Posted 4/12/2010 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
I'm scheduled to have the Hill Repair done in Seattle in Mid-May. I chose the Hill over the Nissen because the Hill accomplishes the same thing as the Nissen (preventing stomach contents from refluxing up into the esophagus), but unlike the Nissen it actually repairs the LES so that it does its job as nature intended, and the procedure also will repair my slight hiatal hernia. I'm aware of no advantages the Nissen has over the Hill, except that it's a simpler procedure (and therefore harder for mediocre surgeons to botch) and is performed across the country. If there's anything the Nissen is supposed to accomplish that the Hill doesn't, someone please enlighten me - my doctor hasn't mentioned any.
Almost all of my symptoms are throat-related. I almost never get heartburn. When the problem first hit (a couple years ago), I was out walking on the street when I started getting the sensation that my throat was closing up - I thought I was having a sever allergic reaction to something. Today, despite taking Prilosec every day and sleeping at an angle, I get the soar throats, perpetual hoarseness, occasional bouts of coughing and a feeling of having to clear my throat almost all the time, and difficulty swallowing due to stickiness in the throat. And, I occasionally "choke awake" while sleeping.
It sounds like you're in Seattle, which is the main area where the Hill Repair is available - might be worth investigating for you. Myself, I have to fly in from the E Coast. In any case, I'll be posting on how effective the Hill Repair was for me after the recovery period.
Xophe 4/12/2010