Nissen Fundiplication Poll (please post response)

I have heard positive and negative things about this procedure. In fact I just checked out USC hospital's program, which apparently pioneered the procedure.

I am curious. For those who underwent this procedure, how many of you had a positive outcome, how many negative???

Negative being, serious side effects, still on meds after, etc...

Studies suggest it has a 39% failure rate, I wanted to see percentages we have here.

Thanks everyone.

Hi all,

Just had the Nissen surgery(laparoscopically) on Friday. It went well. The 1st day all I could have was ice chips. The next 2 days liquids(nothing too hot or cold). Today I ate runny oatmeal and eggs. The oatmeal hurt a little going down even though I chewed it well. The stomach pain is what you'd expect, swollen and sore but the gas pains were unbelievable. Unbearable in chest and shoulders; have been on pain meds for that and also some qeasy feelings, but not taking anything for that. I have also been taking Gas-X and walking around alot to get rid of the gas. I am mostly tired because I didn't sleep for 3 nights. The night before the surgery I had anxiety. The night of it, the nurses woke me up every hr to test or take blood or something. The 3rd night, I was in too much pain to sleep. Last night I slept much better and today I feel alot better. My surgeon told me to quit taking birth control pills and estrogen for a while to prevent blood clots, so for you ladies, expect your period, stomach and back pains on top of the other pain!  

I didn't know what to expect afterwards and it's my own fault for not asking. I would say to have help around the house for the 1st 3 days at least. Also find a Dr who is very experienced in doing laparoscopic procedures-not just a handful-I'm talking like has done hundreds. My Dr told me the success rate for this procedure is 90-95% and he has had 100% success in his patients. Only time will tell if it works, but I wouldn't be afraid to try it if you are a candidate for the surgery. It beats the alternative of staying on expensive meds, and then they stop working and you could get Barrett's.

Good luck to everyone out there considering it...feel free to e-mail me.

Cindy

Hi - I am new here and wanted to share my experience.  I had the Fundiplication done about 14 years ago.  In fact, I had it at USC.  I have to say the recovery from the surgery was the worst I have ever experienced.  It was terrible!  But, I had no side effects and until recently the surgery worked nearly 100%.  No heartburn could eat what I wanted and when I wanted - just had to be careful not to over eat.  This would cause immense pain another  negative was not being able to vomit.   

 

 I have not taken any meds for 14 years and have been pain free.  Guess what - it isn't working anymore.  My reflux symptoms are back with a vengeance.  At the time there were not many medications on the market to treat reflux, I was regularly spitting up blood because of the linear ulcers in my esophagus.  I really did not have much choice except to have the surgery, as my symptoms were so severe.  Would I do it again?  Not sure -  at this stage of the game - No.  Do I regret having the surgery - No I do not.  

 

My current Physician does not recommend the surgery and has told me that it has been shown that the surgery is only effective for 5 – 10 years.  I feel lucky that I made it this far and I have to say it has been wonderful….But here I am again right back where I started.

Hi Silly, I was 38 when I had the surgery done. I have been to two different doctors and neither one were proponents of the surgery to being with. They both recommended against having it tightened. So, for now it's back to the drawing board. I have been through three different medications and this third one just might be working. I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Take care

Sylvia

I have tried it all - from acupuncture, meditation, herbs, yoga, even went and saw a Chinese Doctor - you name it I have given it a shot. I am currently on Aciphex. I hope it works. Before my surgery my refulx was so bad that the acid of went into my lungs causing problems breathing. I am hoping that since I had the surgery it won't be this bad this time. I guess I will just have to wait and see. Good luck to you.

Hi Silly, Yes, I do know what you mean - stuffed peppers would kill me and I love em! My symptoms were as bad as yours are before I had my surgery. I lived on Ensure for a couple of years. Boy was I skinny... I am taking 40mg of Aciphex a day. It has been about a week now and it seems to be working. Thank goodness.

Have you experiemented with different foods to see what you can eat without causing too much pain. It is kinda hit and miss. When I was at my worst - water even hurt. It did get better and yours will too - just hang in there.

Take care,

Sylvia

Hi had the surgery about 7 or 8 years ago. It worked great for about 2 years now I am on prilosec again. (and not over the counter one either!) I am sure if I took off some weight it might help. Would I do it again?? Yes those were the best 2 years out of the last 10 with the gerds. Negative is dry heaves when you have to vomit! Last year I got stomach flu and couldn't throw up I was miserable! My eyes were blood shot from the heaves. I just wished the surgery would have lasted longer than 2 years!!!

Allyoop,

That's great that you are doing so well...it's good to hear someone had a good one.  Were you on the meds very long before the surgery and were the meds very effective for you.  I've heard that the Nissen is more effective if someone gets relief from taking the meds...I don't know why. 

Also, where did you have it done?

I had my surgery done a couple of years ago and I definitely know what you are talking about when you mention the feeling of food getting stuck.  That can be very uncomfortable.  I didn't have the other pain you are talking about.  Did your doctor tell you that you would never be able to throw up again?  I have definitely been able to throw up when I've been sick.  It did take awhile after surgery for that to happen.  I know in the beginning when I would get something stuck and I would try to throw it up, it wouldn't happen then, I just had to wait in pain for it to work its way down.

Take care!

Carla

sforres705

You're right, no ones been posting here for quite a while. Come on over to the more recent post where several of us are recovering at the same time as you....."post op nissen fundoplication/hiatal hernia repair". There's a part 1 and a part 2 - part 2 you can post on and part 1 you can just read.

I recently developed exactly what you described regarding your throat. It feels like a pill is stuck in the back of my throat. It doesn't feel like anything is stuck near the wrap - it's strickly confined to the area just behind the tongue. You are further along for recovery than I and your post is a month old. What did the feeling turn out to be or did it just go away? I'm figuring it has to do with swelling coming and going during the healing process.

Sue:  Have you ever tried whole pysillium (sp??) husk and probiotics?  The husk is whole fiber and the probiotics are good bacteria which help with digestion.  Maybe these two would help you with your gas.  You can get these in a health food store or try to eat the Dannon Activia yogurt.  For the nausea you can get a prescription of promethazine 12.5 mg, a small pill which I took after I had my surgery and it did help me alot with the nausea.  Glad to hear you don't have anymore heartburn.  Good luck..Barbara...

Sue:  I was very lucky that gas and diarrhea weren't a problem for me but the nausea was terrible.  Tomorrow will be my 5th week post-op and I would say the nausea lasted close to 4 weeks.  I would have my days and sometimes it would be worse but the pill really helped.  What really bothers me still is the chest pain.  I also had a hiatal hernia repair so I don't know if what hurts is the nissen procedure or the hiatal hernia repair or maybe just both.  I just know it is a dull chest pain that is always there.  Did you have chest pain for a long time?  Thanks, Barbara...

I hope the chest pain will eventually go away.  Even last night it wouldn't stop hurting.  I am not taking any pain medication anymore I just try to ignore it.  So, it took you about a 1 1/2 months.  I am really looking forward for this pain to go away.  The nausea pill is a prescription called promethazine and they gave me the 12.5 mg. dose.  I know they make it in the 25 mg. dose because my best friend's husband has cancer and this is the pill they give him for the nausea since he takes chemotherapy.  For me it seems that my appetite is returning and I want to eat more but I don't because it already happened to me about three times I ate too much (which really wasn't) and I really got sick so I just stick to small meals.  I don't know why you would have gotten the nausea all of a sudden.  Try the husk and probiotics because one of the best things you can do is to keep your bowels moving.  I watch Dr. Becker everyday and he says that many people have dysbiosis (sp?) and people need to have fiber and probiotics in their systems to keep their bowels moving.  When you say that you feel as if food is getting stuck, did you always feel like this?  Thank God I haven't had a choking incident but I am really careful and still take tiny bites because I think it would be scary to feel as I was going to choke.