Hello all. I have been reading some of the other members threads regarding this surgery. Some have been verry helpfull and hopefull but mostly people write about
their negative experiences, on the internet, and that scares me.
I have dealt with silent GERD for about 11 years now. My major symptom was heat palpitations and a cough/lump in my throat. The palps. would come and go, for months at a time, and now that I look back I would allways end up in the emergency room suffering from palps. after a huge meal. Its scary to feel your heard beat irraticly and not know why...?
I was diagnosed with having a sliding hiatal hernia along with erosive esophogitis in January of this year, 2009. The sores in my esophogus were healed as of the last scope that was done in April by taking Prilosec 2x a day.
After the monometry test in May, it was decided that I needed the surgery by my GI Dr. I have normal pressure in my upper esophogus but the hernia is the problem, bleeding out the stomach contents in to my esophogus. I cant have any pressure over the center of my chest or sleep even slighlty lower than sitting up. Eating now has become a chore too. The worst part is not being able to hold my 8 month old son rite now 
The diagnosis has been bitter sweet for me because before they diagnosed me with the HH/EE, the doctors thought that the pain/palps. were heart related. I was even mis diagnosed with having Mitro Valve Prolapse and low blood pressure through one of my major vessils . 
What a scare that was. I have had at least $50k in heart tests done since I started with "chest pain" and palpitations, about 11 years ago. Finally found a gret group of Dr.s and my heart is 100% not the issue.
The palpitations come and go with the acid reflux 
When I swallow and it feels like glass slowly working its way down my esophogus I usually get the palpitations. I find it hard to accept that a PPI pill can make the palps. go away but thats how it works for me. Prior to this discovery I was given heart medication including BETA blockers to treat the palps, though I have a seemingly healthy heart, which did nothing for me.
The General Surgeon that I was referred to has referred me to a Surgeon at USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. I have been told be a few DR.s that they are the best at teh Nissen procedure. I live in a suburb to the east of the city. I have a meeting with him on the 30th of this month. I have been given the request for surgery as treatment by my GI DR. and I'm now only waiting for the surgery date. Being on disability sucks. 
I'm scared. I'm scared because I have been suffering so long from this that it has caused me depression, panic attacks, and my blood pressure spikes at times too, and I just want to get back to enjoying my life and kids. Not dealing with the horror stories read about on the internet. Having found those stories though has given me a list of questions to ask the surgeon. I will make sure that he is aware of how tight he needs to make the wrap. I dont even know if I need the wrap considering that the GERD is caused by the HH. My brother also had a HH and he didnt get the wrap. They just pulled his stomach back down in to place. Its been over 6 months for him and he claims a bit of discomfort with feeling bloated but thats it.
I'm trying to keep positive though. I understand that the internet is a place for people to complain and most of the people that have had success with the surgery probably dont take the time to tell their success stories....at least thats what I'm telling my self 
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Rafael Lopez