nissen fundoplication. Knowing what you have been thru would you still have done it?

Hi kds,
Welcome to Healing Well! Two years ago, I was where you are...struggling with the idea of having the surgery and searching the internet for information. As you search, I'm sure you're finding many scary posts about people who have had very bad surgeries and are warning against ever having the procedure done.

My asthma and family doctors were urging me to have the surgery, but as my symptoms were atypical (mainly uncontrollable asthma) my GI doc wasn't as sure that the surgery would solve my problems.

Finally, I couldn't stand living with my unhealthy lungs (my family said that my condition was life-threatening) and high doses of damaging steroids. I went to my GI doc and with the urging of my other doctors and a little higher PH number on my 24 hour study (still only at the top level of "normal"), my GI doc said I could either continue to treat the problem with meds (that weren't working for me) or go see a surgeon about the possibility of a surgical fix.

I couldn't go on the way I was, and if the surgery didn't work for the problem, at least I could rule out GERD as the reason for my horrible lungs.

I had the surgery in February 2009. I had a lung infection at the time of the surgery, and it took about 2 and a half months for my lungs to improve. By mid May, though, my lungs were the best they'd been in years.

Yes, I am definitely glad I had the surgery, and if I needed a redo, I would willingly have it done.

This forum was a lifesaver for me. People here had a very realistic attitude towards the surgery, and were helpful in preparing me for the recovery. It was also great to be able to ask questions of them when I was going through the recovery.

I stuck around after my surgery to repay the kindness that was offered to me.

Is the surgery perfect? No. There will be changes to your upper GI tract that you will need to adjust to and accept. But if it's the right thing for you, it will make you much, much better. As for being off PPI's...some go off and never need them again, while others take some, but are still happy with their improved condition.

The selection of an outstanding and highly experienced Nissen surgeon (who has done hundreds, and hopefully more surgeries) is critical to a good outcome.

Good luck with your decision. I'm sure others will be by to comment on your post.
Take care,
Denise

Hi kds,
The answer has to come from yourself and your own circumstances/experience. Like others have said, surgery is a big thing for anyone to take but, it is also necessary for some.

For me I did not believe that it was a good idea to suffer for the rest of my life and to keep taking PPI that would only provide minimal relief.

Also, I could not eat anything much at all, I went from eating a normal diet to quite a restricted diet to eventually a very, very basic diet that only permitted me to drink water and eat some basic food. Before my op, I lost over 30 pounds in weight within 4 months as a result of not being able to eat.

There is also an indication that with constant exposure of acid within the oesophagagus, this could lean to cancer and therefore evasive action should also be considered.

I also had quite a moderate size hiatus hernia that caused further pain and discomfort for me.

All in all the final decision is you’re to take and only you know your symptoms etc. For me I am very pleased with the outcome from surgery (currently I am 23 days post op) and I would definitely go through it again. Although there are post op difficulties etc, the positive outcome and offer a better quality of life is better.

Good luck with your decision.

This is my 14th month since my surgery. Before I had very atypical symptoms. chronic coughing, loss of voice for weeks at a time, gunk in the throat, asthma attacks, pneumonia, sinus infections, almost blacking out, and occasional heartburn.

Would I do the surgery again? In a heartbeat!

^^Thank you frogdoc! That is exactly what I needed to hear! My husband and I have been struggling with infertility and i was a little sad to hear that we would have to wait 6 months after a nissen wrap to start trying again. But when I think about it, if my heartburn is this bad now I can't imagine what it would be like if I was pregnant! Your comment made me feel much better about my decision to have the nissen done.

Wow! And your wrap was still okay?

Yes, Yes, Yes I have not had to take any GERD meds since I had the Nissen. They only thing that bothers me is some foods are difficult to swallow, so I try to avoid those. It has been 1 1/2 years since mine.
I am so happy I had it done = )

Anne