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Went with the Torax LINX

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 6/24/2013 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again, my mum was to have annual gastroscopy, but about 4yrs before she got the cancer after waking up on the table and near choking to death she refused to have it done. I never heard anyone say she had Barretts, as for reflux, mum was on medication for another issue and it could cause certain cancers, thats wh she had regular screening. She never really complained about reflux at all. My sister is 65 and now shows signs of changes in the esopheagus, so she is worried but she dont get reflux she gets spasm type pain alot, she has other issues though, my sister drinks, my mother was a smoker. Hopefully being I dont drink smoke and eat healthy I will escape anything sinister
Posted 8/25/2013 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. Am a gerd and gastritis patient withba small hiatal hernia. I am to have linx in the uk very soon. been having both retrosternal and egigadtric pain and discomfort. a lot of bloating. sometimes I feel like my digestion has shut down also a lot of pressure in my head ears and sinuses .abdominal pain.trouble is doctors cant seem to differentiate what symptoms are gastritis and which are gerd.
does anyone have similar symptoms. ?
am wondering if the linx will be entirely helpful.
Posted 7/19/2014 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
For those that are reading this particular topic and wondering about how I am doing post Linx install. Getting close to three years now and things are wonderful. Had a scope a year ago - things looked completely normal.
Posted 7/21/2014 8:56 AM (GMT 0)
I am just past the one year mark for my LINX and I must say I wish I could have done this ten years ago. I take zero PPI's, eat pretty much whatever I want, and only on very rare occasions do I have any discomfort swallowing, when I do its quickly resolved with water. I still take a tums now and then if I do something stupid and eat too much mexican food or spaghetti, but that is it. I had terrible GERD before the operation, on 40mg nexium for almost 10 years and 80mg nexium for the last two years as well as a host of other PPI's they tried to get to work.

Only minor issue is an incisional hernia which is probably as a result of me doing too much too soon. Its small and I will be getting it fixed soon.

Overall, I wish I would have done this years ago and would encourage anyone with terrible GERD to look into it.
Posted 7/31/2014 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the updates edopter and HONEYBADGER. I'll be talking to my GI about getting surgery done as well. I was first thinking about the Nissen, but I might end up going with the LINX instead. Based on what I read, it's just as successful in treating LPR, which is my major problem. Just curious whether either one of you had LPR symptoms along with your traditional GERD?
Posted 8/20/2014 6:07 AM (GMT 0)
I am contemplating doing either the Stretta or LINX procedure. At the moment have been diagnosed with reflux oesophagitis and chronic inactive gastritis. The nexium is working for the stomach but unfortunately I am getting heartburn in my chest. I am dosing 80mg and H2 and still no relief with heartburn.
I have had the stomach reflux for 6 years and have taken nexium 40's on and off but unfortunately the stomach is chronic as shown in biopsy. The heartburn has just started and its not showing any signs of improvement over the last 4 weeks. Just wandering what your advice would be for the either surgery and how you guys are tracking at the moment.

Thanks for info, without people like you who spend the time to inform your fellow sufferers we would be left in the dark.
Posted 8/24/2014 6:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hello gtothep82,

No, I did not have LPR - just GERD.

Best

Edopter
Posted 3/7/2015 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have barretts (small linear), LPR and GERD. I am going for a consult Thurs for the Linx. I also have a H. Hernia so still do not know if I am a candidate but I want something desperately for the GERD. I read on another thread where two have many problems with LINX, perhaps it was not placed correctly etc. Would like to hear more stories.

Best

Giani
Posted 3/29/2015 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Random checkin. Still doing great with LINX - strongly recommend it.
Edopter
Posted 5/3/2015 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi gtothep82 and gerdproblems, any updates? Did either or both of you end up going with surgery? How are you doing now?
Posted 5/6/2015 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am on my way to getting Linx too just been hearing great things about it just wished if someone can tell me if they had an mri with it yet since you can have one in a 0.7T mri.
Posted 5/7/2015 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi meenus, sounds like we may be on the same path.

My doc just submitted my info to insurance, so now I'm waiting to hear back. Would be kind of nice to have someone going through this at the same time!
Posted 5/7/2015 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Re MRI. The radiologist group we asked about would not take the risk of any amount. They even implied that you wouldn't get decent results at that figure anyway. You might want to ask about it if it is important to you.

Hope your insurance approval comes through for you. Three years ago, the insurance was approved, they paid, then they took the money back from the hospital. We wished that we had a copy of that approval before all of that. They did not pay for the device itself ($5,000). But I think things are better now and insurance companies are more accepting of the procedure.

Wish you the best. Please keep writing as it helps so many. This forum and moderators are a great bunch .
Posted 5/13/2015 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Updates:
Insurance denied me, so I'm going the route of self pay.

I was just informed by my surgeon that the Linx I will be getting is approved up to 1.5T and he has had >10 patients successfully undergo MRI with this version of the Linx in place.
Posted 5/14/2015 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
k_dawg I have a feeling my insurance will deny it too, and do not listen to anyone Manufacturer and FDA have both confirmed 0.7T maximum or it can cause injury or death. I did alot of research, and if an mri is needed it can be taken out with a simple laproscopic surgery. That was the only thing that was bothering me about it. Just do not take a chance, there are open MRIs that are 0.7T and will pick everything up but will take longer.

You should also ask your doctor to appeal, some insurances will approve after 2 or 3 appeals.

Anyway hope it works out for you.
Posted 5/15/2015 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Meenus, thanks for the advice. I definitely recommend everyone check with their doctor and the manufacturer regarding MRI safety. It should not be taken lightly.

I will obviously confirm this with the manufacturer, but according to my doctor this is the latest version of the Linx and has been confirmed safe by the manufacturer up to 1.5T. I don't have any need for an MRI so it's not really an issue and time of course will tell if what they say is true. I will keep you all updated.

Check this out though:
http://www.massdevice.com/news/medtech-approvals-fda-releases-january-2015-pmas?page=13

K
Posted 5/15/2015 11:00 AM (GMT 0)
I am new to this forum and new to blogs period. But I have non acid LPR with a hiatal hernia. I have daily headaches which I BELIEVE is caused by irritation to the vagus nerve (10 cranial nerve) in my throat. I have lost 40 pounds, don't eat after 4pm, sleep sitting up and use a handful of vitamins to buffer any acid PH issues but the problems keep getting worse. I was diagnosed two years ago. I am looking at the linx system but I understand your hernia can't be larger than 3 cm or you don't qualify. It appears that this system is being done all over the states but with little track record to this point and most of the posts to this site happened in 2011. Does anyone have any recent experience? Any information would be helpful. Thanks
Posted 5/16/2015 8:05 AM (GMT 0)
How fast is medicaid approving the linx?
Posted 3/14/2016 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Edopter - I'm scheduled to go in for the LINX in a month. Been dealing with GERD for 10 years. I'm a little nervous because I am not one to jump into surgery, but at this point I have no more options. I was wondering about the device eroding the esophagus. Why wouldn't that happen like it did with the Angelchik device?

Also, any advice?
Posted 6/12/2016 7:32 AM (GMT 0)
If you have side effects or complications from the LINX device, and would like to be part of a support group please search Facebook for "LINX Complications Support Group" and request to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641707639437121/

I like many others have had a somewhat common complication from the LINX called pooling which is where food and or liquid pool right above the LINX because the esophagus cannot push things through. This is often caused by excess connective tissue which builds up and becomes obstructive several weeks to several months after the surgery. Dilation is often attempted but more often than not provides only short-term relief and is often repeated until removal is eventually required when esophageal motility becomes so compromised that frequent spasms, chest pain, and food getting stuck result on an ongoing basis. Many people have suffered this under-reported and poorly studied side effect, and some have had to get the device removed and suffered permanent esophageal motility loss. If you have any questions or would like to share your experience please join our community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/1641707639437121/

All the best
Posted 10/29/2016 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Been nearly 5 years with the LINX. I will never quite forget the hell I went through with my 8 years of GERD. But I can report it is certainly now a distant memory. The LINX device works perfectly. I am not taking any medicine - just the LINX. I am so appreciative of the innovation of this product and all the products and innovators prior to LINX that drove the understanding of the problem to drive this particular invention. I am hopeful more research and more smart people will continue to build more knowledge and more solutions to this disease.
Posted 3/26/2024 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
edopter, hello from HI. I would very much like to hear how you are doing presently. I’ve been dealing with acid reflux for about 17 years. Been following LINX for almost as long. Up to recently I know there was one surgeon offering LINX in the islands but he has recently retired. I’m hoping there may be another still offering it, but I do not know their experience level. In any case, 13 years with LINX is quite a long time and I hope all has been good since you last posted. Thank you.
Posted 3/27/2024 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Olinda:

Unfortunately edopter hasn't been active on this Forum in over 7 years. You may want to post your own topic, but I have to warn you that the Forum has been very slow - almost non-existant. My suggestion would be to talk to your gastro doctor for their recommendation of a surgeon that performs the LINX procedure.

Sharon
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