Posted 4/26/2015 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
My Story:
I've had GERD for over 5 years now, probably longer, but that's when I was diagnosed. After an emergency room visit of course. Barium swallow, EGD, all were positive for GERD and the EGD showed I also have a minor hiatel hernia. The reason I say "probably longer" is that I didn't fully realize my symptoms till I developed allergies. Then came the anxiety and the panic attacks.
So I took and still do take medicine. Most of the last 5 years I've been on daily doeses of: 4mg paxil, 80mg nexium, dymistia, 10mg zyrtec, and 2mg clonipin when the anxiety gets bad. The drugs save me, but I hate them. I try to reduce the Nexium whenever I can as it causes me bloat and weird hunger swings, just last month I finally came of the paxil, it considerably dulled my emotions, memories, and life in general. It feels great to be off but the anxiety is tougher now.
Constant post nasal drip, burn in my throat, heart pounding anxiety from it all, and the occasional regurgitation. They all feed off each other making life miserable. I now eat very light meals avoiding any triggers, I exercise daily, I'm healthy, but I'm exhausted and unhappy. I have basically given up on being able to surf which is my favorite thing in the whole world. I'm fed up and I need help. So, here I am...
Next Step: Surgery
I live in Hawaii and have Kaiser Permanente insurance (with added choice meaning I can see people out of network but it costs more of course)... I like the idea of the TIF procedure, but no one here does it and Kaiser doesn't pay for it. I'll see a Kaiser GI doctor in the next few weeks but a full fundoplication surgery scares me. What can I do? Should I look into getting a different insurance (HMSA - Hawaii's Blue Cross Blue Shield)? Should I consider a full fundo, lynx, other?