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One Year After Redo Fundoplication Update

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Posted 11/10/2014 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, just an update one year after my redo of a Nissen fundoplication.
Im now one year from a redo and feeling great with no reflux whatsoever,no bloating or nausea.Also I take no medication not even gaviscon.
I can eat whatever I like and I now even have a few beers at the weekend. The operation has totally changed my life.
I suffered with reflux for 7 years and I was at the end of my tether.It was a very long road to get to the place im at now and would recommend anyone who is suffering to go for surgery.
The most important thing I learnt was to find the right people who fully understand acid reflux.Do your research and find a surgeon who listens to you and has lots of experience. Also make sure you get all the testing done, Manometry,ph monitoring, Barium swallow and gastroscopy.
I did not get the manometry testing done which led to an undiagnosed motility problem which was a absolute disaster.
You can have a read over some of my posts in the past to get an idea of what happened to me.
So anyone out there at the moment suffering please don't worry there is an answer! Barry
Posted 11/10/2014 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Baza,

Congratulation to you!

can I ask you do you live in UK or USA? I live in London, I am going to have Manometry and PH Monitor in 17th November in 7 days left, my GI said if you have Gerd than he will referral me to Nissen Fundo as surgery!


I wanted to ask you this questions! if you can please


2. I would like to know what was your experience of your symptoms before you had the surgery!



3. I would like to know what was your experience of your symptoms after you have done the Nissen Fundoplication surgery and how much improvements you saw of your symptoms that dissapeared afterwards.


4. I would like to know how did you managed to go through with Nissen Fundoplication! were you scarred or had no fear!

Baza, I wanted to ask you a serious question please, that this is very important for me to understand of your lifestyle as changed you!!!! Can you eat food now as normal as you did before? Do you get food stuck by any chance or you don't have that anymore!

I want really want to do surgery because this Reflux ruined my life completely! but I don't know much that how others did so much improvement as doing Nissen fundo
Posted 11/10/2014 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hiya,I live in Nothern Ireland which is the UK .
My symtoms started at the age of Forty when I would suffer from nausea and palpitations in my chest, about half n hour after eating not really that much heartburn at first,which I got at at night while lying down. This went on for about six months until one day I thought I was having a heart attack which turned out to be severe esophagitis.
My first surgery was carried out 6 years later at a local hospital here in NI,i was really ill after it for a 18 months as the surgeon done a full 360 Nissen without any manometry testing.
I eventually contacted another surgeon in mainland UK for a redo and as soon as I woke from the surgery I knew I felt better.The nissen was reduced to a 200 degree wrap.
The nausea had gone completely but I still had a bit a dysphagia for about 9 months and bloating roughly the same.A year later that has gone.
I have to say I was scared stiff mainly from all the horror stories on the internet.
I had no fear on my second op as I knew my surgeon was the man,he knew everything about reflux and surgery for it,he was absolutely fantastic!
I can eat everthing I did before I had the op even steak which I was told I wouldn't be able to.Remember ive had a Partial wrap!
Get all your testing done first and see what the results are.Your definitely heading in the right direction. Good Luck! Barry
Posted 11/10/2014 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry

Its very kind of you to hear of your stories about your surgery you did, it pleased me a lot.

So you have done a second surgery because your first surgery did not go completely right.

You had 360 degree wrap before but now you have 200 degree wrap, did you had a complication on your first surgery! Is it because of manometry that you did not do for testing or was it something als!

I do want to do surgery, and get better hopefully, so I can change my lifestyle to a better way!
Posted 11/10/2014 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry,

sorry to ask you, I have to do from NHS for Nissen fundoplication but do I have choice to find a right surgeon to do the surgery!
Posted 11/10/2014 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,my first surgery was too tight a wrap for my weak swallow.Believe me when I say that is worse than having acid reflux.I went through hell,thats why its so important to get all pre op testing done.
My surgeon was rubbish never listened to a word I said before or after the surgery.
Both my surgeries where done through the NHS. Barry
Posted 11/10/2014 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
How is your swallowing now? is it normal now!

So I have to make sure that surgeon should listen me before procedure. Yes I hope they listen my word rather than ignoring it!
Posted 11/11/2014 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry

Did you had symptoms like mine at all! like Wind pipe, bloating, excessive burping, Excessive saliva, also swallowing alot of wind, as well I have chest pain, farting.

I do know that GERD is taking our life completely from our normal life, I hate to see that happening to us so easily. How did you feel after your second surgery, did you took your normal life back as it was before as you never had GERD.

Also I don't know but having Nissen Fundoplication as afterwards and resting a lot as well, can I than start exercising, because I am average size person and want to slim my belly completely to reduce stomach pressure that I would have a completely less reflux. I hope doing exercise that won't effect the stitches to be loose or any major problem.
Posted 11/11/2014 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Baza
Very happy to read of your progress. Wonderful. Barry, would you please enter your success under the topic 'for successful fundoplication members.. We have started this topic to help others in their decisions about surgery. Any update information is appreciated. Thanks. Pat
Posted 11/11/2014 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ninjakiller1, yes I had all the symtoms you describe,they gradually got worse year after year.I tried everything available including PPis and h2 blockers,diet changes,sleeping at an angle.Surgery was the only option left.
When you have acid reflux you develop a reaction which you may not even be aware of that causes you to swallow a lot.Youre swallowing air and that causes wind in your esophagus and stomach which leads to burping,belching,bloating etc.
My swallow is ok now,i think I was told the Nissen can improve a motility problem,not 100% sure on that though.
My first surgeon was very aloof,didnt ask me any questions or seemed interested.Just done the op as a routine and when I was complaining afterwards he avoided me.
I agree with you that it completely rules your life and healthy people around do not understand it.Its a very hard condition to live with,but you will get it sorted! Think Positive!

Post Edited (Baza) : 11/11/2014 3:28:34 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/11/2014 10:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hiya Pat, yes no problem,i haven't been on for a while . Thanks! Barry
Posted 11/11/2014 11:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Baza

I appreciated of telling me of your symptoms you had as just like me and how you have improved your health completely by doing the surgery!

You have given me a very good information that I have been looking for it for ages and you came along and answered what I needed to know, you just saved my life!

I just hope it will show up in the manometry and ph 24 monitoring of my acid reflux!

I might have to eat a junk food for that day to make my acid worse to show as evidence to prove that I have!

Thank you so much Barry for all your help,

I am so happy that you got your life back as how you wanted! I hope I get that as well!
Posted 11/11/2014 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi ninjakiller1,
Keep us posted on how your tests go.
This forum is a great help for people suffering as your in contact with real people who are going through similar problems and you don't feel isolated. This forum helped me through my journey.Barry
Posted 11/11/2014 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry,
Yes its true the forum here is a greater helped me so much and made a journey for me to start soon!

Yes my test is coming in the way on next week on Monday, well before that I have to eat a lot of junk foods to trigger my acid reflux to make it worse as for the sake of Nissen Fundo^.^. Well I have eat food in the day of the ph 24 monitoring I am going put it! Well the results will take another 2 weeks to hear from them, and I got GI in December to see him.

I hope I can be qualified for Nissen Fundo

I had endoscopy, it showed everything Normal as completely..

Here is the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6_RwHMY8URsaVlSMXd5aFpNQVU/edit

one thing I don't get it saying! Indications Reflux! does it mean I have or something that I do not understand! I have to get my GI to hold of it and ask him
Posted 11/11/2014 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
hi,
indications is just the reason why your having the test carried out. barry
Posted 11/11/2014 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Barry!
Posted 11/12/2014 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry,

When you have seen your GI and your second surgeon, have they explained you that after surgery that you might get any serious complication. How did you react on it?
Posted 11/12/2014 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
No nothing serious was mentioned about any complications,just a possibility that I could have some swallowing problems for a while but should resolve. I did not feel too worried about that. Barry
Posted 11/12/2014 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry!

In 5 days I am going to have manometry and ph 24 monitoring, I am thinking to take a prescription as called sucralfate , I heard from forums here that this medication is very good and many people here praising it a lot. You see I have a problem with my belly as I am trying to do exercise as abs to improve my belly to slim it but when I do exercise I feel bad acid and it bring me a bad complication for a day or two, so I am thinking to start this course for while to slim my belly and than get off those medications. I will see my GI on middle of December, well he will get the result at that time, and hope I and him can spend time to see my major problem that I am having. You saw my endoscopy report that it said that all normal, even my lower esophageal sphincter is normal, I spoken to him today and said that all everything is normal in endoscopy but it won't show acid level, so he said to me, just wait for the result of outcome manometry and ph 24 monitoring, and than I will see what I can do for you!

May I ask, how long did you wait for your second surgery for an appointment, I heard many people said for couple of months to wait as queue.
Posted 11/12/2014 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
hi ,are you taking any medication for acid reflux at the minute?
I think you should stop any exercises on your stomach or abs until you get this sorted out.I used to do a hundred sit ups a day before I got reflux,now I don't exercise my stomach even after surgery,dont want to do any damage.
You cannot take any acid suppressing drugs a week before your PH testing as it will affect the results.You want to get an accurate reading of your ph.
I tried to get my first surgeon to fix what hed done for a year then I contacted another surgeon which took a matter of weeks for first consultation,then 3 months for testing,then a further 4 months before surgery was redone. Hard Work!
Barry
Posted 11/12/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry

No I am not taking any PPI medication since from September 2014. I just spoken to my GP Doctor who I asked her to prescribe me sucralfate but she said no, because I have to speak to my GI about it but she said you can take lansoprazole after ph monitoring that has been done. I am thinking to take Lanzoprozole after ph monitoring, so I can restart my exercise to slim my belly before I could do Nissen Fundo surgery, well lets see what they are going to find out of my reflux and what is my lower esophageal sphincter condition.

I have to speak to my GI to see what agreement can be done for as trial to improve my weight and surgery!

Can you choose yourself when you wish to do the surgery or when the results shows for ph 24 monitorin, you are going to get a letter that you are qualified for it but hope its not a limited time, because I need time to solve my problems.
Posted 11/13/2014 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry!

Sorry for the troubling you!

Before having the second procedure, have they mentioned that you might not able to burp at all and might have problem with swallowing for period time. Any other stuff your surgeon mentioned you before your second procedure.
Posted 11/17/2014 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,sorry for not getting back to you I was away on a trip for a few days.
I was told I should be able to burp ok and that was true,i think most people who get surgery now can burp ok as the surgery is usually done as a floppy wrap.
Swallowing can cause some problems for a short while after surgery because of the swelling which is only natural but it soon resolves.
I was told that I in 10 people do not get complete cure from reflux but it should not be as bad.
Barry
Posted 11/20/2014 6:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry,

I am sorry, I think the post went all the way down, did not seen it.

I had my Manometry and 24 Monitoring, now I just have to wait when I see my GI as he explained that he will send those details to him when he has time to finish with my tests results. Let's see what outcome will come.
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