Nissen fundoplication reversal

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I'm about to have my nissen reversed because of severe neasua vomiting and pain. Has anyone had theirs reversed or taken down and what was the outcome?

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  • Posted

    I'll take the heartburn returning over the problems I've had since the surgery any day. I vomit on an almost daily basis, I can't eat hardly anything and I've lost 35lbs. It's sent me into a dark cycle of not sleeping and anxiety and panic attacks. I want to eat again.
    • Posted

      That sounds awful. I'm sorry you have to go through that. Praying that they will be able to fix that for you. I'm considering the surgery because I can't eat much now. Also in severe pain every single day for over a year as my acid shoots up my throat into my nose and burns my larynx out to the point it swells and causes trouble breathing. Not to mention I've had no voice for almost a year. I sleep sitting up, on PPI and so on. I was told the surgery success really comes down to the surgeon and how well he knows his stuff. But I'm starting to wonder.
    • Posted

      Just make sure you really consider all you options first. I didn't know anything about this surgery before I had it and was only told it would take care of my heartburn not have any side effects so do your research first please. If I had I wouldn't have had it in the first place.
    • Posted

      I feel the same way!! I had no idea that this surgery was going to be like this!!! I was told that it was a out paitent and pretty much no big deal..... I ended up being readdmitted into the hospital for a week due to horrible pain. Then I called my Dr yesterday and they inform me (like it's nothing) that this is pretty much the same thing as Lap Band!!! I am 5'2" and weight 125!! How do you do a surgery like that and and not inform your paitent BEFORE that this is going to change their entire life! I don't need to lose any weight! I am a mommy of 4 and I can't even sit down and eat dinner anymore sad This is the worst thing I have ever done before and I hate it because I trusted my Doctor to fix my Parasophogeal hernia and sever reflux but not like this  sad

    • Posted

      Hey honey did you ever have yours reversed? I have been through hell and back since my surgery Oct 4th. I want this nightmare to end!!!! I'm about to go to the 4th specialist because no one can figure out what is going wrong

    • Posted

      Did you get your Nissen undone can you tell me 

      surgeon and hospital were you had you reversal done

      I had this Opp 20 years ago never had a decent night sleep since with the bloat

      I think the longer ago it was done the harder it is to reverse because of all the scar tissue

    • Posted

      My surgeon said it can be reversed at any time would take 30 mins as a day case just waiting for my date to go have it reversed 
    • Posted

      I am wanting it undone also and wanting the info where to go and how dangerous the process is.

       

    • Posted

      Did you get it reversed ? Had it done 5 years ago HORRIBLE. Let me know I have been trying to find someone to do it.
    • Posted

      I had my surgery the 14th of January and I regret it. I have had panic attacks or anxiety disorder for last 5yrs or more and I used to be a person that would stress eat and Rely on food to give me some small comfort and this is a person who used to have a bite every time I walk to the kitchen now I can't do that the first couple weeks I have to have liquidized Diet I can't eat pizza and I miss Pizza I feel weak I feel it feels like I'm dying not able to eat regular food but I know I'm not I have to force myself to eat applesauce and cream of potato soup and Blended cream of mushroom soup I don't know if there will ever be a time where I can have pizza again.. I tried some Wal-Mart mac ans cheese today it kinda hurt. I tried chewing best I could. I used to be the person that would take 2 bites chew then swallow... This new diet is not helping my anxiety at all..

      It has made it worse!!

      I've done googling online I keep seeing its not reversible...

      Lord help me..

      I called one of my surgeons Nurses in tears beggging for him to put my stomach back I miss pizza she assured me in 3 to 4 months i coupd begin to slowly try bread or small pizza again chew really really good..

      I wish I could go back in time not go have the surgery..

    • Posted

      Dr Farid Gharagozloo. Celebration hospital Florida. he can take the nissen down and give you a valvuloplasty. You can eat, burp akd throwup. Eat all the pizza u want

    • Posted

      sapphire 12 , hi , do a lot of research before you select a dr . i had heller myotomy and dor fundiplycation 4 months ago and been in awful pain , miserable and getting depressed . i moved to another state and new dr said i didnt need this surgery . im really upset. i found out my fundi slipped so need a new surgery . i want mine undone , i had less pain before . although my esophagus is now wide open i will take my chances until i can find a dr to fix it... good luck and really research the dr

  • Edited

    Hi amber hope your reversal went well .I had a Nissan fundoplication done last year and I have had the year from hell and now I want it reversed could you tell me the name of your surgeon and hospital were you had you reversal done as my surgeon is saying it can't be reversed thank you Karl

    • Posted

      I could recommend a couple of excellent surgeons for this procedure in Southampton but guess you're not from UK?

    • Posted

      Sorry, I don't know any surgeons in East Yorks. There s a patient support group in Hull - the Humberside Oesophageal Support Group (www HOSG org) . Gwen Harlow, who runs it used to be a trustee of FORT (Fighting Oesophagea Reflux Together in Leicester) , may be able to help.

    • Posted

      Hi i too had a full nissen in july. I have had severe throat pain constant dry mouth. Unbearable bàck pain after i eat and i have been bringing up blood when evet i lie down. This operation has not helped my reflux only made it worse. I have been off work since the operation as i am on so much pain. Can i adk did you have your Collis Nissen on the NHS. I recently has an appiontment with a colon consultant because since the operation i have also bleed from back passage and he advised me that in some cases they will reverse the operation. Although they cannot guarantee the outcome. Thankyou

    • Posted

      I really don't know why this operation is even considered on the NHS when clearly it doesn't work could ask where your having the operation reversed I have a lot of throat problems and shortness of breath lots of pain and aches constant throat clearing

    • Posted

      But the operation does work! It repairs the hiatus hernia and reduces reflux - which PPIs don't do.

      Trouble is, you usually only see posts from people who are dissatisfied whereas the truth is different: A study published in Surgical Endoscopy in 2014 reviewed the durability of Laparoscopic Fundoplication over 20 years and concluded, "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."

      In my own case, after 55 years of reflux including 15 years on PPIs, the last few of which on very high 80mg omeprazole failing to control the near blackout coughing fits 2 or 3 times a day and anaemia from nduced hypochlorhydria from such high drug usage, the operation gave me my life back.

    • Posted

      You are correct in that the surgery does work, however, for some people the operation is the thing that kills them. This is happening to me.
    • Posted

      Hi I'm from London and really want to get my nisse undone. I wondered if you could possibly give me the names of the surgeons you know as I'd be willing to travel to find people with experience of the undo..

      My name is jane and I'd be very grateful.

    • Posted

      Hi Barretts

      I'm new to this & maybe I haven't followed correctly but have you had a reversal? My 16 yr old daughter had a partial fundo at 14yrs & every awful side effect afterwards. We're uk based & I'm trying to find a surgeon who's willing & able to undo.

      Many thanks

    • Posted

      I had this done20 years ago and not had a decent nights sleep since 

      because of the painful bloat keeps waking me up

      I am a zombie all day 

      I would give anything to get it undone

      I was never told I would never be able to burp again

    • Posted

      I m on.lifelong ppi...do they have any long term consequences like kidney damage??will u ever recommend me surgery
    • Posted

      Please could you recommend a surgeon to undo wrap . I'm from UK

    • Posted

      I just had NISSEN performed 6 months ago and it haS been the worst decision of my life. I CANT EAT OR DRINK without throwing up. The last post must be from a lying physician trying to make more money. THIS SURGICAL PROCEDURE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. Im still coughing and the GERD still the same. MY QUALITY IF LIFE NONE. MAKE SURE YOU GO TO SOMEONE HONEST WHICH IS HARD TO FIND.

    • Posted

      NEVER. worse surgery ever invented. A monkey must have come up with thus surgery.

    • Posted

      I understand. They need to ban this surgery. I had 2 failed nissens myself. I traveled from TX to Florida to see Dr Farid Gharagozloo. He saved my life. He works for Celebration Hospital in Orlando. You can go see him for a consultan. He gave me my life back. He took my nissen down. Put my stomach back where it used to he. Used dissolvable mesh to close up the hernia hole and preformed Esophageal Valvuloplasty. Which is recreating my LES valve so I don't have relfux anymore. The best part is I can burp and throw up again. He is one of the top surgeon in the US and the only one who performs this. Had I known this before It would of saved me a lot of heartache. I lost my life having the nissen. It cost me my job, family and friends. Everyone thought it was all in my head. I know exactly what you are going through. Please go see him, you will not be disappointed.

    • Posted

      I understand. They need to ban this surgery. I had 2 failed nissens myself. I traveled from TX to Florida to see Dr Farid Gharagozloo. He saved my life. He works for Celebration Hospital in Orlando. You can go see him for a consultan. He gave me my life back. He took my nissen down. Put my stomach back where it used to he. Used dissolvable mesh to close up the hernia hole and preformed Esophageal Valvuloplasty. Which is recreating my LES valve so I don't have relfux anymore. The best part is I can burp and throw up again. He is one of the top surgeon in the US and the only one who performs this. Had I known this before It would of saved me a lot of heartache. I lost my life having the nissen. It cost me my job, family and friends. Everyone thought it was all in my head. I know exactly what you are going through. Please go see him, you will not be disappointed.

    • Posted

      I understand. They need to ban this surgery. I had 2 failed nissens myself. I traveled from TX to Florida to see Dr Farid Gharagozloo. He saved my life. He works for Celebration Hospital in Orlando. You can go see him for a consultan. He gave me my life back. He took my nissen down. Put my stomach back where it used to he. Used dissolvable mesh to close up the hernia hole and preformed Esophageal Valvuloplasty. Which is recreating my LES valve so I don't have relfux anymore. The best part is I can burp and throw up again. He is one of the top surgeon in the US and the only one who performs this. Had I known this before It would of saved me a lot of heartache. I lost my life having the nissen. It cost me my job, family and friends. Everyone thought it was all in my head. I know exactly what you are going through. Please go see him, you will not be disappointed.

    • Posted

      Thank you for your response. I have contacted the doctor in FL and I have an appointment at the end of August. I used to live in Tampa all my life and relocated to Birmingham because of work. AL has the worst health care system in the US so I don't know why I had the procedure performed here. I am a healthcare professional myself so I should have known better. I have been absolutely miserable since the procedure was performed. Can't eat or drink without throwing up. I have gone to several other opinions and all have told me "take down". As you can imagine I am extremely cautious as I don't trust anyone at this time. I was almost convinced to do the takedown at UAB but the doctor said he would not even give me steroids after surgery. I was so swollen the first time around I could not breath and ended up in the hospital for a week with severe dysphagia. My life is miserable right now so I know I have to do something but I'm very scared.

    • Posted

      I have no doubt that he would help you as he helped me. I didn't know either and learned the hard way myself. I pray you get your life back soon. I am glad you made an appointment you will not be disappointed. Please keep me posted on your progress. I am paying it forward because the nissen almost killed me 1 year ago. Best of luck to you!

    • Posted

      Can you tell me how long the recovery was. How long on a liquid diet? Was the pain on the shoulders as bad as with the Nissen? How about the stomach pain? I was off 4 months with the Nissen even though the doctor told me in 3 weeks I would be back to work. I can't afford to lose my job or my health benefits.

    • Posted

      If you never had a nissen then having an EV is very simple and done laparoscopic. But since we had a nissen for Dr Farid Gharagozloo to take it down safely and fix your diaphragm and undo everything he will do a thoracotomy. It's a very had surgery but worth it once you heal. Everyone heals differently and it can take 2 to 3 months. Soft diet for 2 to 3 months for sure. But you can eat regular after that.

      You can burp so no gas build up or pain. it's more like a relief. I instantly felt better after takedown. I have created a fb group called Nissen Alternative/Esophageal Valvuloplasty if you want to get more information and talk to other patients who also had this surgery done.

    • Posted

      where are the incisions? Are they large?

      Sounds super painful. After the NISSEN surgery i am scared of everything. My pain tolerance is 0

    • Posted

      The incision was on my left side. It is a big cut and a major surgery. Yes it was painful but I didn't care because I was so happy to feel immediate relief. I was able to burp, eat food again and didn't feel like i was dying. No more reflux and no more all the side effect from nissen. If I can do it, so can you. Dr Gharagozloo fixes everything that caused the hernia in the first place so it doesn't keep coming back without changing your anatomy. I wished I knew this before and not had a nissen. I could of also avoided all this mess and had the EV done only laparoscopic. I created the fb group also for patients who are recovering from the surgery and help guide them. It's a long recovery but worth it. Now I am back to normal and got my life back. They need to ban the nissen. It's a barbaric surgery and ruining lives.

    • Posted

      hi, it looks like you posted this three weeks ago according to what I see online, we’re currently in August 2019, how long ago did you have the reversal and are you still happy about getting it reversed?

      im post year my NF and absolutely miserable. The surgeons who did mine will not even see me. I am told in order to see this G.I. group I need to start the process all over again with all the testing that I did pre-surgery for the Nisan fundoplicationbefore having any other surgery I will now do extensive research on the surgeon to get this reversed, thank you for your reply in advance, Karen

    • Posted

      I had my reversal with esophageal valvuloplasty. I am so doing so much better. No more issues. The nissen almost killed me litterly. I am so sorry you are having a hard time . Yes that's exactly what these doctors do. They give you the nissen and act like it's such a simple surgery. Then when things go wrong they want nothing to do with you. I live in TX and had ti travel to Florida for my takedown with EV.

    • Posted

      I Have not gone to the doctor as it has taken me months to get an appointment . who did you see in FL? How long is the downtime? I cant afford to loose my job but i feel like im going to aspirate my vomit at night and die. How invasive is it? HOW LONG IS THE RECOVERY?

    • Posted

      i have not done anything as of today as it has taken me this long to get an appointment. i will be going to the MAYO clinic tomorrow ti see if they can help me. i was told the inly thing that could help me is an esophageal valvuloplasty. Im terrified but i need ti do something. i feel like im going to die in my sleep aspirating my own vomit. THIS HAS BEEN AWFUL. it has destroyed my life and i might even loose my job.

    • Posted

      Dr Farid Gharagozloo at Celebration hospital. Since we had a nissen he will not do a takedown via laparoscopic. He will do a thoracotomy. It's a major surgery. He does a lot of work inside. He fixes your diaphragm, puts the stomach back the way it was before nissen, then he recreates the les valve so you don't get reflux back, closes up the hernia hole or tear with dissolvable mesh he has created himself. So your anatomy is back they way God has intended it to be. The man saved my life. You should go for a consultation. You will not be disappointed. A thoracotomy is a hard surgery and a long recovery but worth it. It took me 2 months to heal. Then 6 months for my GI issues to all resolve. I can burp and throw up again like a normal person. I just want to pay it forward. Best of luck!

    • Posted

      I wish to thank you for your honesty and open this I find it difficult in today’s world for anyone to share the truth, quite possibly due to legalities?

      I have worked in healthcare for the last 20 years and I can’t believe what I’m seeing, and I cannot believe what just happened to me with this procedure, I trusted these people, I feel so let down by the healthcare community, and one of the biggest learning hospitals around, UC Davis. I could never recommend any of this to anyone including UC Davis medical facilityI have worked in healthcare for the last 20 years and I can’t believe what I’m seeing, and I cannot believe what just happened to me with this procedure, I feel like I’m in a nightmare. I trusted these people, I feel so let down by the healthcare community, and one of the biggest learning hospitals around, UC Davis. I could never recommend any of this to anyone including UC Davis medical facility.

      I will look up this GI thoracic surgeon and make an appointment and most definitely see what he can do for me, I will keep you posted, thank you again.

      karen

    • Posted

      May I ask you what it cost you financially out-of-pocket, and did you have insurance. I now have an HMO no longer a PPO, I do not believe the surgeon will work with Kaiser Permanente so I will be paying out of pocket but quite possibly during open enrollment I can choose a different insurance I do not believe the surgeon will work with Kaiser Permanente so I will be paying out of pocket but quite possibly during open enrollment I can choose a different Insurance.

      thanks, karen

    • Posted

      Yes please keep me posted. You are not alone. If you go to Facebook there is a group called Nissen takedown and there are over 1000 patients that are suffering or lives ruined. Some ended up in a feeding tube due to the nissen.

      There are doctors who can do a straight forward reversal but you are risking for the hernia to come back and reflux. Dr Gharagozloo it's a one stop shop. That's why I went to him beccause I didn't want to keep suffering or someone cutting my vagus nerve during a takedown. That has happened.

      I also opened up my own FB called Nissen Alternative/Esophageal Valvuloplasty to advocate to others. I wished I knew there are other options. It would of saved me a lot of pain, tomme and heartache. I lost my job, my family, friends and so many things over the nissen. I am finally getting my life back and thankful everyday. I wish for you the same and I understand what you are going through.

    • Posted

      Thank you SO mucb for posting this! I have been on my death bed for over 3 years after having the Nissen and hiatal hernia repair performed. I have finally found a GI surgeon (the only one who will look at me) and will be seeing him in September to discuss a revision. I will definitely be bringing this procedure up to him.

    • Edited

      Your welcome! Unfortunately not many surgeons know about EV or not familiar with it. They stick to the nissen because that's what they are taught at medical school. Dr Gharagozloo created EV and that's his baby. He is teaching other surgeons in Florida how to perform it. Dr Gharagozloo Is a top surgeon in America. You can google all his credentials. He is one of a kind and God sent. Other surgeons won't able to perform an EV because they don't know how or because they are a general surgeon. Dr Gharagozloo is a cardio thoracic surgeon so the EV consists fixing the diaphragm, heart area because some people have their stomach upside down lodged in their chest cavity, and lungs. So a general surgeon not specialized in that area. A general surgeon should never perform a nissen to begin with. So please go see Dr Gharagozloo or a cardio thoracic surgeon for a takedown

    • Posted

      be interested to know if you are still well and healthy? How long after fundop procedure did you have reversal?

      many thanks

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