NERD and food stuck post-Nissen

*Now the surgeon thinks I've had NERD as well as GERD all along. I didn't know that was possible and I don't know anything about NERD.

Hi again,

I promised I'd drop back around after seeking more help from both my local GI and the surgeon who did my Nissen and here I am.

I reported last week that the dilation lasted about 36 hours and it was like heaven until it quit working. GI said "double your Dexilant". I did. It stopped up the works so badly that I thought I would have to go to the ER for help but I took several laxatives and finally got some relief. I just can't eat more than about a cup of food per day.

Went to the surgeon this past week and described exactly how the food won't go down and how I can't breathe at night and wake up to massive amounts of phlegm and mucous-like congestion in my esophagus and sinuses accompanied by so much saliva I could water my grass with the liquid I cough and spit up.

I took hubby with me because I wanted an eye witness to be there when I told the surgeon what goes on now all night and every morning. His eyes were like a deer in the headlights but he listened and sympathized but I'm not sure he's ever had this happen after Nissen with a patient. He wouldn't really admit it but I seem to remember before the surgery he said I'd eventually thank him.

He put me on a very small dose of Amitriptyline for "Esophageal Hypersensitivity" and possible motility problems of the esophagus. I have great difficulty sleeping already due to the backup from food in my esophagus and the med he prescribed kept me awake at night and hyper in the daytime which was just what I didn't need. He had no problem giving me Reglan if I wanted to take the risk but hubby and I were not ready at that time. He said most all of the other drugs of that type have been removed from the market.

He is very nice but I think I'm about ready to move on. He said if the Amitriptyline didn't help the only other thing he knew to do was do the manometry and 24 hr Ph again and I don't know that I can go through that again right now since the two barium swallows showed no motility problems on barium. He did say that he believes the barium went down; just not the food and he is puzzled.

One very odd thing I'd like to offer here and ask for comments about is that everything to do with digestion problems and food not going down seems to hurt only on the right side of my body. It's the strangest thing I think I've ever experienced.

My right sinus and nostril burn and drip and my right ear has pressure pains. The right side of my throat hurts and burns and my right eye has blurry vision. It's the right side of my esophagus that burns the most and when I turn on my left side at night the contents of my esophagus drain and I have to get up and cough and spit it all up. Also the gastritis is on the lower right side of my stomach near the pylorus is where the stomach pain is bad.

Before Nissen I did just like I do now but it only happened about 5 in the morning. This week it has begun to occur about 8 pm and continues on from there through the night till I finally get up in the morning unless I don't eat. If I don't eat I can get by but I have to eat something.

It got this way after the GI blew open my last stricture about a week before Nissen on August 1, 2011. I think it's about time for a new GI as well.

I have no idea what lies ahead but till some assistance can be found I'll keep saying my prayers and keep on keeping on.

For the first time in many many years I'm totally speechless.
Very hungry, but speechless.

Thanks,
Rita

Thanks, Ash. It's a journey I guess. It didn't start yesterday and it won't end tomorrow and I am terribly glad I've finally figured that out. lol

I do wish now I had gone to a university medical center to a GI and surgeon who had lots and lots of experience with GERD and all the other things connected with GI problems but what's done is done and I can only concentrate on moving forward.

The really sad thing about it all is that it finally does wear on your nervous system and takes so much a toll on your lifestyle. Hubby and I used to be so very active and busy and traveled etc but we've had to slow down on that part of our lives until we can find the proper help that I need.

You're very kind and I appreciate your post.
Love and best wishes back at ya.

Rita

Bill, did you read the link about NERD and hypersensitive esophagus I posted on another link on Sunday? The surgeon suggested a very low dose of Elavil (5 or 10 mg once a day) to help with the desensitization of my esophagus/vagus nerve.

I took the 10 mg first but have taken only 5 since then and it seems to be helping a bit. Yesterday and last night and the waking up process were better this morning and I'm daring to feel a bit of encouragement.

My GI already had me on 25 mg of Trazodone at night to help with both sleep and my acid problems even before I had NF and it helped with sleep but not with the GI problems.

I guess some drugs help some people with some "stuff" and others don't or the Trazodone would have done for my sensitive esophagus what the small amount of Elavil may be doing now.

I guess time will tell and I'm willing to be patient because I do not want to go back to the operating table. I want to get on with my life.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it.
Rita

Rita-
I did see it. The hyper sensitive esophagus is very common after the surgery. My doctors have said the esophagus is a "dumb" organ and can sense pain with normal amounts of acid as pain until it heals all the way.

Hope the Elavil does the trick for you.

Take care,
Bill