Post-Nissen fundoplication bowel and other problems: What helps?

Posted by nirolk @nirolk, Apr 29, 2018

I had a nissen wrap operation in 1999. I still have problems at night after about 4 hours of sleep. I've tried all kinds of drugs to help relieve the gas. Right now I am on 40 mg of pantoprazole in the morning before breakfast. Most of the time days are fine. I have problems being regular on bowl movements, so I have a high amt of gas from the meds I take to go number 2. At night is when I have real problems. Any kindred spirits out there?

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Profile picture for faithful55 @faithful55

Hi gabigirl26,
I had my Nissen undone last week. Even though I had a difficult time with the anesthesia, I have no doubt that I made the right decision. I am recovering now and waiting for the swelling and gas to move out of my system. I have been suffering with bloating, constipation, light headedness and nausea for 19 years and truly do not believe that the doctor had the right diagnosis and treated the symptoms but did not have the root cause. This now gives me an opportunity if the initial symptoms return to seek a physician that will try to discover the cause. It can only get better going forth. I'm thankful for everyone sharing their experiences and pray that they will also find the root cause as well as you. Blessings to you.

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please be sure to see a functional medicine doctor. They will take many tests to get to the root cause. Frequently it is related to leaky gut syndrome. Heal your gut and it resolves many issues

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Profile picture for marilyn934 @marilyn934

please be sure to see a functional medicine doctor. They will take many tests to get to the root cause. Frequently it is related to leaky gut syndrome. Heal your gut and it resolves many issues

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Mayo warned me that my Nissen could not be reversed without much worse conditions. "Functional Medicine Doctors" are often Chiropractic type. Who are not admitted to practice in most accredited Hospitals and Clinics.

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Profile picture for faithful55 @faithful55

I am posting my story to see if anyone else is experiencing the same symptoms that I have been experiencing after having a Nissen fundoplication.
In 1998, I had a hysterectomy. Three weeks after I started to vomit after eating a meal and had terrible migraines. I went to my doctor and he ordered blood work and I was told that I had h-pylori bacteria. I was put on high antibiotics. After taking the antibiotics the migraines stopped but the heaving continued off and on. In 1999, I had my gallbladder removed because I had a functional test that revealed that my gallbladder was not operating correctly and probably was the source of my vomiting. About six months after the gallbladder surgery, the vomiting returned. I went back to my doctor and he referred me to a surgeon who told me that I had classic GERD. In 2000, I had a Nissen fundoplication. Since then, I still would experience nausea but could not heave because of the wrap. During those times of nausea, I would have to ice myself down to reduce the dry heaves until my brain would tell my system to try the other way. I also was having an acidic stomach. To minimize the acid in my stomach, I was but on Zantac.
As the years progressed I have had episodes of extreme bloating and constipation, nausea, mind fogginess, acid reflux, extreme hot flashes, and rashes. Over almost 2 decades, I have seen numerous gastroenterologists and alternative medicine doctors. I have been put on acid reducers and medications to help with the constipation. One gastroenterologist even diagnosed me with gastroparesis. In 2017, I had a 4 hour stomach emptying test that revealed that I did not have gastroparesis. But from 2013 to 2017, I changed my diet to adjust my eating based on the diagnosis.
In 2016, I started getting colonics because I was experiencing constipation, fogginess, extreme hot flashes, fatigue, and weight gain. I stopped getting the colonics after a year. It was too much of a strain on my system.
In 2017, I had an endoscopic dilation. I had been experiencing constant bloating and extreme hot flashes. To me, my hot flashes were coming from the laboring of my digestive system to digest the food and also when I would get stressed. After the dilation, I had to cut out a lot of foods that were high fiber and gaseous. I used to be able to drink tea, but tea gases my system. I cannot eat chips or anything that has a high salt content because at times it upsets my stomach and makes my face feel like it is crawling and I would break out. I eat small meals these days because it takes too long for my system to digest a meal. I have to take MiraLax and Citrucel every night to keep my system running. I try to monitor my weight to make sure that I am not putting on weight because for me it signals that the food is not passing and is sitting in my colon.
As I am getting older, the Nissen is causing more problems for me. I saw my most recent Gastro doctor last week and told him that I wanted to get the wrap undone. I would appreciate it if anyone has had a similar experience as I have and share with me what they have done or are doing to remedy their situation.

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I live in a small town in North Dakota and I was wondering how you go about finding the functional medicine doctor that your talking about?

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Profile picture for faithful55 @faithful55

I am posting my story to see if anyone else is experiencing the same symptoms that I have been experiencing after having a Nissen fundoplication.
In 1998, I had a hysterectomy. Three weeks after I started to vomit after eating a meal and had terrible migraines. I went to my doctor and he ordered blood work and I was told that I had h-pylori bacteria. I was put on high antibiotics. After taking the antibiotics the migraines stopped but the heaving continued off and on. In 1999, I had my gallbladder removed because I had a functional test that revealed that my gallbladder was not operating correctly and probably was the source of my vomiting. About six months after the gallbladder surgery, the vomiting returned. I went back to my doctor and he referred me to a surgeon who told me that I had classic GERD. In 2000, I had a Nissen fundoplication. Since then, I still would experience nausea but could not heave because of the wrap. During those times of nausea, I would have to ice myself down to reduce the dry heaves until my brain would tell my system to try the other way. I also was having an acidic stomach. To minimize the acid in my stomach, I was but on Zantac.
As the years progressed I have had episodes of extreme bloating and constipation, nausea, mind fogginess, acid reflux, extreme hot flashes, and rashes. Over almost 2 decades, I have seen numerous gastroenterologists and alternative medicine doctors. I have been put on acid reducers and medications to help with the constipation. One gastroenterologist even diagnosed me with gastroparesis. In 2017, I had a 4 hour stomach emptying test that revealed that I did not have gastroparesis. But from 2013 to 2017, I changed my diet to adjust my eating based on the diagnosis.
In 2016, I started getting colonics because I was experiencing constipation, fogginess, extreme hot flashes, fatigue, and weight gain. I stopped getting the colonics after a year. It was too much of a strain on my system.
In 2017, I had an endoscopic dilation. I had been experiencing constant bloating and extreme hot flashes. To me, my hot flashes were coming from the laboring of my digestive system to digest the food and also when I would get stressed. After the dilation, I had to cut out a lot of foods that were high fiber and gaseous. I used to be able to drink tea, but tea gases my system. I cannot eat chips or anything that has a high salt content because at times it upsets my stomach and makes my face feel like it is crawling and I would break out. I eat small meals these days because it takes too long for my system to digest a meal. I have to take MiraLax and Citrucel every night to keep my system running. I try to monitor my weight to make sure that I am not putting on weight because for me it signals that the food is not passing and is sitting in my colon.
As I am getting older, the Nissen is causing more problems for me. I saw my most recent Gastro doctor last week and told him that I wanted to get the wrap undone. I would appreciate it if anyone has had a similar experience as I have and share with me what they have done or are doing to remedy their situation.

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I clicked on Zaroga’s link. In my area there are 4 listed and 2 of them are MDs.

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Profile picture for jackiem95 @jackiem95

How far are you from Minneapolis? Does University of ND have a medical center in Fargo or Grand Forks?

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I’m about 8 hours from Minneapolis and 5 or six from Fargo. I will check for Fargo since I do have to go there in December.
Also I have appointment at Rochester Mayo in January so maybe I can check with them to see if I could get appointment with someone there.

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Profile picture for faithful55 @faithful55

I am posting my story to see if anyone else is experiencing the same symptoms that I have been experiencing after having a Nissen fundoplication.
In 1998, I had a hysterectomy. Three weeks after I started to vomit after eating a meal and had terrible migraines. I went to my doctor and he ordered blood work and I was told that I had h-pylori bacteria. I was put on high antibiotics. After taking the antibiotics the migraines stopped but the heaving continued off and on. In 1999, I had my gallbladder removed because I had a functional test that revealed that my gallbladder was not operating correctly and probably was the source of my vomiting. About six months after the gallbladder surgery, the vomiting returned. I went back to my doctor and he referred me to a surgeon who told me that I had classic GERD. In 2000, I had a Nissen fundoplication. Since then, I still would experience nausea but could not heave because of the wrap. During those times of nausea, I would have to ice myself down to reduce the dry heaves until my brain would tell my system to try the other way. I also was having an acidic stomach. To minimize the acid in my stomach, I was but on Zantac.
As the years progressed I have had episodes of extreme bloating and constipation, nausea, mind fogginess, acid reflux, extreme hot flashes, and rashes. Over almost 2 decades, I have seen numerous gastroenterologists and alternative medicine doctors. I have been put on acid reducers and medications to help with the constipation. One gastroenterologist even diagnosed me with gastroparesis. In 2017, I had a 4 hour stomach emptying test that revealed that I did not have gastroparesis. But from 2013 to 2017, I changed my diet to adjust my eating based on the diagnosis.
In 2016, I started getting colonics because I was experiencing constipation, fogginess, extreme hot flashes, fatigue, and weight gain. I stopped getting the colonics after a year. It was too much of a strain on my system.
In 2017, I had an endoscopic dilation. I had been experiencing constant bloating and extreme hot flashes. To me, my hot flashes were coming from the laboring of my digestive system to digest the food and also when I would get stressed. After the dilation, I had to cut out a lot of foods that were high fiber and gaseous. I used to be able to drink tea, but tea gases my system. I cannot eat chips or anything that has a high salt content because at times it upsets my stomach and makes my face feel like it is crawling and I would break out. I eat small meals these days because it takes too long for my system to digest a meal. I have to take MiraLax and Citrucel every night to keep my system running. I try to monitor my weight to make sure that I am not putting on weight because for me it signals that the food is not passing and is sitting in my colon.
As I am getting older, the Nissen is causing more problems for me. I saw my most recent Gastro doctor last week and told him that I wanted to get the wrap undone. I would appreciate it if anyone has had a similar experience as I have and share with me what they have done or are doing to remedy their situation.

Jump to this post

have you seen a functional medicine doctor? They try to get to the root cause rather than dealing with every symptom like putting out fires

REPLY
Profile picture for faithful55 @faithful55

I am posting my story to see if anyone else is experiencing the same symptoms that I have been experiencing after having a Nissen fundoplication.
In 1998, I had a hysterectomy. Three weeks after I started to vomit after eating a meal and had terrible migraines. I went to my doctor and he ordered blood work and I was told that I had h-pylori bacteria. I was put on high antibiotics. After taking the antibiotics the migraines stopped but the heaving continued off and on. In 1999, I had my gallbladder removed because I had a functional test that revealed that my gallbladder was not operating correctly and probably was the source of my vomiting. About six months after the gallbladder surgery, the vomiting returned. I went back to my doctor and he referred me to a surgeon who told me that I had classic GERD. In 2000, I had a Nissen fundoplication. Since then, I still would experience nausea but could not heave because of the wrap. During those times of nausea, I would have to ice myself down to reduce the dry heaves until my brain would tell my system to try the other way. I also was having an acidic stomach. To minimize the acid in my stomach, I was but on Zantac.
As the years progressed I have had episodes of extreme bloating and constipation, nausea, mind fogginess, acid reflux, extreme hot flashes, and rashes. Over almost 2 decades, I have seen numerous gastroenterologists and alternative medicine doctors. I have been put on acid reducers and medications to help with the constipation. One gastroenterologist even diagnosed me with gastroparesis. In 2017, I had a 4 hour stomach emptying test that revealed that I did not have gastroparesis. But from 2013 to 2017, I changed my diet to adjust my eating based on the diagnosis.
In 2016, I started getting colonics because I was experiencing constipation, fogginess, extreme hot flashes, fatigue, and weight gain. I stopped getting the colonics after a year. It was too much of a strain on my system.
In 2017, I had an endoscopic dilation. I had been experiencing constant bloating and extreme hot flashes. To me, my hot flashes were coming from the laboring of my digestive system to digest the food and also when I would get stressed. After the dilation, I had to cut out a lot of foods that were high fiber and gaseous. I used to be able to drink tea, but tea gases my system. I cannot eat chips or anything that has a high salt content because at times it upsets my stomach and makes my face feel like it is crawling and I would break out. I eat small meals these days because it takes too long for my system to digest a meal. I have to take MiraLax and Citrucel every night to keep my system running. I try to monitor my weight to make sure that I am not putting on weight because for me it signals that the food is not passing and is sitting in my colon.
As I am getting older, the Nissen is causing more problems for me. I saw my most recent Gastro doctor last week and told him that I wanted to get the wrap undone. I would appreciate it if anyone has had a similar experience as I have and share with me what they have done or are doing to remedy their situation.

Jump to this post

I select the doctors I go to by examining their schooling, their history in practice, and their accreditation by medical fellowships.. I do not go to medical practitioners who have been educated only in Chiropractic schools.

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Profile picture for ZeeGee @fourof5zs

@martft4
This might help :
https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I did not know we had one in my small hometown in GA. I have seen him before and I did not care for him when he visited me in the hospital. .. he used to be my mama's dr and my brother-in-law's doctor.. they changed doctors. So if you choose one near you.. you might want to check him/her out very well.

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Thank you for the info.
I looked but no doctor found. Will keep looking maybe have to do bigger city farther away from me.

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Profile picture for martft4 @martft4

I live in a small town in North Dakota and I was wondering how you go about finding the functional medicine doctor that your talking about?

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Ask your primary care doctor if he or she can recommend someone. I think that what the previous person says could be true—about many functional doctors not being MDs. But my primary care doc recommended a functional/integrative MD at the University of MN Medical Center he knows and trusts. Actually I think even Mayo now has an integrative medicine department.

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Profile picture for martft4 @martft4

I live in a small town in North Dakota and I was wondering how you go about finding the functional medicine doctor that your talking about?

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@martft4
This might help :
https://www.ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
I did not know we had one in my small hometown in GA. I have seen him before and I did not care for him when he visited me in the hospital. .. he used to be my mama's dr and my brother-in-law's doctor.. they changed doctors. So if you choose one near you.. you might want to check him/her out very well.

REPLY
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