what is up with the large amount of Nissen surgery failures??? Part 2 of 3

Hi Denise and Bea, I have a question which I was not very clear.
so a low score of PH 14 mean it is normal, but if one have a defective valve, will it cause acid reflux regardless if it is normal or not?

I am getting sour taste - and burn throat. When I drink or eat, I get even more sour taste come up.
I had monametory and PH 24 Study last time. I was off the PPI for 3 days.
My score was very low - way below 14, but I get regurgitation -sour mouth constantly.
My doc mention that because I was off only 3days, so that is why my score was very low. Howerver, she did mention that because I have a very lose valve - I constantly get regurgitation.

thanks.
Marie

Hi Marie,
If you have a low score, it doesn't mean you don't have defective LES. My first PH test was two years ago, and I had a score of 4. I know that my GERD was much worse than that score showed, for whatever reason. I know the GERD I was experiencing, and my doctors both felt strongly that GERD was causing my asthma to be chronic.

After another two years of suffering, my family doctor (in desperation) sent me to a surgeon to discuss the possibility of fundoplication surgery. The surgeon did an endoscopy, and ordered a barium swallow. Both indicated a weak LES and hiatal hernia. He told me I was a good candidate for the surgery, and he recommended that I get it.

That's when I went back to my GI doc and had another 24 hr PH monitor. (this fall) I got a score of 14 or so on that, which indicated "mild GERD". I couldn't honestly believe that assessment, since I know the heartburn pain I'd suffered.

That said, my GI doc felt that it wouldn't take a lot of reflux to trigger the asthma I was suffering, and he suggested I go to see a surgeon that he recommended. He told me I could handle the GERD situation with medications or surgery--it was up to me. I got the feeling that he didn't really think I needed the surgery--however my allergy-asthma doctor read me a letter the GI doc had sent him that recommended surgery. It's amazing how communication can be so misunderstood.

The medication I was taking (Protonix 40mg morning and night) wasn't really working that well. My surgeon also said that the PPI's could be working, and I could get bile reflux, which could also set my lungs off. I was getting enough reflux, though, to require Maalox and Tums in every room, the car, my desk at work, and my purse.

So even if you don't have a high number, your LES can still not be working. Even the first GI doc I went to said my LES wasn't working, and he was just going on my symptoms. Even with that result of 4, I had been hospitalized with gastritis/GERD, which was triggering uncontrolled asthma. It just shows you that you can't always go by numbers!

Good luck with your decision.
I hope you feel better soon!
Denise

Hi Marie, I had sour taste 24/7 .Now i have none. I am so happy.I  believe you are going to get the barrium swallow.

Take care

b

Hi Marie,

 I believe it is called the hida scan .It checks the contractions of your gall bladder. also abdominal cat scan.I had mine removed 2 years ago. I had sour taste nonstop for 3 years with and without my gall bladder. Only since i had this new surgery the nissan have i been able to to taste real morninig breath that is my own and not battery acid.

take care

b

There seems to be a connection with gallbladders here. I had mine out about 8 months before my first Nissen.
Anna - it is a hida scan to see how the gallbladder is functioning.

Bill

I will be returning the 48hr device tomorrow, and will try to schedule an appointment and go thru some of my test with dr , next months. Crossing my finger.

I was there on Tuesday - and did the manometry - after I was done with that I spoke to the specialist - he explained it to me - but I didn't really get it. I think he say I have a lose or weak Lower Esophagus.
But he say he has to analyze it. I need to do one more test next month so that I can talk to the dr. with more info

Thank everyone.

Barb - sorry to hear about the asthmas. Barb, is your asthma ok? Hope you are doing well. My son has asthma when he is a little baby. He breathing was difficult and he cough, wheezed and gazed for air most of the time when he was a baby. It just scared me.
Now he is older and is better -but he is still on the inhaller.

I will return the 48hr device tomorrow and I will see if I can catch the doc and talk to them about gallbalder.
While I was on the 48 hr thing, I get to eat a hamburger, french fry and milk shake - wow - they are so good. Part of the 48 hr test!
It was so good - but I learned that I have to paid for it big time later. Burn burn burn burn - and sour sour sour - reflux so bad!
I can't touch any antiacid while I am on the 48 test *Bummer*
I had a chicken burger on my 2nd day 48. So good - but am still burning!
Ouuchch - Ouuchhh in pain in pain :) oop sorry - wrong sign
- I mean --> :(
Thank everyone.
Marie

Hi every one, hope you are all well.

Marie I hope they find something out from all these tests that can help you. I had a bunch of blood tests done yesterday to check some things that my new hand doc wants to check out to see if I have any auto immune disease that is causing hand pain or arthritis. My hands are messed up from an accident where I hit them on the cement after a I was hit from the side on my moped and went over the handle bars. My whole body got messed up but my hands are the only thing that haven't gotten progreseively better with the chiropractors help. I may have carpel tunnel and arthritis brought on by the accident trauma. Like I needed any more problems with my health. Lol. My asthma is acting up because of allergies I think, but I've had it way worse than this. I just hope the steroids the hand doc gave me to take for a week don't mess up my tummy which in turn mess up my lungs. Well I best be getting to bed soon as I was up half the night last night because I injured my already sore hand by having a shelf full of heavy books fall on it. It was throbbing so bad that I ended up taking 2 pain pills that I have for my back and putting and anti inflamatory cream on it before it settled down enough to let me sleep.

Bill how are you doing? I am very interested to see how this works out for you since my docs are pushing a redo on me which so far I have refused. There does seem to be alot of galbladder along with the GERD. Asthma also seems to be a common thing and I have also found that GERD and heart disease seem to go together also. Well am off to bed before my head hits the key board.

Barb

Bill, Yes, I was saying that the test is for function of the gb. Hope you are doing well...

Hi

I am new to the board. I live in Denmark, Europe. I want to ask if anybody here have had the new LINX™ procedure, if anyone is in the trial? It could be interesting to hear if somebody already have benefited from it even though it isn’t on the market yet. Maybe someone knows a person which is thinking about having it. I am a sufferer from LPR Reflux and really hope it will be as successful for LPR as for GERD. I have read that acid reflux surgery doesn’t have the same high percent rate for LPR.

Hi Barb,
How are you doing tonite?
Barb, does your doctor say what is the benefit of a redo?

Bill - hope u get plenty of rest - hope everything go smoothly.

Bea & Denise - how are you both with your recent nissen surg?

Take care - everyone. :)
Marie

Hi 887766
I am Marie - What is LPR? What type of symtomp with LPR?
Oh - recently, I went to sign up for Linx trial out. i don't know if I qualify for it since my symptom seem to be sever. I have sour taste 7/24/ and soar-throat & burn throat - almost everyday.
There are 4 tests - I have completed 3 test so far. I have one more to go early next month.
Once, I have completed all the test - than, the doctor will talk to me more about linx and see if I a candidate for the procedure.

While I spoke to the doctor (Linx), he told me that there were 80% success with the first trial out.
This will be the second trial out. Sorry - I don't know anyone that have this procedure. I would like to know myself. While back I did some research about gerd surgery and somhow by accident, I stumble upon someone posted that they already had the Linx surgery. They were talking about their symptom, etc. Well, at the time, I didn't know about Linx. I have no idea what it is. I requested it - I should have bookmark it.

Recently, I learned more about Linx and tried to recall the site, but I don't remember the site.
If I come across it again, I will post it here.
Take care.
Marie

Hi all, wow lots of interesting topics going on. Welcome to the new person. I hope we can help you out with some helpful advice here. Can't remember who asked about what my doc thought a redo would do for me. He said it would be easier to swallow, but that on the other hand I would most likely have more acid coming up again if they loosened it halfway. That turned me off from it in Feb. of 2003 since I last saw my surgeon that did it. I never went back. My current GI wants me to see a doc at UW Madison or Mayo clinic about it. I had surgery 8 weeks ago and have no sick leave left so it is out of the question. Plus I think my boss would have a nervous breakdown. You should have seen her face when I told the hand doc was talking surgery. I assured her it wasn't going to happen though. My hand was much better last night. I just put the anti inflamatory cream on it and slept good. It's a bit more sore tonight after the brat fry today. I think it was too much for me. We are having another one tomorrow. For the first time in a week I am having the stabbing stomach pains again. I don't know if it is still from my surgery or if it is a hernia in my navel. I'll try to sit more tomorrow and maybe get the guys to hall more of the stuff. I hope it gets better because I have a fun filled weekend planned.

Bill how are you doing after your surgery? I am very interested to see how it helps you. It may change my mind about surgery. I don't know though because my symptoms arern't as bad as yours were and like I have said before I have learned to deal with it by drinking lots of liquids with food and then sucking on hard candy to clear the esophagus. Well better get to bed as I have anonther long day ahead tomorrow at work and then I get my hair done and then off to the out door theater with my husband and daughter to see 2 movies. It's one of our favorite summer activities. Saturday we will go scrapbooking from 11am-? and Monday will be our family cook out at our house. Hope you all have a good weekend. Barb

P.S. Denise I hope the allergy season goes by fast for both of us. Spending all day out side in the wind didn't do my allergies any good. My one eye keeps itching like crazy and of course the sinus drainage we know so well. Hope you feel better soon. Maybe the steroids the hand doc has me on will help my asthma too.

Wow

 Bill...that sounds a bit scary....I am glad that you are back in the hospital where they can leep an eye on you. Is it an infection in one of the incisions ? I am atrying to understand the hole thing you referred to..maybe I missed something. I am praying for you...Anne