Well i'm sure i'm not the first one to come back to post something like this. And, I also hate to come back and post something like this at all as i've had a pretty positive experience with the surgery and have enjoyed helping to guide people through their decisions through telling my story.
However, this is a very real thing that i'm dealing with and it's something that I need to share with the people here for many reasons. Support for me, knowledge to others considering their options as well as to those who have had the surgery so that we may all benefit from the experiences of others.
Anyways, cutting to the chase. I've had phenomonal success with this surgery since I had it in March. Everything went fantastically according to the surgeon and i was on my way to a fairly speedy recovery. Within a month I was eating solid foods and hadnt had one lick of heartburn....until now.
about 2 weeks ago i started having heartburn like sensations. mostly down above the wrap area and nothing up in the esophogus. No feeling of acid coming up into the mouth or any really harsh burning sensation. Basically, nowhere near where it was pre nissen. It's been this way nearly every day. Patting my chest to releive myself through a belch, and getting that urge to reach for some tums...but again, nothing too harsh or acidy like before the surgery, just enough to be concerned with as i've had ZERO sensation of heartburn after the surgery, even after eating a plate full of buffalo wings chased by a 6 pack of beer...
So, in the middle of these past 2 weeks i had a visit with my doctor (was in for an ongoing issue of sleep deprivation, nutritional health) and she is a big proponent of good gut health. SHe beleives that health begins with the gut, and then that allows the rest of your body to get what it needs in order for them to function properly. I'd say her whole practice is based around this theory. So, as fate would have it, i beleive i was sent there for a reason (i didnt know this going in as i was recommended to her by a friend)
She gave me a bottle of bitters which is supposed to promote the production of acid in the stomach...not reduce. She also said i could take HCI (Hydrochloric Acid) but i had a bad experience with that before i me ther where one pill got stuck in my throat and burned like hell, so i decided to go with the more "natural" and gentle route.
I've been taking bitters before every meal for the past week and a half now, and no change in sensation at all, nor do i feel any better physically, but that's sorta beside the point.
The worst came yesterday. I had a golf tournament and did a fair amount of drinking beer. I had a hotdog and some snacks along the day and when we came in for dinner i had about 6 wings and a mini bacon burger and some onion rings and another beer. Immediately upon finishing i felt i was getting sick and retreated to the bathroom where I assumed i would spend the next several minutes dry heaving as i've done before (when i was sick with the flu i couldnt puke to save my life....)
On first try, and second and third and fourth I was able to vomit. Not the completely satisfying, stomach emptying vomit that one is used to, but nonetheless it was more than what was in my esophogus at the time and thus means for concern, especially since i've not been able to vomit prior.
Is my wrap coming unloose?
Of the people who've become symptomatic after surgery, what did you do to:
a - determine of the wrap has become ineffectice
b - do about it?
Again, sorry to raise concern for those who are considering surgery, but the success of the surgery is ultimately determined by botht he QUALITY and the LENGTH of releif, and everyone deserves to hear from real patients about their stories...success or failures, so that they can make the decision for themselves.
I think that regardless of whether or not the surgery is becoming undone, i will pursue a more natural and homeopathic method of regulating the stomach acid in order to releive my symptoms and, who knows, releive my other issues.
Again, i'm 30, not overweight and live a fairly active lifestyle... but have been diagnosed with SLeep Apnea and thus causes anxiety amongst other things that can excaserbate digestion problems.
To the future.