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Posted 6/5/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
I just turned 40 ( I know old) and in 08' I had a nissen done full wrap was good for like a year then started getting pain again so started taking PPI's so I went and had a PH study and my number was 158 and that's really really bad seeing normal levels are 17 soooo did a swallow and doc said he thinks wrap slipped but wont know for sure untill he goes in and sees what has happend now he isnt going to do a full wrap this time and said what he is gonna do is better but takes longer so I guess my question is has anyone on here had a redo and how are you and if so was it a full wrap? Pain in that area and I'm sure everyone knows what area I'm talking about and its all different kinda pains just not one. I'm not enjoying life right now and I'm sure a lot of you understand.
Thanks
Posted 6/6/2012 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kix - and welcome to the forum.

I can certainly try to help answer your questions. I am 32 years old, and had a full wrap in '00 and a complete redo with full wrap and large mesh repair in '10. (And I'm slated for a third re-wrap this summer due to a small slip and bad scar tissue.)

Be VERY selective with who you let open you up for the redo. Make sure your surgeon is comfortable doing laparoscopic redos. Make sure s/he explains exactly what he's going to try, and then I would strongly suggest you make an appointment with another surgeon, just to compare notes and listen to other techniques. I had a local surgeon tell me that he wanted to put in a feeding port -- and then had my surgeon tell me that the feeding port technique is over 20 years old and outmoded. Lots of competing info...

As for imaging what's going on, the doctor should be able to get an idea of whether the wrap has slipped through a combination of endoscopy, CT with contrast, and upper GI series. Don't let anybody cut you open until you have had all three of those tests. The pH test is not enough.

The downer... The chance of successful outcome goes down with each redo, and the time to recover goes up. With some repairs (like my nasty diaphragm one) there are long term restrictions on activity. I absolutely understand the pain -- and have chosen surgery over living with it -- but don't make the decision too lightly. The repeat surgeries are major. There is a TON of scar tissue in there.
Posted 6/6/2012 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had a NF redo on the 30/3/12 and had benn doing ok except for pain around my diaphragm and some difficulty swallowing. I had my follow up appointment 6 weeks after and we discussed the issue with swallowing. (my regime was 2 weeks fluid, 2 weeks puree, 2weeks soft, then a normal diet) I told him I was having trouble swallowing meat and would stay on my soft diet without meat for longer. He suggested that he may have to go in at some point and dilate the wrap a bit. Well, 1 1/2 weeks ago I decided to try some meat and had some pork. 3/4 through the meal I felt that things weren't going down so great and have been having problems since. Problems are still swallowing, slight regurgitation and really bad gas bloat, that's not making an exit at either end. By the end of the day I feel I could easily explode and can eat very little other than icecream and jelly in the evening. I rang the surgeon today and spoke to his secretary who said she would contact him and let him know what is going on. She got back to me and he said that it is too far along for a problem with gas bloat to be caused by the surgery and suggested that I take lactalose( opening medicine ) as it is probably a bowel problem. I have been going to the toilet daily for the last few weeks. Also he suggested I stay on the soft diet longer as I have probably irritated my esophagus with eating the meat. Has anyone had a problem similar to mine 8 weeks post op? I'm getting quite anxious as people who have suffered from gas bloat know how uncomfortable it is.
Posted 6/6/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
HI Multi, Thank you for getting back to me. Did you also have different kinda pains in chest area? I mean it doesn't matter if you eat don't eat sometimes it last for hours just wondering if you felt the same way with a slipped wrap. I did a little research on doc he has done this a lot and I'll tell you he was not fast to rush me back in but after he saw the swallow and my ph number he said he thinks he can help and of course he's not promising anything but does see a buldge above area of wrap and I do have a HH again! Are you thinking you should of never done this? Please get back to me.

Post Edited (Kixfor3) : 6/6/2012 7:33:02 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/6/2012 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kixfor3,

Sorry to hear you're having problems.  One of our moderators here had 2 redos and is a pro on the subject.  He had excellent luck with his second and third wraps, but they damaged his esophagus doing a procedure after his second wrap and that was why he needed the 3rd.

Here's the link to his description:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2337138

He has a link for email next to his name on posts, so you can write to him directly if you like.  I let him know you were posting here, so hopefully he'll write soon.

It is extremely important that you find a surgeon who is exceedingly experienced and skilled in doing redos.  While Nissen surgery is an art form that requires lots of practice and skill, redos require an even more accomplished set of skill. 

If it's possible to get to a big center that is accustomed to dealing with problems like yours it would be a good idea.  A second opinion is always a good option when considering surgery of any kind.

Glad you've joined us!

Best wishes,

Denise

Posted 6/6/2012 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise! Thanks for writing... I thought the best Dr in the country did the first one lol thank you so much for all the info!
Derek
Posted 6/6/2012 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Derek,

Hey, if he's the best doc in the country, then there's no need to look elsewhere! turn It's just that the more experienced and skilled surgeon you have, the better chances of a good outcome. 

I wish you the best of luck in your quest!

Denise

Posted 6/6/2012 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Noo, no, Denise I didnt mean it that way... I was being sarcastic the Doc Im talking to right now is a different guy and yes the doc who did the first one is supposed to be best in country and see how that worked out for me.
Posted 6/6/2012 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Ahhh, of course. 

Some of those surgeons have pretty high opinions of themselves no matter how skilled they are.  There aren't any guarantees no matter who we have do the surgery.  There are many variables and some of them are within our own bodies. 

Still it gives you a much better chance if you seek out a more skilled Nissen surgeon.  Some misinterpret "outstanding surgeon" to mean "outstanding Nissen sugeon", which isn't necessarily true.

At any rate, I hope you find the surgeon who can help you.

We're here for suppot when you need it.  Thanks for sharing your journey.  I'm sure your experiences will help others someday. turn

Best wishes,

Denise

Posted 6/6/2012 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Kix, I do get pain in my chest -- lower left chest area right in-between the last couple of ribs. Sometimes it wakes me up at night. But then, suddenly, it will go away for days at a time.

I am not sorry I had either surgery. The first one was done when I was 20, and I had never lived a day of my life without heartburn. It was terrible for the first couple of months after surgery, but I got 8 good years out of it.

The second surgery was necessary. I had > 50% herniation.

I am not thrilled about doing a third, but if I don't do it this summer, I won't have the opportunity to do it for at least a few years. I am a law student, and if I put this off, I won't be able to study for the bar exam or accept a position when I graduate.
Posted 6/7/2012 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
Multi, I know how you feel I have my own business and when your not feeling good its hard to be up for anything. I used to kick in arena football (hence the screen name) and during some games I would sit there with this pain in my chest lol can you imagine the pressure of that game and then sit there and worry your gonna die O good times lol right now I take nexium in the morning and one before bed time and that seems to help with the burning but still get pain so I guess I will get that redo done and go from there...thank you for sharing.
Posted 6/8/2012 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Kixfor3-

I had a very successful 1st redo that was torn apart from a esophageal repair. I found a trusted local thoracic surgeon who di an open surgery on 8/24/11 and have been doing great ever since. I actually had an easier recovery with the open surgery than the lap. I eat anythin I want without any issues at all at9 plus months out.
Good luck finding a very experienced redo surgeon.

Take care,
Bill devil
Posted 6/9/2012 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys, I guess what Im worried about it him having to tear everything apart and starting over... he said sometimes but not all the time in redo's I guess your stomach can tear when its being taken apart and if he doesnt catch it and puts everything back together I guess you get reall sick so not looking forward to that part. He is going to do a partial wrap instead of a full wrap this time says dr's dont do it often cause it takes longer.

 

Posted 6/11/2012 7:42 AM (GMT 0)
I did have a problem with this after my 1st redo. My stomach didn't start to leak until 3 days later. I spent another 2.5 to 3 weeks in the hospital after returning there for the pain. Mine had to be taken all the way apart though because it was done wrong the initial time.

On a good note....With my 2nd redo all has gone great.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 6/11/2012 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi opnwhl4,

when you went back cause of the leaking did he have to go back in and take it apart and redo the redo?

Posted 6/12/2012 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
No, If anything surgically would have to have been done he would have just to repair the stomach leaks. When they took my first one apart the sutures weren't were they should have been and I had a lot of scar tissue. They had to put a couple holes in my stomach in order to get the sutures out and did stitch those closed, but I was an unlucky one who had them leak. They kept me NPO for 2 weeks and then slowly tried to re- introduce foods again. They checked the leaks with CT scans every few days to see if anything was still leaking.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 6/14/2012 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Bill,
Are you able to lift weights now? Are there restrictions on your physical activity after your 2nd redo?
Posted 6/15/2012 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
Obviously, I can't speak for all, but for me - after the 2nd redo - the doctor put a long term restriction on lifting anything over 25 lbs. and from carrying/pulling/pushing anything over long distances. The restrictions went into my decision to change careers - as I'm pretty young to be so restricted.

The restrictions will totally depend on what the doctor has to do to repair the problem. If your diaphragm is damaged, you don't want to strain your core muscles at all.
Posted 6/15/2012 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
What about your first redo, MultiFundo? Were there any weight restrictions there?
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