Hi Azalzaa,
While I can't give you any help on finding a good surgeon in Michigan, I can speak to Paula's post regarding the warning against the surgery. I had the surgery done in February 2009, after spending four years with horrible asthma caused by GERD. Posts like Paula's that I saw all over the Internet scared me so much that I didn't have the surgery when I needed it. Finally, after finding this fine forum filled with people who have experienced the surgery and its recovery, I found the courage to go forward with my surgery. I am very glad I did. My lungs improved tremendously, and I only wish I'd had the courage to do it sooner. That said, it is important to go into the surgery with your eyes wide
open.
Here's the post I wrote regarding surgical failure posts that abound on the internet:
Nissen Surgery Failures:
My Thoughts:
Yes, there are many very disturbing stories all over the internet--enough to scare anyone away from this procedure. I spent four years searching the web, looking for information to help me make an informed decision. The internet sources I searched out provided me with an overabundance of reasons not to go ahead with a surgical fix.
It is clear that pre-testing is crucial to ensuring that a patient will be helped by this surgery. Motility tests (manometry--tests the strength and effectiveness of your swallowing muscles, as well as the strength of the LES valve.), 24hr PH Monitor, Barium Swallow, and perhaps a stomach emptying study, are all tests that can spot problems that could complicate this surgery.
Choosing a skilled and experienced surgeon is also critical. A surgeon who does an overly tight wrap can create swallowing problems--especially in someone who has slipped through the testing cracks, and has a swallowing problem to begin with. Careful selection of a good candidate is most important. Don't rush your way towards surgery. Go to a good GI doc, and thoroughly explore all your options. Once you have a trusted specialist, it's likely that he/she will be able to recommend a surgeon who is skilled in the procedure. Then check that surgeon's credentials further.
Make an appointment with one or more surgeons...ask lots of questions. Just because you meet with someone doesn't mean you have to go through with surgery. My family doctor recommend a surgeon, and I met with him/had tests done/was told I was a good candidate for the surgery. I was not ready to make that decision, so I went back to my GI doc, who looked at the results of the tests the other surgeon did, and ordered an additional test. After testing was done and we discussed the results, he suggested that I just go and talk to the surgeon...no rush...just discuss the procedure, and start to think about
what I wanted to do. I ended up meeting with his recommended surgeon twice, and made the decision to go through with the surgery.
Keep in mind that many, many people have a Nissen Fundoplication and never enter any comments in a forum online. It's more likely that people who had bad outcomes will search the web for reasons for their suffering. Many, many successful surgeries happen, and you just don't hear about
them. The more problems a person has with the outcome, the more likely you'll hear about
his/her poor results.
I do know that as an
open procedure, this is a 50 year old surgical method, so it must have helped many people for it to have lasted this long.
Laproscopic Nissen Fundoplication has been around a much shorter time (a little over 10 years, I believe, but I may be off on that number). From what I've read, the move to laproscopic Nissens has been beneficial, in that fewer surgeons are qualified for to do non-invasive procedures, and it creates a situation where a few surgeons get lots more Nissen surgeries--which provides ample opportunites for developing skills necessary for successful outcomes.
So yes...it seems that there is a disproportionally large number of Nissen failure when you read forums such as these. If you go to surgical sites, though...read medical journal entries, you will find that the success rate is quite high. That doesn't solve the problem for people who have had poor outcomes, but it should create more confidence in someone making the decision to have this life-changing surgery.
Don't let scary stories make up your mind for you. Do the work to find out if this procedure is right for you. Then make an informed decision and go with it. Best wishes to anyone trying to make this difficult decision.
Also...good luck to those who are struggling with surgeries that didn't work out the way you had hoped. I hope you all find solutions to your medical problems.
Thanks again to everyone who shares their experience and hope on this forum. It has made a big difference to a lot of people.
So...that's my post. It's over a year old, but I thought it was appropriate to bring it out for this thread, considering your request for information, and Paula's warning not to go forward with the surgery. You, and only you, know whether or not this surgery is right for you. Many here have found it a lifesaver.
Good luck finding an excellent surgeon. Janice's ideas (LdyJane) about
the Cleveland Clinic are good ones. If I need a redo at some point, that's probably a place I'll consider seriously. (By the time I had the courage to go forward with the surgery, my lungs were in such bad condition that I coughed constantly post surgery. It took two and a half months for them to heal after all those years of being bathed regularly in acid. In addition I was on high doses of steroids, which made my internal tissue very fragile. Because of my fear to go forward, I waited too long, and my post-op condition could very well have caused me to damage my wrap. I'm exploring that possibility with my asthma doctor now. We shall see...)
Good luck finding an answer to your problems, Paula. I hope you consider going to a variety of doctors if you don't get help with the ones you're seeing.
I hope you find a great surgeon, Azalzaa. It's the most important thing you can do to ensure a good outcome.
Take care,
Denise
