2.5 weeks post op Linx and doing great

Just wanted to share. I'm 2 weeks post op from Linx and life is starting to be good again!

I've had some dysphagia, but it's manageable. I have zero regurgitation anymore, and my chest/throat burning has decreased substantially. I'm hopeful that it will eventually go away completely. I'm down to once a day ppi (previously twice a day) and Zantac once a day (previously twice a day). Still avoiding coffee, alcohol, and "trigger" foods for now, but I'm able to eat much more than before since I'm feeling so much better.

I'm in the very early post op period and my doc says full healing really takes 3 months, but I'm just feeling so hopeful about everything and wanted to share. :)

Sending lots of thoughts and prayers to people still suffering with GERD.

K

Post Edited (k_dawg) : 6/12/2015 5:58:42 PM (GMT-6)

Scott,
I'm sorry to hear you're having such a rough time of it. From what my doctor told me, this is the prime dysphagia window for both of us (I'm now 3.5 weeks out). For me, it usually happens with a first swallow of a meal when I've gotten a little over eager and didn't chew well enough. My doc said it's super important to eat at least a little something every 4 hours, as this keeps the device opening and prevents your body from scarring down around the device too much. He said to keep this up for 3 months.

If it gives you any hope, in the studies published, the dysphagia goes away for the vast majority of people by 6 months to a year.

My preop symptoms were horrible. I basically had heartburn for 10-12 hours a day, regurgitation after every meal, and I suspect I was starting to have esophageal spasms as well. Now I only get a very mild burning or tingling in my chest/throat a couple days a week for a few hours at most.

I think it's far too soon for you to give up hope that this is a cure for you. Two weeks is really not very long at all. The thing that my doctor impressed strongly on me was that the recovery/adjustment period was going to take time and that the first 3 months would be the toughest.

K

Hi green.orange,
Thank you!

No I didn't have manometry. My doc said my barium swallow showed I had great esophageal motility so he didn't do manometry for me.

I was taking 20mg Protonix twice a day, but when I posted last I was down to 20 mg once a day. I quit it entirely two days ago and am now taking one Zantac about 30 min before lunch. I'll keep you updated on how it goes...if I feel any heartburn I'm going to have a low threshold for going back to once a day and taking it a little slower.

In truth, the only ppi that ever really worked for me long term was Dexilant. But after three years, it just sort of stopped working. By the time I had surgery, I had tried every other ppi available in the US. I just happened to be taking Protonix last.

When I had to stop taking it for two weeks before the Bravo capsule, I replaced it with Zantac twice a day and didn't really notice a difference. I did notice a difference when I had to stop the Zantac the last few days before the Bravo. It's hard to explain; I already had regurgitation and a persistent burning sensation, but after I quit the Zantac the regurgitation became much more painful---if that makes any sense.

Sorry for ignoring this for so long! I am now 5.5 months post surgery and doing AWESOME! My main symptoms were persistent sore throat, unbearable chest pain, and regurgitation. I also had a chronic cough and was a little hoarse.

I got over the Linx dysphagia in about a month after surgery and although I rarely still get a little heartburn, I am basically living a normal life again.

-K