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Nissen surgery

Posted , 21 users are following.

phyllis10549
phyllis10549

I just wanted to ask if 63 is too old to have the nissen surgery for silent reflux. I am a bad case. I just want it to stop but doctors just pushing the pills at me which does'nt help at all. They say to take these forst...but they are not helping at all. I cough , sleep sitting up lots of phlegm and burning mouth. This is awful anybody with any answers. Am I too old to have this procedure?

5 likes, 75 replies

75 Replies

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  • Barretts
    Barretts phyllis10549

    Posted

    Simple answer is No.

    I had my Nissen aged 60. Unfortunately following 5 hours violent retching from norovirus, it came loose. Last year I had a Collis-Nissen revision aged 66.

    Acid suppressants are good for reducing acid but do nithing for the reflux. Reflux cough was my worst symptom. Sounds like surgery would be a good option for you.

    • mick20498
      mick20498 Barretts

      Posted

      Hi there, I saw a specialist last week, who was pretty useless btw, and she said that after fundoplication surgury 30 to 50% of patients still need medication. Does that sound right to you?

      Cheers

    • Barretts
      Barretts mick20498

      Posted

      according to the paper, "20 years later: laparoscopic fundoplication durability" published in Surgical Endoscopy in September following up nearly 200 patients who had undergone fundoplication 20 years ago, "Long-term results from the early experience with LF are excellent with 94 % of patients reporting only occasional or fewer reflux symptoms at 20-year follow-up." and "74.5 % of patients reported complete control of heartburn and regurgitation."

      Fundoplication reduces reflux not acid which remains in the stomach where it belongs. However, some people do need acid reduction as well (eg for gastric ulcers etc.)

    • karlosso
      karlosso mick20498

      Posted

      Hi I had the Nissan fundoplication last oct then Jan this all the problems started sore throat then a lump would follow I have only just been told I will need to take gaviscon advanced and ppi for the rest of my life if I had known this before the operation there is not way I would have had it do I want to get it reversed now I have started the complaints process
  • rex_44766
    rex_44766 phyllis10549

    Posted

    Phyllis I can absolutely identify with you as I'm in Australia trying to sleep sitting up and its 3.12am! Where are you? I too have the burning mouth aboout six times so far tonight. I havent had a Nissen and so far as I can see only about 50% on this board have been successful and lately a few have come on describing how the thing has become unwrapped after severe coughing fits. Its so hard to get accurate info from your specialist isnt it? Having hours to ponder this problem I have come to the conclussion that many must be having problems problems because they had the op BUT the underlying cause was never identified and remedied before the op. Another common problem seems to be after the op they revert to all their old eating habits  and then wonder why they get crook again. Have you researched the Reza gadget that presses on your throat?  What do you do to relieve the burning? I think your age is totally normal for the op. I'm just horrified at the number of under 30's  on here looking for answers. Do you get any acid during the day at all or justs nights?
    • phyllis10549
      phyllis10549 rex_44766

      Posted

      I live in the states. I have burning mouth from time I get up til I go to sleep. I did read abot the Reza Collar. I don't know how that would work if you have reflux all the time. would you wear it all the time? I am astonished at how many young people have this disease. I hope you are sleeping well. It is 11:00 Here. So must be night there. Oh I have acid all of the time. How about you?
  • david19556
    david19556 phyllis10549

    Posted

    Hi 

    I have a friend who is on PPI's constantly, despite having had Nissen surgery!! Understand your keen-ness to rid yourself of what is a really troublesome ailment, but would you go through the operation knowing that things may still be the same? 

     

    • Barretts
      Barretts david19556

      Posted

      Report published last year of nearly 200 patients who had Laparoscopic Fundoplication 20 years ago, cincluded:  "Long-term results from the early experience with LF are excellent with 94 % of patients reporting only occasional or fewer reflux symptoms at 20-year follow-up. However, 18 % required surgical revision surgery to maintain their results. There is a relatively high rate of daily dysphagia but 90 % of patients are happy to have had LF." 
  • david19556
    david19556 phyllis10549

    Posted

    Has anyone tried Centaurium for reflux? I tried it, it's a stomach bitter which encourages the esophegal spincter to shrivel/ close up as a reaction to the tartness of the liquid. It's diluted in water prior to meals.

    David

    • AcidTrees
      AcidTrees david19556

      Posted

      Wow - what's in this David? I probably cant have a nissen due to low oxygen and copd. There are exercises you can do to strengthen the diaphragm but nothing ive heard of so far that helps with the LES.

      Since chemically theobromin in chocolate relaxes the LES, Ive always thought there must be something which would have the opposite chemical reaction and close it up.

      Are you in the UK? Presumably its possible to get the Centaurium on the net anyway.

      Does it work for you? You didnt say if it has helped.

      I'd love more info on this. 

    • Barretts
      Barretts AcidTrees

      Posted

      It's dubious whether diaphragmatic exercise actually works to tighten the LOS. No medication has been found to do anything for it either.

      COPD may have been caused by extra-oesophageal reflux.

      The best way to reduce reflux is Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication.

      If surgeon and anaethetist are aware of oxygen problems, it may still be manageable.

    • david19556
      david19556 AcidTrees

      Posted

      Hi 

      It's 100% natural. Once you taste it, I think it will tell all about how it may benefit the LES. If you take prior to a meal on an empty stomach, the theory is that once you continue to use it the LES will naturally start to pucker up. I had success with it in conjunction with a gerd diet obviously. Not especially cheap to buy, that's why I had to stop as I was in between jobs. Would definitely recommend it, there are no nasties associated with it. ALL NATURAL. 

    • AcidTrees
      AcidTrees Barretts

      Posted

      Hi Barretts, If you re-read my reply to David you'll see I was saying that those exercises could strengthen the LOS. But keeping the diaphragm strong may stop the hernia increasing in size which could make reflux worse. 

      In a few cases copd might be caused by reflux though ive never read that. But there are people who have copd who have never smoked, and many more have smoked very little including myself.

      What is indisputable is that reflux can make copd worse through aspiration, and the medications which those with copd have to take frequently e.g. steroids and antibiotics make the stomach more acid, therefore negatively affecting reflux. 

      My gerd is well managed by lansoprozole - I have very few symptoms - but the silent reflux is the problem and im thinking of investigating the Reza thingy which goes round the throat at night.

      Thanks for your reply.

       

  • ann60506
    ann60506 phyllis10549

    Posted

    Hi

    I had it done just before my 69 birthday, and it's the best thing I have done, just wish I had the op years ago, the pills don't work and I too was trying to sleep sitting up, no fun at all.

    So yes I recommend for you go for it, good luck,

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