My Linx Experience

I am a 50 year old female with a life long problem with GERD. My acid reflux was so bad I needed to sleep propped up and was awakened by regurgitated food constantly. When my GI told me about the Linx, it sounded like the answer to my prayers. He referred me to Dr Tuai in Oxnard who is the only doctor locally who does the surgery. He said he’s done hundreds.
I was nervous about it because I’ve read reviews from people who had bad experiences. I just wanted to share my experience, and I will keep posting as I heal. I just had the surgery yesterday and I’m still in the hospital. The surgery went well and I had no pain until the pain meds wore off, then I was given more meds and was given them every two hours, so my pain this whole time was minimal. I don’t understand the people who insist on going home the same day. How do they manage their pain throughout the night? Also I could not get up without assistance, I’m glad I stayed then night. The doctor told me to eat every 2 hours as physical therapy for the Linx. When I got to my room, the nurse didn’t understand what I was requesting, I had to ask her to carefully read the doctors orders. So I was given yogurt or jello every 2 hours throughout the night. This morning I ate breakfast, cream of wheat and eggs, with no problem. For lunch I had egg salad and soup. I have not had any pain while eating or have any food get stuck. My doctor warned me not to eat bread because it doesn’t go down well until the tissue is healed. This may be the “honeymoon”phase I’ve heard of, I will post while I heal. Hopefully this helps someone.

At 10 days post op, suddenly eating became misery. I couldn’t swallow solid food at all, it kept coming back up. Then, even soft food became hard to swallow. I was even spitting back up Cream of Wheat. Even taking small bites didn’t help. Not only was it hard swallowing, the pressure of the backed up food was intense and it caused my esophagus to go into painful spasms. I went to the doctor 2 weeks post op and he said what was causing the trouble swallowing and spasms is the scar tissue forming around Linx. He prescribed Methylprednisone 4 days ago, and today was the first day I felt relief and could eat with not too many problems. I’m not sure I could’ve handled how hard eating had become much longer. I highly recommend the steroids if your Linx scar tissue is causing problems eating after the “honeymoon” period. I’m not sure how people manage without it, the experience was horrible.

I am at 5 months post op. I have gotten used to the Linx, no longer have trouble swallowing at all. I have learned to use it, how to swallow once food or liquid is stuck, and I don’t feel it all. The outcome is I don’t have to deal with acid reflux at all. My one complaint is the gas and bloating. It’s been a daily issue in spite of taking gas x and probiotics specifically for gas. So basically, I traded my acid reflux for gas.