Linx system surgery Part 3 of 3

Posted 10/20/2010 12:47 PM (GMT -6)  by Shooz

 

Hi everyone,
Sorry that I haven't been more active here, I have been doing some extensive traveling for my job including a trip to Singapore. Had to endure the 20+ flight in COACH!! what a trip, a beautiful place once you get there. A quick update on my Linx, I'm going to the Dr.'s tomorrow for a follow up scope. It has been 3 months since my last visit and he put me back on Protonix. He will get a look to see if the ulcer has cleared up and then we will talk about the next step, reposition, remove and possibly traditional surgery. I'm optimistic that we might be able to reposition the Linx instead of pulling it out and the Nissen. Wish me luck and I'll let you know what happens. Shooz

Hi Everyone,
I had my Dr. visit last week and the good news is the ulcer at the LES is gone. He said that there is still a little redness in my esophagus but mostly gone. The Linx study is showing about a 75% success rate. We discussed that the Linx will be primarily for those with mild to moderate GERD. He wants to see me in a year and if all continues to progress positively we may move to a different med and get off the Protonix for good. I'm still symptom free from my old GERD issues. NO reflux to date (surgery 9/4/09) so I still feel that this works. All of the biopsies that he did were negative and I'm feeling pretty good about all of this. He did mention that I may still have a Nissen in my future. For now we are staying the course. I'm extremely happy with my surgeon and as he told me as he was leaving our appointment, if I have ANY questions or concerns to call him immediately. I can't tell you how lucky I have been to find this Dr. So for now I will keep in touch and update everyone from time to time. Thanks to all for your support and kind words. Shooz

Thanks shooz for your posts.
I am very happy to read that you are feeling better. I think you set a fine example of attitude and courage. I hope you will find a satisfactory solution to this problem.

From what I have read I see two basic problems with the Linx. One is that it may move away from the optimal location where it is implanted. And the second is that although it helps the body keep the barrier closed, when it comes to opening, it requires the esophagus to exert some extra force, more than usual, in order to let food or air pass through. As we age our ability to exert force reduces. I myself have problems with the movement of the lower esophagus so I am not sure it will be for me. I hope that these movement problems of mine are due to my hiatus hernia so that if it will be corrected I will still be able to try this device but who knows.
75% success rate you mentioned is not very high. I think the Nissen is said to have more and so is the esophyx. The advantage of the Linx from my view point is that it is the least invasive of the three and the easiest to reverse. I wish they would publish the results of the experiment already.

best wishes
Gilad

Just when you think things can't get any worse.....

Hi everyone and hopefully you had a great thanksgiving.

I had quite the scare recently. When I came back from Singapore (early October) I developed a very sore stiff neck. Who wouldn't after a 15 hour non stop flight in coach. It wouldn't go away with drugs and PT so my Dr ordered a CT scan (remember with the Linx I can't have an MRI). The CT was negative for any neck problems but it did show a small growth near my epiglottis. What a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving worrying about the big C!! I went to the ENT surgeon this am and I'm very happy to report that it is a benign cyst. It was a rough couple of weeks!!

On the Linx front it is pretty much status quo. It seems to be working fine and doing the job it was intended to do.

Guess that's all to report for now. Hope everyone is doing well. Keep smiling. Shooz

I hope you are feeling better shooz.
my best wishes
Gilad

Hello
I am from Finland and I am also interested in Linx
the nearest place where the cuts are made is UK and I asked about the prices there.
I have a mild gerd and Linx can be a good option
I do not want Nissen surgery because it can not be done after the other
Slicer
where you are asked to surgery?

The text is written using google translator so there may be errors

Post Edited (refluksi) : 1/3/2011 11:56:02 AM (GMT-7)

Slicer
Torax Medical Simon Freedman recommended that UK
My symptoms are felt every day
- stranglings feeling
- acids rises
- and more
nexium 40 three times a day, I quit when you do not agreed with the mentally
Feel that the symptoms will only get worse nexium
30 zolt good now, but otherwise does not take all the symptoms
I'm thinking of Nissen but it is final
Linx can be removed if notwork

http://www.healthierweight.co.uk/anti-reflux-surgery/nissen-or-linx-procedure/

Tommi

Post Edited (refluksi) : 1/10/2011 10:43:05 AM (GMT-7)

Hi,
I am also hoping the Linx will work, but I have some doubts since the results of the large experiment (that shooz also participated in) were due at the end of the year 2010 and for some reason they are being delayed. So I wonder if it means that the results were not as good as expected.
I contacted the company and they told me that the results have not been published yet and that the FDA has not approved of the Linx yet.
Let us hope
Gilad

Hi Lewis,
I wonder what your doctor showed you. The Torax site does not mention any data about this latest study. I would assume it would be published there first. Maybe he showed you the results of the previous study before this one, where they are still keeping track of the subjects' health results.
You wrote about results as indicted by patient satisfaction. I do not think that is a good indice when given on its own. I know they also have objective measures that test levels of acid and such. I wonder what these came out to be.
I take Nexium 40 mg twice a day. I still have symptoms like excess mucus and sometimes some heartburn. I can live with the symptoms but hate taking such heavy dosage of pills that I know are not good for you. I also read that these pills are not appropriate to be taken for long periods of time.
I am not from the US. I am from Israel. It has not arrived here yet. The Esophyx has been tried here on a couple of patients. It was Tif1. (I know the company has a Tif2 now). An instructor from the company was present in the operation room, yet the results were not satisfactory so as far as I could find out they stopped offering it here for the time being.
I hope you find relief soon. If you do go through the Linx procedure please keep us posted.

Another thing I read that sounds promising is a new kind of mesh patch material that they use for correcting Haital Hernias. It is biological, and it dissolves and gets replaced by the body's own tissue over time. It is still experimental and I found a doctor on the net that seemed very experienced that stated that it is very risky, so the jury is still out on that as well.

Best wishes
Gilad

Hello Lewis and everyone else
I am going to meet with Dr Ashton in Manchester tomorrow to discuss the Linx system with a view to having the procedure at the end of this month. When are you thinking of having yours done Lewis?
Dev

Hello
I've been to endoscopic and I made an appointment with a pH test and manometry
so I can put the results Healthierweigh doctor.

I have also talked with Martin Berrett surgery
Do you know how much to pay Linx, I did not even ask the price.

Tommi

Post Edited (refluksi) : 1/15/2011 11:40:04 AM (GMT-7)

Tommi - What did your endoscopy show? You're looking at around £5k for LINX.

Dev - Do you suffer from heartburn or are your symptoms more regurgitation/ throat pain/nausea ?

How did your esophagus look on endoscopy? Any hiatal hernia?

Do you think you may hold out and save for the LINX ?

Lewis.