1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Reflux Oesophagitis

Recent Hiatus Hernia repair Surgery

Posted , 9 users are following.

david61512
david61512

I had surgery 10 weeks ago for GERD. Don't know exactly what was done since I've not had the follow up consultation yet. However, for anyone waiting or considering it (if it helps), here were my symptoms and experience.

Experienced heartburn (on and off) since a small child. Mother was troubled by it too (interestinglly Rennies haven't changed since the early 60's). As I got older my heartburn got more frequent until I ended up on Acid inhibitors from the GP when I reached about 50. This is when I started experiencing what I call reflux, certain foods coming back up my gullet and into my mouth again. My stomach was rejecting them. Porridge and the like. eventually, most things came back up.

My surgery seems to have been a complete sucess. Acid has gone completely and reflux has gone too. I've not been sick one or even felt nauseous. My wife tells me my loud snoring is not as noticible, but she's not sure, will have to monitor this one. I've been looking to see what excersize can be done and whether there is anything  you cant do? Might have to wait for the follow up op. Went for a 5k parkrun last Saturday morning in Basingsstoke  and didn't feel anything amiss but would like to see any advice given to other patients.

 

6 likes, 27 replies

27 Replies

Prev
  • patricia68518
    patricia68518 david61512

    Posted

    Hi david you have give me hope, i have suffered the same problem as you for 9yrs and all the doctor keeps give me is gaviscon, but it dose not work, now i know there is a opertion that can sort it out, i feel so relieved some thing can be done.

    Please can you let me know the name of the op and how long it took, and how long was you in hospital for.

    • david61512
      david61512 patricia68518

      Posted

      OK firstly, i'm not a doctor so obviously my experience is mine only

      However, if you have had only Gaviscon you probably need to start with an acid inhibitor like Omoprazole 20mg. GP's always go for the easy stuff first I find and you have to moan to get them to up the treatment. Even then they start with a maintenance dose. Personally, it took 20 mg for me to be reasonably acid free.

      If I'd only had acid reflux to contend with then the Omoprazole would have been enough for me, as it did deal with the acid for the most part.

      However, I also had Volume reflux which is food coming back up the gullet into the mouth. There are no tablets that can prevent this, it's a mechanical process. My dentist also told me the acid was affecting my teeth.

      Don't get too hung upon the name, the thing is that the consultant will decide which op is right for you but a hiastus hernia repair with Neesan wrap is what I had (the standard op)

      hope this helps and wish you well :-)

    • david61512
      david61512 patricia68518

      Posted

      Op took about 2 hours or so.

      I was wheeled in at 09:00 and left the hospital the same day. Spent a week recuperating at home and went back to work on the second week (desk job with no lifting). Most people I believe take 2 to 4 weeks off work.

    • patricia68518
      patricia68518 david61512

      Posted

      Thank you for that david its really help, i have seen the doctor today and he has gave me Lansoprazole 30mg but not really helping.
    • bronwyn97278
      bronwyn97278 patricia68518

      Posted

      Hi Patricia;  rermember with All medication, we have to give our body time to get it into our system....I know you are probably feeling Very Stressed, especially if this has been going on for quite a while.  Another factor to condsider, is that No doctor, unless he/she is a Quack, wiil jump straight in and operate, unless it is An Emegency...as operating/operations/general anaesthetics all come with risks, and are not done lightly.......how about giving yourself some more time on your medications, and let us know how you are feeling in even a week?  looking forward to hearing back.....and let David guide you, as it sounds as if he has been to the End and coming back...he will know more than many others of us
    • david61512
      david61512 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      I'll happily second that since there is a long way from Gavicon to an operation. Like I said before, the Omoprazole would have been enough to deal with my heartburn (acid reflux), if that was all I had.

      I asked my consultant about this terminology as I think even GP's use different terms. He stated that the burning sensation we know as heartburn is termed acid reflux whereas food coming back up is volume reflux and it's pretty important to be clear with your doctor about the exact symtoms you are experiencing, so you can be treated for the right thing. I'm always mindful that GP's as the name implies are general not  specialist and the best person to guide them is you.

      Asa side note, my GP told me that his particular practice wereinvolved in the original trials for Omoprazole many years ago. There was a scare at one time because of a possible link with cancer but thiswas later discounted and for many heartburn sufferers it has been a wonder drug.

      So yes, great news that there is a good operation when all else fails but drugs are generally always a better option than surgery

    • patricia68518
      patricia68518 david61512

      Posted

      hi david thank you for your advice, i am ok on the tablets, i feel normal until i eat food, then the acid starts and the burping, the burning pain, i am getting that way i hate food, i have lost 10lb in weight in a week, this has really ruid my life, can you reccomend the foods i should eat and the foods i shouldnt.
    • patricia68518
      patricia68518 bronwyn97278

      Posted

      Thank you for your advice i am having the camera down next week may be i will get some answers.
    • david61512
      david61512 patricia68518

      Posted

      When you get the endoscopy they will advise what to eat. I didn't always eat what I was supposed to. Your consultant is the expert. cool
    • david61512
      david61512

      Posted

      Just to say, post-op, there's nothing I ate before my operation that I don't eat now or drink for that matter. Never was big on fizzy drinks anyway. Just have to remember to eat a bit slower if I'm having something stodgy like fish and chips for example. But it's not all bad as most fifty somethings can do with a weight check in any event.
  • david61512
    david61512

    Posted

    In my very first post here, I mentioned as a side note about the snoring and thought I'd follow up but then totally forgot about it. I think having read up the symptoms, I had sleep apnia which I believe is more common than people think.

    Last night, we were talking about my op and I suddenly thought to ask whether the excessive snoring has improved. Apparently it has (so much so, that even her ladyship forgot to complain about it as it has diminished so much)

    I still snore apparently but much softer and I no longer forget to breathe for long periods, scaring the wits out of her.

    So I thought I'd mention it here in case anyone else has sleep apnia or knows anyone else who has it and may also have a heartburn/reflux issue and might not have equated them (as I never thought to before my op)

    I must drop a line tomy consultant this week asking for his thoughts idea

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.