Linx surgery for acid reflux

Jen, If you have a large hiatus hernia you are probably not suitable for the LINX procedure. You could consider the Nissan Fundiplication either 360 or 270 or the Stretta. I'm not a good advert as I was due for the LINX, in surgery they iscovered that my hiatus hernia was massive so did the 270 fundoplication. This was on 4th January 2018 and it has failed completely.

As i'm in the UK like many posters here, I have no idea about medical insurance.

Hi Linda

I had the Lynx device fitted just over a week ago together with a hiatus hernia repair, and so far so good.

Like everyone else, I do suffer from dysphagia occasionally, and it can be worrisome, but the whole process is about modifying previous bad eating behaviour patterns. For me, I ate very quickly, didn't chew my food properly, and had massive portions. I can't do that anymore! I was always the first to finish, and now I'm the last but I really don't mind.

The secret to success with the Lynx is to have 5 or 6 small meals a day, chew your food very well and have a cup of warm tea before and during the meal. It is important to exercise the Lynx.

I hated taking the PPIs, and they really do create more problems than they cure! So, I'm 10 days in, have had no reflux whatsoever, have got rid of the uncomfortable elevated pillow that I previously needed to help with the GERD at night time, and yep, eating is different, but would I go back to my previous life of reflux, reliance on PPIs and Gaviscon - No way!!!

I was treated by James Gossage at London Bridge Hospital, and I'm delighted with everything so far 😃

Regards

Paul

The past few months I've been treated for gastroenteritis then I had a feeling that when I ate if felt like food was stuck in my throat and the top part of my stomach, the Dr has given me a 28 day course of Nizatidine 300mgs

I'm over half way through them and the only difference I can see is at night I'm freezing can't get warm

anyone else on these and the out come

Try consuming less salts for the time being until you are more healed in the process.

i had a LINX implanted in August, 2019. Easy surgery and recovery. It is now Feb. 2021. I did so well! I got off all my meds. Slept like a baby. Then, BOOM! Reflux back, cant eat, feel fluish. All I can guess is that it slipped. I feel just like i felt in 2019-barely able to live.

I got the Linx procedure over a year ago (GERD/Hiatal hernia). I suffered for 15 years or so, and I've been on PPIs for the last 10!

Quite easy day procedure (outpatient), and the recovery wasn't bad except that the incisions hurt every time I laughed or coughed or sneezed. I'd say a good month till recovery. My surgeon advised me NOT to stick to a fluid/soft food diet after the surgery, and she said it's important for the muscles to practice and get accustomed to regular food, she just said to watch out for meat. Swallowing was in fact a little difficult and painful, and I felt that food got stuck often, which I had to pass with a couple of sips of water. I remember even once I almost choked myself and it was a very bad experience. To this day, food gets stuck and doesn't go down every now and then, so it's important to take small bites and chew really well, and always have a glass of water next to you as a precaution. I went completely off of my PPI 2 weeks after the surgery, as instructed by my surgeon, and things got much much better in terms of reflux and pain. But since about 3-4 months ago, I've started experiencing pain again, especially at night and during sleep.

One MAIN thing that really bothers me now is my inability to vomit. There have been a couple of occasions when my stomach got upset and the body's natural reaction is to vomit out the bad food, but u try and try and nothing comes up. It's quite a crappy feeling and I tend to give myself anxiety every time I feel like I'm getting nauseous, out of fear of not being able to throw up.

I'm thinking of consulting my doctor about the recent pains and see what's going on.

Linda,

I had the Linx implanted and a hiatal hernia repaired on October 9th, 2020 and I have been suffering ever since.

I am 61 years old and I have lived with GERD for 30+ years. I have generally considered it well managed with Omeprazole once daily and Pepcid before bed and otherwise as needed. I would have occasional attacks of reflux in the night, maybe 6 or 8 times a year and occasional heartburn in the day that I would manage with Pepcid. In the last 3 years, however, my voice has been constantly horse. 2 ENTs and 1 Allergist all said the likely cause was GERD. So I had the Linx device implanted almost 7 months ago. Since then, I have suffered far more that I ever did. I no longer get hungry. I know its time to eat by the clock even though I have little appetite. Since the Linx was implanted I have lost nearly 30 pounds. My meals are very limited both in size and menu. About ever 3 or 4 days I get constipated for about 2 days. Despite several attempts to stop taking Omeprazole I have been unsuccessful. I did manage to go 4 weeks without it but I would constantly get bloated and suffer a pain that started in the back of my throat and extended up above and behind my left eye. This pain was something like "brain freeze" but not exactly. Sometimes the pain would start immediately following a meal, other times it might start 2 or 3 hours after a meal. Still other times, I might experience the pain first thing in the morning before eating anything. Sometimes this pain is accompanied by a pain in my chest and extends through my back and between my shoulder blades. Sometimes this pain only lasts 20 minutes or so, but other times they can last more than 4 or 5 hours. Generally these attacks of pain are associated with bloating. My ability to burp has been severely limited since the surgery. When I experience these extended attacks of pain my ability to function becomes severely limited as certain movements and exertion increase the pain significantly. Since going back on the Omeprazole I get the 20 minute attacks far less frequently, but the 4 or 5 hour attacks seem to be occurring just as frequently (about 1 or 2 a week). My surgeon said it sounded like I was having difficulty swallowing so he performed a esophageal dilation at about 4 months post implantation. That did not provide any significant relief. Now he is saying that it sounds like a spasm and he prescribed Valium. That too has not provided any relief. I have suffered more frequently and far more intensely with the Linx than I ever did before. The real kicker is that my voice has not improved one bit! At this point, getting the Linx has become the biggest regret in my life. I am going to schedule to have it removed in the next month or so.

I hope this helps.

Stephanie

Hi I've had the linx implanted 6 years ago

Happy to share my experience

I take lansoprazole every morning and evening, but I still can't control the acid reflux. My tongue and throat discomfort didn't get better. Chest tightness, shortness of breath, back shoulder and waist discomfort. I've also been watching Linx surgery today. I really want to end this unpleasant ordeal. I have a light diet every day and refuse sweets, coffee, milk tea, chocolate, and fruit. But it still didn't work。

I was very much on the fence about this- never had any surgery before- but decided to do it- New to this forum, my original post should be somewhere on here.

I had Hiatal hernia repair and Linx Augmentation.

Surgery completed 08/29/2022 Doctor says all went well- Hiatal Hernia was much larger than expected. but was still able to do Linx Augmentation. It's been 48 hours and eating soft foods is getting easier. Been able to eat Eggs, grits, vegetables, grilled Salmon, Pinto beans with rice, chewy chocolate chip cookies, bananas, variety of fruit. Eating is much easier today able to eat more. eating every two hours . I know it's too soon to know how this will go. But starting out ok. No acid reflux at all. I'm able to belch