Fundoplication scheduled 3/20

Hi, folks. I'm 37, been suffering for over 20 years. I was diagnosed with Barrett's when I was 26. I've been putting this off for a long time. I have a daughter now, and I feel like surgery is the right thing to do to increase my longevity, if for nothing else, her sake. On my end, I'm more than a little tired of the way PPIs have slowly changed me and my body inside and out, also the constant burning and discomfort as well as waking up in the middle of the night choking on stomach acid. I'm a professional chef turned professional brewer, so for me this surgery is a bitter pill to swallow. I'm afraid I won't drink beer again. That is my biggest fear. I'm terrified. I'm afraid of a lot of things, honestly. I know I'm relatively young, so hopefully my healing will be rapid and I dodge some of the bullets that hit many of you. No insensitivity intended, of course. My surgeon, Dr. Adrian Park, is considered to be one of the best in the world, so that is encouraging. I only have two days left to chicken out, if I'm going to go that route. I just thought maybe some of you could offer some positive encouragement or even reality checks. I think I just need to hear from others who have walked in my shoes. Thanks.

Hi Coldrice... since you have been diagnosed with Barrett's 11 years ago, I don't think you should wait. You are risking cancer to creep along and trust me, that is worse than the fundoplication surgery. So don't chicken out. I had the surgery for GERD and it was an immediate success. I didn't use a pill or liquid anti acid for over a year after the surgery. When I did it was related to my cancer treatments, not GERD.

Honestly you have to know you have a recovery time that will take months. In the first couple of months you have to eat very small portions with liquid or soft food for the first few weeks. You have to go very slow. Your stomach space is actually smaller so you get fuller faster. It is a good thing in my opinion. I think the biggest issue that the surgeons don't discuss enough is the side effect of reactive hypoglycemia. Anytime you mess with the stomach or bowels, your system can get out of sync. When that happens, your pancreas does not release the insulin at the right time and your blood glucose level drops and you feel light headed, hands shaking and possible nausea feeling. You can also have the opposite effect and have hyperglycemia. Symptoms feel the same but different course of action. This does not happen to everyone but it can. I have talked to several posters on here by phone and email to discuss these issues and what to discuss with your doctor. Seems this hits most people around the second or third month then subsides around the 6th month. Won't hurt to ask your doc for anti nausea medicine when needed.

As Law indicated, Gas/burping can be an issue depending if the doctor does the wrap to tight. I talked to my surgeon about it and we agreed on a full wrap but firm, not to tight. He also fixed my hernia to. I burp fine right now but you feel when you had something to gassy. So you do have to watch out. Remember the term "eat in moderation".

Still with all that said, it is a great surgery and you will get back to normal and beer will still be in your future!

Take care and keep us posted. -JR