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Barrett's, GERD & Surgery

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Posted 6/30/2009 5:25 AM (GMT 0)

I have been dealing with GERD/reflux for 20 years on and off. Sometimes when it was really bad I'd go to the Doc, but no one ever told me I should deal with it on a regular basis as there are complications. I was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus last year. Even with the meds I was on, I was still having symptoms of GERD and was told I was a candidate for surgery. I promptly missed my appointment with the surgeon, as the thought of it scared the heck out of me and I just wanted to avoid the whole thing. Well, now my meds are pretty much useless, even though I take them daily, as I have all my symptoms back with a vengance. I am now researching the fundoplication surgery. Seems to be split 50/50 with glad they got the surgery vs wish they never had. I don't want to end up with esophageal cancer, but I just can't believe the only other option is surgery. Anyone have any thoughts? Maybe I just need to vent. Thanks.

Posted 6/30/2009 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
hehe1nw

Welcome to HealingWell and please do feel free to vent away.  We have many members here who have had the surgery so do take the time to read through some of the threads and I believe you will find most of the members are glad they chose surgery.  However, this is your own personal decision.

I do wish you well and I know you will be hearing from some of our wonderful members who can give you more info on the surgery.

Again a warm welcome,

Kitt

Posted 7/1/2009 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
hehe1nw -
I have had 2 Nissens in 3 years. My first one was screwed up from the start. I blame myself for that because I didn't do my homework and find out the surgeons qualifications. The second go round I did. This time all is well and even with the complications I had I would do it again. It beats the heck out of living with heartburn and such.
If you have a well qualified surgeon who has done many of these all will be fine. You must find a surgeon who has done many of these with good results first.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/1/2009 4:50 PM (GMT 0)

hehelnw,

Welcome to a great support group! Your situation sounds similar to mine. I had GERD for 17 years, tried all the meds. until none of them worked anymore. I found out I had Barrett's esophagus and had the Nissen Fundoplication surgery in October 08. I have no acid reflux now. It has changed my quality of life. I will always worry about the Barret's, but am glad I know that for now I am not causing further damage and will have endoscopies done every 1-2 years to monitor the Barrett's. Look for a surgeon that has done a lot of these surgeries and that you have a good feeling/relationship with. Best of wishes to you!

amo

Posted 7/1/2009 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
hehe1nw,

I really did not suffer from heartburn but had a cough that got worse and worse.  To the point that I did not sleep and ultimately ending up with high blood pressure. 

At 1 point I was taking tablets 3 times a day for the GERD.  But nothing was helping.

My GI dr wasn't especially in favor of my having the Nissen because he was not sure that was the cause of my cough.

After lots of test, 24 hr ph, swallow etc etc and a trip to the lung dr to make sure nothing there.   The 24 hr ph showed that I coughed when I had reflux.  I told the gi dr that I could no longer live this way and that my blood pressure was skyrocketing.  I told him that I wanted to try surgery.  He referred me to a Bariatric surgeon that I had used previously.

I have chrons and had bowel resection 2 years ago and the surgeon was fantastic.  So I went to him and he told me that he was sure he could help me and offered a loose wrap Nissen.  He stated that he was good at the loose wrap and that would help with preventing side effects, like feeling things were stuck.

My advise is to check out all the bariatric surgeons in your area and make sure they have preformed lots of this surgery.  Then go for it.  Do not eat anything solid until the surgeon says to.  Oatmeal became my friend for 2 weeks.

Good luck to you.

Posted 7/2/2009 1:10 AM (GMT 0)

hehe1nw

For several months I had silent reflux (no pain or acid regurgitation)  My symptoms were stomach tenderness, shortness of breath, chronic sinus infections and uncontrollable cough.

I am 42 years old and was diagnosed with Barretts Esophagus in 2001.  When I was diagnosed, my reflux was so severe I couldn't even drink water without getting it.  My Dr prescribed Nexium 40 mg a day.  In 2005, I had a nissan fundoplication sugery to repair my hiatel hernia.  After the surgery my reflux symptoms disappeared.  My Dr took me off the Nexium.  I continued to have a yearly endoscopy, which the results never changed.  In March 2008 the endoscopy revealed the Barretts is significantly worse.  Dr wasn't concerned with the results and told me to come back in a year for a followup endoscopy.

I was having stomach tenderness, persistent cough, hoarseness, sinus infections and shortness of breath so severe I ended up in the ER.  My family Dr ordered lung xrays, whooping cough test, pulmunary functions tests which were all normal.  Finally, I mentioned the worsening Barretts to her.  She wanted to know what the GI Dr had suggested I do and what medications I was taking.  I told her that he took me off of the nexium in 2005.  She felt I shouldn't have been taken off of it.  She suggested I get a second opinion.  The Dr she sent me to for the second opinion also told me I should never have been taken off the nexium.  He ordered an upper GI which showed I had another large hiatel hernia and he placed me back on the nexium.  He also suggested I make an appointment with a Dr at UPMC who specializes in Barretts esophagus.  More tests revealed my sphyncter valve was not working at all and my esophagus was in bad shape, not to the cancer stage yet. Thank God.  In October 2008  I had an esophagectomy.  A portion of my esophagus was removed and the remaining was reattached to my intestines (roux-n-y).  I no longer use my stomach.  Since the surgery I feel great.  The cough and shortness of breath is gone, I am not hoarse and haven't had a sinus infection since the surgery.   

Please make sure you get a dr that is qualified and will listen to your concerns

Posted 7/2/2009 6:22 PM (GMT 0)

Ceetay,

I am glad you are doing better. I am 47year old female that had the Nissen Fundoplication in Oct. 08 after having GERD for 17 years. I was diagnosed with Barret's Esophagus last Aug.08. I was just curious, because I worry about cancer, did you have any dysplasia? Did your Nissen Fundoplication come undone when your symptoms started coming back? I was also wandering can you eat very little now that you have had a esophagectomy? I hope I am not being too nosy, but I am concerned about these things and it seems there are few people on this GERD sight that talk about Barrett's.

Continued good health,

amo

Posted 7/2/2009 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ceetay,
I was just diagnosed with Barrett's with mild dysplasia a few weeks ago. I'm on nexium 40mg twice/day, which I know is high, but I'm not complaining right now. This whole thing is scary. On top of that I've been a chronic pain patient with failed back surgery for a few years, and i just lost my health insurance. I had my back surgery done at UPMC, so I was wondering if you would mind sharing the name of the doctor who's the specialist in Barrett's? Hopefully, I'll get some kind of insurance down the line (i'm in the process of applying for SSD) and I may want a second opinion. I don't live in Pittsburgh, but it's close enough to drive and I've got a relative there I can stay with. Did they do a complete work-up on you or just an office visit?

You're being bombarded with questions! Sorry about that! I am glad you found better help. Right now my local GI wants to see me in 3 months, and repeat the endo in 6 months. I've not had chronic GERD or even acid reflux except maybe in the past year, so this thing - the Barrett's and dysplasia - is a new arena and I've got a lot to learn.

Thanks!

PaLady
Posted 7/6/2009 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all your reply's. I'm a bit concerned as my GI Dr said - you have Barrett's, go see the surgeon and come back in 3 years for a follwo up. I'm thinking I may need to find someone else who I feel I can talk to a bit more. The surgeon who I'm going to consult with is a general surgeon, not specifically GI. I Don't know what that means exactly. I definitely need to continue to research this. It seems to me the Barrett's should be addressed. I know there are treatments for it. Think I need to go back to the GI Dr.
Ceetay - You've been through so much, I hope things continue to improve.
Posted 7/6/2009 6:10 AM (GMT 0)
Heather,
I'm new to this GERD/Barrett's stuff myself, but I can tell you after have a double lumbar fusion that failed (and I went to a teaching hospital) I would never go to a general surgeon for something as specific as Barrett's. I would definitely want a specialized GI surgeon. Maybe I'm off base. Others here have way more experience. I'm hoping to learn from them.

PaLady
Posted 7/6/2009 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,
I did go to a general surgeon who was highly recommended by my GI doctor. I was referred to a different general surgeon by my family doctor, who wanted to get the show on the road, so to speak. I went back to my GI doc, and opted for a surgeon who was specifically recommended by him. The surgeon had 300+ successful Nissens under his belt, and with further research I found him to be well recommended by everyone I spoke with. It is vitally important to find an experienced and skilled surgeon for this procedure. There are surgeons who will say they can do it, but who shouldn't.
Good luck with your search!
Denise
Posted 7/6/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all,

Denise, good for you.  Yes, always do your own reseach and make sure the surgeon is truly experience and has also performed lots of laproscopic surgery.  From everything I have read there are lots of those who only went to the dr. recommended, without question.  Ask if they perform lapro surgery.  If not, keep looking.  I realize that sometimes lapro is not the way to go, but my surgeon stated that if anyone could perform my bowel resection by larpo he could.  Might sound cocky, but I would rather have a confident surgeon than one who isn't or hasn't performed lots of whatever surgery you are having.

Good luck all.

Posted 7/8/2009 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
hehe1nw
Thanks for the well wishes. Good health to you.



amo
I had mild dysplasia. My nissan was still intact. I didn't have the typical sign of reflux. My main symptom was a persistant cough. Since the esophagectomy and roux-n-y I eat smaller portions. I have to take 9 childrens gummy vitamins a day and a b-12 shot once a month. Although the thoughts of surgery scared me the thoughts of getting cancer scared me even more. I am thankful I had the surgery and have no signs of the Barretts. At my six month followup my surgeon was pleased with all of my test results and recovery. Good health to you


PAlady
My surgeon is Rodney Landreneau. He sees patients at the Hillman Cancer Center across the street from UPMC Shadyside. I had a complete workup---endoscopy, ultrasounds, chest x-ray, upper GI, stomach emptying, nuclear imaging, pulmunary functions tests and echocardiagram. blood work. Th chest x-rays and upper GI were performed the day of my office visit. The rest of the tests were done locally. The stomach emptying test takes about 4 hours. I don't mind answering your questions. I had alot of questions when I was diagnosed. Good health to you.
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