Nissen approaching end of month, would like some thoughts.

Hi guys,

First time poster, I have actually just signed up this minute after finding so much useful info on here about Nissen Fundoplication.

Ill basically tell you my story first then ask the question.

For a couple of years now I have been having heartburn syptoms, its quite painful at times, some foods do aggravate it more than others but sometimes it will just agrrevate itself.

So I went to my GP and he suggested I take some Nexium (20mg), and sure it worked. He then suggested I take them for another couple of months and then stop and see what happens. So I did, the day after I stopped taking them the heartburn/reflux was back. So I went back to the doctor and he said he will put me on 40mg Nexium for a month, as this can fix reflux, then come back and see him. So I did 40mg for a month, went and saw him again, then he gave me another course of Nexium (40mg) and said after that if its still an issue they will refer me to have an endoscopy done.

I went back a saw the doctor again and surprise surprise they told me to just keep up the Nexium and assured me that this will fix my issue. So I didn't at this point press the issue of having an endo done. After being on the tablets for about 7 months I started to get really hot at times, when I got hot I would start to get itchy on my chest, on my arms and its was very unbearable, much much worse than the reflux. I tried dermatology approved skin products, soap free washes and nothing would help the itch. My feet and hands would get itchy in the mornings, some anti histamines would help (not fix) the hands and feet but did not assist my arms, chest and back.

When my arms got itchy along with my chest, I would get red all over, it would subside back to normal colour with no marking or anything once I cooled day and relaxed. So I booked myself into see a Private Health Dermotologist, who said Nexium can cause skin irritation but there was no way to prove that this was the cause. Her advice was to stop the Nexium immediately and give it 3 months to exit my system, and see how I felt.

Well after about 3 months I felt a hell of a lot better, I could exercise without getting a rash and itchy, I could notice a serious improvement at work aswell which is where I normally got the itchiest. For the next few months I still had some moments of itchiness but it seems the longer I go without them the less its getting. Im not sure if it was the Nexium but I have been better since being off them, I noticed the most improvement after being off Nexium for 2-2.5months.

So I have stopped seeing my dermotologist, I then went back to the GP demanded an endoscopy, I then had a refferal with a gastro who performed my endo eventually found my diaphragm was not closing enough causing the acid to be able to come back up.

This is where my dilemma comes in, he wanted my to opt for trying different anti-reflux meds and opposed to the surgery route, and I am just refusing. Although I cannot prove Nexium caused my case of skin irritation it was so bloody agonising that I will not go through that ever again and I will not try Somac or anything because I dont want to have the possibility of going through that ever again.

So, he referred me to someone to a professor who will do the surgery, and he sent me for the swallow test and ph monitoring. The hospital however closed before sending the professor/surgeon my results from both tests. So when I saw my professor again he suggested we book something in, and when he gets the results we will adjust anything as required.

At this stage im going in for a full Nissen wrap at the end of the month as there is virtually (or looks like) no contraction of my diaphram whatsoever.

Now I'm only starting to realise how big this surgery actually is, my biggest concern is not being able to vomit. I have read here that many people successfully vomit from time to time, but my surgeon is telling me to expect never to be able to again.

I suppose what im chasing is maybe some settling/reassuring thoughts, that I'm doing the right thing, and I hope post op I won't regret the surgery.

Thanks in advance
Luke

-Oh and If I dont reply right away im moving house so I will be able to revisit this thread in a few days.

Hi Luke:

It's strange that the nexium bothered you after being on it for 7 months. I would be tempted to try another PPI, before having surgery. I would never consider surgery until I exhausted all treatments and had all tests, including manometry. I would definitely keep a food diary and cut out all trigger foods, caeffine, chocolate, carbonated beverages, alcohol, etc. I had a full wrap done in April, and yes I have lost the ability to vomit. It's a long recovery period (I was off of work for 2 months), I'm only now feeling back to normal. I guess my advice is not to jump into surgery without thinking everything through.

Sharon

Luke,

You're wise to come here. I didn't do much of anything Tony said and have struggled.

So im technically only 1.5 days out from surgery and getting quite nervous, although this past week has been a really bad week for reflux and this morning I was up at 2:30am with rising acid to the point of vomiting.

These spells are getting worse and sure its a reminder as to why I am doing this, but I didnt think I would be this scared.

I think what worries me is the healing process, and being able to swallow or lack of.

Hi guys, need some help, I had the surgery on tuesday so this is technically day 4 of my recovery.

Im having the severe shoulder pain (due to what should the gas), and every time to drink water I get something that feels like a spasm which is quite uncomfortable. I tried a heat pack but that only relieves it temporarily.

What is the best position to sleep in? Because I normally sleep on my back but my diaphragm wont stop spasming if I lay on my back, plus my shoulders make it extremely painful to lay on my back.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, thanks.

DON'T DO IT AND I REPEAT DON'T DO IT. I DID IT THINKING IT HAD TO BE DONE WITH MY PARA. HERNIA REPAIR AND ALTHOUGH THE GERD IS GONE FOR NOW, I THINK IT WILL EVENTUALLY RETURN....I HAVE SO MANY STOMACH ISSUES 3 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY THAT I CAN'T EVEN EAT A NORMAL DIET AND I'M NOT HORRIBLY GASEOUS OR CONSTANTLY GOING TO THE TOILET. AWFUL.... I WISH YOU LUCK, I TRULY DO. TRY ANYTHING LIFESTYLE WISE TO CHANGE IT.

With my nausea issues I got a prescription for maxolin, I would take a tablet 30 mins prior to eating but sadly that didn't really help me.

However come today i've been able to eat and haven't been too nauseous so I think it takes some time just getting used to it.

As I said above today is day 6 and im feeling alot better, I went out to occupy myself last night and although I couldn't eat while I was out it was good to get out and get my mind onto something else that wasn't my recovery.

Im only 23 and I'm hoping for that reason the recovery for me will be easier than what I have read from the experience of fellow members.

I have been trying to walk around the backyard for atleast 20 minutes of the day but I would also do it before or after meals, I found after meals it helped remove the gas from my system, I found myself burping which I didnt think I could but it wasn't from my stomach. Here on day 6 I still have some shoulder pain but it has eased up alot, I find myself sleeping on my side a bit more, I don't normally sleep on my side, I prefer to sleep on my back but with this gas build up it is hard.

Post Edited (peaandham) : 2/1/2015 5:35:35 AM (GMT-7)

So today is the day I thought would never come. It is 4 weeks today since I had the surgery.

Ive been eating solid foods, mainly mince meat, steamed fish, split chicken in sauce, I think I am making good progress.

However I still struggle If I take massive gulps of water.

Also to this date, no heartburn, I have kind of forgotten how bad it was.