Redo surgery in 2 weeks

I had my nissen in May of last year. was doing really well for a while but since December have had reflux back and am basically uncomfortable all the time. Taking Protonix 40 mg 2x per day plus reglan 4X per day. All testing has been completed and while the wrap as not come undone or slipped they need to do it over again as I have significant reflux. I am scheduled in 2 weeks and am nervous. MD said he would try Laproscopically but high chance of needing to switch to open. I am really nervous this time around, Much more so than last year. Anybody with thoughts and/or experience with open procedure on a redo?

Good luck .just wondering why there is a high chance of open .I would have thought a highly competent lars surgeon would have left the option as remote which mine did. Good luck and hope all works out

Hi BrianHerbert,

I'm glad that Bill responded to your post. He's the pro, and I do remember that he had a good experience with his open procedure. Chances are they can do your procedure laproscopically, but of course they have to reserve the right to switch to an open procedure. In my experience that's automatic.

Good luck with your upcoming surgery! We'll all be here to support you through your recovery. Take care!

Hi Ruby2uesday,

No worries! I've no doubt your wrap is fine. While it's not a good idea to overeat on a regular basis, as it does stress the repair over time, it's not at all likely that your symptoms are a result of a failed wrap. I have asthma, so I cough a lot. When I discussed this with my surgeon, he said that "even water will wear down a stone"...all these stresses on the wrap can eventually cause problems. Some of them are unavoidable, so it's not worth worrying!

While it is often assumed that getting a Nissen will stop ALL reflux, but that is absolutely not true. If a surgeon were to create a wrap tight enough to stop all reflux, it would be too tight to allow food into the stomach, so we'd be in trouble!

When you overeat, or eat too much of a trigger food, you can get reflux--just like your friends who don't have GERD. Surgeons go for "normal" amounts of reflux when they do the surgery. It's a balancing act...tight enough to stop GERD symptoms, but loose enough to allow comfortable eating.

Because you've had reflux symptoms, doesn't mean that you're having GERD symptoms. Relax. In addition, the esophagus is a dumb organ that interprets all pain as reflux, and if it has been irritated, it can feel like reflux.

Bottom line...you ought to avoid overeating and stuffing your stomach on a regular basis. It's not good for you, and it's not good for the comfort of your wrap.

Hang in there! Baby your stomach, and before you know it you'll be back to your old self!

Best wishes to your both!
Denise