Has anyone had the ESOPHYX TIF procedure? -CaliLady

CaliLady said...
Hello, I'm new to this forum but suffer from GERD as we can all identify with that. Has anyone had the ESOPHYX TIF procedure? I'm scheduled to have it done 6/30 and from what I've read I can count on one hand the people who have had a SEMI possitive experience. The other surgeries are not an option for me because they are permanent and the TIF is supposedly able to be revised or reversed. I have a motility problem and with the other surgeries I cannot have my LES too tight. Thus a 180 degree will be done. Also I have Barrett's and that will be addressed sometime after the ESOPHYX TIF. My doctor will do an esophagael ablation (HALO) to hopefully remove the precancerous cells. I'm on omeprazole (since 11/2010) and have had to increase dosage and add pepcid and STILL these meds have done nothing to improve my symptoms. In fact, over these last couple of months they have worsened. I now have constant burning in my throat, my gums and lips feel like they are on fire. I was told by my doctor my case is severe and that my options are limited. He does not like to keep people on meds for long periods of time especially when they are considered to be young (49). I can't risk having bone fractures and don't know what else to do. I did the food elimiting thing....and still have symptoms. So surgery is all I have left as an option. So, my question is....IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS HAD THE TIF PROCEDURE AND WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES AND RESULTS? Thanks so much.

Thank you Joy. I should have thought of doing my own thread but got so wrapped up in reading all these other messages. The doctor who performed my mamometry (???) said my esophagus was "incompetent". At first I thought he was being cute about a serious thing but he meant it. I believe he stated I had around 20% functioning motility of my esophagus. I was petrified. So when I went to my GI doc who went over this report he explained to me why the other surgeries were not an option nor were they suitable for me. And then he lays this on me..... that even with the TIF I may have difficulty swallowing and the inability to vomit or burp. He stated that w/this TIF procedure he can do a partial wrap and hope for the best. This doctor is in Irvine Ca at UCI medical center. He has also been on the show "The Doctors" where he performed (video) the HALO procedure on a gentleman who has Barrett's. He has performed several TIF procedures but when it comes to me I have a double whammy problem....the motility issue. We discussed doing the ablation of the esophagus ( I wanted it done while doing the TIF) but he said that would be too much stress for the esophagus to do at one time. He was actually referred to me by my first GI doctor as being "the best and the top in his field". Those are just words. Data and statistics exist because someone had to have had other than positive results. I also had the usual tests and my reflux comes all the way up to my throat but 75% of the time I never feel a thing other than a burp (gas). I was told of something called silent reflux. Thanks again for the thread and your insight. Have a blessed day.

To all who want to know,,I had the Esophpx tif done 2/10/10..it has cured my refulx completely ,But i was in I.C.U. for 10 days( no food or water,just I.V. pic line),after an overnight hospital stay,I had a fever and irregular heart beat and fluid in both lungs..I am 62yrs and healthy..go to youtube.com and watch the Esophyx video,they fill your stomach with air to expand it,a spiral spring is used to grab the inside of the stomach wall to pull it down ,and fastners(small plastic clips) pushed through,,but when they grab the inside stomach wall,it peirces it letting air bubbles into the chest wall,no air bubbles should ever be there,,they where going to cut my chest open if the body didn't absorb it,,it went away on it's own thank god...and the Surgen I went to had done 200 of these and didn't know he was sending these bubbles into my chest,and others who got sick....