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TIF on 5/22

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/27/2019 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have dealt with LPR and hyper sensitive esophagus over last 20 years. My grandfather died from esophageal cancer, and my dad died age 74 from GERD/asthma complications. I turned 70 in April. The last I had posted I was trying Elavil and Gabapentein to quiet barking cough that has been interfering with work for years. The only other Med I took was OTC Gaviscon Advance, which works, but you have to have it at work, and in yr purse if you travel. I had run out of it last fall in Portugal, which was bad.

I was on a double dose of PPI for years, and stopped because they never worked. In 2005 dr. found a cancerous polyp which was probably from such a high dose, although no proof for this.

I finally got tired of half way measures, and agreed to have TIF and hiatal hernia repair on May 22. They kept me overnight, and I am off work till June 3. Mostly am feeling the pain from trapped gas when I breathe making it hard to cough, or clear throat. Some huge plugs of solid mucus were able to come out despite this. Other TMI is I was constipated for 5 days, but think I am on track today. Have needed to nap daily, and today is my first day trying life without tramadol, gabapentein and ibuprofen. I need to be able to drive to work next week.

Haven’t been very hungry, had tea, then smoothie yesterday. Today had cottage cheese pancakes.
Definitely have to eat super slowly so it doesn’t pile up.

More later.

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Posted 5/29/2019 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Marlaf:

I don't have any experience with the TIF procedure, but I can tell you that the narcotics are causing the constipation. Once you wean off of them, you should become regular again.

Sharon
Posted 6/1/2019 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi
I’m writing this for people with LPR who are considering TIF. I did not want the full wrap, as I wasn’t sure the surgery would even work for me. It’s been 10 days, and I feel pretty good, with a big exception: the coughing. I always had loud barky throat clearing with globus. I read that this could also be from hyper sensitive upper airway disease. It seems what often works are tricyclics and nerve pain drugs, like amitriptyline and gabapentein. Which helped somewhat..I think I would have to get the right cocktail.
So it’s back to the drawing board as far as exploring to find the right balance.
Today I ate Pho and it did get stuck twice, so just have to be very careful!
Posted 6/7/2019 8:07 AM (GMT 0)
Checking in after TIF on 5/22. Continue to heal. Went back to work this week, was really tired. Luckily I only work part time, I can’t imagine going back full time. I still cannot eat normally, smoothies, bone broth and soft boiled eggs are it. I had a choking crisis a few days ago; had one bite of plain tuna, and it got stuck.
For an hour. You just have to wait it out with throat closing off. My throat was also producing tons of saliva, which I was unable to swallow or it made choking worse. I don’t know when I’ll be able to eat normally, suspect a few weeks.
Oh, most or all of the gas has left, so no wierd shoulder pain, thank god.
Posted 6/18/2019 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Please continue to update as I am considering this.
Posted 6/20/2019 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
I am 4 weeks post TIF and hiatal hernia repair. I lost about 10-12 pounds, but am starting to be able eat more, so I hope this lasts. I only had three episodes of very painful esophageal spasms, and none since. I would strongly recommend to have an RX for 50mg Tramadol for such events. Also it really helped me to sleep more easily the first two weeks. It’s not as constipating as oxy and not addictive.
Cognitively I’m not as sharp as I was, but trust it will come back. It’s a big surgery and I’m 70.

Now the big question: did this help with the globus and throat clearing of LPR? Sort of, but I think it’s too soon to tell, I know my esophagus is still swollen. I feel like I have less sensation of mucus and less throat clearing, but maybe 50% for globus and 35% less for throat clearing. If you’ve seen my other posts you know that I wrote about the nervous tic of throat clearing that is probably more related to vagal nerve irritation and even anxiety. To that end I was taking Amitryptiline and Gabapentein three times a day before the surgery. PPIs never worked for me.
I might end up going back on these if sx don’t go away. But I feel that I took away the worry of Barrett’s Esophagus and possible cancer, so I’m glad I did it.
Oh, and I mention how great it feels to sleep like a normal person: flat! Also had tomato soup with no reaction first time in many years!
Posted 7/15/2019 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi. I’m almost at 2 months. Working out at gym, have to be careful with ab work, but everything else is fine. The weight is creeping back up as appetite is fully back. Eating mindfully, and I haven’t had any meat yet.
I had a difficult episode tonite; I ate some psyllium powder mixed with coconut milk. It got stuck for about one hour- painful spasms and lots of mucus saliva. I think the stomach produces it to get the food out. I used a heating pad and walked around the house. Anyway, the fiber used to get stuck before surgery, so I need to be really mindful to take tiny bites next time.
Good luck to all.
Posted 9/22/2019 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all
I’m updating my progress on TIF and hiatal hernia repair done on 5/22/19, so 4 months ago. I am glad I had the surgery, even tho still have some mucus and throat clearing. I haven’t had any liquid Gaviscon. (yay!), or any meds for GERD, although nothing ever worked except the Gaviscon from England. I can eat and drink anything, and am trying to keep my weight down that I lost after surgery. No need for Medcline Reflux pillow anymore.
I can sleep on my right side comfortably, I can do a plank exercise without the feeling of food coming up, and do my regular work out. My two biggest problems were globus and throat clearing, especially at work. I see patients hourly, so this was a huge problem in terms of being uncomfortable for me and probably distracting for them.
I’d say this lessened a lot, but isn’t gone. Things that help are chewing gum, ginger spice cough drops, and hot tea.
My LPR issues started in 2002ish after a bout of very strong coughing, probably virus related. I agree with the ideas about Vagal nerve damage. I think I developed a hypersensitive esophagus and I don’t think surgery can solve this part of the complex puzzle that is LPR.
I had a great surgeon who does a lot of these. She recommended the Nissen, but I chose TIF with idea that we could do Nissen later if needed.
Luck to all!
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