For successful fundoplication members.

Hi Pat,

I certainly understand about how hard it is to decide whether or not to have the Nissen surgery. I was extremely sick (with lung problems) for at least six years, and my family doc wanted me to get the surgery for that entire time. My GI doctor wasn't anxious to send me to a surgeon because my DeMeester/pH score was never extremely high. With the advent of PPIs, GI docs are much less likely to recommend surgery. In addition, I was dragging my feet, and didn't push the issue. There are many scary posts out there, and like you, it took me a very long time to take the leap and schedule surgery.

In regards to mesh...I had been on high doses of steroids before my surgery, and because of that (as my surgeon told me), my internal tissue was extremely fragile. Apparently he had considered reinforcing this fragile tissue with mesh, but didn't end up doing that. He said to me, "I thought of using mesh to reinforce the repair, but mesh can cause other probems, so instead, I added extra stitches to strengthen the repair."

That's all I know about mesh. It's not much, I know Good luck in your search for answers!

Best wishes,
Denise

Thank you Bill and Denise for your comments on the mesh. We were told that it is biological from pig intestines and that it supports and strengthens the area and is absorbed shortly and in the meanwhile be careful till healing has finished. ( no vomiting, lifting retching etc.) I researched it and it seems to be true in my opinion. He said the other mesh (synthetic) has some issues with it but he has had no problems with the biological kind. More questions are being added to our list. Product is called Surgisis . (He has completed 2500 + NF ). I will also add --why not just do more stitches for the H repair. Thanks for that.

BTW. The web page for this product is: cookbiotech.com under the GI section if anyone is interested.

What do you think of the comment that "the NF stops almost all reflux or stops all reflux." Misting or aerosolized can get through though. (LPR) .

How about : during daytime the NF is tighter but relaxed at night can let some acid through. Have you experienced this? It is my understanding that food in the stomach makes the wrap tighter due to the nature of the wrap. (The stomach opening will be 20 mm after NF-- room enough to let food pass but wouldn't it also let reflux thru?

The other surgeon told us that the process of doing the NF itself can create a hernia making a repair necessary even if you didn't have one.

As you see, one can't help but research and analyze and compare what we have been told-- at some point come at peace with our decision. Lord help us. Amen!

A big THANK YOU to all that have taken the time to post and let others know life can go on and have successful surgery. THANKS!
(I apologize if I've missed anyone ---
Limbo lady Julie UK
Ldragon 57 Lilygarden
Srh4jc Dixieb
Sew Lady. Altair
Don't Steal My Bacon. Retired Seabee
Les. RV Guy--how are you?
Wowsuchdrum. Brianala
Dencha. Bill
KyHeart. Tony G

Thank y'all and please give us updates on how you are doing. I have personally read each entry several times now and find it encouraging and helpful in trying to make the big decision. Pat

Thank you StephanieJean. We have followed your journey. Please continue updates. Pat

Thanks Denise . Trying to kinda keep it upfront as it helps me to re read these posts.

Bump! New to the forums and this is a life saver. I'll be posting here as my surgery is in a week and I'm so grateful for all the information, both good and bad! Thank you SO much for this thread, I've been able to come to peace with my decision with all of the wonderful input here.

Warmest Regards

Tami

I am 57 years old and have been a lifelong asthmatic, never under control, sometimes worse than others, but always a major presence in my life. Despite the obvious issues, I was able to stay in shape, even going so far as running the New York Marathon in 1996, and numerous half marathons from then to now. I always had an on and off problem with reflux and began to have episodes where I would aspirate in my sleep, resulting in several days of respiratory discomfort, sometimes worse. I had an endoscopy about ten years ago, revealing a moderate hiatal hernia and was told by my gastroenterologist that I might benefit from surgery to correct it; that it might help to improve my asthmatic condition.

We kept an eye on the situation, began a daily regimen of 40 mg. of omeprazole, and for a while things began to improve. Things began to get worse about three years ago, with numerous chest infections, increase use of asthma medications, and the use of prednisone on several occasions. In March of 2013, I ended up in the hospital for a night, received large amounts of steroids and began a downhill spiral…On October 7, 2013, I had a coughing fit that resulted in my passing out, breaking my nose on the bedroom floor. I then began to cough and pass out regularly, several times a day. I was admitted to hospital. The gastroenterologists on staff tested me again and all agreed that my symptoms were not as a result of a GI issue…..I was tested for seizures, was told that I may have Myasthenia Gravis, brain damage, and a multitude of other issues…..all were ruled out. I continuously pointed to my original doctor’s point regarding the hiatal hernia and was eager to have the surgery, regardless of whether it would help or not. I felt that I had little to lose.

After ten days, I was sent home, with no solution in sight. At this point, I was using the rescue inhaler twelve times a day in addition to nebulizer treatments, Xolair injections, antibiotics, prednisone, a full dose of steroid inhalers, the omeprazole, reglan and another GI medication which I’ve thankfully forgotten about. Whenever I was taken off of prednisone, I got worse. I was also coughing and passing out up to twenty times a day. I could not sleep for more than an hour and a half at a time. I was lucky enough to have an unemployed sister-in-law who was willing to sit with me during the day when my wife was at work. I went on disability and through another family member, got an appointment with a surgeon who was expert in Nissen Fundlopication surgery. He arranged for all of the necessary pretests and scheduled me for the procedure on November 26, 2013.

Almost a year later, I am on two puffs of a preventive inhaler daily…and I rarely use my rescue inhaler, going days without using it at all. I am also completely off of the omeprazole. I’m back to running, swimming, I sleep through the night and honestly, feel better than I have in all my life. Eating is different after the surgery, even ten months later. I’ve lost about fifteen pounds (I wasn’t heavy to begin with). I can’t eat as much, don’t tolerate much in the way of raw foods…and there are some days where the appetite is just not there like it used to be…I eat smaller meals, enjoy a lot of cereal for lunch and treat myself to cookies and ice cream at the end of most evenings….I have gotten used to living a bit differently and have no complaints. I consider myself lucky to be alive…..my wonderful wife insisted that I get my story onto this site (I consulted it many times before and during my recuperation), so here it is. It is my hope that this story may help others… Thank you for your support in all of this. It was very helpful to check the threads, hear from Denise and get advice from fellow sufferers…you provide a lot of useful information to those of us with concerns regarding the process.

Had NF in 2010 and after it failed at 11 months had a revision in Oct 2012. Recovery is really hard but the fact that I had a revision shows that in my case it really worked. I still at times have some issues with gastritis but it is really minor in severity, I also have a little burn at times but nothing compared to before surgery. Over eating can be a major issue and on one occasion I had a real issue with an eat what you want followed by gassy beer that really had me worried for a night. However it is very positive and now i East mostly what I want but coffee from the machine at work (which grinds the beans) really kills me. I would describe it as positive and for me a life change, if anyone decides to have this done then I suggest:-

1. Get fit as you can first
2. Soup
3. Condensed milk
4. Ready brek
5. Custard
6. Yoghurt
7. Mashed potato made with butter
8. Baked Apple
9. Rice pudding - 3 weeks
10. Sit upright

Baza, Barry. Happy to hear about your successful redo. Hope you will add a comment here for us all. Thank you. Pat

Welcome Caldwell311 to our HW Forum. We suggest that you create a new "Post New Topic" and say something like "need name of experienced surgeon near Charlotte/WinstonSalem" or however far you might be willing to travel. There are a lot of people that want to help. Tell us a little more about yourself if you want too. The moderators have had extensive personal surgical experiences and they might have some suggestions. Also insert your diagnosis in the search engine above-- for example-- paraesophageal hernia -- and chances you might find some helpful info. We are glad you dropped in and sorry to hear you are having problems. Pat

Oh man... with all the negativity I saw before my surgery, I would love to offer another success story for those with concerns.

So... the questions:
Age at Surgery: 28
Gender: Female
Date of Surgery: November 21, 2013
Would I do it again: Abosultly
Recommend: Yes, yes, yes... but do your research and find a qualified doctor
Pearls of Wisdom: Don't worry too much. If you trust your surgeon, you'll be just fine.
How I arrived at decision: Life was miserable and it was suggested after many tests.
How long to decision: 5 Months. I don't wait too long to do things I know will improve my quality of life.

So here is my story...
I had a partial fundo in November 2013. I like everyone else was so nervous going into it but knew that things had to get better. I spent my whole life choking on everything I ate (bread, rice, cheese, apples, EVERYTHING) and had no idea why...mostly because I was too scared to ask. One day in June 2013, we grilled up some pork chops and I took my first bite... like every other time I ate, I ran to the bathroom to get the piece that was stuck out of my throat. This time, it didn't work. I ended up in the emergency room and had emergency surgery to remove it... that is where my story begins.

Fast-forward 5 months, 3 procedures (Dilation and 2 Bravos), and many, many tests later to November 21, 2014... I had a partial (270 degree wrap) Nissen and 2 heital hernias repaired. Within a couple days I was home and feeling better and back to work in less than 3 weeks. I will admit I do still get reflux once in a while but its not near what I was experiencing before. The only thing I have really cut out of my diet since surgery is carbonation - and not entirely... I just find that if I drink soda or beer, I feel incredibly bloated for a couple days after.

And its true, once you're healed you feel like you don't need the support anymore. The only reason I even showed back up on this forum today is because I am pregnant and was looking for any stories of pregnancy after surgery and if I should expect any complications. From what I found, it sounds like there is potential to need to get wrapped again and with my amazing success from last year, if I need to do it again, I would without hesitation.

I am glad to post good results even as I am in the process of likely having a redo. My surgery was in May of this year, a month before I turned 50. I truly had reflux issues since I was a small child. Only when I began to aspirate in my sleep did I consider going to the GI MD for this. I was surprised when he said I would need "major" surgery and even more surprised when I was sent to Mass General. I met with the surgeon and was very much at ease. Having completed all of the testing (yes, manometry is bad but necessary) I was scheduled fairly quickly. Surgery was done on a Monday via lap and I went home on Friday. (had some issues not related to the fundoplication but surgery in general). I have to say after the initial recovery I had never felt better in as long as I can remember. no GERD, sleeping best I had ever slept, etc.

Over the last few months I have been having increased symptoms and diagnostics and general feeling are consistent with reflux issues. Barium swallow showed moderate reflux, Endoscopy showed esophagitis, etc. I am scheduled to have repeat manometry on the 29th abut actually go back to see the surgeon on the 17th. I was told repeat surgery is very likely and I have to say after how well I felt when it was working I am actually anxious to have this taken care of and feel better again. Any surgery is tough but having a good surgeon makes things a lot better. My surgeon did nothing wrong the first surgery and it should be known about 10% of the surgery's do not last the first time. As it was explained to me, this surgery is as much art as it is science. Make the wrap too tight and there are issues, not tight enough and you can still have reflux. Bottom line is that I trust my doctors and am anxious to once again feel better as I know the surgery can work for me.