Surgery for GERD

Posted by aliceorangebike @aliceorangebike, Dec 18, 2020

I am considering having surgery to resolve my terrible GERD problems. Toupet fundoplication has been recommended for me but it wraps around only 75% of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Has anyone had this surgery? Did it resolve your severe GERD problems? Do you still need to take Proton Pump Inhibitor medication? Thanks for your input!

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

@dannyl

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.

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@dannyl I lived in OK for 20 yrs.... now in central IA.. I had a botched Nissen fundoplication here in IA that the locals could not figure out what they had done wrong.. after losing 50 # I got a referral to Mayo MN.. The Mayo GI figured it out that first day ... post operative gastroparesis ... they gave me a way to cope.. eating small portions often.. chewing very well .. etc.. the surgery could not be undone.. nor could they fix the damaged hairnet like network of nerves that makes the stomach empty..
The first thing you should do is see if your clinic or hospital is on the EPIC medical records network.. as Mayo and hundreds of other leading hospitals are.. that way Mayo only needs your approval to look at your OK medical records... I found it was helpful to have a referral as it worked for me the first shot..... even from your Primary Care Physician ... I am on Medicare and a gap insurance partially funded by the OK Universities Group.. Good Luck..

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Has anyone had it done? Results?

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@bevlynn54

Has anyone had it done? Results?

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Are you talking about the Linx. Yes I have it

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@bevlynn54

Has anyone had it done? Results?

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Male/female? Age?

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@bevlynn54

Has anyone had it done? Results?

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How long ago?

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@saucy

Are you talking about the Linx. Yes I have it

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Male/female? Age? How long ago?

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@bevlynn54

Male/female? Age? How long ago?

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Hi @bevlynn54 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved your post to a conversation about surgery for GERD it discusses multiple different surgeries.

Here is some info you may be interested in. Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for Gastroesophageal Reflux at 5 Years: Final Results of a Pilot Study Show Long-Term Acid Reduction and Symptom Improvement: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4624249/ -----------------
A Modern Magnetic Implant for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28025156/ ------------------
2012 - Mayo Clinic Offers Newly Approved Treatment for Acid Reflux: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-offers-newly-approved-treatment-for-acid-reflux-disease/ ------------------TUESDAY Q & A: New treatment may be option for those with GERD: https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tuesday-q-a-new-treatment-may-be-option-for-those-with-gerd/

Would you be willing to share more of your story and what is going on with you? You tend to get a better response the more detail you provide about your situation.

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Just in the beginning phase of looking into it - the doctor here has not done any, although he has been trained. Just a little nervous about the process, and healing. I’ve had reflux issues for years. I’m 67 years old. Tired of taking pills.

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@bevlynn54

Just in the beginning phase of looking into it - the doctor here has not done any, although he has been trained. Just a little nervous about the process, and healing. I’ve had reflux issues for years. I’m 67 years old. Tired of taking pills.

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I bet you are! I would like to introduce you to @ken82, @dannyl, and @rozy288 who have also discussed their GERD here.
Personally, given what others have shared, I would steer clear of surgeons who have never done the procedure. The ramifications can be very detrimental.
Have you looked at any other surgery besides Linx?

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@bevlynn54

Male/female? Age? How long ago?

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Female and had surgery in 2014

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