cost of nissen fundoplication??

Hey there doghouse...I have done some research, and I simply can't find any information about costs for this procedure. I am usually pretty good with my research, so maybe I am off today. I will try again later. In the meantime, I hope someone is willing to share their experiences with you!

Hello Doghouse,

    If you do not have insurance I would suggest coming to Thailand to have the procedure done.  I do not know the cost of laproscopic Fundo, but I had open fundoplication in Bangkok at a world recognized hospital and it cost me about 11,000 US.  That included a 10 night stay.  Mine wasn't the easiest so you may be in a shorter time and if you do laproscopic of course even shorter time 1-2 days in the hospital.  I did have insurance to cover mine.  Thank God, but it is safe and still much cheaper than the US(even with a round trip ticket).

Hopefully you do have insurance so that you can get it done locally, but I just wanted to let you know that there are other options.  Best of luck

I had mine done 6 years ago.  It was around 20,000 I was in the hospital 3 days.

However, I would think LONG and hard before doing this.  Do as much research as you can on this.  I'm not saying its not worth it, but your life will change.

I will be honest about the cons:

Can't burp, can't throw up, gas, bloat, and mine has slipped and has to be re-done which I will not do.  The not "THROWING" up part I think is the worse.

Before you have this done, go and by a heating pad, food grinder, beno.

I'm back on PPI's....Here in Chicago they don't do many anymore, there is something new out there, can't remember the name of it that is much better then the Nissen.

I wish you much luck

Juju

jujuju how bad was your GERD before the surgery?

Maybe be it's because I just had mine done this past February but I think it was a Godsend.  Yes it did take a few months to be able to eat what I wanted, but I think it was well worth it personally.  No more acid reflux.  No more laying in bed in agony with burning in my throat and chest pain.  It took me about 5 months to be able to burp and now that is not a problem.  I can eat anything I want and drink soda, not that I drink soda to often, but I can.  From what I understand everyone is different and it depends on how tight the fundo was done.  my only problem is not being able to throw up and yes that sucks.  Not many people understand how important it is.  Sounds strange to anyone who hasn't had the surgery, but if you feel sick and need to throw up and can't it can be quit miserable.  All in all I am happy and I hope it lasts as long as it can because life is really better now.  Just my experience so far.  I would like to know how many people had open fundo compared to laproscopic.  I wonder if that makes any difference.  Curious.  Good luck everybody and do your research if planning on having it.  Everybody reacts differently  One more thing for those of you who said it dropped. Why?  Is there something that causes it?  Good day

Hello:  As most of you know from reading the post-op Nissen thread I did have my surgery about 9 weeks ago.  I totally agree with Mr. T's observation regarding the surgery.  Yes, I do have a few problems like bloating, constipation, and I still have some chest pain discomfort but compared to the Gerd hell I was living in for one year, I would definately opt to have the surgery.  And if need be I would have it again if it ever slipped.  Doghouse:  Don't be scared about the surgery, have faith in your doctors and just know that the acid reflux will go away.  I like Mr. T, can eat anything but still in very small quantities and I fortunately, I don't drink sodas (too much sugar).  As far as having the need to vomit, I will cross that bridge when I get there.  Thank God I seldom vomit even though I do get nausea sometimes I just take the nausea pill and I am ok.  Also, Mr. T, I don't know which procedure is better open or lap method, all I can say is that my surgeon specialized in the lap method so I don't know which is better.  I think here in the states they do the lap method more than open.  I don't know why the surgery would slip other than straining or heavy lifting or perhaps retching, especially post-op.  I had the hiatal hernia repair and the surgeon doesn't want me to strain because it could undo the hernia repair and that has been a challenge since I have so much constipation.  I am drinking more water and increasing my daily fiber intake and drink mineral oil and it is helping somewhat.  I will just have to experiment and find what works.  Good luck....Barbara....

Welcome Annette,

You've seemed to have found a very old thread (3 years). No one is still around who posted here.

Please post a new thread and introduce yourself. I'm afraid you'll get lost back here.

Joy

JuJuJu,

I noticed you mentioned that in your opinion, a Nissen Fundoplication only lasts about ten years.

I am sorry your's only lasted that long but I can assure you that if done correctly with the correct suture materials, a Nissen Fundoplication wrap can last indefinitely. My NF wrap is 16 years old and it works better NOW than ever before. At 16 years, the wrapped fundus muscle is able to "relax" completely such that I can eat food and swallow as if I never had the operation.

If your Nissen Fundoplication "failed" after a decade, I suspect the problem was the complete break-down of the suture materials - which were most likely either silk or nylon. It is shocking how many surgeons today use silk sutures for NF surgery. This they do knowing full well that silk sutures loose 100 percent of their tensile strength within 12 months. In my opinion, this is gross surgical incompetence!

The proper suture material for NF surgery is braided polyester {such as, for example, Ethibond Excel size "2-0" or size "0"}. Braided ployester sutures maintain full tensile strength, indefinately, in vivo.

Respectfully,

Johnny R.