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Heartburn After Toupet Fundoplication

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Posted 8/16/2018 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all!

I am wondering if anyone has had spikes in heartburn after their surgery. I had pain in my back for a couple of months after my surgery (October 2017) and then it began to subside. I have had heartburn off and on since my surgery.

Recently, in the last month or so I have had an uptick in heartburn feeling. No regurgitation or known acid reflux. It is almost every day. My anxiety for sure brings it on, but I am wondering if something is wrong.

I admit the last few months I have been eating all the things I used to avoid and in doing so.... I actually gained about 20lbs ( cry ). I saw my surgeon this last week and we went over the hycosamine that does seem to help with what they are calling esophageal spasms and then we talked about foods I should probably avoid (the typical do not eat gerd list). OH! And I should mention that during my PH test whenever I clicked that I was having heartburn, they were showing virtually no acid coming up and my endoscopy came back normal.

So as I struggle back at the loosing weight thing, I wondered if anyone else had this issue. I am about 10 months post surgery and it has changed my life dramatically. I am terrified of going back to the days where I hugged my toilet several times a week and the powerful PPIs that started to not work anymore. The anxiety is crippling and I have come close to outright panic attacks at thinking my surgery is unsuccessful and I will go back to being miserable.


Also, has anyone else gained weight months after surgery? Did it negatively affect you and give you increased heartburn?

Thanks!
Posted 8/16/2018 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Xilos:

You are probably gaining weight because you are enjoying eating food again. Also, most people lose weight initially after surgery and then usually gain it back. The toupet is a "floppy" fundo and it is still possible to get heartburn if you overdo it, even with a full wrap. Even something as small as a weight gain can work against you. I tell everyone that the surgery is not a pass to eat everything you want, as much as you want - don't overindulge. Believe it or not, you are still in the recovery stage - cut back on "GERD" foods and I bet you will feel better in a short amount of time. As far as the anxiety, it can cause/make your symptoms seem worse. Your endoscopy came back normal, and that's a good thing - relax.

Sharon
Posted 8/17/2018 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
I'm experiencing the same thing. Toupet was on 1/12/18 and was successful (as far as a I know). I had a super high DeMeester score and my GERD has certainly been better.

Two weeks ago we had a sudden death in the family. Since that time I've been noticing more reflux. I had such bad reflux for 20+ years prior to surgery that I never noticed good times vs bad.

Do people have differing reflux symptoms post surgery that come and go?
At what point post toupet/nissen to people start to feel reflux again that lasts forever?
I don't want to have what I had before (and I don't) but I definitely notice it.

As a note, I'm not taking anything for it.
Posted 8/18/2018 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much SharonZ! I do feel a bit better after hearing that. It's true, I went off the rails a bit with the eating. It was nice being able to not panic every time I ate something. But I am doing better and I have noticed improvement the last couple of days. Yesterday and today the heartburn was less. Present, but less. I wonder why there was a sudden onset, outside of just building up of stress. If you asked me a month ago, I would have told you that I was feeling amazing with little to zero heartburn/aggravation. Sigh sad

The only thing I am concerned about now is a sharp pain that I am having under the left side kind of under my ribs. I am hoping that its just due to exercising and it's my diaphragm. I did email my surgeon in a fit of despair the other day so hopefully he will respond with reassurance.

Rweintra, I totally understand. I remember my first bout of heartburn at around the age of 6. It has been a lifelong struggle for me (I am 32 now) and my biggest fear is loosing what it's like to be normal. I have Barrett's Esophagus as well so of course that is also worrisome. I am also wondering what it's like for people post-op several months after and how often "reflux occurrences" are normal. My surgeon implied that it should be non-existent so anything I feel makes me nervous.

I read on a forum a comment that a women said I wonder if it's true, she was talking to someone who struggled for decades with heartburn/GERD and said "With how much damage your esophagus has sustained, you are probably more prone to pain and aggravation. You will notice and be more sensitive than others."

Thank you both for your replies smile
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