I've got to have acid reflux surgery

[devon_guy]

After enduring an endoscopy and a barium meal, my surgeon has concluded that surgery is the only way forward in resolving my acid issues. Basically I have a hiatus hernia and a lax "OG" junction which is letting everything back up, all caused by the EDS. So I will have my hernia repaired and part of my stomach will be taken to make a new junction, it's called a nissen fundoplication. All sounds gross and is a big op, but if it makes me feel better than I am now, it's got to be worth it!

[nat05]

Sounds really interesting (am a sci nerd ). I hope you have a really good surgeon who understands the EDS complications (as it sounds like you have).

Good luck and keep posting to update

[Kayzee]

Gosh, it sounds like you've got a tough time ahead When is your op planned for?

Kay x

[devon_guy]

Don't know yet. I'm hoping before the end of this month otherwise it's October which means its after my holiday which I don't really want. My surgeon does know about EDS, when I saw him a few weeks ago he had literally that week come back from a conference in the USA about EDS and it's link with digestive disorders. Handy eh?!

[Finarda]

Devon-guy, what made your doctor decide to operate? Have you been on medicine up until now? Was the medicine not sufficient? Me and my daughter have acid reflux - I have a sliding hiatus hernia (ie sometimes it's visible through endoscopy, other times it goes away). I've been on antacids since I was a kid, and acid blockers and motility enhancers (speeds up digestion) for about 15-20 years. One doctor talked about surgery rather than a lifetime of medicine, but when I moved, my next doctor didn't think the surgery was that reliable. My daughter is only 7, she's managing to stay off the acidblockers (after 6 months on them and an endoscopy) by sticking to a controlled diet and using Ranitidine if we know she's going to eat something more likely to upset her. My mum had a hiatus hernia too (guess where I got the EDS from? )

I'm curious about the factors that go into a doctor deciding whether to operate or medicate, not just for me but my daughter.

Fiona

[devon_guy]

Well I've been on Omeprazole for years and it's just not working now despite being on the maximum dose and taking domperidone. I had an endoscopy and barium meal done before the surgeon outlined the options I had. It's my choice to have the op. I feel I have to try it rather than have a lifetime of constant coughing and regurgitating my food. If I don't have it I have no chance of success, if I do at least I may improve.

[Sue New]

Dear Devon Guy,

I wish you all the best for your upcoming surgery. I too get acid reflux and have a sliding hernia, and take maximum dose of Omeprazole and Domoperidone. My Gastro did consider surgery, but decided against it because of my EDS.

Everyone's case is different though, and I am sure you have made an informed decision based on all the pros and cons for the procedure.

I don't know too much about the Fundoplication, but I am aware of a couple of people who have had it - one of the Moderators on the EDS Support Group website and also the daughter of one of the members on the EDS message boards.

If you have not already done so, it might be worth asking on the EDS site to see if anyone can give you some more info from a first hand perspective.

I really hope that this surgery will be successful for you

Best wishes,

Sue.

[Finarda]

Thanks, DevonGuy, for the info. My acid reflux is almost every day again, but I'm on Ranitidine (a relatively mild acid blocker that I was switched to when I was pregnant and nursing) but I have Omezaprole to take if I need it. I was just hoping that the ranitidine and Domperidone would be sufficient.

Good luck with the surgery, I'll keep my fingers crossed for a long term success. You sound like you're making the right decision.

A weird sidebar: the last time I was in the UK, last March, a group of my friends and I got together for a girls night and someone brought a psychic for us all to talk to. The only accurate things she said was that she saw I had problems with my Thyroid and my stomach, and that I would be getting surgery soon regarding the stomach problem, so I might be joining you soon in having a Fundoplication

Fiona

[jennie-jack]

hi hun do you know how you will be having this surgery. both of my children have had a nissens fundoplication, they had it done open.
they had a week long hospital stay and took eating very slowly afterwards. like purees then upwards but they both had a gastrostomy tube placed at the same time.

my son especially seems to be hms, i am hoping to get him assessed for eds too, as he is very similar to me and a lot of children on here.

i use a site called www.livingwithreflux.org they have info on fundoplications.

good luck and if you have any questions

jennie

[sarahh]

Gosh Devonguy thats invastive surgery and doesn't sound too nice I hope everything goes well for you and that you heal from it quickly.

[Scobie]

Hi

I should have had a fundoplication a couple of years ago!!! I was advised by Prof Bird not to go ahead unless it was completely unmanageable.

If you have had the surgery i hope it went well, let me know how it has helped, i might think again about it

take care

Scobie