HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Still having reflux after fundo? And can't stop taking medicine?

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/15/2013 9:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys, I am 3 months and 2 weeks post fundo and I know that it is common for people to have reflux, but for the first 2 months, I was feeling great and almost no reflux. Till recently. I have been having reflux again for the past 3 weeks and it seems like I can't lie down straight without taking any ppi or else the acid will come back up. I went to see the doctor and he changed my pariet to nexium twice a day. It did get better, but for these 3 months, I had never been able to stop taking anti reflux medicine. I thought I was able to stop it after the fundo? And why am I having such constant reflux again?

The doctor was puzzled and was afraid of bile reflux, but I told him antacid did work, so he ruled it out. He told me to watch my diet as the past 1 month I had been taking a little French fries and hamburger. But the doctor said that I should never take those food even when I recover. I thought people here says that they could take anything they want? I have been feeling hungry very easily lately too. I am a little frustrated and afraid that the stitches could come undone. And that my reflux is coming back. The doctor says that if symptoms persist in 3-4 weeks time, he will have to do some test. In the meantime, can somebody help me here? Thank you.
Posted 3/15/2013 9:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ris3r,sorry to hear that your still refluxing after surgery.Im the same as yourself,had full nissen and am refluxing,it very depressing after going through all this and to be as bad as you where before.Maybe its still too early for you yet and it might settle,ive read some people take longer than others,maybe 6 months? Im currently being retested again by another surgeon to find out what might be wrong.At least your surgeon is interested in your situation and listening to you,hopefully he will he will be able to sort it out. Good Luck! Barry
Posted 3/15/2013 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
There can be some setbacks until things fully heal. Most of the healing takes place in the 1st 6 months and the rest takes about a year.
With a functioning wrap you should be able to eat most things as long as you don't have a very reactive stomach. Some foods may still cause some stomach issues.

I have been able to eat anything I want after my redoes, but sometimes I can over do it and have a bit of trouble for a few days.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/16/2013 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi guys, so it is normal for having constant reflux during the 6 month period? I am having a slight pain in the lower chest area and am afraid that the stitches might come undone. Anyway, Barry, sorry to hear about your condition too. It is indeed very depressing to go through so much thinking that we are close to recovery and then face a setback. I wish you a speedy recovery too.
Posted 3/20/2013 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, can someone answer my questions? And my doctor recommended barium swallow if my reflux still persist. May I ask if barium swallow can determine if the wrap is still in place too? Thanks.
Posted 3/20/2013 9:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ,yes a barium can help determine if your wrap is still intact along with an endoscopy.Saying that my surgeon says sometimes its not exactly clear whats going on from those tests.Ive had a barium swallow and an endoscopy done 6 months after my surgery and was told everything looked ok,though i was having reflux and some swallowing problems.Hopefully your tests will reveal what your problems are.Sorry theres not much else you can do but go through the testing and stay on the ppis until you get sorted. Barry
Posted 3/20/2013 12:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. Ok. Thanks for the answer and help. I do feel slightly less reflux this week and I do hope things are getting better.

Anyway, did u have a 24 hr ph test? My doctor says that it might be bile reflux if you constantly have reflux after a fundo.
Posted 3/20/2013 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,glad things are a bit better for you,maybe your turning a corner now!
No i didnt have a manometry test before surgery,im angry about that and wondering why did my surgeon cut corners,ive seen another surgeon and he said it was a must and is now going to do a test. Barry
Posted 3/21/2013 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
ris3r

You shouldn't have any bile reflux with a fundo if it is working correctly. Now if PPIs don't help it could be bile as PPIs do nothing for bile. A nissen would stop bile as it would acid and other stomach contents, at least to a normal degree.

With the barium swallow they should have you lay in several different positions and bare down like a bowel movement too. That will help to see if anything comes back up through the wrap or if anything sirs at the wrap. The latter can feel like reflux as things will sit there and ferment causing pain.

Take care,
Bill

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/21/2013 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. Thanks guys. From what my doctor said, if there are too much acid in the stomach, the wrap will still be unable to prevent acid from flowing back up, which might be the case for Barry as ppi didn't seem to help him.

Btw, Barry, from what you said, the surgeon that help u do the nissen is inexperience, could he have done the wrap wrongly? I wonder if there are any way to check if the wrap is in a correct position without opening up to check again.

Lastly, bill, I am having throat symptoms again which I didn't had for the last 2 months, so I believe it is reflux isn't it? Anyway, I didn't know that food getting stuck at the wrap causes the same feeling as reflux?

Anyway, thank you guys for the great help.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply