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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 7/27/2011 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you've got a prize of a surgeon! :)
Best of luck in your visit tomorrow.
Posted 7/27/2011 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Rita,
Oh my, I wish there was something I could add to the list of well wishes that everyone here has left for you... I am so sorry you have to go through this everyday, and I do understand what you feel, maybe not exactly but close...
I am praying for you to have good news when you visit the surgeon tomorrow.. it would be an absolute blessing for you to hear that you can be scheduled and this time next week all of this will be a bad memory...
Hope you have a good nite and a wonderful morning..
Sandi
Posted 7/27/2011 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rita,

Hope you have a better night tonight. Glad you're going to get in to see your surgeon tomorrow. That'll give you a lot more information, and hopefully you'll soon be wrapped.

Take care,
Denise
Posted 7/27/2011 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Today is the appointment and I hope the news is good and you will have a date for surgery.  I turly hope it is a go for Friday as I know how much you want to feel better.

My prayers are with you.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 7/27/2011 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I did have a good night - a decent night - last night and I really don't know why. I figured I'd not get to eat much of anything "fun" if I have the surgery so I ate a chicken sandwich from a BBQ place (BBQ sauce on the side), a few bites of potato salad and some cole slaw and then later last evening I baked this little chocolate cake that has no egg or milk in it and I ate a piece.

I kept waiting to get sick in the night but I didn't. I awoke this morning with some acid and a little nausea but nothing like I'd had for the past couple of months since the stricture repair and it got better after I got up.

I'm headed to the surgeon this afternoon and I feel better than I've felt in ages. I haven't done anything different than I have before at all. No new meds, no change in anything and my food last night was even worse than my diet has been being in recent weeks.

I simply do not understand. What am I supposed to say to him now? The acid and pain had not let up for close to two months and now on the day I see the doc to tell him how I feel, I feel better.

Should I have the surgery if I feel okay today?

This is just plain weird but hubby says it won't last. I'll get sick again
and I need to have it done.

I'll tell you later how it goes.
Rita
Posted 7/27/2011 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rita,

I'm with your hubby on that one. Something like what you're dealing with doesn't go away just like that. It's the history of your pain that's what you need to tell the surgeon. Sure you'll have a good day here and there (especially with all of us sending prayers and good vibes your way!), but you need to have a consistently comfortable life.

Hope your visit with the surgeon goes well.
Yes. Go ahead with the surgery!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 7/27/2011 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Rita-
I agree, it didn't fix itself. You just finally got the feel better vibes from all of us. Hope you get the news you want today.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/27/2011 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
I just feel kind of stiff and wish the appt were over and done with. I'm really curious what he will tell me himself from both test results. I do know I got exponentially worse after the last stricture stretch and that I can't breathe deeply without this horrendous gurgling sound coming from somewhere just below my LES. And the "belching" never stops. I think I've started taking it all for granted - as if it were the norm.

I guess when I'm not in horrible pain I connect that concept to being "fixed". I know I'm not but it's really been a long time since I've had any relief at all similar to what I feel today. But, I haven't eaten anything today yet and chances are that will change.

Maybe I can express it all to him better today if I'm not in so much pain.
We'll see and I'll let you know.
Posted 7/28/2011 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Rita-
Looks like I am going to join you and the rest getting this surgery soon. The manometry confirmed my LES is wide open. No pressure reading from it at all.
thinking of you tonight and curious as to what you found out today and if your good day continued or not. Sure hope it did, you are needing some relief and one day is better than non. It also lets you know how it will feel when you are repaired and healed.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/28/2011 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Bill, I hope you get your surgery soon. I did speak with the other local lady who had her NF done here and she is very pleased with this doctor.

I saw the surgeon yesterday (Wednesday) and I believe I'll be okay with it all. He was reassuring but said the "average" of my manometry test showed while my LES was very weak it was not wide open "all" the time. I suppose if it were wide open all the time a person would drown in their own acid or choke to death on refluxed food.

Surgery is next Tuesday afternoon. Let me know when yours is if you would.

Have you had NF done once already, Bill? I can't remember. Too many stories on the forum and my memory isn't that good at this point. Are you still in the hospital as well?

Odd that people connect like this in such a great big world

Take care,
Rita
Posted 7/28/2011 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Rita-
Good to hear you have yours scheduled. The wait is the worse part. This will be my 3rd Nissen. First was 6/06 and redo was 5/09. I am still in the hospital and am having a EGD done sometime today. Hope I can get mine done while I am here. Guess I will find out what they plan on later today.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/28/2011 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Rita-
I have the same issues after my gallbladder was removed. I did notice a slight increase during the first 4 months or so after my first Nissen, but with my redo nothing changed. I believe that was because my body had already adjusted to the new design already. I too had my tonsils removed as an adult and a month before that had a deviated septum and sinuses fixed.

I don't mind reading long posts as long as they aren't gigantic 1 paragraph types. That just makes it hard to stay focused on reading it. I agree with the GERD making dealing with our other problems much tougher to deal with. It throws a curve ball at us any time it can.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/28/2011 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I just deleted a long post (replying to Bill) after receiving a phone call from the surgeon's office saying my surgery has been moved up from next Tuesday to next Monday. It is scheduled for 7:30 am.

I'm headed to the hospital now for pre-op and "pay-up" lol. I made that one up. Pretty funny, eh!

I did start back on Nexium to see if it helps with the terrible gastritis I've had since the last stricture stretch and I hope it does help.

In reply to the good day I was having yesterday - forget about it. I woke up this morning throwing up and in tears from the pain. It's pretty bad when a half-way good day scares the you know what out of you.

I'm through with waiting now. I see the possibility of some relief come Monday and I'm holding on to it at least for now.

Thanks Bill and everyone. I appreciate it so much.
Posted 7/28/2011 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
I will try not to write more than one paragraph. I'm sure everyone is very busy.
Bill, please don't feel you need to reply to me.

Thanks, again.
Rita
Posted 7/28/2011 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Rita, feel free to write as much as you like. The way you had written it earlier was great. Easy to read with the way you spaced it out. I have seen some that are about a page long without any breaks. that is hard on the eyes and hard to stay focused on.LOL!

So glad you got moved up a day. Even one day is awesome. I just talked to one of the PAs and told her if I can get mine repaired here I would like to do it. She said we will see what the EGD shows and that they have been discussing doing an exploratory to make sure there is nothing leaking that isn't showing up on the scans.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/28/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Tell them to do the wrap while they're in there, Bill. :)

Rita, I'm so glad that you're getting fixed up. Make sure to ask the doctor for your liquid pain medicine and anti-nausea medicine.
Posted 7/28/2011 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rita,

So pleased to hear your surgery date has been confirmed.
Stay positive & focus on the fact that Monday will be here before you know it & your suffering is about to end.

Will be praying for you over the next couple of days.

Take care

Lynda
Posted 7/28/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Rita I'm so glad to hear you have a date in mind! Also, just to commiserate, that exact thing happened to me. I've been to the emergency room twice now with horrible reflux. The first time, the pain was so bad that I called an ambulance - only to have the pain subside the instant the ambulance wheels started rolling. The second time, I was explaining how I felt like I was going to die to the triage nurse when the pain went away like the flip of a switch! Oh, this GERD and it's "hilarious" effects!

In all seriousness I'm thrilled for you! May you have a speedy recovery and a flawless surgery :)
Posted 7/28/2011 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know how I feel. I was happy the surgery got moved up but after some confusion at my pre-op appointment I got really nervous. I had four phone calls from the hospital and none of them knew anyone else was calling me.

I am not amused.

I won't lie about it either. I am very scared about the surgery, nausea, pain, no food, the doc leaving town two days after my surgery. Afraid it won't really fix everything and most of all wondering what these years of GERD have done to me as a person. My attitude has changed.

At this point I just want to wake up without acid eating me alive and my head not pounding like a jack hammer. A heart that wouldn't race would be nice as well.

Will life ever be the same again? I guess I'll have to wait and see.

Best to everyone.

Post Edited (halloweenbaby) : 7/28/2011 3:17:47 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/28/2011 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Ashley. I didn't see you post till after I wrote above. I'm just not the person I was even 6 months ago and I want my old self back. I'm tired of tests that show nothing wrong with me except for GERD etc.

I want to move on and do what's right and get the surgery over and start to recover and try to get my life back. It's just no fun living like this every day.

I want you to know I really do appreciate your concern and your kind words.

It has to get better.

Rita
Posted 7/28/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Rita,
I was terrified of the surgery and recovery. I had heard so many terrible stories about it all. On the day of the surgery as I walked into the hospital I was nervous as all get out! Then I told myself this was it and there was no backing out. I felt a strange peace come over me and I wasn't frighten anymore. After that everything was a breeze and I just went with the flow.

Just remember: breezy gown, IV, questions, nighty-night, wake up with a little pain, ice chips, pain meds, and No more GERD!
Posted 7/29/2011 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
WOW! I just thought of a question I haven't asked my doctor or anyone else. How can I ever have a scope of my stomach after the NF surgery? Is it still possible? Someone let me know as I also have gastritis.

I've had a very strange day today. Tried to have a good one and posted about it earlier but it went downhill when I got out and played like I felt well. It doesn't work. If you have physical issues they have to be fixed if possible.

It does get surreal at times. Seems as if I've become a case of GERD/HH with a person hooked on rather than the other way around. So hard to remember I am not the GERD and the GERD is not me.

Sometimes I don't remember anything else. It's 7:15 pm and I'm already dreading waking up tomorrow. No one should have to live like that.

It will get better. It will get better. It will get better.
Posted 7/29/2011 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Rita-
They can EGDs easily. I can't remember how many I have had since my first Nissen, but it's a lot. They can even kind of see the wrap, the basic shape of it anyhow.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 7/29/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rita,
I had one about two years after my Nissen, and as Bill said, they can get a halfway decent view of the wrap at the same time. I was not anxious to have one right away (during the healing time) as I didn't want to disturb anything. My GI doc's philosophy is not to touch the healing wrap unless something is terribly wrong. Some GI's/surgeons want to go right in and take a look. Glad mine wasn't one of those.

Anyway...I'll be going on vacation tomorrow, and won't be around to wish you a great surgery. You're almost there! It WILL get better.
Good luck!
Denise
Posted 7/29/2011 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Rita
I am so happy for you, to have the surgery just a few days away.. that was what I did as I waited for mine.. I counted the days.

I was a bit scared of the whole thing but I was so anxious to have the NF done and be able to live again instead of just exist.. that was my goal.. and I reached it..

I try not to think of the small sacrifices we have to make in order to achieve our goals.. the diet was the most significant of all.. I know at times I almost whined about wanting a piece of pizza, but I have gotten to that point and I can honestly say that I would do it all again to achieve the same results.. I am at 4 mos. post op and I can eat most anything now.. have to watch the size of the bite and I still have to chew chew chew.. but NO GERD, no Asthmatic symptoms.. no sitting up in a chair to sleep, no throwing up acid... YEAH!!!!!!

When you wake up in the morning you may not be able to have anything but Cream of Wheat for a while and you will have to watch your diet for awhile, but, you won't have acid mouthwash anymore...

You will wake up in the mornings and feel like a weight has been lifted..

I hope you know I am not just being a cheerleader for you, I am being truthful and telling you how I felt before and right after surgery.. sure there was some pain and gas and difficulty moving for a few days.. but when something happened that I didn't know about or it worried me, this is the first place I would come.. to my friends who knew what it was like to have had the surgery and whether it was normal to have "gurgling" in my stomach (it was).. this forum and Joy, Kitt, Denise and Bill were a life jacket for me when I was drowning in questions that I knew were not serious enough to call the doctor for...

We will all be here for you too, so don't be shy.. ask as many questions as you like.. everyone will be here for you.. we know what it is to walk into something unknown..Good luck, keep in touch and have a good nite and weekend...
Sandi
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