Had the LINX device this weekend

Hi Guys and Gals

Thought I would give you an update on the LINX.

At about day 14 everything went a bit pear shaped in that I couldn't get anything down. Basically liquids were sitting above the LINX and eventually I would have to be sick to clear the obstruction. In the process I lost over a stone in weight! I had a barium meal which showed that the LINX was not opening correctly so two days later I had a esophagial dilation which involves putting down a balloon on the end of a endoscope and expanding the LINX to get it working again. Apparently your body "lay's down tissue" on the LINX which can restrict it's movement so the trick is to gently dislodge this tissue so that the LINX can open correctly. Please bear in mind I am an exception to the rule, most people who have the LINX fitted start eating a normal diet straight away and this keeps the LINX working, I had some inflammation and consequently I went on fluids for a week which effected the effiency of the LINX. I understand that in a small minority of people about 6% this can happen and usually having the dilation sort's things out.

Since having the dilation things have improved dramatically and although I am still suffering with dysphasia I am able to eat solid foods. I do have a problem with soft white bread and rice but apart from that I have eaten quite well. Today is day 33 since the operation and I feel that I am now making progress. I must admit at my lowest point I did consider having the LINX removed but the thought of going back to Reflux soon removed the thought from my head. As others have said on this forum, the LINX is not a miracle cure, there are some drawbacks, you do have to eat slowly have to take small bites and you do have some dysphasia but this is a small price to pay for not having reflux. I have now cut down my reflux meds to 10mg of omeprazole daily and I plan to come off all meds within a month.

For you guys that have had the Nissen I take my hat off to you. I know that the recovery period for the Nissen is a lot longer and you have to stay on liquids for quite a period of time, you also have quite a few nasty after effects and I can imagine it is a long slog so you guys are Hero's in my eyes.

Hopefully I am going to put some weight back on and get back to normal without reflux! now wouldn't that be nice!

Gaz

Hi Shooz

Yes I have read your posts with interest. At the moment I am having good and bad days. Sometimes food seems to go down Ok and then like today everything has been painful to a point where I think is it ever going to get better than this? I am impatient and I know the body has to take time to adjust so I'm hanging in here going with the flow but I am one hell of a miserable sod at the moment! I don't fancy going down the road of having it removed and then facing reflux again and I certainly do not relish the idea of a Nissen so I've just got to grin and bear it for now. Do you have any problems with cold water? I notice that the LINX does not open and water jsut sit's on top of the LINX? it does eventually seep through. I've also noticed that If I'm getting hungry I start to get a starnge sensation like bubbling at the LINX site? I've also encountered a lot of chest pain which I put doen to the esophagus straining to get food through the LINX. I am hoping all this side issues will die down and I can get back to normal.

Keep us all posted on your progress, it will be nice to know whjat to expect in the future!

Cheers

Gaz

Hi Lucas

I haven't tried excercise yet, first of all I need to put some weight back on!

Yes I can sleep fine and no sign of reflux waking me up in the middle of the night.

I did have to pay for the procedure, the LINX is still not available on the national health in the UK so you have to go private, the cost is £9000.

Cheers

Gaz

Hi Shooz

That pain we are experiencing is esophagial spasm. I'm told that the pain mimics a heart attack. I know one night I went to bed and the pain slowly built in my chest and it felt like a crushing pain, I thought I was having a heart attack but I told myself that there was no pain down my left arm so it must be something else. I took the maximum dose of soluble solphadine and after about 1 hour the pain subsided.

My problem is that I'm like a rake! I need to get some calories down and put on at least a stone, hopefully as things settle down I will be able to scoff to my hearts content.

cheers

gaz

gazbiker
how are you doing now? can you give us an update? I'm looking into the linx device surgery.
thx
dany