HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Needed: TOP-NOTCH SURGEON near Detroit, Michigan USA

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/11/2015 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
If anyone can help direct me to a top-notch surgeon specializing in Nissen Fundoplication or other procedure to repair hiatal hernia/LES, I would be very grateful to have some direction. I am near Detroit, Michigan (USA).

I’ve been on the Internet countless times and there is very little in-depth information. This will have to be a strong referral from someone who has ‘been there, done that’ AND gotten their life back due to a GOOD, CARING surgical team.

I have struck out with two gastroenterologists who only want to 'medicate'. NO mention of surgical repair of my 3 cm hiatal hernia and malfunctioning LES.

Thanks so much!
Posted 3/12/2015 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know the Detroit area but you might check the larger hospitals to see if they have a Gastro- Esophageal Disorders department or program. Is there a large teaching hospital there? They often have surgical specialties that other hospitals don't. Of course, if you do have such a place, you'd have to look into the surgeons who do LAP Nissen but at least it might narrow your field.
Posted 3/12/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JanPeg,
The large teaching hospital I have access to is University of Michigan (U of M) health system. Unfortunately, my second gastroenterologist is with U of M and she was no better than the one I left at another large hospital system. Had NO answers for me and dismissed me after my last ECD in late February as tests came back in the 'normal' range!

Never mind my pain and agony, just keep taking those acid pills and give up eating and drinking everything that ever gave you pleasure. NO mention of how to 'fix' anything. So I'm starting over again. confused
Posted 3/25/2015 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
I also was sent to UofM for a large Hiatal Hernia and they immediatley wanted to open me up and do a very extensive surgery, which scared the crap out of me. Have since found a Dr. who tells me I do NOT need to be opened up, that he can do it minimally invasive.  Still trying to figure out why UofM was in a hurry to open me up. Have not been overly impressed there.

 

Posted 3/26/2015 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
JanPeg,
Thanks for your response. I feel I'm back on track.

EDrake,
I'm with you on U of M. NOT impressed and won't go back. I've since found a top-notch surgeon at Henry Ford Hospita. and feel I'm back on track to get answers. He's ordered a Barium swallow (had this a.m.), and a pH monitoring test after I've been off all acid meds for 7-10 days.

He also told me that he would only consider surgery if he thought it would FIX the problem. He will make a final determination on how to treat me when I meet with him on April 20th. Maybe there's hope for me yet!
Posted 4/4/2015 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Linda and EdDrake,

Can I ask who you saw at U of M that you were unhappy with? Feel free to message me.

I saw a gastroenterologist there who was awesome 2 weeks ago and saw a thoracic surgeon who I scheduled the procedure with. They are going to do it robot assisted laparoscopic.

Wondering if I should get a second opinion confused
Posted 4/4/2015 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I see Dr. Jules Lin, a thoracic surgeon. I would live to hear your situation if you care to share!!
Posted 4/4/2015 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
EDrake

Did Dr Lin tell you he had to do your procedure the open way through your back or did they give you options? My surgeon is doing it the minimally invasive way. Robot assisted laparoscopic. This may have been mostly at my request and because he said I'm a good candidate for it. I'm not sure we have the same situation. I have a paraesophageal hernia. I am scheduled for surgery in May and am happy to share any experience. So far I have been very happy with the doctors and staff at the hospital. Just an FYI I have also read excellent things about University of Chicago if that isn't a far drive for you. I hope you find a doctor thats a good fit for you! I'm worried now with both of you not liking U of M maybe I should ask for other opinions.
Posted 4/4/2015 2:33 AM (GMT 0)
MiJane, I too have a Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia! He did not give me options! I went to him after my more locally located specialist did a scope and Barium Swallow. He had those test results and told me 80% of my stomach was attached to my esophagus and liver. I would need to have open surgery, cut open on left side and rib removed. Then explained all the horrific complications that could come from cutting the stomach away from esophagus and liver, etc. He scared me, so I looked for a second opinion and the first thing he asked after I told him what I had been told was if I had a CT. I did not so he scheduled me that day, it showed my stomach was NOT attached to liver an esophagus, but was tucked up behind my heart. I sent this CT to UOfM to ask why they said it was attached and why they jumped right into cutting me open. 2nd opinion is confident it can be done minimally invasive. It then took several weeks for UOfM to return my calls. When he did he asked for a 4hr emptying study, which I did and shows I have a delay. I have an appt there 4/15. I want to know if it's not attached if I can do it minimally invasive, seems I still don't have any answers that anyone agrees on!!!
Posted 4/4/2015 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Is your appointment with the same doctor again or someone new? I'm hoping it will be with someone more open to other surgical options. I would have been scared too if they gave me all that information. I'm so glad for you that it wasn't attached to all of those things and that it may be easier to fix. I'm wondering if I'm having an easier time because I was referred to the thoracic surgeon by the GI dept in the hospital. They did an EUS a couple weeks ago an found the paraesohphageal hernia and felt I needed to be referred quickly.
Posted 4/4/2015 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
I've just been reading your posts Edrake & MiJane - I had a complication in my fundoplication where my spleen was adhered to my stomach, which led to me having a bleed and repair work done that was unexpected. My surgeon managed to fix this without resorting to opening me up - so I just have the 5 laporascopic marks. I was lucky that I didn't bleed a lot - I guess if I had they'd have opened me up. If they had have known - would they have done open surgery? I don't know as things happened the way they did - but I guess any skilled surgeon is prepared to expect the unexpected!
Hope all goes well for both of you.
Posted 4/4/2015 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
I am still scheduled with Dr. Lin at UOfM as if now! I would like to talk to him far to face again now knowing that the stomach is not attached. Then maybe I'll seek another opinion from. Second thoracic surgeon there at UOfM. It's frustrating! If UOfM will give me the option of minimally invasive I'd be at ease. I would like to take the Dr in which I got my second opinion from and relocate him to UOfM, I really like him, but I do not know much about the hospital he works with! 😟
Posted 4/4/2015 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
MiJane, I will send you a private message, but first you need to include your email address in your profile. I will give you a 'blow by blow' of my experience at U of M.
Posted 4/4/2015 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
EDrake,
Are you located in Michigan? Near what major city?

I'm still on the fence right now. I have a pH manometry test scheduled for April 15th (Ugh!!!), and a follow-up appt. with thoracic surgeon on April 20th to review my situation. I went off PPI's 'cold turkey' 9 days ago due to a 'miscommunication' from the nurse of the surgeon. She really messed me up!

To make a long story short, rather than go back on the PPI for 5 more days, I elected to 'suffer through' it rather than go back to the 'purple poison' as I've wanted to get off that stuff for a long time. Yes the pain is EXCRUCIATING and I'm using DGL with not much help.

I am very wary now, of these 'specialists'. The one I'm scheduled to meet with on April 20th seems very interested in helping me but I won't know until then if he believes surgery will correct my issue. I just have to get through the next 11 days till the pH test and that will relieve some of the stress that's contributing to my pain.
Posted 4/4/2015 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
LindaSue, I am Centrally located, near Mt. Pleasant. West of Saginaw, NE of Grand Rapids, N of Lansing. I would like to hear your experiences also if you don't mind! I take no meds, constantly feel like I am having a heart attack because of all the chest pain!
Posted 4/4/2015 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
EDrake,
Okay, here goes. I waited 3 MONTHS to see a U of M gastroenterologist. When I finally met with her, I got maybe 15 minutes of her time and she was on the computer! I had no idea if she was looking at the tests I brought from another hospital, but didn't feel like I had her FULL ATTENTION. She went through the same old tired questions regarding diet and lifestyle changes, blah, blah, blah! She then scheduled me for a gastric emptying test, manometry and a meeting with a dietetion (sp?). My tests were all within normal ranges. She never addressed the CAUSE, even if I asked her she was evasive like she had no answers.

Then I had to wait another month for a follow-up visit at which time she scheduled an endoscopy at my urging to see if anything had changed since my last ECD in 2012. This test was a nightmare!

During my prep for the procedure, the technician kept stabbing at my hand for the vein to insert the IV (never had a problem previously), and she finally got it in the opposite hand with MORE STABBING & PAIN. She was older but didn't seem to have it together.

In recovery with my husband there, we asked to see the doctor. We waited about 20 minutes for her to show up and she was rushed and impatient and didn't have time to address the questions my husband wanted to ask, since I was still groggy coming out of anesthesia. She said she was backed up with procedures and she would address my questions during my follow-up visit in MAY!!! (I've already cancelled it).

In the meantime, I received a brief letter telling me that based on my test results, no further treatment was necessary. Prior to this, she prescribed adding (2) Zantac at bedtime, 4-carafate per day, PLUS my existing Nexium 40mg, 2x daily that I had already been taking!!! She just loaded me up on MORE USELESS meds.

I took these additional meds for 30 days and continued downhill and stopped them. I also want to add that after my ECD with dilation, I was SO SICK for 2 weeks after. It felt like she put a baseball bat down my throat and LEFT IT THERE.

I know there must be better doctors at UofM. I just have no idea how to FIND THEM.

So, now, I'm seeing doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. We'll see how it goes.
Posted 7/27/2016 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
Did anyone of you find any good experienced surgeon in Michigan for Nissen Fundoplication?
Posted 7/28/2016 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Where are you at Neel?
Posted 7/28/2016 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Linda Sue I haven't been on in forever. How are you doing now???
Posted 7/28/2016 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
I'm from Detroit area. Looking for good experienced surgeon who is real expert in nissen fundoplication. From all over net everyone says about experienced surgeon. So I am good with anyone in MI.
Posted 7/31/2016 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi michiganmom,
Thanks for asking. I had LNF surgery and hiatal hernia repair last year, June 30th. Surgery went well and recovery, too. NO MORE ACID REFLUX. I did, however, have an undiagnosed underlying condition called 'Jackhammer Esophagus' that caused me excruciating chest pain. I won't go into all the details but it is an esophageal motility problem that can only be managed with medications.

In October, 2015, my new gastroenterologist diagnosed it with further upper GI tests and after some 'trial and error' with medications, I am now doing so much better. This is a rare condition and is frequently misdiagnosed. It took 8 YEARS to get the proper diagnosis. I now have wonderful doctors who are taking good care of me.

My life now is better than it has been in 8 years and I'm feeling like a normal person again. How are you doing? I can't recall if you had or were thinking about the LNF surgery.

Best wishes!
Posted 7/31/2016 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Afterthought: The gastroenterologist I had at U of M was Dr. Lauren Fisher and she's no longer there.

I am now with the Henry Ford Health System and couldn't be happier with my doctors. My surgeon who did the LNF and hiatal hernia repair is Dr. Zane Hammoud.

If I can be of further help, I will be happy to.
Posted 8/8/2016 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Linda Sue for your reply. How are you after surgery? If you kindly share how much the surgery helped you and how is Dr. Zane Hammoud? And definitely if you have any recommendation.
Posted 8/11/2016 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Neel234,
I am almost 14 months post surgery and I'm doing fine! NO more acid reflux! I had a mostly normal recovery based on other successful fundoplication members.

I'm really glad I had this surgery as it really fixed the problem with uncontrolled GERD. It's so much fun to be able to eat and drink virtually anything, although my portion sizes are about half what they used to be and I do eat healthier. This is GOOD as I've kept my weight down.

Dr. Hammoud is an excellent surgeon and has done many of these procedures. He is a cardio-thoracic surgeon at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI.

Neel234, I hope this is helpful to you.
Posted 8/12/2016 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Linda Sue. Your feedback really helps. You see mostly negative feedback on the net on surgery. I do take nexium regularly and this is causing side effects like vitamin d deficiency and makes me sleepy and tired easily. So I wanna come out of it. That why wanted to know who had already experienced. I appreciate it. Thank you once again.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12