New to GERD forum - GI doc in Denver?

Hi, all. I'm new to this forum. I usually am on the fibromyalgia forum, but an endoscopy recently showed gastritis, esophagitis, medium-sized hiatal hernia, numerous stomach polyps (non cancerous - they said most likely caused from 10+ years of PPIs), and extremely nonfunctional LES. Also had a barium swallow and the radiologist said I'd have to be at about 35-37 degrees to prevent acid reflux, and just raising my bed 6-8 inches wouldn't help me any.

I am trying to read here about preparations for or subsequent problems from a Nissen fundoplication. My GI doc said I may not be a candidate for that because I had gastric stapling in 1997 and the Nissen might make it too hard for food to pass through. However, I know some of the staples have come undone, because I can eat a LOT more now than I could after the stomach surgery. After the stomach surgery, I had an emergency endoscopy for stuck food, and I believe the staples were knocked out or loose then; immediately after, I could eat more food.

I haven't talked to my GI doc thoroughly about this because I have a colonoscopy coming up in May, and we are going to talk about both in my appointment afterwards.

I am so very tired of taking PPIs that I thought I would start doing some research on the possibility of a Nissen surgery. I heard mention here in David's journal (part 1) of a certain doctor in Denver, and I wondered if anyone had used that particular doctor (last name starts with a B). I'd be interested to hear anything about him. My email is available, but I don't check it often. If you write to me privately, please tell me here that you have emailed me so I will check it quicker.

If I do have the surgery, it would be a complex one considering my earlier stomach surgery and also the fact that I have interstitial cystitis, so I cannot have acidic food at all, which leaves out anything citrus, so I need to have an excellent surgeon if I go forward with this. I also have asthma and allergies. I am wondering if some of the asthma symptoms (coughing to the point of throwing up) might be due to the acid reflux.

Thanks for any and all suggestions. I'm still reading the first part of David's journal, and I am eager to get caught up on it. :)

Thanks

Thanks SO much for answering. I sent in a questionnaire from their website and have already heard back from them. I'm waiting to have a colonoscopy in Pueblo the middle of the month and then will talk to the doctor here, but I want to have an expert if I have to have a complex surgery (and I really hate anything to do with Pueblo!).

I will bookmark and follow your journal. Feel free to email me (I'm listed, just let me know here that you've emailed me so I remember to check it).