Can you share some Nissen fundoplication success stories?

@programmer, I moved your post to this existing discussion where you'll find some Nissan Fundoplication success stories:
- Nissen fundoplication success https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nissen-fundoplication-success/

In addition to @caringwife, you can hear about success experiences from @pdilly @azcyclist2018 @ken82 @fourof5zs and @2longlife. Like with all surgeries, there are risks. It's important to get care at a center of excellence. It sounds like you're considering surgery at Mayo Clinic. Is that right?

I did not have my Nissen fundoplication done at Mayo. But I’m sure that would be a wonderful place to have the procedure. I was fortunate that we have a surgeon here in Little Rock who trained for that and had performed the procedure many times before I needed mine. It was very successful for me.

I did not have my surgery at Mayo, but in my home town, it was a successful surgery. One needs patience for your body to recover after the surgery, there is no rushing the process.

Yes, I am 29 years old but the 40mg twice a day of Nexium, along with lifestyle changes have not seemed to help.
I at first experienced “LPR” like issues with my mouth and throat, as well as dysphasia back in 2020, by the time they actually did an endoscopy, it was early 2021 but my esophagus was fairy healthy still after being on Prilosec and then Nexium.

This year I had an endoscopy and my esophagus was really tight, although a lot of the “LPR” like symptoms are gone. No permanent damage yet according to my GI doctor.

I can’t take Pepcid since it does weird things to me.

I apparently have a 3cm hiatal hernia, it has grown 1cm since last year, assuming the correct size was estimated in my first endoscopy.

I am meeting with my GI doctor on May the 3rd to fax my information and hopefully a referral to Mayo Clinic.

My mom and dad both have digestive issues and I don’t want to get Barrett’s Esophagus if at all possible so I am trying to get the rest of the pre-op testing done at Mayo Clinic… I have had my local hospital do the bravo procedure which confirmed constant acid reflux.

I don’t really trust my local hospital enough to perform the procedure since there are issues that can happen, be it LINX, Nissen Fundoplication, or something else.

Thank you for your time.

@programmer
Folks who have major reflux problems or GERD and seek some easy fix... being out while someone works over you... are missing the point.. One must certainly trust science, but one must get credible evidence and testimony from all sides.. My PCP referred me to a local Central Iowa GI specialist, who in turn recommended I have the Nissen surgery back in 2015. Every meal since the the Nissen has been a challenge.. Will it stay down.. can I ever gain back the 50 pounds I lost after the surgery ...before I went to Mayo MN to learn to cope with the situation..
When I look back at what I did wrong... I believed the doctors and did not ask how many Nissen operations he had performed.. or for names of successful patients that I might talk to..... I did not bother with learning how to eat without getting so many "gas and bloating" problems.. Do your homework and get both sides of the story.. Like with all news.. Get Credible and Reliable stories... While I think Mayo Clinic Connect serves a good purpose, it is not a substitute for more "credible" and reliable documentation. Ken

I had a partial Nissen funduplication last Nov 15th at Mayo Jax and have had absolutely no trouble.

I know things could be worse, and seemingly have got worse over the last year but these last 2 years have been a nightmare for me.

My hiatal hernia, aside from LPR symptoms and dysphasia due to esophageal narrowing, also causes dysphasia itself… this is part of the reason that my dysphasia is so variable, as in it comes and goes so randomly sometimes, but has been persistent.

This is why I think I need surgery, not just the acid reflux. My hiatal hernia itself is the problem… from heart palpitations when bending over sometimes, to variable dysphasia, at my age with my background, I am almost certain the test will show that the hiatal hernia is the main problem to blame.

I have been to the ER several times and there is seemingly nothing else wrong with me so far as they have tested.

I played brass instruments that you blow into from the age of 12 to 18, you have to breath in with your stomach out and blow with your stomach in to blow out the right amount of air for trumpets, euphoniums, and tubas.
I unloaded trucks while I was in college and lifted some weights in high school and a few years after high school.
My mom has a hiatal hernia so some genetic component possibly.

I lived a lot, doing normal things and being active during my young to young adult life.

I do hope surgery won’t make things worse, and that’s why I hope the pre-op testing would rule anything else out, such as achalasia, but if there is a chance that I can return to a mostly normal life, minus lifting and such, I will try for it.

Good luck.. you mentioned that you think the tests will show.... get the tests done.. work from credible sources.. very good clinics.. State university Medical schools, Mayo, Boston General, Cleveland Clinic.. get well qualified and experienced surgical team..

That is the plan as far as seeking out Mayo Clinic. I will meet with my GI doc on the 3rd of May to have them fax my information to Mayo and start the process of trying to get an appointment and go from there.

In 2014, my dear wife was told by a pulmonologist, after many bouts of pneumonia that she needed the Nissen fundoplication procedure…even though the gastric testing/monitoring by tge gastri doc told them there was no sign of gerd leaking into her lungs.
She finally agreed to have the procedure done, and it was not the cure to her pneumonias...by any means!
After another bronchoscope by the same pulmonologist resulted in her being put on a ventilator, the biopsy suggested that she might possibly have an adnecarcenoma in her lung!!!
We had previously questioned the pulmonologist about the possibility of cancer and he brushed the subject aside. He could not accept the radiologist report.
Even after all this even the thoracic surgeon would not agree that my wife had lung cancer! He was willing to do lung surgery though!
I finally drafted a letter with my wife’s history and sent it to Mayo Rochester along with her records.
Within three business days Mayo had concluded that she had a 12 cm adnecarcenoma in her right lung!
Mothers Day weekend, 2015 a thoracic surgeon at Mayo removed two lobes of her right lung!
So o o I tell you all of this to inform you that you need to be very careful, and ask lots of questions before even considering this surgery!
Today my wife is being treated with chemotherapy for stage IV lung cancer by a team of oncologists here at a local University Clinic and overseen by our Mayo oncologist in Rochester…a great team!
As a result of the Nissen, her episodes of regurgitation caused by the chemo are violent and painful to watch, it as she cannot produce anything…her esophagus is enlarged, producing a foul bile taste in the mornings!
Be very very cautious as you ponder your decision!
Good luck!