Esophageal motility and partial fundoplication?

Hello there!
I was on these forums about a year ago desperate for a diagnosis and after esophageal manometry this week I've learned that I have a 2 inch sliding hiatus hernia and really poor esophageal motility. The first half of my esophagus is fine, but when I swallow the lower half barely reacts, only very weak muscular activity.

Was wondering if anyone else here has this issue? I have plenty of symptoms even on PPIs and was hoping to be a candidate for surgery. However, since I have this issue with swallowing I won't be able to have a full fundoplication or anything like that, as food would just get stuck above my LES.

I've only done some research on this but I've heard there's something called a partial fundoplication which is probably what I'd end up having to do if I need surgery. I'm only 26 years old and don't want to put myself at risk for further complications due to the reflux OR be on very high doses of PPI medication for the rest of my life.

Wondering if anyone here has similar issues as I do, and/or if someone else has experience with a partial fundoplication?

Hi! Thanks for responding.

I too am concerned about the longevity of the procedure. However I'm more concerned about the long-term effects of reflux, especially since PPIs don't work very well for me at all. I've only had this hernia for little over a year so hopefully the acid hasn't had too much time to cause damage...

And to think for almost a whole year my former doctor claimed I was stressed, having "psychosomatic" symptoms, and "bothering" him when I kept trying to get answers. Bad doctors are the worst.

Am currently making some radical lifestyle and dietary changes and am hoping they will do something. Even if I do end up having surgery I'd like to lose a couple extra lbs first and feel as though I'm going into a surgery as healthy as possible.

What happens if/when a wrap comes undone though, I wonder? Is it dangerous? Or will your symptoms just come back?

Considering my age I think it's unlikely that a partial fundoplication would last me for life. So that's something to be considered as well.

Testing shows what the docs need to know. I have a "wimpy" swallow from polio. I had a partial Nissen (Toupet) and can swallow as well as before. It won't get better or worse.

Don't demand a treatment. The doctor knows best what you need!

I'm 6 years out, no reflux or PPIs. I can't vomit, but I can burp.

Bella01:

You need to speak with your doctor and see what he suggests, as not everyone is a good candidate for surgery. Has your doctor suggested surgery, or are you just researching options?

Sharon

Finally was able to talk to my doctor. pH test showed moderate-severe reflux despite the fact that I was medicated still. Really poor swallowing on the manometry so we're trying alternatives to surgery before resorting to that option. It'd complicate my swallowing even further, and it's already a big enough problem that they don't want to do that before we've tried literally everything else. Still, they're giving medication until the end of the year to show results otherwise we might look into surgery after all.

So I'll be starting esomeprazole (as opposed to omeprazole) next week, possibly upping the dose from 40 mg to 80 mg per day. It sounds like a lot to me, but I'll do what they say if it helps.

Have any of you felt that one PPI has been more effective than another? If so which one?

I'm hoping this will provide some relief, and I'm already working on losing the little bit of extra weight I'm carrying. I'm down 10 lbs so far, aiming for 10 more.

Hope you all are well.