into the web browser.

After seeing all negative and hysterical posts on the web (before finding this forum), I waited far too long to get the surgery, and have suffered some physical problems that could have been avoided if I'd had the surgery earlier.

There are many, many people who have had the surgery and gone happily on their merry way without checking in online and posting their positive results. Rather, it's the people who suffer problems who are most likely to post. That's why I posted my post surgical recovery journey.
Again, best of luck. Be sure to let us know if you're having the surgery, and how things go. If you have any questions, just post a new thread, so members can see and answer your questions.
Take care!
Denise
Posted 7/24/2009 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Have you discussed the EsophyX procedure with your doctor? I'm planning on getting mine done sometime over the next few months.
If you don't know about it they go down your throat with a special endoscope and "staple" you a new LES. It's less invasive and recovery is shorter. Most hospital stays are one day. You can find it on the web by typing Esophyx procedure. They have video of it, too.
After searching for about a month I found a doctor who is one of the leading pioneers in the procedure and he also teaches it. He's going to be doing my procedure at a teaching hospital.

Joy
Posted 7/24/2009 11:29 PM (GMT 0)

Denise,

Thanks for the reply and I did read your posts. I am always thinking it will be bad for me because I seem to be that 1% that has complications. I am not in the best health now, so this will be a tough surgery for me. I am on a blood thinner for a previous DVT and I also take methadone for pain from complications from iquinal hernia surgery. The surgeon knows about all this and is trying his best to make me relax about this. I will be posting my daily experince with the Bravo test and my surgery if it happens. I want to be able to let the other members to know what to expect. Your post was very helpful and I hope I am as lucky as you. I have found from past experince that you need a really good surgeon who has done many of what ever surgery you our having.

WILL

Posted 7/24/2009 11:41 PM (GMT 0)

Joy,

I have heard of that procedure but the surgeon I am seeing does not do it. I have also heard that the procedure is eaiser for the recovery. I have waited to long now and was suppose to do surgery last year but had another sugery i had to do first. I wish you luck with your surgery and please let us know how it goes. I am not looking foreward to mine but I think I no longer have a choice.

Posted 7/25/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Will,
I was only in the hospital one night for the Nissen. Also, went home on soft foods, then five days later, went to ANY food that could be chewed to a liquid.

My complication was that I had such severe asthma that I was coughing A LOT (a lung infection pre and post surgery), which I know wasn't good for the repair, since my internal tissue was compromised by the prednosone I was on because of the severe asthma.

Thankfully, after a couple months, the surgery kicked in, and my asthma improved substantially. My lungs are great at the moment. I just hope I haven't done any damage to the healing in the meantime. Time will tell, I guess. So far so good!

Good luck with your Bravo, and with the surgery decision.
Have a nice weekend.
Denise

Joy...I'm so glad you've found someone to do the procedure you've selected. I hope it goes great! Many people will want to watch your experience. Even though you're having a different procedure, we're here for you, and will try to help you in any way we can. The recovery must have some similarities.
Take care!
Posted 7/25/2009 4:07 AM (GMT 0)

Denise,

Could you answer me a couple questions about your surgery? I was wondering how much wheight you lost after surgery. And what king of foods did you eat after surgery. Also I am going to have to take my blood thinner pill daily. It is very small so I was wondering if you can swallow something like that. My surgeon said I would have a hard time eating and taking meds for 6 to 8 weeks. Any help you can give me would be great.

THANKS, WILL

Posted 7/25/2009 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
Will -
You shouldn't have any problems with the blood thinner pill. I was switched to pill pain meds the 2nd day after surgery and had no problems getting them down. If the wrap is not done overly tight you shouldn't have troubles swallowing small pills.If you remember to chew VERY well most foods can be eaten after a few days. You should stay away from certain foods for a few weeks, like breads. Most do find toasted bread goes down easier when you do decide to add it though. Once the holes in my stomach healed after my redo I was able to advance my diet rather quickly. I am just over 2 months post op and can eat just about anything I want to now. I even finally tried some steak last night and it went just fine.
I lost 15 pounds or so the first time I had this surgery, but I can't give an accurate tally this time due to my 3 week NPO stay at the hospital.
I hope they can go on with the surgery and get you some relief.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/25/2009 3:48 PM (GMT 0)

Bill,

Thanks for the info it was very helpful. My surgeon is painting a little worse picture of my recovery. He is telling my I will need liquid pain meds and I will have to crush my pills and eat with apple sauce for about 2 months. I have lost a lot of weight because of my GERD. I used to weigh 205 lbs then I had a episode and went down to 160 lbs. Then I gained back up to 176 lbs then had another episode and went to 150 lbs. I have since gained back to 170 lbs and I am afraid that I will lose alot of weight after surgery.I have read some of the posts about what you had to go through. I am very sorry for you, but I am glad you feel better. I will be posting alot as I go through this issue to get info and to let people know what it happening to me.  Thanks again and good luck with your recovery.

WILL

Posted 7/25/2009 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry you have complications, Will. Hang in there.

Good luck with the surgery.

Joy
Posted 7/26/2009 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Will,
Sorry I haven't been on. My husband and I are working to get our house ready to sell, and it's a mountain of work. I lost about 19 pounds after surgery, but have gained back about 8. At this point (almost 5 months post op), I actually have to watch myself not to eat too much. Right after surgery your stomach feels full after a very small amount of food. My surgeon said it's because of the swelling. It gives you the sensation of fullness.

I had prepared homemade chicken broth, applesauce, etc. before surgery, because I figured I'd be on a liquid diet, or soft food diet for a while. As it turned out, I didn't need the chicken broth at all. For the first five days before I saw my doctor, I lived on homemade egg custard, chicken broth, turkey gravy and mashed potatoes, and applesauce. After seeing the surgeon, I went to any foods that could be chewed to a liquid. That is pretty much anything.

I do recommend having liquid Tylenol around after surgery, because you'll probably switch to that pretty quickly. Also, ask you doctor for a script for anti nausea drugs. You won't want to vomit right after surgery, and you never know...people have gotten stomach bug and caused difficulty for their wrap.

At five months post op, I still don't take large pills. I am taking liquid Calcium and Vitamin D, and I crush a vitamin C tablet and put it into yogurt with flaxseed oil (I used to take the jumbo flaxseed capsules...no way now). I do take a vitamin that is like the little red One a Day Multiple Vitamins. I have no trouble with that or my small antihistimine pill. I took small prednosone pills right after surgery, so I don't expect you'll have trouble with the blood thinner pill.

Hope this info helps you. I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have. It may take a little while for me to get online, but will be happy to help if I can.
Take care and good luck!
Denise
Posted 7/26/2009 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Denise

And good luck in selling your house.

Posted 7/27/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the good wishes, Will.
There are lots of "wrapped club" members (as Bea calls it) on this forum, so I'm sure you'll get lots of help and support as you explore the surgical option.
Good luck to you!
Denise
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