1. < Digestive Health

Reversal of a fundoplication

Posted by Pawsboy9 @pawsboy9, Aug 5, 2012

I had a hernia and the fundoplication done in February as post this my chest is on fire. Going back to see the surgeon who did it on Tuesday. Has anybody had the same experience? If this guy does not have a answer heading for Mayo.

Thanks
Dennis

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myskye | @myskye | Mar 16, 2017
In reply to @gregoryd "I had the Nissan fundiplication about a year and a half ago. I felt amazing for..." + (show)
@gregoryd

I had the Nissan fundiplication about a year and a half ago. I felt amazing for nine-months. Then, one day my stomach was burning, aching, you name it. I went back to the mayo clinic and got scoped to check the wrap. Well, the GI said the wrap was good and that he also checked me for SIBO. Sure enough, I have it. Along with two ulcers. I was also wondering about a reversal of the surgery. I still have GURDS, and recently found out from a GI in Texas that two-thirds of people who have had this surgery still require acid blockers. So I think I wasted a lot of money, but am not sure if the surgery caused the SIBO. if it did, I will definitely have it reversed. I am worse than I was pre-procedure. So maybe see if you have developed SIBO as well. Good Luck in your quest.

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wow i will do some research on the Augmentation LInxs Thank you

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carolynlivingjaks | @carolynlivingjaks | Mar 16, 2017
In reply to @gregoryd "I had the Nissan fundiplication about a year and a half ago. I felt amazing for..." + (show)
@gregoryd

I had the Nissan fundiplication about a year and a half ago. I felt amazing for nine-months. Then, one day my stomach was burning, aching, you name it. I went back to the mayo clinic and got scoped to check the wrap. Well, the GI said the wrap was good and that he also checked me for SIBO. Sure enough, I have it. Along with two ulcers. I was also wondering about a reversal of the surgery. I still have GURDS, and recently found out from a GI in Texas that two-thirds of people who have had this surgery still require acid blockers. So I think I wasted a lot of money, but am not sure if the surgery caused the SIBO. if it did, I will definitely have it reversed. I am worse than I was pre-procedure. So maybe see if you have developed SIBO as well. Good Luck in your quest.

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Yes, please do. look up the youtube video Dr. Bowers explains it very well. He's located in Jacksonville Mayo clinic.

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kozlo52 | @kozlo52 | Mar 17, 2017
In reply to @kdubois "Hi @kozlo52, I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a..." + (show)
@kdubois

Hi @kozlo52,

I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a 4 cm hiatal hernia and non-functioning sphincter muscle. Pre-surgery, I would constantly have heartburn and GERD. I would have to finish dinner before 6:00 p.m. every night, and sleep upright using a bed wedge or I would wake up choking on with partially-digested food and stomach acid. (We did the surgery to fix these issues but also because Mayo figured out that genetically, I don't properly-metabolize many medications, including proton pump inhibitors.)

Since the surgery, I have had no GERD or heartburn, and I can sleep normally and eat at normal times again. Post-surgery, I did take NSAIDS for pain for about two weeks.

Important to note: to test my fundoplication post-surgery, Mayo had me do an esophagram and not another manometry. The esophagram will better-show that fluids aren't coming back up into your esophagus as it's a true imaging test and they can literally watch the fluids (barium) real-time while you consume them.

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Kelly when you say eat normal again, does this mean very small meals 6 times a day? Yesterday i had another manometry test as well as an endoscopy with biopsies. I was told that from the endoscopy my hiatal hernia was intact as well as my LES being right. I then asked why am i still getting heartburn. The explanation from the surgeon was that i am eating too much at a given meal. I am on max antacids and this is 147 days after the initial fundo/and hernia repair.I also asked when i take pain medication that 4 hours later i get heartburn? They have no answer for this part. Are you on any pain medication? I plan to see the head surgeon ,Dr. Blair Jobe to go over the manometry results as well as the endoscopy. I am about ready to have this reversed. Please comment.

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myskye | @myskye | Mar 17, 2017
In reply to @kdubois "Hi @kozlo52, I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a..." + (show)
@kdubois

Hi @kozlo52,

I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a 4 cm hiatal hernia and non-functioning sphincter muscle. Pre-surgery, I would constantly have heartburn and GERD. I would have to finish dinner before 6:00 p.m. every night, and sleep upright using a bed wedge or I would wake up choking on with partially-digested food and stomach acid. (We did the surgery to fix these issues but also because Mayo figured out that genetically, I don't properly-metabolize many medications, including proton pump inhibitors.)

Since the surgery, I have had no GERD or heartburn, and I can sleep normally and eat at normal times again. Post-surgery, I did take NSAIDS for pain for about two weeks.

Important to note: to test my fundoplication post-surgery, Mayo had me do an esophagram and not another manometry. The esophagram will better-show that fluids aren't coming back up into your esophagus as it's a true imaging test and they can literally watch the fluids (barium) real-time while you consume them.

Jump to this post

According to the specialist i saw last month, once you have the Nissen you should not need any kind of antacid again He explained that is the wrap is working, no acid should be able to come back through. my wrap is to tight which is why i am having it adjusted next week.

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onejoe | @onejoe | Mar 17, 2017

My wife had a Nissen Fundoplication in January 2014. ( that surgeon is now retired) For the past year symptoms have become progressivly worse and we were recently advised that the Nissan wrap had failed and was now herniated into her chest cavity. Local surgeons advise redoing the surgery is beyond their expertise. (Eureka ca) and advise going to larger hospital. Mayo Scottsdale was suggested as having Doctors experienced in this proceedure. We certainly want someone with a lot of experience. Any advise or suggestion greatly appreciated. Thank you Joe

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2 replies
Kelly, Alumna Mentor | @kdubois | Mar 17, 2017
In reply to @kdubois "Hi @kozlo52, I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a..." + (show)
@kdubois

Hi @kozlo52,

I had a Nissen Fundoplication at Mayo on October 18, 2016 to fix a 4 cm hiatal hernia and non-functioning sphincter muscle. Pre-surgery, I would constantly have heartburn and GERD. I would have to finish dinner before 6:00 p.m. every night, and sleep upright using a bed wedge or I would wake up choking on with partially-digested food and stomach acid. (We did the surgery to fix these issues but also because Mayo figured out that genetically, I don't properly-metabolize many medications, including proton pump inhibitors.)

Since the surgery, I have had no GERD or heartburn, and I can sleep normally and eat at normal times again. Post-surgery, I did take NSAIDS for pain for about two weeks.

Important to note: to test my fundoplication post-surgery, Mayo had me do an esophagram and not another manometry. The esophagram will better-show that fluids aren't coming back up into your esophagus as it's a true imaging test and they can literally watch the fluids (barium) real-time while you consume them.

Jump to this post

@kozlo52 I don't have to eat several small meals every day anymore, and haven't for a while. I only take Advil every once in a while, but I have never experienced heartburn from it. I honestly haven't experienced any heartburn since I had my surgery on October 18.

I do stop eating immediately when I feel myself getting full, but I have over-eaten a couple of times and had no heartburn.

They *really* need to do an esophagram to see if there are fluids coming back up. This test includes imaging while you are standing up straight but also while you are laying down and rolling around in circles. I would ask them to perform an esophagram.

How frequently are you experiencing the heartburn? Daily?

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Kelly, Alumna Mentor | @kdubois | Mar 17, 2017

Hi @onejoe, I agree, your wife needs a very experienced surgeon, but it's nice to see that her local surgeons are willing to admit that they aren't experienced enough. A consult at Mayo - Scottsdale is an excellent idea if you are in California, though I can only speak on my personal experience with Mayo - Rochester. (I had my Nissen done at the Mayo - Rochester by a thoracic surgeon named Dr. Francis Nichols. He's been doing these surgeries for more than 30 years, and I'd bet my life that he's done tons of corrections, redone these surgeries, etc. He's very nice, has a great bedside manner, and also a great sense of humor.)

As an aside, my brother had a Nissen fail a few years ago after he became sick... coughing and sneezing for several months made his Nissen fail. He had his redone at UVA (he lives in Virginia) a few years ago, and it's been good ever since! These can be successfully redone!

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1 reply
onejoe | @onejoe | Mar 17, 2017
In reply to @kdubois "Hi @onejoe, I agree, your wife needs a very experienced surgeon, but it's nice to see..." + (show)
@kdubois

Hi @onejoe, I agree, your wife needs a very experienced surgeon, but it's nice to see that her local surgeons are willing to admit that they aren't experienced enough. A consult at Mayo - Scottsdale is an excellent idea if you are in California, though I can only speak on my personal experience with Mayo - Rochester. (I had my Nissen done at the Mayo - Rochester by a thoracic surgeon named Dr. Francis Nichols. He's been doing these surgeries for more than 30 years, and I'd bet my life that he's done tons of corrections, redone these surgeries, etc. He's very nice, has a great bedside manner, and also a great sense of humor.)

As an aside, my brother had a Nissen fail a few years ago after he became sick... coughing and sneezing for several months made his Nissen fail. He had his redone at UVA (he lives in Virginia) a few years ago, and it's been good ever since! These can be successfully redone!

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Thank you Kelly, we are considering Mayo in Scottsdale but am also looking at UCSF or Stanford as possibilities. It is heartening to hear of any sucess stories. If I still lived in Massachusetts We would certainly go to Rochester, i am glad you had good results. Thanks again. Joe

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carolynlivingjaks | @carolynlivingjaks | Mar 17, 2017

Dennis, My 20 year old son (who was born with a congenital problem of his stomach) He had his 2nd NF of his life in 2014. That surgeon did the wrap too tight and too high up on his esophagus. He lost 30 pounds and currently has a feeding tube due to other health problems because of the too tight NF. Please go online and look up on youtube. Steven P Bowers MD - Jacksonville Mayo. Instead of doing yet another NF on my son he inserted and performed augmentation of the linxs device. magnetic beads form to close and open with food. It is a fairly new procedure hopefully it will take over as the standard not many surgeons know of it. I would highly recommend it. The evening of surgery you are able to eat real food. In fact it's encouraged to eat to keep the beads moving so not to fuse over. Good luck.

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1 reply
Kelly, Alumna Mentor | @kdubois | Mar 17, 2017

The LINX device is awesome, and being able to eat the same day is super-awesome.

With that said, note that not all insurances will cover it (probably because it is new), and it can't be used if the hernia being repaired is too large. My hernia was 4cm and Mayo told me it was too large to use the LINX.

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