Tif surgery 9 weeks later

Glass,

I am sorry to read about your throat pain.  I am wondering where your at as far as diet ?  I have read other posts over the years from members who expeience post-op throat pain so you are not alone.

For the Throat Pain,you might  try some Slippery Elm or Sassafrass Tea and/or Aloe Vera Juice!!

Do let us know what your scope results show. 

Be Well,

Kitt

Hi Glass --

I had the TIF procedure in August, and the EsophyX device really scraped the !@# out of the inside of my mouth and throat. Took a couple weeks to heal. Is the pain you're describing something like an abrasion, or is it like reflux?

-Bruce

Steve,
What were your symptoms before the surgery? The symptoms that you are experiencing now - are they different from the ones before the surgery?

So, the symptoms are different .. since there is no burning in the throat anymore .. but there is lump now after 7 weeks out post-surgery ..

I would suggest you get the pH tests done again to make sure that this indeed is reflux related - or something else ...

I was never told that I had LPR over the last 11 years. I've always been able to keep the reflux under control with nexium. The lump in my throat seems to me to be swelling of the vocal cords(after a little research) Bruce did you have LPR before the tif surgery? I'd also like to know if anyone out there has had this surgery done twice. My doctor told me at one time that they could tighten it if it didn't get better.

The surgeon warned me ahead of time that it would be quite possible to have cuts or sores in my mouth or throat afterwards. So, I'm assuming that this possibility is a "known issue" with the use of the device. The only slight issue I had during the surgery was that one of the fasteners "misfired", which is also common. So, I have a total of 17 fasteners instead of the usual 16.

I've had significant LPR symptoms since 2008. The surgery did improve things a bit, but since my upper esophageal muscles aren't closing tightly enough to stop the reflux (hence, the LPR symptoms), even a "normal" amount of reflux is problematic.

By definition, any symptoms involving the throat are LPR. I don't doubt that your vocal cords are affected, but this is usually apparent by the appearance of hoarseness. It sounds like what you're describing is "globus sensation", which is somtimes another symptom of reflux. Feels the same as when you get choked up with emotion, and there's a golf ball in your throat?

I agree with PPI-LESS...I think an EGD and Bravo study would be helpful at this point.

-Bruce

Yes, I see that Endogastric Solutions groups the symptoms all together into a catch-all GERD...which is correct, since all those symptoms are potential manifestations of a malfunctioning LES. Many physicians hate the term, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, because the symptoms many times are subtle, defy diagnosis or treatment, etc. Using the term means they have to "commit" to a problem they may not be able to solve. I think if you're looking for a differentiation between the terms, besides the areas of the GI tract the reflux impacts, is that LPR symptoms can occur independently of -- and even in the absence of -- the typical GERD symptom of heartburn.

If you have both symptoms, using either GERD or LPR is also a quick way of describing your issues without going into lengthy descriptions. Not very scientific, but helps with the typing! ;-)

In my case, Nexium does work in relieving 90% of my symptoms, but at the cost of reducing me to a vegetable laying in a recliner with a cold washcloth on my forehead, with massive headaches and waves of nausea. PPIs have a long half-life in the body, and I can continue to have these headaches for 3-4 weeks after cessation. From 2008-2009 I used both Zantac and famotidine effectively, until I developed a tolerance and they stopped working. I even tried returning back to H2 blockers after over a year had passed, and the tolerance effect was still present.

I follow you in your logic about the medication, but it doesn't eliminate the possibility that surgery won't help your LPR symptoms. LPR patients have the symptoms because the laryngo-pharyngeal sphincter also doesn't close tightly, in addition to the LES. It's extremely difficult for the surgery to eliminate 100% of reflux, so even a "normal" amount of reflux can still reach the delicate tissues of the throat. It's a crap-shoot...some folks are lucky, and others not.

I think the Nissen has a greater chance of eliminating the bulk of the reflux than the TIF. If you find the page on EndoGastric Solution's website where they have the chart that shows the degrees of reflux, and the methods of treatment, the TIF fits in a narrow area ahead of the Nissen. EndoGastric Solutions calls it a "bridge" procedure, but not one that is as effective as a Nissen.

Yes, I've seen the video testimonials. Watching those before I had the surgery made me cry, because I was filled with hope.

I, too, had the same thought-process as you shared in another post of yours...that the TIF still allowed for further, more invasive surgery in the future. The TIF may work for you, but it's good that you're also armed with all the facts ahead of time.

-Bruce

If my memory were good enough :( I could probably count on one hand the times I've had heartburn. I remember one time specifically, in 2009 when my wife and I were on a long car trip. Probably something to do with the car seat and poor posture over several hours. Occasionally I would note a non-specific ache in the general vicinity of my left lung. But generally speaking, I've really never experienced this symptom. My throat has always been the primary focus of the condition.

-Bruce

Zantac = 150mg, famotidine = 20mg.

Now, the unknown here is the degree of reflux at that time. It's entirely possible that my reflux wasn't as serious as later, but, I didn't begin this therapy until I had a complete breakdown of my voice with laryngitis...so it was perhaps serious enough. It took perhaps 9-10 months for my vocal cords to completely heal.

So, the history is something like this:

11/08 - first visit to ENT, Zantac prescribed
~2/09 - switched to famotidine after a GI suggested this was better (lower dosage?)
~10/09 - vocal cords nearly fully healed, no more meds
~2/10 - LPR symptoms begin returning, accelerating voice symptoms over following months
~4/10 - globus sensation appeared
~10/10 - globus sensation disappeared after two weeks of omeprazole
11/10 - lost voice for second time (until present)
~11/10-5/11 - Dexilant, Aciphex, and Nexium
8/11 - TIF

-Bruce

Post Edited (bcfromfl) : 1/9/2012 4:12:32 PM (GMT-7)

Hi!

I know this is FIVE years later. But I'd love to know how things are going and IF you had the nissen surgery afterward?

Would love to hear an update, Glass.

Thanks!