New to Group - Not to GERD

Hello!  My name is Kim and I’m a 40-ish working mom in Ohio.  I have had GERD symptoms for as long as I can remember.  I was “diagnosed” with stomach/duodenal ulcers in high school, so I’ve lived with these kinds of symptoms for a long time.  I’ve been off and on different medications for many years.  Tagamet, Nexium, Prilosec and Zantac mostly.  Exclusively Prilosec for many years now, until about a month + ago when I started having some breakthrough regurgitation and burning and occasional chest pain.  My PCP added in Zantac in the evenings, which only helped a little bit. 

 

I saw a GI surgeon a week ago who ordered a Barium Swallow and EGD w/Bravo.  The Barium Swallow was on Friday and the EGD/Bravo is on May 16^th.  Then I see the doc for follow up/results/recommendations on June 6^th.  I’m having a REALLY hard time waiting this long, although for as long as I’ve had these issues I guess it isn’t that long at all. 

 

In our first appointment he said he was basically working me up for a Nissen, which is what he does mostly.  I’m lucky in that I work in a GI Medical/Surgical Oncology unit at a large university hospital/cancer center and work pretty closely with the Nurse Practitioner for this particular surgeon, and I see them both in our clinic every week or so. 

 

I just discovered this fantastic forum when doing some research on the recovery expectations of the TIF.  I’m trying to weigh the differences between the TIF and the regular Nissen. 

 

I’ll be continuing to read and research and share.  Any advise or suggestions or tips are gladly welcomed! 

 

   Thanks in advance!!!

 

 

Thanks Joy. From what I've read so far i'd agreeith what you say about TIF.

My doc hasn't ordered a motility study yet. But, like I said, I'm blessed to work with his NP a few days a week, so maybe I'll ask her tomorrow.

Hi Kim,
Welcome to Healing Well! I'm sure when Joy reads your post, as she applauds your decision to improve the quality of life with the Nissen surgery, she's still wondering when you will have your Manometry. Why? Because if by chance you have undetected swallowing problems and they do a full wrap, you could have trouble eating/swallowing after the surgery. That would be a good question for your surgeon's NP. Generally the Manometry is the test that helps your surgeon decide which version of the surgery is right for you.

It's great that you work in a big medical center, as it provides you with lots of resources and information. I'm assuming the surgeon you are using specializes in these surgeries? Do you know how many he has done?

I'm glad you've joined our forum! I joined it over two years ago when I was researching the surgery as well. I had a full wrap done in February 2009. People here helped me tremendously, both in making the decision, and during my recovery. I decided that I'd like to stick around and help others the way I was helped. There aren't many active forums out there, and some of the posts I did read were very scary, and not really typical of most outcomes. People here seemed very positive, yet realistic.

We'll be here to welcome you to our Wrapped Club when you come out of surgery! May 31st isn't long to wait!
Denise

Thanks so much Denise (and Joy!) for the info and encouragement! I have been doing a ton of reading here over the last couple of days. This is a fantastic group and I'm so happy to have found it!

I will ask about the manometry when I see her on Thursday. I remember her (the NP) saying something about being happy for me that he ordered the Barium Swallow and BRAVO pH test, so that I didn't have to have the manometry. Maybe at our institution, those two tests are sufficient? I'll ask for sure.

I am lucky to work where I do and with the people I work with. While in my clinic, our specialty is GI Oncology, the surgeons we have do a bit of everything. My surgeon is youngish, but he was hired to be the GERD Guy. I didn't get a number of how many Nissens or TIF's he has done, but I know he has never had to do a re-do on his own work ... he has done re-dos on others work though. I have great confidence in him and really am not worried.

I am counting the days, two weeks from today! I know the nerves will kick in closer to then, but reading everyone's experiences here helps a lot. Ideas on what to expect and tips on how to deal. The encouragement to just ride out your recovery. What an awesome group!

I know full well that when it comes to these things there is no normal, and I am encouraged by the wealth of information and support I have found here. I only hope I can reciprocate!

Thanks all and I will keep you posted. Hope to see ya'll around in some other threads too!!

Kim

The manometry told my surgeon I had a third non-productive movement in my esophagus. If he had done the full wrap I'd been in trouble with me trying to swallow pass the tighter wrap. He did a looser wrap and I have no swallowing issues.