3 yrs since my Nissan surgery-now the reflux is Back!!!

It's good to hear from you, but I'm sorry it's because you're having problems. Your ENT is right...your surgeon should never have told you that you'd NEVER have any reflux again.  It's a foolish promise to make, since to create a wrap tight enough to ensure zero reflux, your surgeon would ensure that you would not be able to swallow your food.

If you look back on your eating patterns prior to this episode, I wonder if you'll discover that you were eating an inordinate amount of trigger-type foods.  Sometimes it's possible to get things flared up an be able to get some reflux even post-op.

From your comment, "I hope things don't escalate again, back to how it was before the surgery," I suspect you had a LOT of reflux before surgery.  It's highly unlikely that you will experience that type of reflux even if you are getting some kind of reflux now.  Relax and don't worry about that.

Take the Delixant you were given and give your esophagus and stomach a chance to calm down again.  Watch what and how much you're eating for a while so things can get back to normal.

Remember that even people who "don't have reflux", still get reflux episodes at times.  A "normal" DeMeester score is not zero.  Instead, it's anything less than 14.7.  Could you have some eposides of reflux at times?  Of course.  Everybody does.  Don't immediately jump to the conclusion that it will be as bad as it was pre-op.  Just do what everyone who has reflux but haven't been diagnosed with GERD do...take the meds for a while and watch your diet.

I hope that you get feeling better very soon.  If your problems persist it would make sense to get some testing done to ease your mind regarding your wrap.

Let us know how it goes!

Best wishes,

Denise

Thanks for sharing your experience!  I agree 100% that a Nissen is not something to go into without exhausting all other possibilities.  That said, for some, a Nissen is the only alternative.  As you said, you're 50% better than you would have been without it.  For some 50% is worth the challenges.  Many get a much better than 50% improvement.  I think when surgeons promise "no refux" they're either ignorant of the actual recovery and long-term results, or are not being truthful.

That's why I have concerns when people without severe problems have the surgery in order to eliminate the need for PPIs.  There is no guarantee that PPIs will not be needed in he future.

I did not have a high DeMeester score and was really discouraged from having it by my GI doc.  Still, my PCP and asthma docs were confident that my reflux was creating my very unhealthy lungs.  Finally, I was sent to a surgeon as an option only after that GI doc told me that I could still treat it with medication if I prefer.  Medication wasn't doing it.  Since my surgery, my lungs are 100% better.  I'm so glad I did it.  While I get very, very infrequent reflux, my asthma doc still wants me to take 40mg Protonix before dinner, and I still sleep with the head of my bed elevated.  That is because a very tiny amount of refux can create lung issues for me.

Prior to my surgery I was taking 40mg Protonix twice and day, and 300mg Ranitidine at bedtime.  I was also taking 4X the amount and strength of inhaled steroids as well as oral steroids periodically.  Still, my lungs were in "life threatening" condition.  I tell you this story because it is an example of how a Nissen can help even when there is a need for continued medication.

Is the Nissen perfect?  No.  But for the right person it can improve their health and quality of life significantly.  I'm very glad to hear that you got to the bottom of what was happening in your situation.  Take care and stay healthy!

Best wishes,

Denise

Glad to hear you're feeling better!  It sounds like you have a plan. 

Happy healing!

Denise