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Nissen or Roux en y

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/7/2016 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello!
I found this forum a few weeks ago. I have suffered with acid reflux for over 20 years. Done all the different diet changes, different meds, and everything else that I could think of to get relief.
I finally found an amazing gi Doctor! He is straight to the point and doesn't beat around the bush. Currently I have been taking nexium 20mg and Zantaz 150mg both twice a day. I have cut out dairy, sugary foods and everything that taste good! I do have esophagitis and a hitial herina. Since nothing is touching my reflux. My doctor is referring me for surgery. He talked about 3 different surgeries. Linx, Nissen and roux en y (gastric bypass) I meet with the surgeon on the 14th.
I won't qualify for the linx and I don't like the idea of a metal in my body.
My question is has anybody had the roux en y to help with gerd? Did it help? Recovery? And any other info you could share with me? Also same questions about the Nissen. What kind of questions should I ask the surgeon? I like details and information!
Posted 1/8/2016 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have a lot of weight to lose? If not I probably would not opt for roux en y. That surgery rearranges your guts in a way that not only keeps you from being able to swallow normal amounts of food but also causes 'dumping syndrome' which can mimic a near death experience. There is usually a lot of post operative vomiting and patients are generally miserable for a pretty long while. You eventually learn to live with it and if you start out 100 or so pounds overweight you are usually thin after all is said and done (although long term people do stretch their pouches and regain). It's been such a failure overall that most surgeons are now going with the gastric sleeve for bariatrics. Also if you have an acid problem and get an gastric ulcer you have very little stomach left...

And lastly it is irreversible. Once you have it, you are 100% stuck with it.
Posted 1/8/2016 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with peacefulwarrior, I don't understand why you were given the option of gastric bypass for GERD. I had the Nissen via robotics, and have not taken any PPIs since my surgery. The Nissen is major surgery and the recovery is far from easy. Everyone is different, but I was off of work for 2 months post-surgery. I suggest that you ask how many Nissen/gastric bypass surgeries this doctor has performed, as this should be very important in your decision-making process. And, make sure your insurance covers this type of surgery and what your deductibles would be.

Good luck,

Sharon
Posted 1/8/2016 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm thinking my doctor recommended gastric bypass due to family/my health history. I had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies, I have asthma. I have depression and anxiety. I am over weight. I could lose 40 pounds and be happy. But I have a hard time losing weight. I eat when I have stomach pain and emotional eat.
The surgeon that I am seeing is the top doctor at my clinic. So that does make me feel a little better. I have started writing out a list of questions. The idea of surgery freaks me out! But I need to be pain free. I want my life back! I need to be there for my kids!

Thanks for your responses!
Posted 1/9/2016 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
The others have made some very good points. Can't imagine why he would recommend bypass. It's only for morbidly obese -over 100 lbs overweight. You'd have to have the hernia fixed too, but that's not impossible. Maybe he just wanted to give you some choices. Is he a surgeon?

A lot of people lose a little weight just having the Nissen.

I'm not a big fan of metal in my body either, especially the neck.

Get a second opinion. Maybe see a gastroenterologist, not a surgeon, for a different point of view.
Posted 4/20/2016 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
I had a subtotal gastrectomy removing 90% of my stomach as well as a roux en y reconstruction. However, this was AFTER 3 previous failed fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair surgeries. I still have a very large hiatal hernia that no one has been able to close. I'm currently waiting to be seen by surgeon at mayo clinic.
Posted 4/20/2016 8:34 AM (GMT 0)
I read that gastric bipas is quite effective in curing reflux and may be performed in patients with obesity. If severe obesity is also a problem, it might be a good choice.

Good luck
Posted 4/20/2016 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
My doctor gave me the option of gastric bypass or nissen also. I chose to go with the Nissen. I had over 100 pounds to lose. I lost 80 since my surgery on 9/1. In both procedures, you have almost the same dietary restrictions after surgery. If you use this to your advantage, you will lose weight with the Nissen surgery. I would research the pros and cons of each and then decide which would be best for you. I would not go withthe gastric surgery just because of weight loss. Both surgeries will require a mental change to lose weight. I decided that I would go with the Nissen and if that did not solve my issues with reflux, then I would investigate the gastric bypass.
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