Surgery for GERD

I had laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia repair and Toupet 270 degree fundoplication surgery in May of 2020. It was life changing for me! I wish I had been able to do it sooner. First of all the hernia repair corrected a large hernia that was causing a great deal of random pain by allowing my stomach to enter my diaphragm. Secondly the Toupet fundoplication resolved all of my acid reflux problem so that I no longer must take Omeprazole or any type of antacid I can eat normally. I have no issues swallowing or burping which can be a problem with a traditional 365 degree wrap. I am very grateful to Dr. Cobb for the time he took to explain everything and answer my questions and for his skillful intervention. https://www.clemson.edu/health-research/faculty/clinical-professors/cobb.html

Hello, with the Toupet Fundoplication were your results immediate? Did your reflux get resolved immediately after the surgery or was it a gradual change?

I have been having severe esophageal spasms and acid reflux for a couple of years. In June 2020, I had the Toupet Fundoplication surgery, which helped for only a while. I am now having multiple spasms every day which feel like I am having a heart attack and being stabbed at the same time. I also lose my voice when these occur. I have tried numerous medications to prevent the spasms but none have worked. I am using muscle relaxers, pain killers, Nitroglycerin and a GI cocktail every day just to try to control the pain. A recent endoscopy shows that the Fundoplication has come loose in one area and acid & bile are coming back into my esophagus. I have seen several gastroenterologists and my current one has stated if my newest medicine does not work, he will be referring me to the Mayo clinic. I will likely have a battle with my insurance company in Oklahoma since that is out of network.

Having explained all this, my questions are: If someone is referred to the Mayo clinic, does that start by the current physician sending their medical records to the appropriate specialist (at the Mayo clinic) for review? And then the specialist determines if it is something that they can try to treat? Are video visits a possibility or would we have to drive across the country for an in-person office visit, without knowing if treatment is even an option? Any information about this process would be greatly appreciated.

Hi @dannyl and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll see that I moved your post to a discussion that was talking about the issues you are dealing with so that you could connect with people here and members like @cim37343, @astaingegerdm, @kimh, @franduffy, and @sylviasparks

Video appointments are definitely available right now. Have you reached out to Mayo at all to try to obtain an appointment?

I have been having severe esophageal spasms and acid reflux for a couple of years. In June 2020, I had the Toupet Fundoplication surgery, which helped for only a while. I am now having multiple spasms every day which feel like I am having a heart attack and being stabbed at the same time. I also lose my voice when these occur. I have tried numerous medications to prevent the spasms but none have worked. I am using muscle relaxers, pain killers, Nitroglycerin and a GI cocktail every day just to try to control the pain. A recent endoscopy shows that the Fundoplication has come loose in one area and acid & bile are coming back into my esophagus. I have seen several gastroenterologists and my current one has stated if my newest medicine does not work, he will be referring me to the Mayo clinic. I will likely have a battle with my insurance company in Oklahoma since that is out of network.

Having explained all this, my questions are: If someone is referred to the Mayo clinic, does that start by the current physician sending their medical records to the appropriate specialist (at the Mayo clinic) for review? And then the specialist determines if it is something that they can try to treat? Are video visits a possibility or would we have to drive across the country for an in-person office visit, without knowing if treatment is even an option? Any information about this process would be greatly appreciated.