Nissen Questions (from people who have it done)

I had NERD (non-erosive reflux) for many years. It would have been the regular acid, but my acid was controlled by the various medicines available at the time, as they were developed.

I lived with it relatively OK, although choking from reflux was always an unpleasant experience, usually at night lying down. I would have gone on forever, especially after I discovered the triggers that caused the reflux episodes.

While my LES was caput, I only had contents come up if I had a reflux episode or was lying down. Keeping the contents neutral with medicines allowed me to avoid surgery - which is not something you want to go through unless it's necessary!

I only had the surgery after an accident that shoved my stomach mostly into my chest - paraesophageal hiatal hernia - which can be life threatening. The surgery fixed the hernia and also the LES, so no more acid coming up. But I can still have the heaves of reflux, but I can't vomit, and contents can't come up. Surgery won't stop chemical intolerance, obviously!

My reflux episodes were triggered by specific food intolerances (mainly one chemical).

So, what is causing your NERD? Have you had all the testing? Have you tried keeping a food journal to see if you have food intolerances? Even with a bad LES you can have something like I had causing the stomach heaving events, which call reflux events. A bad LES, of course, causes nighttime acid (or non-acid) leaking of stomach contents into the throat.

I was older, had injuries from the accident, had a paraesophageal hiatal hernia, and so took longer to recover from the surgery. But a year, and now 8 years later. after surgery I was really happy I'd had it done. Back to better than previous normal!

Just make sure you have all the facts about your condition and find a top surgeon before deciding whether to have it.

I can tell you of my experience, after surgery I still watch what I eat. The Nissen doesn't give you a free pass to go back to your prior eating habits, you can still experience varying degrees of reflux post-surgery. I would use surgery as a last resort, after I had exhausted all other options. There is no quick fix for the symptoms and you really have to adhere to dietary changes. Medications can work, but they don't give relief overnight. I know you feel like you've had symptoms for a long time, and it's very frustrating. I was able to get relief from PPIs and when one didn't work, I tried another. Lifestyle changes helped, and although I didn't suffer from anxiety, a lot of people have it as a contributing factor. I suffered most of my adult life (I was 53 when I had surgery), and I can tell you the recovery is not easy. Just make sure you have all the testing, and get more than one opinion prior to surgery.

Post Edited (SharonZ) : 6/13/2017 9:22:03 AM (GMT-6)

If I remember correctly, you've had symptoms for a little over 6-months - If that's true, you might want to wait and continue to try and control your symptoms on your own. IMO, I wouldn't jump into surgery - you really need to give some of the medications and lifestyle changes a lot of time, and stick with them. Have you tried a product called carafate? Also, did they discovery any large hernias? If you are told that your issues are non-erosive, then currently you shouldn't need to worry about Barretts, either.

If you "go natural," your reflux will turn to GERD. To keep it from becoming normal acidic you have to keep on meds.

There is no way of just eating differently to stop your stomach acid producing cells from making HCl. Ignore the silly fads and non-medical, non-tested claims.

You might have a bad LES valve, to be constantly bringing up stomach contents. One other possibility - you are actually vomiting because of something you are consuming. You can figure the latter out on your own. Just keep a "food journal." See older posts for more information. (Search box at the top of the page)

I lived with my NERD for 20 years or so and would not have had the surgery if I'd continued like that.

You have had symptoms for roughly six months, I still think I would explore some different medications and give them a chance to work - there is no quick fix. Alcie is right, you really need to start a food journal and see if you can identify what your trigger foods may be. Anxiety can also play a role in causing or making your symptoms seem worse. Even small changes like elevating your bed and eating smaller meals frequently throughout the day. You still have some time to try and get your symptoms under control before you would be scheduled for surgery. And please seek a second opinion.

My dr today says that it rarely turns to gerd but can. He also says to wait and talk to the surgeon in the next year. They wont do meds anymore because they say that is a sign of ppi failure and that there is no point. I was on the max doses for 4 months

just chest pain/burning and nose sores. Mouth gets sore too. I got rid of the taste though a few weeks ago.