Linx Procedure 2017 My Experience

Just found this forum this morning after doing some last min research on what to expect today!

I am scheduled for LINX surgery at 1 pm PST.

I have had reflux for over 30 years. My PH text had a Gleason score of 35. But my manometry was abnormal but not so much to call off the procedure. The diagnosis was a jackhammer esophagus. But the readings were borderline for that diagnosis.

I am 71, in good shape with no other health issues except for osteoarthritis.

The procedure will be the LINX with a Hiatal Hernia repair if he finds one. What is interesting is I always thought I had one but the last 2 endoscopies along with the barium swallow did not show a hernia.

Also had an issue with the consent form. He left open the possibility of an open surgery rather than laparoscopic. I indicated to the surgeon's office if he cannot do the procedure through laparoscopy then to end the procedure.

Since this is elective I have no intention of having open abdominal surgery. I am supposed to talk to the surgeon this morning on that issue. So there is an off chance the entire thing will be called off.

One other significant history is that I had a prior laparoscopy about 4 years ago for gallbladder surgery. Although my research shows that it should have little to no bearing on whether one can be performed again.

I did have a concern about the hiatal hernia repair. And I could not figure out the right answer. Assuming the hernia is less than 3cm why not leave a hernia alone and just do the LINX procedure?

In any event, since surgery is only 6 hours away it's probably just an academic question

I will post my experiences as I progress as the posts on this site have helped me quite a bit in understanding what to be prepared for as I undertake this.

Rick

I had Linx surgery September, 2017 . I have never stopped taking ppi’s, coughing more everyday, food sticking, acid reflux with extreme jaw pain, and feeling more nauseated. I just heard there are recalls on the Linx. I called my surgeons office ( he has since retired) and they tell me they are meeting with the hospital where I had the surgery and one of the reps for the Linx next week.
I just wondering if anyone else has found out their Linx has been recalled and what did your Surgeon recommend.
Thank you.

One other concern I had was the Dr. did not prescribe any antibiotics to take home. Is that normal? I have a call into the drs office to check to see if that was overlooked

Regarding a recall of the LINX device, there is no entry for it in the FDA database. So, no recalls of the LINX in the US.

You can search the database here: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRES/res.cfm

Karen Sandler

Hello riccja - 11 days POST OP

Good to hear your doing well post op. I had LPR, hiatal hernia repair linx surgery on May 10, 2018. So far all is good. I was on liquid diet first 5 days ( due to ulcers found on my esophagus up to 5 inches ), then did bland foods for next 3 days and started regular foods last 3 days. I ate a donut yesterday and I didn't chew enough and I felt it stick a little bit. I didn't feel any pain you can say discomfort but kept calm and was able to bring it down after a few sips of room temperature water. Very very happy thus far! No acid reflux since surgery, sleeping flat, my nose and throat has cleared up since surgery and I am barley snoring!!! very happy!

Judy

4 days post op and experienced some swallowing difficulty. I recalled drinking warm tea and that seems to have cleared everything up.

Hi Mary Margaret - I am 13 days postop. Pre-op diagnosis: Ashtma, LPR, 3 cm HH, & Gastritis/Acid reflux over 20 years. Had HH repair and LINX 05/10/18.

I haven't experienced any pooling yet.

I did have two/three episodes of feeling like food was sticking or difficult to swallow (I didn't chew enough) but had a few sips of water, slowed down, chewed chewed chewed and no further issues.

But I have seen comments about pooling on other support groups on FB.

Hope it resolves.

Judy,
Thank you for your reply, I guess this might force me to finally do FB.
I seriously couldn’t have gone another month with my reflux and the drugs that i was taking for it, bless you for doing it for twenty years. I’m still at a loss as to where this came from and was it a supplement I took called Formula 303, which I took for sleep issues. We have all the same diagnosis’, I am 56 years young and hoping to get back to living life to its fullest soon.
Happy Healing, MM

Hello,

I have had GERD for about 10 years now. Almost the entire time I have been on nexium 2 x per day at 40mg. I was positive the nexium was causing IBS-C, and not to mention most likely will cause long term liver damage. I tried to get off of nexium and was successful for about 3 months with severe heartburn. I finally couldn't take it anymore and had to go back on it. I tried everything from permission tea, digestive enzymes, probiotics, etc.

I finally found a doctor who does the LINX procedure and had the barium swallow test today. They discovered liquid doesn't move properly (I have limited scleroderma) and my doc wants to move forward with the next tests, which are EGD/pH/manometry.

My question is; has anyone here had this procedure with scleroderma? My doc said it would be ok but I am a little nervous. My test will be in a couple of weeks.

Hello everyone I had my Linx Surgery on March 27th so I am almost at 10 weeks post Linx and Hernia Repair. I was on Nexium 40 mg once a day for years then 2 a day for several months. It got where that didn't help and my doctor put me on Dexilant 40 mg a day. Then after taking that for a month that didn't help and even changing my dosage to 80 mg still no help.

I had Ph Test and the manometry test done for GERD and was told I had one of the worst cases my doctor had seen. I also was told I had the beginning of Barrett's Esophagus and was told I was a candidate for either the Nissen or the Linx. After my doctor going over both surgerys I choose the Linx.

The first day I came home I was on liquids only which was fine as I didn't feel up to eating. After that was soft foods for the first few weeks making sure I ate something like Yogurt or Applesauce. Now I do not like Yogurt so I grabbed some pudding. Ate pudding and Vienna Sausages every hour alternating between the two. I was 2 weeks out and felt fine no problems so I figured this was a breeze couldn't understand why everyone had their food "sticking" when I was eating fine. Still everything was going down just fine went to the doctor for my 2 week checkup post surgery and that was when I started having the Food Sticking problem everyone described. I love Whoppers at Burger King so on the way home I got me a Whopper and big mistake. I took 2 bites and couldn't eat anymore. Once I finally got it down I was fine but saw I wasn't ready for my Whoppers just yet.

Week 3 and 4 everything was as normal still eating small bites and only minor problems with food getting stuck. I would go heat me up some tea and everything would pass on as it helped a great deal.
Continued with the eating every hour not that I minded one bit as I have always been one to snack in between my meals.

Around Week 8, I started to have some belching. Concerned that maybe the linx wasn't fitted properly I called my dr that did my Linx Surgery and he told me to get some Gas X take it for a few days as that should help. Problem solved, somewhat, stopped taking it as he said just take for a few days symptoms came right back.
It was time for my 9 week post op appt. with him we went over my belching and he said it was just air. Not sure, never heard of you belching air. I also addressed my eating concerns being it was now 9 weeks and still having some mild dysphagia. He told me I could give it two more months as the dysphagia still at this time was normal that or he could do a barium swallow or go in and stretch the Linx. I decided to just give it until my next follow up appt next month.

I am now belching a lot more almost constantly has anyone else had this issue? Also has anyone experienced after eating a bite of something like a hamburger have their food go down and then come right back up through the Linx?
Concerned as if this is normal and should I go ahead with the Barium Swallow? As for the stretching I saw where Chad had it done and it really made a huge difference. My concern is if I have that done, I will have more trouble with my GERD symptoms returning.

Post Edited (Wellman) : 6/2/2018 4:53:52 PM (GMT-6)

I am now almost 3 weeks post LINX surgery. Had my first problem that ended me up in the hospital for an endoscopy to clear out my esophogus. It was my fault as I decided to give sushi a try. Big mistake as the rice became embedded.

Then the next day when swallowing a pill it got lodged in my throat. But mashed potatoes help it go down.

Other than that no reflux. A little nausea yesterday. But overall I cannot complain.

CTGull:

Unfortunately, some insurance carriers are more restrictive than others. You can use the search function for other threads discussing insurance denial. Unfortunately, the Boards have been very slow with discussion. I know some people have chosen to explore financing the surgery themselves.

Good Luck, Sharon

Today makes 10 weeks and 1 day. At first my symptoms were great, started belching was told it was air. Then slowly I have had bouts of acid come up only went I ate something spicy and today had acid actually come back up into my throat. Go back to the doctor Wednesday to see what is going on and why I the Linx is allowing acid to come up when that is what it was suppose to stop. Also still having difficulty with the swallowing. The first couple of bites food doesn't want to do down and it takes sometime until it does. After that my meal goes pretty easy. Will keep everyone updated but not sure if the Linx was a good fit for me with my symptoms returning.