LINX surgery - should I go for it?

I happened upon this "thread", and wondered how you are doing? I was interested as you seemed to be considering a number of possibilities for your reflux problem, including LINX and endostim.

Was the surgeon you refer to in your last post Chris Sutton at Leicester, or was this discussion with your NHS doctors?

Like you, one of my pervasive and worst symptoms has been nausea, as well as classic heartburn; central chest pain, and throat symtoms.

I wonder what you have decided to do, and whether you are sticking with the "wait and see" approach, or have decided to try one of the newer approaches, such as LINX'  or endostim?

Hope to hear from you. Kind regards, Nigel

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PizzaMan,

I had the Linx implanted 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.

FYI, I am a New Yorker living in Colorado and I miss good pizza!

Stephanie