Deciding whether to have a Nissen fundoplication was one of the most stressful decisions of my life. Despite having had several surgeries for other ailments, I found the decision to have an NF to be agonizing. Neither my surgeon nor my gastroenterologist would guarantee that my voice would return. They couldn’t
guarantee whether my asthma would improve. And they couldn’t tell me whether I
could wind up with painful trapped gas or some other horrible complication for
the rest of my life. Ultimately, my decision was one of desperation and a total leap of faith.

Here are a few suggestions to help make your decision a little easier:

You’re probably a good candidate for a Nissen Fundoplication if…

 --Both your surgeon and your gastroenterologist agree that you need to have the surgery.

 --Another doctor (such as an ear, nose, and throat physician) thinks you should have the surgery.

--You’ve tried every nonsurgical intervention (meds, bed raising, stress reduction,
elimination diet, etc.) and you’re still suffering.

 --Your reflux is damaging another part of your body (such as your esophagus or vocal cords).

 --You’ve developed a disability from the reflux (such as voice loss).

 --You can’t eat, or you can barely eat.

--You can only tolerate a very limited number of foods.

--You feel like your life revolves around your reflux symptoms.

 --Your life has become extremely restricted because of your reflux.
 
Do you have any other suggestions to help people make the decision to have an NF? Please share your thoughts.

I was lucky to have a surgeon who was both technically gifted and who had
outstanding communication skills. This is a rare combination, but I believe it
is crucial to find the BEST Nissen fundoplication surgeon and also one with whom
you can communicate.
 
Both my gastroenterologist and the one I consulted for a second opinion gave me the same advice: You must go to the BEST surgeon for your Nissen fundoplication. Not a really good surgeon, not a great surgeon, but the BEST. The surgeon’s skills
will determine the success of your surgery!

Ten Steps for Choosing the Right Surgeon

1. Ask your gastroenterologist for referrals. 

2. If you got a second opinion from another gastroenterologist, also ask him/her for
referrals.

3. Ask your primary care physician if he/she knows these surgeons, and if not, would he/she be willing to do some research for you?
 
4.  Research the surgeons on the web. Look at Yelp, HealthGrades, Vitals.com, and other physician-review websites. Does the physician average 4 or more stars out of 5? That can be a good sign (although not a guarantee) of a physician’s abilities. Be wary of a physician who averages fewer than 4 out of 5 stars. Also Google your physician’s name plus “sanctions,” “lawsuit,” and “malpractice” to see if he/she has been involved in any lawsuits.
 
5. Make a detailed list of questions to bring to your consultation with the surgeon. Write them down in order or importance. Make sure you ask about possible adverse events, your expected results, the number of NFs he/she has done, the number of complications his/her patients have experienced, and number of deaths. Be sure to ask the doctor how he/she will respond to you if you have a complication or pain that does not respond to medication during recovery. Take notes during the consultation.
 
6. Pay attention to how much time the surgeon spends with you and how seriously he/she takes your concerns.
 
7. If you interview two surgeons, and they give you different recommendations, go back to your gastroenterologist and discuss this with him/her.
 
8. If you get a bad vibe from a surgeon, follow your gut instinct and choose another
surgeon.
 
9. If you feel that the surgeon didn’t listen to you or rushed you out the door without answering your questions, keep looking for another surgeon.
 
10.  If you need to travel out of your area to find the best surgeon, do so.
 
If you do some basic research and go with your gut instinct, you will be able to
choose the best surgeon for your Nissen fundoplication.