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Doesnt even feel like ive had surgery

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 12/11/2013 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm almost 3 months post surgery and still suffering with reflux symptoms. Most mornings I wake with nausea and stuffy nose with lots of mucus and horrible taste in mouth and a feeling of regurgitation. All my teeth have started to feel sore again and getting lots of sneezing fits and a new symptom which is a painful earache. I have gastritis (sore stomach) at the moment also, but don't think that would cause all these symptoms. I am wondering if the wrap was successful because since about week 3 I could eat anything I wanted with no problems swallowing and even without chewing properly I get no problems. It feels just like I did before surgery except I have scars to remind me that I actually did have surgery. So I either have something else causing me reflux problems (maybe allergies) or the surgery just didn't work. Should it be so easy to eat so soon after surgery?
Posted 12/11/2013 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Albez,sorry to hear your having problems after your surgery.Did you have typical acid reflux before the surgery or any swallowing problems etc.Did you have a full Nissen Fundoplication?
Usually food sticks for a few months months after the op but should get easier. Barry
Posted 12/11/2013 3:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Albez,

I was wondering what had happened to you. I cannot offer any reassurance or advice but just wanted to say that I am really sorry to read that you are experiencing these problems.
Have you been to your GP to ask for a referral back to your surgeon or gastroenterologist or is it possible to contact your surgeon directly to ask him what he thinks is going on? Perhaps his secretary could pass a message on to him.

Take care.
Posted 12/11/2013 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Baza
Yeah, I had the 360 wrap but it feels like I'm still refluxing.
Before surgery, I was suffering with the same symptoms as above but had no swallowing problems and had no esophagitis. Maybe that's why my recovery has been easy. At the moment though this surgery seems like a total waste of time as I still have all the same symptoms so its back to the drawing board for me and back to the gaviscon.
Posted 12/11/2013 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,you should have noticed some difference with the wrap even if you were getting some reflux it shouldn't be as bad as before.
Youll have to get your wrap looked at to see whats going on with endoscopy and barium test.I think at 3 months things should have settled by now. Barry
Posted 12/11/2013 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Noelle,
I had an appointment with the GI doc about a week ago and told him I was still suffering. He gave a prescription for another PPI, a discharge, and couldn't wait to get me out the door quick enough.
I was meant to have a follow up with the surgeon 4 weeks post op but I never heard anything back about that, even the GI doc was surprised at that. Overall not a great experience with the NHS.
I have found this forum way more helpful then any doctor to be honest, most I have found to be arrogant and pompous who hate to be questioned. The ones when I was in hospital acted like sergeant majors towards the nurses, its no wonder they're having to ship in nurses from abroad these days. I feel sorry for anyone why has to have a long stay in hospital, two days in that horror show was enough for me. Will stick with my GP and try out some alternative meds from now on.
Posted 12/11/2013 5:30 PM (GMT 0)

Baza said...
Hi,you should have noticed some difference with the wrap even if you were getting some reflux it shouldn't be as bad as before.
Youll have to get your wrap looked at to see whats going on with endoscopy and barium test.I think at 3 months things should have settled by now. Barry

Yeah, I was thinking things should have settled by now. Gonna see if I can sort my gastritis out and then see if that's the cause for my symptoms. Will give it a month or two anyway and see where that takes me.
Posted 12/11/2013 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Albez,
I generally suggest patience with early recovery symptoms, but in your case, it sounds suspiciously as if your wrap isn't doing the job. A barium swallow would be a non-invasive way to get some idea of what's going on. If you're not getting satisfaction from your GI/surgeon, it might be time for a second opinion.

The reflux symptoms can sometimes be caused by food sticking at the wrap site, but your description of being able to eat without fully chewing foods at three weeks sounds very unlike what happens at that stage of recovery.

Good luck getting to the bottom of all this!
Best wishes,
Denise
Posted 12/12/2013 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Denise, will stick it out for a bit and see if things improve.
Posted 12/12/2013 8:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Albez

Have the NHS offered to do tests to see what's going on.Maybe an endoscopy,barium swallow and 24 hour impedance test. Do they want to give it more time to see if it settles down?

Surely they want to find out why it's not working or why it's failed ?

Can I ask why you had a fundoplication? Was it a weak sphincter or a hernia ?

You say you have gastritis do you know what's causing this?

Maria
Posted 12/12/2013 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Albez

I've just read your post again and noticed that you said that you could eat anything at 3 weeks without problems. You believe your wrap's failed because of this but I've read previous posts where others have said they can eat with no problems and everything is fine.

Maria
Posted 12/12/2013 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
I could eat pretty much anything at about 3 weeks and had very very few problems. I also did notice that although I could swallow just fine, I still had a lot of irritation and benefited greatly from staying on zantac for the next month or so.

I think a barium swallow would really benefit you though. It could be that things are getting stuck at your wrap site, but I can see how you would want to make sure, especially considering that you can swallow so well.

Are you able to belch/burp?
Posted 12/12/2013 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I'm beginning to think its the gastritis causing my symptoms which in turn maybe causing some reflux. I can burp fine and can eat with no problems which had me worrying the wrap had failed but it seems others have had an easy recovery and can eat with no problems.

I had no hernia or esophagitis and my reflux was diagnosed with the 24hr pH test. I had a barium swallow done before the surgery and that came back normal as did a gastric emptying test.

I am gonna tough it out for a month or two on zantac as that seems to help the burning stomach a bit and gonna try some glutamine and mastic gum as I haven't had much joy with carafate or ppi's

My GI doc never suggested testing to see if the wrap had failed. After I told him I had the same symptoms as before the surgery he decided the best plan of action was to prescribe another PPI and a discharge. He wasn't my usual GI doc though as I usually saw one of his consultants
Posted 12/12/2013 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Albez

Do you know what's causing your gastritis ?

Maria
Posted 12/12/2013 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't got a clue really Maria. I was tested negative for H Pylori and also tested negative for Celiac. Maybe stress caused it or maybe it was the time I went to a foam party and accidently swallowed a load of foam as it was from that holiday that I went downhill fast. So maybe alcohol, stress and a foam party are the culprits to my woes. But then I have pancreas problems so maybe that's a factor or maybe food allergies, hmmm I wish I knew.
Posted 12/12/2013 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Albez

Do you know what's causing your gastritis ?

Maria
Posted 12/12/2013 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Albez

Do you know what's causing your gastritis ?

Maria
Posted 12/13/2013 9:43 PM (GMT 0)

Mcedge said...
Albez

Do you know what's causing your gastritis ?

Maria

Another cause could be the fact my pancreas doesn't work hardly so I have to take insulin and also digestive enzymes. Also the pancreas secretes bicarbonate to help turn the gastric juices more alkaline to aid with digestion in the small intestine. So maybe I need help also with supplementing bicarbonate so gonna try a teaspoon in a glass of water 2 hrs after food to see if that helps out at all.
Posted 12/14/2013 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Albez

You have a lot going on in your digestive system. Hope you find some relief and it's not your wrap that's the problem.

Maria
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