Went with the Torax LINX

Good Morning,

I posted this link a few weeks back in another thread as others were also wondering how long it takes.  It maybe beneficial to call Torax and ask how long they guesstimate it will take for the FDA to make it's final decision on the Linx ?

I know so many are wishing things would move faster.

Take care,

Kitt

Hello everyone, im 26 years old and have been taking ppis since 13 years old. I have taken myself off of these meds due to side effects i was having. I have beat my acid rebound. I have been talking with the doctor that has actually done the first torax ever. He told me to hold out for the torax because the nissen would have side effects i wouldnt like. Torax is coming real soon but i dont know the exact date. Word on the streets around MN is about 5 or 6 months. I have a queston for EDOPTOR or anyone that had this done already. EDOPTOR or anyone that had this torax done: is everything still going well with the surgery? Are you having any complications that are making you wish you hadnt had it done? Can you always feel the magnetic Ring? I would love to keep in touch with you or anyone else that has had this done. Your response would be greatly appreciated. If it is possible an email would be great also. Thanks.

Hi Radiator and Grandior,

Thanks for the inquiry on how I am doing.

It has been 75 days since the surgery. Let's see. I think about 6-8 times since the surgery I have had indigestion with some reflux. But as I reported at the 45 day mark the typical cause is I simply ate too much- which makes me think I am very close to normal if not exactly normal. BTW the reflux resolves in a few hours with no residual pain as compared to pre LINX reflux lasting all evening and possibly feeling residual pain for a day or two after.

I can burp & vomit just fine. I can tell it is tighter there than before-which is good. Sometimes when I drink a big glass of water, i can hear the valve open to let the water in and then close tightly -which is good. I eat anything I want. I do need to make sure I chew fully, but I don't need to be nearly as careful as just 30 days ago - note I switched from "chew carefully" at 45 days to "chew fully" at 75 days. This means either I have adjusted my chewing or I don't have to be as careful now. I do chew more than before the LINX install and eat more slowly than before but I think that is a good thing. Before I would eat too fast. Now I am more in the same eating speed as my spouse-which is just fine.

I can drink a big glass of cold water and lay down flat and not feel the cold water come back up my esophagus like I could before surgery. I can bend over with a full stomach and nothing happens. For that matter I can jump on the treadmill after a meal and not have any pain. I have a pile of pillows on the floor now- I use just one or two and I sleep hard.

To be frank, my life has changed dramatically for the better. My surgeon told me the full healing process takes 90 days - And as I just stated here, at 75 days, things are better than at 45 days which is better than the post before. I was satisfied with the results of surgery at 45 days. Further improvements are just layers of frosting & whipped cream.

As with any new device one has to hold a bit of concern about how long it will last or if there will be any unexpected bad things. That said, when the LINXs is available in the US and you are a candidate- get it done.

Best to all

Post Edited (edopter) : 2/12/2012 12:32:37 AM (GMT-7)

Hi Edopter,

That sounds like you've made great progress.

Beyond healing, do you feel like the muscles of your esophagus have gotten stronger now that they have to push harder to open the linx? It seemed like initially you had things getting a little stuck at the linx, but now not so much.

Hi Speedygerd,

No restrictions on activities. I am lifting weights, running, biking as before - except I have more energy now. The docs are honest and only can report on the data of how well it has worked so far. So far about 4 years (or 5 years?) worth, with good results. There doesn't seem to be any permanent fixes for GERD -everything seems to, on average, fail at some point. So, I won't let myself have the illusion that the LINX changes this fact..yet :) Maybe if they wear out one can just get a replacement :)

Hi Speden,

I was wondering the same -if the healing required for the LINX surgery (or any of these LES valve strengthening GERD fixing surgeries: NISSEN, Toupet, EsophyX) is partially the muscles in the esophagus need to get stronger. Anyway, the surgeon told me that there is simply a healing process for the body to get used to the device. Right after surgery of course there is swelling. Then later the body is building some sort of containment skin around the device that can create some dysphasia. Then you are good to go - this is that 90 day process of healing. I am good to go at 75 days = now. If it gets better that is of course better!

Hi Radiator33

Dr Ganz and Dr Dunn? I am a recent transplant from MN :) I plan to make a report around the 90 day post surgery mark, since that was the total healing time. I hope it will be a rather boring "doing great" report :)

Cheers

Good Morning Friends,

Being from the great state of Minnesota and having  access to this company I just talked with them this morning and at this time they do not have any further information re when the Troax Linx sytem will receive FDA approval in the USA.

However they will be posting to their web site any updates as soon as they have  regarding the Linx.

The thing to remember is Torax medicial's LINX® system received unanimous recommendation from the FDA advisory panel which is far different from FDA approval for use in the USA. 

Here is the link to Torax:

http://www.toraxmedical.com/linx/

 

Here is a video of the surgery. Notice this patient has no hiatal hernia at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApLLC9R-ZIs

Edopter - congratulations on your continued success and thanks for posting your updates - please keep doing that.  Good to know that this new device is working great for you.   More than likely, i will go for this device one day...hopefully, they will start this soon in USA

Raj

Thanks Raj - I hope it is approved here soon so you can try it out.

Thanks Shooz - I read many (if not all) of your posts about LINX back in 2009 when you were trying it out. It really helped me! Thanks for the welcome to the Mag club :)

Hey Radiator,

Right there with ya! I'm anxiously awaiting this device becoming FDA approved and have my fingers crossed that it will happen this year as well! Do you have an email address? I'd love to keep in touch with you, especially since you seem to have a line on when it might be approved.

I just read an interview with a Surgeon who participated in the trial discussing how he thinks it will be very successful, etc. Check it out here:

http://www.ksat.com/news/GERD-Be-Gone-Magnets-treat-heartburn/-/478452/9281776/-/item/0/-/dqrjhsz/-/index.html

Thanks,

Lucas

 Just wondering if anyone here just cannot handle ppis, or am i alone. I was off of them for about two months but the reflux was tagging my chest so bad last night i was forced to go back on them. Today i took a 40 mg nexium and the nightmare started again. Extreme anxiety and agitation. Also my body feels crampy and i feel like im 90 years old, im so stiff. Not really sure what to do at this point but i feel like these meds are going to drive me insane. I hate this disease but i think i hate the ppis more.

Yeah i tried them all. They do the same thing. Most doctors dont believe a word i say and dont think that it is possible that they all do it. But they do. It cuts the heartburn out totally which is one positive. Been on these evil buggers for 14 years at high doses, think i became allergic to them.