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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 11/9/2010 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone
im from the chronic pain forum, i've posted here once before!

i get very bad reflux that sometimes the acid will end up in my lungs or ill wake up choking and not be able to stop for a few minutes.. it makess me feel very sick and no meds work to stop it. they normally work for a few days then stop.. my oesophagus becomes pretty inflamed with the reflux that it hurts to eat or swallow..

the doctor said its up to me but he thinks having the stomach valve or whatever wrapped is a good idea because i already have enough going on i dont need this too. nissan something??

whats this like? it it very painful or big surgery? how longs the hospital stay?

Thanks!
Posted 11/9/2010 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
How you react to the surgery depends on a lot of things, like your age, how extensive a surgery is needed, if you have comorbidities ... It IS major surgery, not to be taken lightly, but for most of us it's a big life-changer for the positive.

You can look online for good descriptions, even videos, of Nissen fundoplication to see what they are going to do. The main thing is have your GI doc recommend a surgeon who has loads of experience, preferably in the thousands and good outcomes.

There are several types of wraps, depending on the results of your tests. I have a weak swallow from having polio, so I had a partial wrap called a Toupet. Most people can swallow past a full wrap.

I had about the worst case because my stomach was stuck halfway into my chest. I am also a senior, so I was in the hospital for 4 days and needed lots of pain meds, but this did keep the pain very tolerable. Some people are sent home the day after surgery, which I would refuse even if I were young, because if there are going to be complications they will come the day after or the next day.

It will take a while after surgery for your lungs to heal, but you should feel lots better for having it.
Posted 11/9/2010 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
I say go for it. I had my Nissen surgery 7 days ago - and it was TOTALLY worth it.
I no longer deal with the choking, the burning - it's all gone - my blood pressure even dropped back into the normal range and I was able to stop taking my meds for both GERD and bp!! : )
Considering that GERD had basically taken over my life prior to my operation - this has been a HUGE improvement for me...and I'd do it again if I had to to get these results.

It's a big surgery, and the first day or two after are tough - but as I am the biggest crybaby in the world when it comes to pain- you can trust me when I say it's nothing you wont be able to deal with. I was up and walking laps around the ward the day of my surgery.
By day 5 you dont even need all the pain meds anymore.

So....totally...worth it.

I had mine done laproscopically.....5 little holes that they glued shut - no painful stitches and I stayed in the hospital for 3 days afterward.

This is not a surgery to be scared of - even though I was before I had it done. ; )
Posted 11/9/2010 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
I stayed in the hospital 24 hours.
It was not a bad thing in my opinion.
1. Breezy gown
2. IV
3. Thousand questions
4. Rolled into OR
5. night-night
6. wake up in a little pain and thirsty (they quickly correct that as soon as you're fully awake)
7. doze off and on
8. Home next day with pain meds that you don't need much of
9. restricted diet for about 2-3 months
10. I'm at 11 months post-op and I can eat anything I want!
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