Can you share some Nissen fundoplication success stories?

Posted by aliceorangebike @aliceorangebike, Nov 5, 2019

I’ve read a number of posts from people who are unhappy with the results of their Nissen fundoplication surgeries. I am considering having the surgery and would like to hear from people who are happy with their surgical outcomes. A recent New England Journal of Medicine article reported that two thirds of people are very satisfied with their Nissen outcomes. Do any of these people participate in these posts?

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@2longlife

Last May I had a Hiatal Hernia repair and Tippet fundiplication. It was a large hiatal hernia that was causing my stomach to enter my diaphragm. It was dangerous and caused sever pain at random times. The hernia was repaired laproscopically and my stomach was returned to the correct position while the hernia was closed with mesh and sutures.

At the same time, my doctor did a Tippet fundiplication. It is different then the traditional one in that the fundus is wrapped 270 degrees around the lower esophageal sphincter instead of 360 degrees around it. This allows me to burp normally and totally eliminated acid reflux and the need for antacids.

This was life changing surgery for me. It was a total success and I am free of all pain and can eat and drink anything I want normally.

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So nice to hear you had complete success with this. I've read about far more failures than successes. Do you mind telling me where you had it done?

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@pdilly

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.

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How does someone locate a surgeon who has trained for this particular surgery? Or if a surgeon has performed it many times? I have a procedure scheduled, but I haven't been able to find out anything about the doctor.

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@evanssandy34

They remove the wrap that is the cause of most problems, unless the surgeon cuts your vegus nerve. That you will not recover from and life long problems. Most surgeons will not reverse a Nissen Fundoplication and most insurance's will not pay for it. I have to fly from Idaho to Atlanta, where I found a surgeon that speciallizes in this and does 2 to 3 per week. I did not want someone that has done only one or 2. Good luck to you!

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How did you find the surgeon that specializes in this and how many he had done?

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@tburnham

I have a Nissen procedure scheduled for early December. I was really excited about it because I thought finally, my horrific GERD will be a thing of the past.
However, all I find online from people is that it literally destroyed their life and health.
Why would anyone get this done with such an awful outcome for so many people?
Anyone here have ANY positive outcome to share?

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@tburnham
I'm feeling the same way you did in November. Did you have your surgery done then in December? If so, did it turn out alright?

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@justann

So nice to hear you had complete success with this. I've read about far more failures than successes. Do you mind telling me where you had it done?

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Dr. Cobb. PRISMA Health System Greenville, SC
https://doctors.prismahealth.org/provider/William+Sinton+Cobb%2C+IV/992433
Excellent results with both the fundoplication and the hiatal hernia repair.

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I had a relatively successful surgery at Mayo 10 or so years ago. Dr. Feeler. I have some swallowing is snow but that is in a plate in my throat.

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@justann

How did you find the surgeon that specializes in this and how many he had done?

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I came to Mayo, thinking I had cancer (30lb weight loss) after having a GI specialist in my home state treat me unsuccessfully for years. Mayo GI dept had my prior scans and theirs which indicated half my stomach was above the diaphragm, there was some erosion, and referred me to a surgeon at Mayo at my request. The surgeon stated I had a grapefruit sized whole in my diaphragm allowing the stomach to move upward. Diagnosed on Friday and surgery was on a Monday. I flew home on Friday.

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@tburnham

I have a Nissen procedure scheduled for early December. I was really excited about it because I thought finally, my horrific GERD will be a thing of the past.
However, all I find online from people is that it literally destroyed their life and health.
Why would anyone get this done with such an awful outcome for so many people?
Anyone here have ANY positive outcome to share?

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My recovery hasn’t been perfect, but I’m better off and still believe gerd found it’s way into my lungs

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Facing possible laparoscopic fundoplication, many questions
I have never had reflux that I was aware of (was healthy 69 year old, I road biked 40 miles, swam, ran, serious weight training… but last March, out of nowhere I began to have symptoms that look Sjogren’s to my internist. I couldn't eat, lost weight and drank too much water. I ended up in hospital due to a sodium crisis and lung Nodules & opacities in lung, bronchoscopy conducted after opacities etc remained. Next CT, the lright lung resolved , but left lung worse. So doctors looked to aspiration. Apparently, I "failed" the swallow test; ph impedance on 20 mg Prilosec, no significant acid reflux so GI doc felt differential was achalasia, barium swallow pill went thru.
No real treatment options, so applied to a specialized program for esophogeal disorders in NYC, to see if there was some treatment. Also, If was achalasia they seemed to use the POEM procedure (less invasive compared to heller myotomy).
After meeting me, they suggested doing and Endo flip and bravo. Apparently, in addition to (limited or no peristalsis) the specialist said the ph results showed my esophageal sphincter was not functioning. So reflux was causing lung issues aspiration... Suggested trying medical interventions (wedge, higher dose Prilosec, eat 4-5 hours before dinner. ) So far, no difference and symptoms have been much, much worse since endoflip.
Now I have severe nighttime reflux despite interventions. Suggestion is for fundoplication, but the specialist was concerned that it’s risky as I am 70. Since I’m not improving, he’s suggesting.
So, I have lots of questions for older adults who had the surgery.
I need to clarify with the doctor what the “risk” is,. But assuming I go forward, he says it’s a 4 week recovery. They say limited pain from surgery. Liquid to blended diet at first, then can eat relatively normally. Now given I have limited peristalsis, I imagine that I won’t be able to eat what I want. Sorry for the long background… but
I assume one risk is that it doesn’t work, or there’s some nerve damage or infection. But I see there’s a long support group for problems post fundoplication.
Has anyone had a “good” experience to share, or things to be wary of? Ideally I’d want a surgeon who does a lot of these procedures.
If done laproscopically, is 2-4 weeks realistic for recuperation to some level of being able to function?
Liquid diet sounds tough, though I am not able to eat much real food anyway. But it seems the move to solids might take longer than described for many people.
I see new methods that don’t involve surgery, suspect I’m not a candidate, but I see there are a few non surgical procedures. transluminal fundoplication, and TiFF? (sorry can't locate mynotes on those now). Anyone know about those procedures and the success rate??

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@cblue

Facing possible laparoscopic fundoplication, many questions
I have never had reflux that I was aware of (was healthy 69 year old, I road biked 40 miles, swam, ran, serious weight training… but last March, out of nowhere I began to have symptoms that look Sjogren’s to my internist. I couldn't eat, lost weight and drank too much water. I ended up in hospital due to a sodium crisis and lung Nodules & opacities in lung, bronchoscopy conducted after opacities etc remained. Next CT, the lright lung resolved , but left lung worse. So doctors looked to aspiration. Apparently, I "failed" the swallow test; ph impedance on 20 mg Prilosec, no significant acid reflux so GI doc felt differential was achalasia, barium swallow pill went thru.
No real treatment options, so applied to a specialized program for esophogeal disorders in NYC, to see if there was some treatment. Also, If was achalasia they seemed to use the POEM procedure (less invasive compared to heller myotomy).
After meeting me, they suggested doing and Endo flip and bravo. Apparently, in addition to (limited or no peristalsis) the specialist said the ph results showed my esophageal sphincter was not functioning. So reflux was causing lung issues aspiration... Suggested trying medical interventions (wedge, higher dose Prilosec, eat 4-5 hours before dinner. ) So far, no difference and symptoms have been much, much worse since endoflip.
Now I have severe nighttime reflux despite interventions. Suggestion is for fundoplication, but the specialist was concerned that it’s risky as I am 70. Since I’m not improving, he’s suggesting.
So, I have lots of questions for older adults who had the surgery.
I need to clarify with the doctor what the “risk” is,. But assuming I go forward, he says it’s a 4 week recovery. They say limited pain from surgery. Liquid to blended diet at first, then can eat relatively normally. Now given I have limited peristalsis, I imagine that I won’t be able to eat what I want. Sorry for the long background… but
I assume one risk is that it doesn’t work, or there’s some nerve damage or infection. But I see there’s a long support group for problems post fundoplication.
Has anyone had a “good” experience to share, or things to be wary of? Ideally I’d want a surgeon who does a lot of these procedures.
If done laproscopically, is 2-4 weeks realistic for recuperation to some level of being able to function?
Liquid diet sounds tough, though I am not able to eat much real food anyway. But it seems the move to solids might take longer than described for many people.
I see new methods that don’t involve surgery, suspect I’m not a candidate, but I see there are a few non surgical procedures. transluminal fundoplication, and TiFF? (sorry can't locate mynotes on those now). Anyone know about those procedures and the success rate??

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Welcome, @cblue. You're asking great questions as you do your research into possibly having a laparoscopic fundoplication. I moved your post to this existing discussion:
- Can you share some Nissen fundoplication success stories?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nissen-fundoplication-success/

I did that because the discussion is rich with experiences from other members and to help you connect with them. I'm confident that members like @pdilly @azcyclist2018 @paulfeyen @pookey @texasmimi @faithann64 @ken82 @fourof5zs @2longlife and others can help answers your questions.

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