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Fundo Surgery - where to have it?

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/5/2011 10:51 PM (GMT 0)

Hi...I am going to be checked out soon to see if I'd be a candidate for surgery...does anyone have suggestions or know of any place in particular that specializes in the surgery for best results.  I'm willing to travel.

Posted 5/5/2011 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Albany, Ga-Dr. John V. Bagnato
Posted 5/5/2011 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
I'm heading to Rochester, MN on monday to be checked out...first time there...a little nervous. But, so so tired of the full feeling all the time, along with daily regurgitation, heartburn, coughing and choking. I'll google him to check him out...thx Joy!
Posted 5/6/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rum Queen,

Another member, LadyJane, has been extremely happy with the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Thomas Rice in particular. She has nothing but great things to say about the entire clinic, and the Dr. Rice and his staff.

Good luck finding the right place for your surgery. You are wise to look for the absolute best, most experienced Nissen surgery, as a skilled surgeon is a huge part of the surgery's likelihood of success.

Best wishes!
Denise
Posted 5/6/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Couch, Dr Bagnato scoped me yesterday. Said I'm the perfect candidate for the hill surgery with 4cm HH. Now I just have to work out my schedule and see when I can get it done. I liked him. He seemed to know his stuff. Brian
Posted 5/6/2011 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Rum, You might want to check out dr Bagnato in Albany, Ga. I live in TN and had to drive 5 hours to see him, but for a good doc it's worth it. Also, he does the "hill". Which is why I picked him. He used to do Fundo's but decided the hill had fewer side effects and switched to that. He's done thousands of lap reflux surgerys. I have spoken to three former patients that all had good outcomes and all said they would do it again in a heartbeat. Also, his staff is very friendly and will spend the time to answer all your questions. Brian
Posted 5/6/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks all...I was surprised no one mentioned Mayo clinic as a place to go.  I guess I need to check out what you are referring to as the hill. 

Posted 5/6/2011 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
hi Rum Queen,
Of course Mayo is a GREAT place to go. I have absolute confidence that you will fine great care there. If I lived close enough I would have gone there.
Best wishes!
Denise
Posted 5/6/2011 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Dr. Bagnato does a special modified Hill (270 degree wrap) of his own design. He describes it as simliar to wrapping the cuff of your pant's leg around your ankle, but doing it with you stomach being the pant's leg and the esophagus your leg.

It works great and I've had no trouble.

Airplanedude, You'll love the hospital staff! They are wonderful at Palmayra! Very attentive. Don't forget to ask for ice chips once you're fully awake. It will help with the dry mouth a lot.
Posted 5/6/2011 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Now I just have to decide when to do it. I'm pretty active in the summer and travel a lot, so I might push it back to late summer. He scoped me on wednesday and found a 4cm HH. My biopsy came back negative so thats good.
Posted 5/6/2011 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Plan for at least three weeks of limitations in energy. No lifting anything over 5 lbs for six weeks.
Posted 5/7/2011 12:27 PM (GMT 0)
Did he tell you six weeks? He told me I could resume weightlifting and working out at 3 weeks no problem.
Posted 5/7/2011 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
What!? That is so different from what he told me.

When I tried to carry anything over 5 lbs those first 6 weeks I'd feel a painful pulling on the wrap site. Everyone here has been told to wait six weeks by their doctors, too. I wouldn't lift anything over 5lbs during that healing time.
Posted 5/7/2011 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all
My surgeon told me to let my body tell me what I can and cannot do.. So far that advice has been spot on.. I am 5 weeks post surgery and I cannot bend yet, I feel pressure in my mid section.. I do not bend.. I carry up to the weight of a gallon of milk...If I feel any type of pulling.. I back off. I am feeling good and hopefully will recover without problems.
Sandi
Posted 5/9/2011 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
That's basically what he told me. Let the Way I feel guide me and if I feel up to it I could be back to working out in three weeks. Maybe he knows my body will say no. Here is a question. Why do people keep posting that they had reflux surgery and also got their hernia repaired. Aren't they the same surgery? I'm confused. If not, then why would someone with an HH need a wrap? Also, Why is reflux considered a disease if it's just the result of a hernia? Makes no sense.
Posted 5/9/2011 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes you can have a weak LES and no HH and visi-versa.
It all falls under the catch-all phrase "GERD".

According the Dr. Bagnato, HH are caused by a birth defect of the diaphram. The hole is larger than normal causing the HH to develop.
Posted 5/9/2011 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Length of recovery should be based on the operation performed. I can't imagine weight lifting after 3 weeks no matter what though! The risk of a hernia at an incision point is just too high!!

But there's still a lot of difference in someone who's had 3-4 hours to get the stomach pulled down out of the chest versus someone who's just had a 1 hour wrap.
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