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Gastric bypass??

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Posted 12/8/2014 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had gastric bypass for gerd? I've had 3 failed nissens and my surgeon says this might be the better route for me. I don't need to lose weight by any means so he said he will make the stomach pouch bigger but this will bypass most of the stomach and acid.
Posted 12/8/2014 9:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle

It's the first time I've heard of this but I'm far from an expert on the matter. Isn't there a risk that it could actually make it worse as it's easier to overeat?

How come the nissens didnt work, was it because they werent effective at all or where they good at first but got worse over time?
Posted 12/8/2014 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not sure about all the risks yet. I go for another EGD on the 31st and the options will be discussed after. I have never heard of this but in doing some research, I guess it's more common and has a higher success rate than the nissen. He said he would be making the pouch larger but he didn't say how much larger. I would think food would be harder to digest since it needs acid to break it down.

As far as my nissens, dr isn't sure why they didn't work. As you can see from my signature I had it redone about every 6 months. Each time he said it was too loose so he would tighten the wrap. I wouldn't have symptoms for about 2 weeks after then it was like I didn't have the surgery at all. My surgeon was at a loss and sent me to a specialist in Milwaukee where I was diagnosed with dysautonomia. It seemed like once the swelling started to decrease, my symptoms would increase.
Posted 12/8/2014 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Aw that's pretty rough :(

Have you tried any medication for dysautonomia? I'm on Elavil and it makes a big difference to my pain levels.

If the gastric bypass has higher success than Nissen then ye sounds like its worth a try, the Nissen is already very high success rate. Hopefully it works and your poor stomach can avoid any more surgeries.
Posted 12/8/2014 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya Michelle, sorry to hear your still having problems.
I can remember reading your posts way back a few years ago I when I first joined the forum.
You've been through a hell of a journey.
Have you had the same surgeon for your all your surgeries? Hard to believe that after three Nissens you never got some relief.
Ive never heard of dysautonomia before,could you tell what it is?
Barry
Posted 12/8/2014 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
Andy, I have tried many meds for dysautonomia but I'm really sensitive to meds so the side effects are worse than the actual symptom. I've been managing my dysautonomia the last few years since I couldn't afford to go to the specialist but I have an appt at a local Neuroscience place. I'm really hoping they can give me some kind of direction. From what I've read, the bypass has 98% success rate. The majority of information I can find on bypass and gerd were mainly for overweight people. I did find a little bit of info on bypass treating gerd.

Baza, I have the same surgeon. He is the only one that is local that is a gastric surgeon. My other gastro is in Milwaukee which is almost 2 hour drive. I wanted him to do it and he said he would use a different procedure but he wanted me to get another manometry. The manometry I had here was ok. I went to Milwaukee for the test and I couldn't do it. The nurse refused to numb me at all and it felt like the tube was curling as it went down and I couldn't breathe. Dysautonomia in easy terms is every body function that you can't control misfires. So blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, nerves, temp control, etc. The way I feel changes by the second. I can be perfectly fine one minute and the next feel like death. It's a frustrating and complicating disorder.
Posted 12/8/2014 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Michelle-

I have heard of them using the gastric bypass for GERD, but the issues with nutrients being absorbed would turn me away. I have sme family members who have had it for weight loss and that is a little different.

I am really wondering if your surgeons technique didn't work for you. We discussed this in the past and I was really hoping the other surgeon would help. Sorry to hear the manometry went so badly.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 12/8/2014 8:56 PM (GMT 0)
I think I would be reluctant to have the same surgeon again. This is an interesting article regarding gastric surgery and GERD.

http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20140205/new-weight-loss-surgery-may-not-ease-chronic-heartburn
Posted 12/9/2014 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya Michelle,thats sounds a horrible illness have.So sorry!
With regards to your surgery, I would travel to find a top specialist in Nissen Fundoplication to find out whats wrong. Sounds like your surgeons not up to the job.
What about a teaching hospital?
Barry
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