Laparoscopic Fundoplication

Hi San i can't answer any of your questions on the op,i just wanted to welcome you to the site.

Im waiting for my ph results only had it tuesday so i don't know how long that will take, i too would like the op but it sounds a bit scary.

Hope someone can help you.

San,so sorry that you are feeling so ill.I too have had all the above symptoms and had all the tests and I have been turned down to have the nissen fundiplication because apparently I am not \"ill enough\" to warrant the operation.I had the manotery test on the 13th Feb and it showed that I had a faulty valve in my tummy that wasnt pushing the food along.I have since had a barium meal test on the 3rd April and I am still awaiting the results of that.Personally I have told my doctor that I want this operation because from the views on here I feel that this operation will change my life for the better

Keep your chin up

Debs xxxx

Kim,I had to ring up my doctor to find out my results because I felt the hospital were taking too long,might be worth a phone call to your gp to see if there are any developments

Take care hun

Debs xxxxx

Hi There,

I had a much awaited \"anterior laparascopic fundoplication\" 3 weeks ago and it was definately worth it. I was on liquid food for 9 months before the operation so the intial two weeks of liquid / soft diet were no problem for me! (Custard, yoghurt, mousse, mash, soups, ice cream etc)

I am surprised at how quickly I recovered from the surgery - I had it done privately (because of the risk of MRSA) and the attention to detail in my care probably made a huge difference in my quick recovery.

Some of the symptoms I experienced after surgery were :

Sharp pains in shoulder, burping/ drain -like sounds after drinking, feeling like food was sticking at the top of my stomach, indigestion.

Symptoms that have stopped since surgery:

No nasty taste in mouth

No sore throats or losing voice

No cough in the morning / wheezing

No mouth ulcers

No abdominal / back pain

No REFLUX

No diahorrea

No vomiting or feeling sick

No vice-like chest pain ( oesophageal spasm)

I am delighted to say I am not taking any medication what-so-ever now !

I have 4 small scars about half the size of a \"jelly tot\" as evidence that I have had surgery, which will be easy to live with compared to reflux disease!

I will be returning back to work ( desk job) 4 weeks after surgery because I feel I will be ready - other people have said two weeks ....I was no where near ready after two weeks - still wandering round in a dressing gown and having afternoon naps!

The one thing I can say is that as the days went by I seemed to recover quicker and quicker and really noticed feeling better.

A note on the surgery :

I was surprised to come round from surgery with a tube in my nose and a tube coming out of my abdomen - These were very uncomfortable - the relief when these are removed is enormous!

There are a few different methods for doing fundoplication....the consensus appears to be that a Nissen comes at the bottom of the pile because of the side-effects of surgery ( unable to vomit or burp / bloating).

I had a Watson \"anterior\" fundoplication which does not prevent you from being sick if you need to / or burping. This is deemed less effective at preventing reflux than a \"posterior\" fundoplication which comes out top in most current research.

Hope this helps

:shock:

Thanks Lilu for your post. After being on a liquid diet this must have been an enormous relief to you. Your post has gone some way to helping me decide whether to go through with surgery. Your post was very informative and positive and the benefits seem well well worth it. I wasn't even aware there were different methods of the fundoplication. When you say after the Nissen you are unable to vomit is this just a temporary affect. From yours and some of the other posts I do not seem to have such severe symptoms as some of you hence the worry about going through with surgery. But then I wonder if I dont go through with surgery will I get to this stage at some point anyway. I am not on a liquid diet and just avoid what I know will upset me although this can vary. I guess this is due to acid levels. I have stopped taking my tablets at the moment althoug they do help control the acid Im convinced the extreme tiredness is down to them. Only been off them for 1 week and symptoms starting to build up so guess will have to restart taking soon! I Hope you continue to recover well and manage to get back to work. Please keep us posted on how your recovery is going, its a great help to hear from others who have had the operation. Take Care San

I havent been offered surgery yet as my consultant is deciding a \"proper diagnosis\"to all my symptoms.I want the surgery but I have to undergo all the usual tests first until they decide whats best for me.I believe I have been suffering for years with this illness and as a last ditch attempt to get sorted,in desparation I have paid for a private consultation with the doc I was supposed to see on the NHS!!!!

Keep well everyone,keep your chins up boys and girlies

Debs xxxxx

Hi

I have my first hospital appointment on the 19th June but after reading how long a process it is i too am considering going private as i never know when i wake up whether it will be a good day or a bad day, have tried to stop taking domperidone but after two days i was bringing up acid all over myself while driving, nice, so if anyone can recomend a surgeon or give me advice on how to find a good one i would really appreciate it,i have only been ill since January and its took over my life and taking the life out of me.

Thank you

Luan

I paid to see my consultant and I think it might have had some leeway because I have a letter from my health authority saying that my camera (endoscopy) will be no more than 11 weeks but when you get the letter it is usually 1 or 2 weeks before you get the phone call to be seen.No news on the scan or blood tests yet but fingers crossed

Keep well all

Debs xxxx

[quote:35e677c128=\"San\"]Hi everyone, I have been suffering since pre 2002 when I had my first endoscopy. Was put on Lansoprazole which I am still on. Had another endoscopy end 2005 which showed things had got worse. I have been back and forth to docs who just increased my dosage to 30mg. Had 3rd endoscopy March 22nd and a biopsy. Biopsy showed evidence of acid and picture taken showed red and inflamed oesphagus. 24ph monitoring test was negative so specialist has been reluctant to offer operation but has admitted that acid damage has got worse and has put me on waiting list (3months) to have laparoscopic fundoplication. But will only give me a 70% success rate because he is not convinced its acid reflux, even after seeing picture and biopsy result, Im confussed at this response. Or is he just trying to get out of doing operation. Did anyone else have a negative ph test. I suffer daily with pain in stomach, above belly button, pain underneath breast bone, tighness in chest area, heart burn, bouts of sickness that come on for no reason and generally feel tired, short of breath and unwell. Have been told will be on liquid diet for 2 weeks followed by pureed food for another 4 weeks. How how you that have had op get on with this, have you found it awkwood. Also how long should I expect to be off work? Im hoping after op to feel a new women, its been all down hill since 40 so Im hoping op will improve my energy levels and give me a new lease of life. . Any comments would be appreciated thanks San :D[/quote:35e677c128]

hi san.I have been suffering from acid reflux for 13 years. my symptoms are the following:

burning sensation tongue and throat

sour/bitter taste in my back of my mouth

hearburn

Unfortunately my acid ph test was negative so my doctor is refuse to give me the surgery. he told me i have sensitive oesophagus.

did you have the operation. did find it helpful at all?

please let me know. Acid reflux is torturing me all the time.

thank you