HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

24 hour Ph test- if it shows bile, can I still have LINX?

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/3/2013 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey,

I'm scheduled for a 24 hour Ph test to see whether my symptoms are due to acid or bile (supposed to keep taking my PPis for the test)... If the latter, has anyone heard whether I would still be a candidate for LINX? On the LINX website they mention a weak esophageal sphincter allows bile AND acid into the esophagus, which suggests that they may include bile refluxers as candidates, but they don't say so explicitly...

The PPis do help a bit to control my reflux, so maybe I have both acid and bile, and maybe I could be a candidate simply because I don't want to take pills forever since osteoporosis runs in the family as well as reflux?

Thanks!
Posted 7/5/2013 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Although I haven't had LINX, I had Nissens, mine was for bile, not acid. My pH test was essentially normal, but the endoscope showed some pretty nasty damage. I was on max dose PPIs for 10 yrs, and still having awful symptoms, and the surgeon explained the only solution was 'mechanical'.

So I guess if you are symptomatic, and bile is the cause, the ONLY solution would be surgical, i.e. LINX or Nissens.

Good luck with the test.... its not much fun!!

Kirsten
Posted 7/5/2013 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Kirsten. I'm not looking forward to the test... that's for sure. Did your Nissens help control your bile symptoms? My GI doc told me that some surgeons won't do that procedure for bile reflux because it hasn't been proven effective, but I find that hard to believe. You'd think it would, at the very least, help a lot to correct the mechanical problem of a weak esophageal sphincter, and since there's no other treatment for such a damaging condition, why NOT try it, right? Right.

Hope you're well,

GC
Posted 7/8/2013 7:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Yep, my symptoms are all gone! Its still early days, I'm just 2 weeks post op, but signs are good. My surgeon was adamant that this was my only option, or just put up with the symptoms. Like you, I did get a little relief with PPIs for a time, but it never got rid of it completely.
I cant understand why they might not expect it to be effective, if it stops acid from refluxing, its pretty obvious it will stop bile too, isn't it??

Well I do hope you get some resolution soon, its a miserable life with reflux of any kind!

K
Posted 7/8/2013 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
K,

Thanks for the reply-- that's wonderful to hear that you've found relief! I'll probably take the plunge at some point in the next six months, schedule permitting.

GC
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply