4th nissen!!

I had my scope with my new specialist today. Not anything I wanted to hear. I went back as usual, prepped, sedated. Woke up in the middle, fought, tried to pull the scope out. They gave me more sedation but didn't help. I struggled the whole time. He said he gave me enough sedation to put someone on a ventilator. I guess I'm a fighter! Ha He said my wrap is broke down (not sure what that means), twisted, and partially herniated, not only loose. I also had a ton of bile in my stomach. He prescribed me cholestyramine for the bile. He's also worried about my blood pressure. My bp is really low when I lay down, shoots up 20 when I sit, and 30 when I stand. He said it could all be related so he's having me make an appt with neurophysiology for an autonomic function test. One thing I don't understand is why this stuff was not seen on my last scope a few months ago. How does a wrap break down? Does that mean come undone? I'm so frustrated. It's one thing after the next. So he said I'll be looking at a 4th nissen to repair the damage.

Hi Michelle,

Sorry to hear you're still having so many problems. I guess it's possible that your wrap was coming undone, and with further eating, etc., it began to twist and more issues were created.

Do you have someone in mind to do the procedure? My guess is that a fourth Nissen will be trickier, and you need a great surgeon. Do you live near any big centers where they're used to working on tough cases? You'll want to select your surgeon very, very carefully, as it will be a more challenging surgery and you'll want only the very best working on you.

Sorry to hear about the bile, too. I wonder what is causing that to happen? You must have experienced lots of nausea from that.

Take care, my friend. Hang in there. You've dealt with a lot already, but you can get this taken care of once and for all.

We'll all be here to provide support and encouragement!

Take care,
Denise

Denise, I don't live near my specialist now. It's a 2 hour drive but I will trust any surgeon he refers me to. He's an amazing doctor! I'm not sure what is causing the bile but my main symptom was nausea. I tried the new med tonight. It tasted ok but was so thick and gritty I had to rinse a few times. I ate some noodles after I took it and I feel better, still a very full feeling but not as nauseous.

Bill, you have to be faster than that to catch up to me! Lol I can tell my wrap is irritated and my throat is sore from the fight. The nurse said I kept pointing at my iv for more meds but they gave me the max dose. He said he's going to put in my notes the next time to use general anesthesia. He was not very happy the only test I had before the first nissen was a scope, said it could have given me more problems than what I originally had. My last nissen the surgeon spent 45 minutes removing scar tissue so I'm a little afraid to see what's in there now! Oh my gosh...your colon?!?! I didn't know that was possible. I wonder how that would work as your esophagus. I'm ready for all of this to be over with...as I'm sure you are too. It's just odd that I've been going to my gastro and surgeon for 3 years and they said everything was pretty much normal but I go see the new specialist and with 2 appts he has a list of things wrong. Oh and he said my anxiety symptoms could be due to my blood pressure, not anxiety. I'm too young to deal with bp issues!! LOL Well I hope things work out for the 3 of us! It's been one wild ride.

Glasslady
Sounds like esophageal spasms. very common after this surgery. there are a couple meds they can try to ease them or drink something warm, not hot and it may ease it also.
Take care
Bill

Michelle,
Are you taking Carafate or Carafate Suspension? I know that it's generally subscribed for bile reflux. Just wondering. I find it very good when my stomach or wrap are irritated. Some don't like it, but I wouldn't do without it...you never know when you might need it! Also, my doc says it's very benign, and most is excreted without getting into your system at all.

I hope you have an excellent outcome, and are happily wrapped ever after!

Glasslady,

Don't let all this discussion of problems worry you. Bill and Michelle are in the tiny minority of Nissen patients who have so many problems. It does happen, but it's not common. We do wish they didn't have to deal with all that, don't we?

When I had my Nissen I was recovering from a lung infection. On top of that, I have asthma, so I coughed long and hard for the first two and a half months. I was sure I'd coughed out the stitches and ruined my wrap. Thankfully, that's not the case. If my wrap can stay put, yours can, too!

Have a good day, both of you!
Take care,
Denise