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Tif failed; Bravo score pre-surgery lower than post-surgery

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GERD & Acid Reflux
Did the TIF surgery cure your GERD?
all symptoms - 0.0% - 0 votes
some symptoms - 0.0% - 0 votes
on meds still - 50.0% - 1 votes
off meds still - 0.0% - 0 votes
no symptoms with meds and tif - 0.0% - 0 votes
not better at all - 50.0% - 1 votes
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Posted 11/25/2010 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gerd 11
As you can probably tell this is my first time posting on a message board. Please excuse my blunders. I was very moved by your posts. I had failed Tif surgery on October 8th. Two and a half weeks after the surgery while still on Nexium, the reflux returned and now I am worse off than before. I decided on surgery in the first place because the Gerd was getting much worse even affecting my breath (not fun!). The surgeon thought the Tif would be the best option for me because I had no hernia or motility problem and I was in good health overall. I am so discouraged. I thought I would be eating pizza and chocolate and instead I am taking more meds than before. The surgeon advised me to delay going off the Nexium and to take Carafate. The Carafate has worked, but I can't imagine what it is going to be like to wean off these two meds. I can't even imagine eating a trigger food. I am very reluctant to try the Nissen. Have you made any decisions about a second surgery? Are you feeling any better?
Posted 11/25/2010 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Nissen is not that bad. Five little bandaid size cuts. Insides a little sore and a restricted diet for a couple of months. I felt normal by month two.
Posted 11/26/2010 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy
It isn't that I'm afraid of the Nissen recovery period. My biggest concern is that I've been told the surgery only lasts about 10 years and it can't be repeated a second time after a failed Tif. So if I have it and it fails,what happens to me then?
Posted 11/26/2010 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Who told you that? Mitsie on here is fixing to get her failed TIF fixed by having a nissen.
I personally know a person who had a nissen done 25 years ago. It's just now beginning to bother him.
The point is if you can find an excellent surgeon who's done a lot of re-dos it's very doable. There is no definitive amount of time it will last. It all depends on the surgeon's experience and how you treat it.
Posted 11/28/2010 2:50 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Callie,

Thank you for asking but no I am not any better.  The reccommendation from my TIF surgeon is to repeat ALL previous tests.  However,  I have only opted to repeat the PH Bravo which has increased by doubling its numbers.  My DR. didn't believe I was still having these symtoms and now he believes me.  He also did an endo. and the surgery is still perfectly intact.  He is puzzled why it didn't work and I am the first one not too.  Gerd has indeed taken over my life and I am sick of it! I am taking a much needed break from tests and procedures.  I don't believe that he can fix me anymore.  I am thinking of seedkin an opinion at Stanford; maybe after the holidays.  I am on 80 mg. of  nexium daily and the Carafate.  Like you I dreamed of health and eating what I want.  However, that didn't work our for both of us.  : (((   I feel your pain.  He reccommended the NIssen but told me that may also not work.  My concern is I am still having trouble swallowing it hurts at times and food and pills seem to get stuck.

What does your DR. suggest?  What did he tell you when yours failed?

wishing you health

Gerd11

Posted Yesterday 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy,
Good to hear the TIF can be repaired. My doctor who has done 41 TIFs has never repaired one although he has repaired Nissens. When I asked him about this before surgery he seemed to think he could do it, but pointed out second surgeries were more risky. I'm not sure I have enough confidence in him after the failed TIF. I hope there are doctors nearby who have experience in this.I had read on line at a medical site that Nissens last on average 10 years. Thanks for your post. It is giving me some hope.
Posted Yesterday 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gerd 11
Sorry you're not feeling better. My appt. with my surgeon is in two weeks so I'm not sure what he is going to say. When I described my symtoms to his nurse, she said things didn't sound good and that the doctor would probably want to schedule the PH test. I don't think I'm going to do it. I know my acid is worse and the thought of that nasty test on top of how lousy I feel is too much. I do think I should have an endo to make sure everything is intact. Since I passed the 6 weeks mark and have been cleared to do a little more like rake leaves, I have had pain in my chest (left side). Have you had that? I tried to go off the Nexium and couldn't do it. I had burning all day even though I was still taking Carafate. I haven't had trouble swallowing pills or food. My doctor told me pre surgery that he had only two failures. One he thought was due to a large hernia and the other he couldn't explain.Hope you get some answers soon. Hang in there.
My surgeon also told me pre surgery that a second surgery if ever needed would be riskier. I'll have to question him about this?

Post Edited (Callie213) : 11/29/2010 4:25:35 PM (GMT-7)

Posted Today 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I was told to ease into more taxing exercises. I couldn't push a buggy until week 10 without pains.
Posted 12/28/2010 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dencha,

I was searching for some commentary on coughing after Nissen and found the thread below.  I caught a very bad cold (close to flu like) about a week ago.  Cold always become chest infections for me due to my asthma, so sure enough it spread to my chest and I have had a hacking cough for nearly a week now.  I got anti biotics almost immediately to try to nip it in the bud, but it doesn't appear to have worked.  So I am now worried that I am damaging my wrap with this coughing.  At what stage of your recovery were you coughing?  Mine came in between weeks 9 and 10.  Did you have any further discussions with your doctors about the possibility of having damaged the wrap with your coughing?  My symptoms are all over the place at the moment as I have a bad chest, still feel cold/fluey which includes some queasiness.  The anti biotics are also upsetting my stomach.  So while I am feeling the chest burn, it may be due to all of this plus the coughing irritating (hopefully rather than damaging) the wrap.

Thanks!

Simon

Posted 12/28/2010 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
I coughed for a month with penumonia during my 5th - 9th week. It didn't cause any long term problems.

However, I caught a stomach virus and threw up for six hours straight and I think it loosen my wrap a little. I think I'm having some reflux from it. :(
Posted 1/3/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
thanks Joy, that is reassuring on the coughing side. I still wonder if I have damaged things as I read that one should avoid sudden addominal contraction, which is exactly what my convulsive coughing has been doing for a couple of weeks. Hopefully I am ok.

Were you not given anti sickness medicine when you got sick? We have two young children so stomach viruses tend to come round annually. I was thinking that I would just pop an anti sickness pill next time I feel nauseous and this would stop the actual vomiting. is that correct?

Simon
Posted 1/3/2011 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Simon,
Sorry I didn't see your post sooner. Oh, I coughed severely throughout my healing time (my surgery was at the end of February 2009). I had a lung infection prior to surgery that didn't resolve, and I coughed so much that I was sure I had completely ruined my surgery.

In addition, I was on such high doses of steroids that the surgeon told me my internal tissue was extremely fragile, and he had to add extra stitches to ensure the repair would hold.

I coughed so badly that I required lung PT from my husband to help clear my lungs.
My coughing continued for about 2 and a half months, then miraculously, in the midst of spring allergy season, my lungs finally cleared.

Fast forward to December 7th of this year, when I was retested--barium swallow, manometry, endoscopy, and 24 hr PH. I was having some mucous in my lungs return, and I wanted to be sure it wasn't reflux-related. Well, in spite of all that coughing, the surgeon (a different one from the one who did the initial wrap--we've moved in the mean time) said that my wrap and hernia repair were perfectly intact, and he could see no problems at all.

Stop worrying!
Hope you're feeling better!
Denise
Posted 1/4/2011 2:24 AM (GMT 0)
Phenagan did not stop my stomach flu vomiting. I was throwing up violently every 10-20 minutes for about 6 1/2 hours. I was so sick.
Posted 1/4/2011 11:05 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Denise,

Thanks for coming back to me.  I am pleased to hear you survived your coughing fits unscathed.  I too have had a nasty chest infection (assume that it the same as a lung infection) that takes so long to shake off.  Sounds like you had a tough time!  great for you that all the internal work remains intact.

I was supposed to have a follow up with my surgeon today but he cancelled his appointments for the second time running, so I have been moved to next week.  I am still getting an on/off burning sensation that is indistinguishable from h/burn and also a little throat irritation.  I am trying to assess whether to see the surgeon again to discuss this before opting for a barium swallow, or whether I should just go for the barium swallow so that we have the results to discuss when I next see him.  I want the peace of mind (assuming the results of the x ray will be positive!) but am wary of the radiation due to my health history.

Joy - are you planning to have any tests done to assess whether you have damaged the wrap or are your symptoms manageable?  I have heard that many patients are unable to vomit post fundo, so I assumed that anyone that did vomit was unable to get the meds down in time.  No I know that's not the case....thanks for the heads up.

Happy New Year to you both and thanks again for responding!

Simon

Posted 1/4/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Mine is very manageable. Maybe once a week or less I need a couple of tums, but that's only from eating a no-no.
Posted 1/4/2011 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear it.
Posted 9/17/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
;l
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