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Nissen Fundoplication 2 Years Later: Complications?

Posted by refluxrefusenik @refluxrefusenik, May 23, 2023

Hello. I had a Nissen redo two years ago, and about a month ago I started to have some epigastric pain. It started with some epigastric pain sort of behind the base of my sternum, sort of like light stinging pain. I had some unusual throat tightness for a couple weeks followed by some unusually frequent burping. With both this redo and my previous Nissen, I could never really burp much, but that was always expected.
However, over the past month since the incident, I've been having mostly small burps (a few larger ones) close to a hundred times a day without exaggeration. Even if I drink water, I feel an awkward discomfort in my esophagus and have to burp, often multiple times. I don't feel like I'm having discernible reflux, but I do have a consistent discomfort in my esophagus. PPIs haven't seemed to help at all.

Has anyone else had any issues of temporary irritation where this has happened? I'm hoping it's a transient issue that could be linked to something else, but I'm not sure what else it could be. I'm in the process of moving and the company I worked at went under recently, so I'll be unable to see a doctor for at least a few months. In the meantime, I figured it would be worthwhile to see if anyone else who has had a wrap has faced an issue like this. I'd be especially curious to hear if anyone else had an issue like this and— if it went away after a time— what caused it.
The wrap was done by an experienced surgeon who said the durability should last for a long time, and I've been careful to not do anything that would cause too much abdominal pressure.

Anyone else have a similar issue?

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dolphinpoo | @dolphinpoo | Jul 26 9:45am
In reply to @metwo "Could you describe what you are left with after the major Bariatric surgery ? Do you..." + (show)
@metwo

Could you describe what you are left with after the major Bariatric surgery ? Do you still have a functioning sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach? Also what symptoms indicated your Nissen Fundo had collapsed?

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The only way to find out is through endoscopy. It appears that some people just don't do well with Fundoplication. I am one of them. In January I had a routine endoscopy and they found the wrap not intact and a large hiatal hernia. I was on Rx Nexium 40mg which barely worked.
No there is no sphincter anymore. Each surgery for this is specific to each patient. My esophogus is just a tube that feeds a smaller stomach now.
It has been pretty hard to get used to eating like this. I am not obese...I have never been. My problem was simply reflux and gerds.
There are actually very few diets at Mayo for gaining weight. Which is quite disappointing. Liquid diet and blended diet was not so good for me and lost more weight. I am stabized right now at 127lbs Good luck to all. God is Good

REPLY
1 reply
metwo | @metwo | Jul 26 11:10am
In reply to @dolphinpoo "The only way to find out is through endoscopy. It appears that some people just don't..." + (show)
@dolphinpoo

The only way to find out is through endoscopy. It appears that some people just don't do well with Fundoplication. I am one of them. In January I had a routine endoscopy and they found the wrap not intact and a large hiatal hernia. I was on Rx Nexium 40mg which barely worked.
No there is no sphincter anymore. Each surgery for this is specific to each patient. My esophogus is just a tube that feeds a smaller stomach now.
It has been pretty hard to get used to eating like this. I am not obese...I have never been. My problem was simply reflux and gerds.
There are actually very few diets at Mayo for gaining weight. Which is quite disappointing. Liquid diet and blended diet was not so good for me and lost more weight. I am stabized right now at 127lbs Good luck to all. God is Good

Jump to this post

Thanks for you reply. So if there's only a tube into a smaller stomach, when you lie down why does the stomach content chemistry not run up the esophagus causing harm ?

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fjh | @fjh | Jul 30 2:28pm
In reply to @klrick007 "I have also researched this procedure extensively and will not be pursuing it. There is no..." + (show)
@klrick007

I have also researched this procedure extensively and will not be pursuing it. There is no going back and it may ruin your esophagus forever. I followed the same program outlined below. No acidic foods, nothing spicy, no carbonated beverages, no alcohol, no chocolate, etc. I consume only non processed foods, homemade, went off wheat and dairy with huge success. I also drink alkaline water. I also walk and work out with weights three times a week. Losing weight has been very beneficial. Read books by Dr. Jamie Koufman, The Acid Reflux Diet and The Chronic Cough. She has been a lifesaver! I still do take one Prilosec 20mg daily, but I’m ok with that 😉

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Thanks for your advice - I followed it and went to Dr. Jamie Koufman's webpage and it has helped me quite a lot. I have learned so much from just reading her comments and ideas on SNoRR. I just ordered her book on "Dropping Acid: The Reflux Disease. I think she may be way "ahead of the curve" in her findings on the causes and remedies of what we so wrongly call "GERD". She identifies it as RR - Respiratory Reflux.

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