Injury to lining of Esophagus

Hi Debra,

I had the stomach emptying when I was hospitalized for GERD induced asthma. I did it lying down, and I was able to watch the stomach empty on a little TV. Mine emptied just fine. I was very worried, because like you, my esophagus was burned to a crisp when I had it. I was only eating my favorite soothing food--egg custard--and when they told me I'd have to eat an egg salad sandwich I was very worried. However, I ate the sandwich, they took the test, and I lived to tell about it!

If you're having stomach emptying issues, they probably would be hesitant to do the wrap surgery on you, as it tends to create more problems with the stomach emptying. It's very wise to have that test done, just to be safe.

All these tests help the surgeon decide if you're a good candidate for the Nissen, and whether your problems are being caused by a loose LES or something else.

I agree with your husband. You must go through with these tests now, as if you don't you'll regret it. It's not as if you've only been having a problem for a month or so. It's been MANY months already, and here you are still suffering. You need to act aggressively and be brave, so you can get help, and be able to go on with your life without all this suffering.

The BRAVO directions you got are interesting. I had 3 wired PH monitor, and the first two had no rules about eating/drinking between meals. The third one I had also didn't want me eating snacks, or drinking water between meals. It also had more rules regarding what i could eat.

Be very forceful with your surgeon regarding how you feel and how the lack of PPI's frighten you. See if you can get him to prescribe more doses of the H2blocker you're taking as long as possible, and be sure to have lots of Maalox on hand to coat your stomach and deal with the acid until that, too, is forbidden.

You can do this! We'll be here to answer any questions you may have, and be your cheering squad!

Now go listen to your meditation tape!
(((Hugs)))
Denise

Hi Debra,

I found the recovery from the surgery much more manageable than I ever expected. What you're going through now is far, far, far worse than the recovery from the surgery will be.

I did not have the big bloating issue, because I was able to burp. Burping depends on how tight your surgeon does the wrap. Occasionally I get a little bloat, but it's rare. When that happens there is a lot of gas coming out the other way. Don't know why it happens when it does, but it does.

If the tests you have point to the need for a Nissen, you'll just be thankful to have it, so you can stop getting all the reflux you're having. I hope the testing gives you some clear-cut answers.

Do not worry yourself about things that haven't happened. If you end up being recommended for a Nissen, we will give you as many answers as we possibly can. People around here helped me through when I was afraid to have the surgery. That's what we're here for!

If I ever need a redo, I'll gladly get it, rather than go back to the problems I had before the surgery. Is it perfect? No...but it is the best there is at this point in time. Nissens have been done for over 50 years and have been done laproscopically for nearly 15.

I'm glad you're feeling better today. Enjoy your vegetables!
Denise

Debra,
I had to eat 1/4 cup of beef noodle soup. I hate soup. :-P

I can burp fine, although I don't do as much as before the surgery. My nissen is holding up fine.
The only complication I've ever had was terrible flatulations for about 8 months. :P
The gas was limited going up so it went down. ;)

Debra-
yes it can get that high in your throat. You might be having spasms though. There are a few meds that can help with the spasms if that's what it is.

Take care,
Bill

Hi Denise and Bill, Thank you so much for getting back to me. I just can't believe with all the medication I'm on, my throat would still get affected. Thanks Denise for the clear diagram. I'm not feeling spasms and I haven't felt a warm or acid rise and burn now for at least two weeks but just feel dry, sore, tight feeling in the larynx tissue area just behind my Eve's Apple . It even hurts a little when I swallow. I am feeling better this morning compared to yesterday - still feel moderately dry, sore and tight. I did take two Gaviscon tablets before bed last night and two after dinner. The hard part about taking Gaviscon (you wait 1 hour after meal) is that you can't have any water or anything after you take it or it will break the barrier, so you have to be all watered up before you take it. You do drink 1/2 glass of water following the tablets then nothing. Maybe it happened because I skipped the Gaviscon after a few meals the day before. I'm waiting for my order from Canada, trying butterscotch flavor. This Canada product doesn't have Aluminum and has twice as much Alginic Acid then the US product. It is the Alginic Acid that makes the barrier.

Could I still get irritated in my larynx area even if I didn't feel an acid burn rise up through my esophagus? Could it be just a little gastric juice that comes up when I burp? I do sometimes feel little air with bubbles rise up into my throat when I burp? Could there be gastric juice in those little bubbles that are irritating my sore tissues? After all like Denise said, I did lose my voice for practically 3 months after vomiting the lemon juice, so my tissues must still be very delicate. I am speaking very softly now only to my husband and family. I'm not answering phones at all.

That's why the Bravo 24 PH test scares the hell out of me. If I get like this while on my PPI's and meds, can you imagine what will happen to me while off the meds? I guess the burn will go clear up to my sinuses and I'll become a mute! I watched this video last night of a Manometry Study - the made it look easy and the lady seems comfortable, not in any pain, not burned to a crisp from being off meds, she must be a healthy volunteer, paid lots of money to do this. See this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9BrhCCuD5g

The surgeon I saw on 7/14 said he would attach a capsule to my esophagus while I was asleep. This video shows two studies being done - I saw they gave her water to drink.


Last night when I lied down for sleep, I always hope that my body will heal while I'm asleep so that tomorrow will be better. I'm always hoping for a better tomorrow. Tomorrow is here right now and I realize I'll have to go through today with this sore feeling in my throat and again hope tomorrow will be better. "Tomorrow" has powerful and mixed feelings for me right now. Sometimes like very early this morning, the thought gives me anxiety and prevents me from sleeping and sometimes hope for a better day allows me to sleep.

I'm still doing the 40 mg Famotidine every day before lunch, in addition to AM and PM Aciphex - my goal is to stabilize myself together with the Gaviscon so I can heal the tissues. That's my goal. I'm thinking if I can just get the tissues healed up to a point where little gastric juices won't affect it, just maybe I can heal and then eventually taper of the meds and be normal again without surgery. That's my dream goal and my hope.

Denise, I'm glad they didn't give you lettuce.

So, do you think it's just small traces of gastric juices sneaking up when I burp? Does that video look genuine?

Thanks again!

Debra

Hi Denise - Thanks for watching the video. I tried to open to the link but it failed. Did they numb you good before sending the tube down? Were you already sore and irritated and uncomfortable before you went in for this procedure? The lady in the video looked like a healthy volunteer not someone who is sick. I can't imagine how you could have volunteered to have the biopsies done. The Surgeon said he might have to take a biopsy. That would give me the spasms I went to the ER for back in February. My Esophagus is really sensitive.

I'm even worried about swallowing the barrium chalky stuff. Do you know if that chalky liquid will irritate my esophagus? I hope it is not mint.

Oh, it feels like sandpaper in my throat! I drank some water to break the barrier of Gaviscon so I can eat my lunch and oh, I feel so irritated right now. I hope I can eat my lunch. I took my Famotidine after breaking the barrier and I'm sucking on DGL Tablets right now.

Joy, could you quote a medical site that discusses a wrap being contraindicated for someone with an open LES.

What you stated above is contrary to what my surgeon and my GI doc both have told me.

I need the information from a medical web site to support your statement if you are correct.

Most sites I've looked at say: When testing reveals a functional or mechanical problem of the LES, Nissen fundoplication has been shown to be extremely effective. The procedure is used to repair defects and increase pressure in the LES to prevent acid reflux.

Thanks.