Nissen Fundoplication Success
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My Life-Changing Nissen Fundoplication

12/22/2012

11 Comments

 
Tomorrow is the four-month anniversary of my life-altering Nissen fundoplication for GERD. I’m telling you about it because there are so many scary Nissen stories on the internet and few positive ones, mostly because people who are happy with their surgeries don't bother to blog about it.

I'm a 46-year-old woman who has suffered with GERD and asthma for 25 years. Most of those years my GERD was controlled with one daily AcipHex. But over the last decade, both my GERD and my asthma increased significantly.

In early 2011 my GERD became so bad that I had to take AcipHex twice a day and one Axid each day (or two Axids and one AcipHex a day), a lot of simethicone for gas, frequent metaclopramide for delayed gastric emptying, and prednisone bursts up to six times a year (along with a lot of Xopenex) for asthma flareups. Both my gastroenterologist and allergist suspected that GERD played a role in my asthma, but they couldn’t confirm it.

During a particularly bad GERD episode in May 2011, I lost my voice for two months. My ENT said it was caused by GERD and recommended a Nissen fundoplication. I refused, because until this point I had been able to cope with
my GERD by increasing my medications, and previous episodes of voice loss had
resolved themselves within a month or so.

This voice loss was different, however: my voice never returned. I could speak for only a half hour a day. Not only was I feeling extremely ill all the time—the burning in my esophagus was ruthless and constant, food sat in my stomach for hours, and I was always bloated and gassy—but now I was also trapped in my body, without a
voice.

Unemployed, unable to even make it through a job interview without losing my voice, and incapable of talking with my family and friends, I began to despair. A year before I was an outgoing salesperson with an active social life; now I stayed home, avoiding answering the phone and slowly withdrawing into a world of deep depression.

I spent much of 2011 trying to figure out how to cope with my new voice disability. At the end of the year, I went to a motility specialist to get a second opinion on my GERD options. He said that I was a candidate for a fundoplication but that it was essential that the surgery be performed only by the top expert in the field.

In December 2011 I wound up having the first of two unrelated surgeries—the first one a cancer scare, the second, an extremely painful surgery with a long recovery.
Throughout the year, my stomach problems remained unrelenting, but I put them on
the back burner while I recovered physically and emotionally from the surgeries.

But in May 2012, my GERD went to the next level. I began having constant burning in my throat and esophagus, and the reflux was so intractable that I could hardly eat or drink water. I went to a new ENT who specializes in voice disorders; he told me I had scar tissue on my vocal cords most likely caused by reflux. At this point I was so desperate that I began to revisit the idea of having a Nissen fundoplication.

I asked my long-time gastroenterologist for a referral to a surgeon. He told me that he recommended only two surgeons, one of which was in my area. In June I went for a surgical consultation; in late August I was on the operating table.

Four months later, I’m enjoying the best health I’ve had in a decade. I have no reflux, my voice is 75% improved, and I’ve had almost no asthma. My throat and esophagus no longer burn. I eat just about everything (I do avoid caffeine and carbonation, and I limit alcohol to two drinks a week). I take just one AcipHex a day and have not needed prednisone for asthma. I barely use Xopenex. I have a lot of
energy, I sleep well, and my depression is gone. I’m enjoying having a completely normal stomach about 85% of the time.

Until my fundoplication, I had no idea how much suffering I endured because of GERD. I can say without hesitation that this surgery is the best thing I’ve ever done.

Stay posted for future blogs on my consultations with the surgeon, my decision-making process, the healing process, and my current health and lifestyle.
11 Comments
Randy Ebnet
6/4/2013 09:06:31 pm

I had open nissen nov 2 2012 i had same as you out of control asthma horrible reflux nissen fundoplication completely changed my life as well.

Reply
Gina Cooley
7/23/2013 02:22:25 am

I lived in Pleasanton last year and saw a specialist at UPMC. She is the one who diagnosed me and cared for me before we moved back to South Carolina. I have a top specialist at the Medical University of SC in Charleston. It took a few visits before he finally decided I need the NF. I'm scheduled for surgery on Aug. 1st. Thank you for your inspiring story. You have calmed some of my fears.

Reply
randy ebnet
7/23/2013 04:01:34 am

Good luck, dont worry about it, just make sure you picka surgeon who has done these before I had dr. Nichols do mine at mayo rochester mn he I number 1 in usa for first time around and redo's

Reply
LeeAnne
2/17/2015 01:39:39 am

Gina,
Did you see Dr. castell? I am headed there today. Did you have the surgery? If so, how did it go?

Reply
Summer Cunningham
5/7/2017 10:19:53 am

Was curious what surgeon did you see and how are you feeling post surgery??

Reply
Summer Cunningham
5/7/2017 10:20:53 am

Was curious who did your procedure and how are your results

Reply
Shannan bayliss
4/6/2015 11:07:22 pm

Thank you for posting your experiences. I am waiting to get this surgery done for severe reflux oesophagitis and hernia that has become so bad I can throw up non stop for days until I think I am going to die, such misery, I wish I was sometimes. The post op life can sound scary but honestly nothing in comparison to living like this. Has gotten so bad I can't work, projectile vomit often, can't eat... Ok you know the drill. I guess I have little to say except thanks for sharing and it is nice to relate to someone who understands and has provided follow up info. So long after their op.

Reply
Cherie
4/16/2015 05:06:22 pm

Debra, I have had the asthma/ hoarseness issues many years that brought me to the NF surgery this past month. I am in week 4 & have already found my airways to be significantly opened! I am struggling with the diet/ new ways of eating & processing food but was encouraged reading your blog. Thank you!

Reply
Cecilia Perks link
7/14/2015 06:04:59 am

Hi Debra I'm inspired about your story, I'm also a GERD sufferer and I ended up having barretts esophagus, I also have gallstone. My GI doc told me to have NF and Gallbladder surgery done, it's been over a year now since I was diagnosed with barrett's and gallstone. I just had a consultation with the surgeon lately and he urged me to have this op done along with the gallbladder surgery. I'm scared what is going to be the outcome as I read a lot of unsuccessful stories about nissen fundoplication. But there's no acid med that can control my reflux and it's getting worse and worse, I've been on pantropazole for over a year now but that doesn't help my acid reflux, so I'm thinking to have that surgery but I'm scare to death thinking what the complications I'm going to have after that. I noticed now that I always have a horse voice and pain in the left side of my throat for few months on and off esp. if I have a cold drinks or foods. I have difficulty breathing everyday on and off and weakness or fatigue esp. abdomenal weakness. I barely talk sometimes it makes me so tired that I feel like I have asthma,but I went to cardiologist and pulmonologist and everything was fine. Please leave me a message on yahoo or find me on facebook. I would love to be one of your friends. Cecilia

Reply
Charity
8/19/2015 03:10:34 pm

At 39 yrs of age, having suffered GERD for 29 yrs and all meds on the market tried & failed, my doctor finally referred me for NF. I saw my surgeon at the start of July and was on the table Aug 12, 2015. I am amazed by the difference! The "fireball" that sat in my chest is gone. I don't rip giant, obnoxious burps every time I drink something. And my voice is beginning to stay stable, something I haven't had in almost 3 years. I am so thankful for this procedure and it's literally been one week!

Reply
JoAnne Eastman
10/6/2015 08:05:15 am

I'm 74 yrs. of age and just had NF surgery w/diaphragm hernia repair 2 weeks ago. Finally diagnosed w/GERD back in Aug. with a recommendation for surgery. Suffered w/hoarseness & shortness of breath for 2 yrs. before being diagnosed with GERD. Had the best surgeon in the mid-south - Dr.Guy Voeller. So I am very optimistic that I will have a full and successful outcome. Looking forward to getting back to my normal self.

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    Debra, former GERD sufferer, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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