Lap Nissen Surgery

Hi Buckeyfan,
First, are you positive that your surgeon is highly qualified, and has done hundreds of successful Nissen surgeries? When a carpenter sees a nail, he gets a hammer. A surgeon's first inclination is to do surgery.

Have you been on PPI's (Prilosec, Protonix, Nexium, etc.) and found them not helpful? Medications would be your first line of defense.

Don't get me wrong. I had the surgery and am very happy I did. However, you are right not to take surgery lightly.

Yes, you can get back to eating normally, and can drink alcohol. It will take nearly four months before you're eating pretty much like you did prior to surgery. There will always be some quirky things due to the new wrap, but those of us who have had the surgery performed by great surgeons have improved our quality of life tremendously.

Many infants and small children have this surgery, and it has been done for over 50 years--the laproscopic version maybe 15 years.

I agree with your surgeon that at your age, you want to be sure that you take care of your esophagus, but if you haven't tried medications at fairly high doses first, I personally think you should explore that first.

Don't worry about the negative posts on the internet. Many of those people had inexperienced surgeons, who did not do the procedure properly. Keep in mind that most people who have this surgery never post anything online. They just go happily on with their lives. If you look at medical journal articles, you'll see that the success rate is very high.

No surgeon should consider doing the surgery until you have had a barium swallow, manometry study, endoscopy, and PH monitor. Some require a stomach emptying study as well.

I hope you are able to find answers to your questions, and can feel comfortable with any decision you make.

Please feel free to ask lots of questions, and read posts on this forum. I have found it to be the most active, reasonable, and helpful forum on the subject.
Good luck!
Denise

Hi Buckeyefan,

Seriously, I can't believe your insurance company won't pay for the medication that helps you. Have you had a doctor write a letter explaining why you need that particular formulation? That's terrible.

1000 Nissen fundoplications is certainly sufficient to be experienced. I think your best bet is to be direct, and ask your surgeon her success rate and complication rate. From what I understand, they have to be honest about it. I really don't know about a website where they are rated, although if you Google her name, you might find something. I believe I've gotten to sites where information is available for a price.

It sounds like you've had all the testing, and your symptoms are very bothersome. There is nothing wrong with taking medications the rest of your life if that solves your problems.

I'm not saying I'm against the surgery. I think it's a lifesaver for many people. However, it's a big step, and it's something you need to be fully prepared for. Has your surgeon discussed the recovery, the eating protocol, and what to expect?

If you have the right attitude, and really want the surgery, you'll do fine. Some go for the surgery, and they're not willing to accept the inconveniences of recovery, and the changes that come with the surgery.

I had it done in February 2009, because I had very bad asthma caused by GERD. I'm very glad I did, and if I need a redo (I may, because of all my coughing post op, before my lungs healed), I'll gladly have it.

Still, the way you describe your experience, it sounds like you've been pressured into choosing the surgery. That's not a good way to go into it. I may be misinterpreting your description of what you've experienced.

Whatever you decide, be sure to hang around here and ask questions. We'll support you and provide whatever information we can. This is a great forum, and it helped me a lot when I was trying to get the courage to go forward with surgery.
Hang in there!
Denise

I think that's a really great idea. It will give yourself a chance to get ready for the surgery and recovery, and you can be certain that your surgeon is the best one to do the procedure.

It would be a good idea to check around several GI offices, and see who they refer to. If your surgeon has done 1000, then it is likely that she's the one who does the Nissens in the area. You mentioned that she does surgeries on soldiers...is she a VA doc?

The most important thing you can do is be sure that she's the best possible surgeon, since that's a big key. The other is that you're the best possible patient--that you've had the tests and they show that you definitely need the surgery and it will help you.

Actually, my symptoms were secondary to GERD (asthma) and the surgeon wasn't so sure it would help me. It helped me tremendously...I had healthy lungs for the first time in over four years.

I am a big advocate of the surgery for people who are suffering and need relief. I just worry because surgeons don't tend to prepare their patients for the recovery (although your surgical pain will be better within a couple weeks, your swallowing/eating will take more time.)

I always tell people that it's really important to have an accepting attitude, and surrender to their recovery. If you follow your recovery, rather than struggle against it and complain, you will have a very positive experience. It is as it is. You just go with the flow, and all is well.

Have a wonderful holiday, and be sure to keep us posted. Whatever question you might have between now and your surgery, please ask. We'll do our best to answer each one.

This forum has helped me tremendously, which is why I've stayed around to help others.
Take care,
Denise

Dear Buckeyefan,
I'm so glad you've returned to the Healing Well forum! We'll do our best to answer any questions you have post-surgery, and provide you with support. Many of us have had the surgery, and know just what you'll be experiencing.

Try to relax and surrender to the path your recovery takes. If you can follow its lead, and not struggle against it, your recovery will be a much more positive experience.

Have a great surgery, and keep coming back!
Take care,
Denise

Buckeyefan,
This is the most positive place I've found. I heard many horror stories before my surgery. Even my doctor told me some.
This is why I came to this forum to talk with others about the surgery.
Most support forums are there for the horror. You don't find many people who join a forum like this who say "hey, I'm feeling great! "

People who go to these forums are usually the ones who have trouble.

I'm one of the people who come and say "Hey, my surgery was a success!"
As for the throwing up issues: I had a 270 degree wrap over a year ago and I've thrown up three times with little trouble. My wrap is still intact. :)

Hi Buckeyefan,
I was eating at restaurants on vacation at 4 months post op. Before that it's a gradual process...you get better week by week.

I agree with Joy...this is a very positive and affirming forum. Some of the experienced members who helped me through my surgery are no longer posting, but there are several who have stayed on.

Knowing that there were people who had had problems and needed redos was actually very comforting to me. If they were happy enough with their outcome to gladly go through a redo, I thought it was a very positive sign.

There are some surgeons out there who shouldn't be doing the procedure. They give it a bad name to everyone. Most of the horror stories are a result of botched surgeries.

Still, someone going into this surgery needs to keep a positive and realistic outlook. The recovery will take time, and there will be some changes caused by the wrap. If you are going forward with the surgery, your best path is a positive one. If you are accepting of the changes you experience they will be much less bothersome.

If you surrender to your recovery and follow it where it takes you, it will ensure a much more relaxed and positive experience for you. People who struggle over the time it takes to heal make themselves unnecessarily miserable.

You've researched things well if you've found this forum, and that will help greatly in your recovery.

Best wishes for a very positive surgical experience!
Take care,
Denise

Hello,

I am a 24 yr old female that had a Lap Coley done on 3/25/2011 due to a non-functioning gallbladder, it was black when the removed it (basically is was dead and causing an infection). My symptoms that started the idea of a gallbladder attack were:

Vomiting (only at night)x 2 months- daily
Choking sensation x 2 years (that I can remember, its felt like a lifetime.)
Regurgitation though only minimal.

After my Lap Coley, I have had continued choking sensation, regurgitation, chest pain when laying down (and swallowing), I have started vomiting again (even worse it seems that my gag reflex is so sensitive the I throw up while brushing my teeth.) **The vomiting, chest pains all started within the last few days, it feels like my symptoms are getting worse.

I asked my surgeon if this is symptoms of "dumping syndrome" common after a gallbladder surgery, but he said no because I do not get severe headaches and sweats. He reviewed my Upper GI test I had done before my surgery and where the Radiologist thought I had a problem with my Duodenum (which is where the stomach connects to the lower intestine) my surgeon said it was clear I have a Hiatel Hernia, which is obviously at the top of my stomach. I am concerned about the contradictions, but I trust my surgeon (he is the "family surgeon", he saved my father's life, and has cut on my Gpa, and my mother as well.)

I guess I am looking for anyones thoughts and opinions or if anyone else has similar issues. I am scheduled for a Ph Test and an EGD (upper endoscopy) on the 16th of June.

Thanks.

P.S. it has been proven already that I have Reflux, but I have never felt "heartburn". I was taking Nexium 40mg qd and my Surgeon took me off of it until after my EGD. I take Welchol for the nausea and the "stomach churning" I get after every meal. I have never really known what Heartburn feels like and I can only associate my chest pains as an onset of heartburn.

Post Edited (strength&beauty) : 5/31/2011 7:39:59 AM (GMT-6)

Buckeye fan, I would like to tell you that a lot of people who have had trouble with their lap nissen come to the internet looking for advice. But far more have the lap nissen done and have no problems.

I had my lap nissen done on March 30, 2011. So, tomorrow I will be 9 weeks post-op. I don't want to sugar coat anything for you, the first two weeks were the hardest. That was what I call the "what have I done to myself" stage!!! I don't think I ate more than a few sips of soup before I left the hospital, and once I did it was experimenting with what would work and what didn't. My diet was definitely restricted for the first six weeks. Weight loss was around 11 pounds (though I think that might come back..hopefullly not :))

Now, I can gladly say that I am so happy I did this surgery. My reflux was so bad that even water would cause symptoms. Now, there are very few, if any, problems and I no longer take acid reflux medications. My diet is very similar to the way it was before surgery, with the exception of a few foods that I have not eaten yet (steak, pork, etc). The main tip here is to CHEW CHEW CHEW everything when you get to that point!

Your recovery may be different, but you are young and I think you have a greater chance of healing faster than if you were older. I am 29 and I healed up quite well. Just a few tips that I noticed post-op:
-DO NOT gulp liquids for a while. I still cannot do that, if I do I notice that my esophageal muscles spasm just a bit.
-If you had any nausea problems before, you probably still will have those after. It should subside as you heal. Be sure to have some good anti-nausea medications on board if you need them. You will be so glad you did!
-Drink as many fluids as you can (no straws) and eat whatever you can every few hours, probably 2-3 hours for sure just to keep your strength up. And you CAN drink alcohol eventually, but give your body some time to heal.
-And in case I didn't mention it before, CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW CHEW! That is imperative to helping the wrap work properly and ensure nothing gets stuck. It's nothing serious but it HURTS!

Hope this helped. Trust me, I'm so glad I did the surgery. To be able to eat the foods I want without worrying about heartburn or reflux is awesome! Best of luck to you.