Linx Club 1

Thanks Beach-Girl
Just visited 'reflux help'..what a great amount of information. Wow!
Thanks

NC12345,

I will look into the SIBO. Were you told you could possibly have it or are you just starting to look into it. Let me know what you have found to help.

Thank you.

Cheers for the reply guys

Beachgirl I don't know if I have it but I'm gonna get checked , I was chatting to a guy on face book I believe he was the first guy to have linx in the uk and he told me he was recently tested for it and has it , worth a try !

The guy said he paid privately but I'm gonna ask my doc first just incase.
No doubt they push the PPIs as they make so much money of them !
I can't wait to come off them I'm down to 10mg every other day now , originally I just quit after the linx and the rebound was too severe.
I'm still have heartburn symptoms but my recent tests show no acid reflux so there's no point taking them

Hello all! I just registered at Healing Well, though I've been reading posts for a few months, gathering info on the Linx.

I saw my surgeon in January 2014, was thrilled that insurance approved me, and I had my surgery on February 25th.

So, I'm 13 days post-LINX and the last few days have been..... tough! But last night and today food is going down again, so I'm cheerful again.

Erica
Northern Virginia (Washington DC suburbs), USA

Hi Pat, thanks for the welcome!

Oy, I hope my insurance co doesn't back out now, after surgery! I would have to sue them! I have Aetna open Access HMO for the federal government, in Washington DC/Northern Virginia area.

Around day 3 post op I had a painful swallowing episode, but I got through it and continued to eat. No problems until about day 7, when the swallowing got worse - food getting stuck and not going thru the linx and then backing up out of the esophagus. It got worse day 9-10, which were miserable, with vomiting and regurgitation with every meal. I gave myself a break for one day, only drinking liquids, and then tried again with success. I'm day 14 now and haven't had problems, I'm being really careful to take very small bites and chew carefully and drink along with the food. Especially wine ;)

I went off my meds for the preop testing and had reflux, but not terrible like it had been in the past. I only took my protonix a few times between then and surgery, thinking if I could quit them before surgery it would be good. Then, when I talked to the hospital folks a few days before surgery, they asked me to take the protonix the day of surgery to make sure I didn't have bad reflux during surgery.

I took one also during the terrible vomitting episode because my esophagus felt so raw, I was desperate to feel better. But I'm off them again, with no reflux that I can tell!

Doc told me to eat normal foods. I want to lose 20-30 pounds so I'm trying to be good and eat healthy stuff.

Hello LINXERS : here is the latest Linx study (March 2014) of 1000 implanted patients. What do you think! Wonder what the removal patients did-- go on to have fundoplication, back on PPI or nothing.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dote.12199/abstract

https://www.facebook.com/refluxhelp

Thanks for the FB page!

our run with the insurance company was three years ago and they pre approved it, paid it, then took the funds back from the hospital. They ended up paying for procedure but not device. From what I've heard-- the insurance companies are getting better at paying but if the hospital --insurance company tells you the procedure/device has been pre approved, I'd be inclined to get a printed copy of that.

Your surgeons office should have someone in his office that can assist you with insurance questions. Are you ready for Linx implant or are you just starting out thinking about the possibility of having it.

Welcome to our forum skcollins57. Others will be replying soon Stick around and feel free to ask questions. There are several linxers around Happy to have you. 😃

skcollins. It was explained to us that the 'sloppy' esophagus must relearn to work and coordinate with the Linx Don't know if it the same for you.

Eating is different for everyone. Eating 'normal' does not mean junk food and booze and greasy stuff. You have to respect your body by eating nutritiously--eating junk may have helped cause the problem in the first place. Please know that this is only our opinion as you may be totally different. With the Linx you will have to chew your food very well, no big chunks as the device must open and close in its own time. You become less aware of it as time goes by but chewing (as we all should be doing anyway) will become your new normal.

We looked into considering having the Linx removed and fundo done but wanted it done on one surgery. Two surgeons said they would remove the Linx then wait six months and redo all the tests and see what they show--starting the process all over again. In the meanwhile you would have the reflux to deal with through the possibility of not being able to have the fundoplication. Also you would be back on PPI which is very difficult to get off of and not without side effects.

Think things over carefully, ask lots and lots of questions and significant amount of research. Also find the most experienced surgeon--ask how many they have done. Numbers are needed-- answers such as more then anyone else or way too many to keep track of are not acceptable to me--my opinion .

I have another topic here-- suggest you take time to read it. It is named 'for successful fundoplication members'. It is very helpful to those trying to make a decision. Let me know what you think and how you are doing. Be well friend. Pat

skcollins. Sounds like Dr S. is your surgeon. If so, very knowledgeable and experienced and head of surgery Dept

We can't put Doctor names on HW forum.