Nissen Fundoplication

Posted by Lindabeth421 @lindabeth421, Jul 5, 2011


I am a Mayo Clinic patient (past or current).
Your interests: LAPAROSCOPIC NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION Your experience as a Mayo Clinic patient (if applicable): Today is one week since surgery at the Jacksonville Clinic. It was a positive experience, in that the care was excellent. Now home in Boca Raton, I am 7 hours by car from my doctors. Although I have a local doctor at home, I feel the need to connect with others who have had this surgery. Anything else about yourself: The main symptom I suffered with was chronic cough. I also have been diagnosed with Asthma. Last summer I became a patient at National Jewish Health in Denver, CO, a hospital that specializes in Respiratory disease. I was diagnosed with Bronchiectosis, probably caused by GERD. I had been on the GERD diet, proton pump inhibitors, inhalers, antibiotics, cough meds, the works. Turning over every leaf possible, I was led to the Mayo Clinic. Somewhat cynical about the outcome, I chose to have the surgery. This week has been difficult. I experienced low grade fever, and belching every few seconds for hours on the fifth day out. This has finally stopped and I am now on soft foods, really I'm clinging to blended still. I would like to hear from others that have had this surgery.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@luisaismael

Hi
I would like to know about your post surgery.
I understand that you are on soft food while your body adjust to the surgical procedure and I have a few questions.
Have your respiratory condition improved?
Have you stopped taking the PPIs that are usually part of the GERD treatment?
Are you taking new medicines to accelerate the recovery from surgery?
Thanks and hope you are doing well.

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ndrome. To this day I still have it. Good luck

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I also had this surgery done for GERD, That part went great. But I also got the Dumping Syndrome because of having it done. I had the surgery done a year a go. and to this day, I start going to the bathroom about a 30 min, after I eat.Good luck in your recorvery.

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@colleenyoung

Hi @SherryD,
Welcome to Connect. I can imagine your concern. You may be interested in connecting with @tgirl. She posted a while back on this discussion thread https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gastroparesis-27d658/ about going for a nissen fundoplication. Hopefully by tagging her on this discussion she will receive an email notification and return to share her experiences with you.

Did you tell the surgeons that 7 years ago they said a gastric bypass would not be possible? Do they feel there is less risk now? What are your options?

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Thank you for your response. Yes, I mentioned the conversation we had<br />
seven years ago. They said many advancements have been made. The part of<br />
the wrap that has come undone gets stuck in the opening of the diaphragm<br />
and it feels like I am having a heart attack and have shortness of<br />
breath. I have had a heart cath and stress tests before and all is well.<br />
I just want to make an educated and well informed decision.<br />
<br />
-- <br />
Sherry Ann Rothe Davenport<br />

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<p>Seven years ago I had a nissen fundoplication done by a great surgeon here in San Antonio,Texas. I had a very large hiatal hernia. The wrap has come undone and there is another hernia. I have visited with the same two surgeons that did the original surgery. At the time (seven years ago) I was told that the surgery could never be repeated and if I wanted to ever consider gastric bypass, it would not be possible. These doctors are surgeons at a bariatric clinic and this is the types of surgeries they do every day. During my visit last week, I was told a repair surgery was necessary and once they get in my abdominal area, if the stomach and herniated areas are in really bad shape, I would need gastric bypass as a last resort. I am almost 62 years old and about 25 pounds over weight. I am scared to death and the thought of something going wrong leaves me in great fear. Have any of you ever had the repair done? The surgery was not a walk in the park, but I have a very high tolerance for pain. The discomfort isn't a concern, but something going wrong is.</p>

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@SherryD

<p>Seven years ago I had a nissen fundoplication done by a great surgeon here in San Antonio,Texas. I had a very large hiatal hernia. The wrap has come undone and there is another hernia. I have visited with the same two surgeons that did the original surgery. At the time (seven years ago) I was told that the surgery could never be repeated and if I wanted to ever consider gastric bypass, it would not be possible. These doctors are surgeons at a bariatric clinic and this is the types of surgeries they do every day. During my visit last week, I was told a repair surgery was necessary and once they get in my abdominal area, if the stomach and herniated areas are in really bad shape, I would need gastric bypass as a last resort. I am almost 62 years old and about 25 pounds over weight. I am scared to death and the thought of something going wrong leaves me in great fear. Have any of you ever had the repair done? The surgery was not a walk in the park, but I have a very high tolerance for pain. The discomfort isn't a concern, but something going wrong is.</p>

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I applaud your efforts to get information to make an educated and well informed decision. I would too. If you search for "nissen" or "gastric bypass" in the search bar above, you'll find quite a few messages where people are talking about these procedures. If you find a conversation or person you would like to connect with, simply post a message to that discussion and they will get a notification that a new message has been posted. Furthermore, if you add the @ sign before a member's username in your message, they will get an email of the new message. I hope we can pair you will other people with similar circumstances.
Colleen
Community Director

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@SherryD

<p>Seven years ago I had a nissen fundoplication done by a great surgeon here in San Antonio,Texas. I had a very large hiatal hernia. The wrap has come undone and there is another hernia. I have visited with the same two surgeons that did the original surgery. At the time (seven years ago) I was told that the surgery could never be repeated and if I wanted to ever consider gastric bypass, it would not be possible. These doctors are surgeons at a bariatric clinic and this is the types of surgeries they do every day. During my visit last week, I was told a repair surgery was necessary and once they get in my abdominal area, if the stomach and herniated areas are in really bad shape, I would need gastric bypass as a last resort. I am almost 62 years old and about 25 pounds over weight. I am scared to death and the thought of something going wrong leaves me in great fear. Have any of you ever had the repair done? The surgery was not a walk in the park, but I have a very high tolerance for pain. The discomfort isn't a concern, but something going wrong is.</p>

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Hi @SherryD,
Welcome to Connect. I can imagine your concern. You may be interested in connecting with @tgirl. She posted a while back on this discussion thread https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gastroparesis-27d658/ about going for a nissen fundoplication. Hopefully by tagging her on this discussion she will receive an email notification and return to share her experiences with you.

Did you tell the surgeons that 7 years ago they said a gastric bypass would not be possible? Do they feel there is less risk now? What are your options?

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... and I was wondering if anyone has ever had this surgery before. If so, 360º or 270º? What was your physical recovery like? What was your diet after surgery like and for what duration? I know that I won't be able to eat normal food for a while, and I will lose some weight, but at least I won't have heartburn anymore!

(As background, I'm excited for this surgery! After years of GERD issues and taking medications like Nexium due to a failing sphincter and hiatal hernia, Mayo figured out that I don't properly-metabolize proton pump inhibitors (in addition to a bunch of other medications), and this was why I was so comprehensively sick for years. After stopping these meds, I lost a ton weight, and revisited my GI doctor. He said that since I can't take PPIs and had lost so much weight, I was now an excellent candidate for the surgery.)

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@caress

Thank you kdubois for your post, it has helped with a lot of questions I had. Unfortunately I won't be able to travel to any Mayo Clinics
I'm so weak, I'm losing blood from this hernia and its hard for me to think about any travelling....I should hear from my gastroenterologist
today about my barium-xray test I had yesterday. Thank you again and all the best to you.

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I don't know what size large hiatal hernia is is a 4 cm considered large? My friend told me to go to NYC but I don't know any doctors
there. What a problem, I really don't want surgery, but I can't live like this being so weak....I know this is a difficult
surgery and I don't want to suffer for the rest of my life after surgery

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@caress

I just googled surgeons at Hackensack Medical Center in NJ that do nissen fundoplications for hiatal hernia and I found one that does robotic
surgeries, did you ever hear of that?

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I've heard of them, but because my mom was a surgical nurse for 40 years. She's always has positive things to say about stuff like that. I actually don't know what they did on me, but it had be something close. I had five laparoscopic incisions that were each only about an inch long. I know they do it using a camera. Smaller incisions instead of one big incision makes it so you don't have to stay in the hospital as long.

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@kdubois

... and I was wondering if anyone has ever had this surgery before. If so, 360º or 270º? What was your physical recovery like? What was your diet after surgery like and for what duration? I know that I won't be able to eat normal food for a while, and I will lose some weight, but at least I won't have heartburn anymore!

(As background, I'm excited for this surgery! After years of GERD issues and taking medications like Nexium due to a failing sphincter and hiatal hernia, Mayo figured out that I don't properly-metabolize proton pump inhibitors (in addition to a bunch of other medications), and this was why I was so comprehensively sick for years. After stopping these meds, I lost a ton weight, and revisited my GI doctor. He said that since I can't take PPIs and had lost so much weight, I was now an excellent candidate for the surgery.)

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Hello @kdubois,
Thank you for sharing your history and concerns about the surgery. I would like you to meet @SherryD and @maxmaximus3; since they've both had Nissen Fundoplication surgery done, a few years ago, they might be able to help you with your questions.

I commend you for being an advocate for your health; here is a great article from Medline Plus which will also give you an in-depth look at the before and after care of the surgery:
http://bit.ly/2edWi1b

I wish you the very best, and would love it if you would let us know about your experience after the procedure.

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