Nissan Fundoplication:

Hello everyone, just a quick update on my situation as it's been a few months since I've been online. Hopefully everyone is remaining safe during these difficult moments.

It's been roughly three months since my last post. Touchwood everything has been going smoothly food is going down fine (I'm taking my time) and managed to keep my weight at a respectable level via diet and exercise and felt no pain or reflux sensation (Apart from today which was like a dull ache lasted a few seconds) after eating overnight oats with berries) but other than that I've been fine and felt great an indication of that is my swallowing. I'm slightly over three years since my Nissen Fundoplication its and it's largely been an success. I've had issues about 5-10% of the three and half years but in terms of eating and feeling. It's the best I've felt.

Just curious those whose have had it a long time or post three years ever had niggles and little aches from time to time - This also came after I was lifting a television up and down. (Which was quite heavy) I very very rarely have this chest aches and niggles)


John.

Post Edited (JoHnGaMeR90) : 5/22/2020 11:49:45 PM (GMT-6)

Hi,
I’m Laparoscopic POST-NISSEN 5 years now. I suffered for YEARS with uncontrolled acid reflux and debilitating chest pain. (I was a frequent poster on this forum before I had this surgery).

The surgery was a definite success and has totally eliminated the acid reflux; however, I continued to have debilitating chest pain and it took another 5 months to get a diagnosis from a NEW gastroenterologist with uncomfortable manometry testing to find out that I have a condition called JACKHAMMER ESOPHAGUS. This is a rare condition (one in 100,000 thousand) and when left untreated, feels like an ongoing heart attack. The esophagus consistently twists and spasms and it’s very painful. I now take a 24-hour extended release 360mg Diltiazem used to ease the esophageal contractions. Years of acid reflux damages the esophagus and may have caused this condition with me. I don’t know for sure.

I still need one Oxycodone 10mg in the morning, as it’s then time to take this Diltiazem again and I can feel the pain coming on.

At this writing, I can still eat most of what I did before, but I must eat smaller meals and chew everything to mush or my esophagus will totally CLOSE UP. I also must avoid spicy foods. This happens occasionally and it’s painfully uncomfortable. I can feel it coming on and it’s ALWAYS after I start eating. I won’t be able to swallow and my mouth will fill with saliva, so I must leave the table and go to the bathroom to get rid of the saliva that practically pours out of my mouth! I don’t know why this happens, but it’s scary and sometimes takes 20 minutes with walking and rubbing my chest to relax and clear the esophagus. This started happening about a year ago.

I’m glad I had the Nissen surgery as it’s wonderful NOT to suffer with acid reflux anymore. I would love to hear from anyone on this forum who has Jackhammer Esophagus (also called nutcracker esophagus or corkscrew esophagus).
Linda Sue