Acid reflux surgery?

Question

does anyone know anything about the surgery to fix acid reflux (where they take part of your upper stomach and wrap it around your esophagus), or has anyone had it done?

my fiance is having this surgery, and i'm worried... mostly just because of the word "surgery" and the sharp objects involved.. am i overreacting?

not saying i don't want him to have it. i do. but it's a scary prospect for me.

any help would be appreciated.

and btw, he HAS exhausted all other options. they don't do the surgery (or at least not at this hospital) unless everything else has been tried. this is the worst case his doctor has seen. there are no other options.. surgery is it.

also, he has talked to two or three different doctors and at least one specialist... but that's not what i'm asking... i wanted information on the surgery itself... what's involved, really, any risks, etc.

Answer 1

Your fiance is having a fundoplication and he has more than acid reflux. He has gastroesophageal reflux disease and may or may not also have hiatal hernia. The upper curve of the stomach, the fundus, is wrapped around the esophagus and sutured in place. There is a ring of muscle called the cardiac sphincter (also esophageal sphincter) that keeps stomach contents in the stomach. When this sphincter is weak or malfunctions, stomach contents that include very powerful stomach acids flow back up into the esophagus. A fundoplication will strengthen the sphincter preventing reflux.

If your fiance is overweight or has a very short esophagus, the "fundo" will be done through the chest. Otherwise, it can be done laproscopically through the abdomen. If he needs an open surgery, he'll be in hospital about 4-6 days, 2 weeks at home, can return to work in 3-4 weeks and will be fully recovered in about 6 weeks. If he has a "lap fundo", he'll be in hospital 1-2 days. He'll have less postop pain due to a much smaller incisons and can return to work within 1 week. Very little bleeding. I'm presuming that he's having the lap and this isn't a dangerous surgery. Don't let that other person frighten you. Of course ALL surgery carries a risk but a lap is low-risk procedure and thousands of laparoscopic procedures are done each and every day.

He'll be fine, he'll be a star. Find out if he's having a lap fundo. He'll do just great. Please try not to worry.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

This book is probably the most informative and practical guide on the subject of acid reflux and heartburn that I have ever read https://tr.im/JUWUV
I was prescribed Lansoprazole which was brilliant but after two years of aching joints, extreme muscle pain which the doc gave me cortisone jags for, with some research I discovered the drug Lansoprazole was causing these rare side effects but it was I who diagnosed it NOT my doctor, I came off the drug 2 months ago, changed my diet and discovered just eating an apple stops any acid reflux, I eat an apple before bed, brilliant no acid, any time I feel the slightest sign of reflux I simply eat an apple. Apple juice is not that good nor is anything else I have tried including honey at stopping reflux.

Answer 4

I can't believe your fiance waited as long as he did to see a doctor. I had Barrett's which I though was the worst kind of acid reflux and they put me on Nexium twice a day and cleared mine up. I was lucky they didn't have to do surgery on mine. I wish your fiance lots of luck. I wished that I could say that it was not a serious surgery,but it is. Any surgery is dangerous. I am not a religious person,but may GOD be with Him.

Answer 5

Two men I know of have had the surgeries. The main thing I've heard of is the inability to burp or belch. So all gas is passed out the other end. One of them can't throw up. But I've never heard of any other complications from either of them. I do not think that all the surgeries they do are exactly the same, so some methods might not cause this problem. I hope this helps:) P.S. One of them was a beer drinker and that causes gas so because of the bloating, he drinks mixed cocktails now when he is drinking alcohol.

Answer 6

Hi,
A good natural method you should try if you want to cure your acid reflux / gerd problems and get rid of your hearburns can be found on this site: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=568

It really helped me a lot, that's why I recommend it.
Cheers ;)

Answer 7

A second opinion is suggested before he goes through with this.

Has he talked to his family doctor about this? Has he exhausted all of the other options? Changed his diet? Avoided caffeine, alcohol altogether? Avoided food for 3-4 hours before bed? Tried sleeping somewhat upright? Has he tried Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, and Zantac (not at the same time of course)?

Ask your family doctor AND your specialist about any of these options before going ahead with the surgery.

Answer 8

Incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter allows reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, causing burning pain. Prolonged reflux may lead to esophagitis, stricture, and rarely metaplasia. Diagnosis is clinical, sometimes with endoscopy, with or without acid testing. Treatment involves lifestyle modification, acid suppression using proton pump inhibitors, and sometimes surgery.(Merck)
Certain foods and lifestyle are considered to promote gastroesophageal reflux:
* Coffee, alcohol, and excessive amounts of Vitamin C supplements are stimulants of gastric acid secretion. Taking these before bedtime especially can promote evening reflux. Calcium containing antacids are in this group.
* Foods high in fats and smoking reduce lower esophageal sphincter competence, so avoiding these tends to help, as well. Fat also delays emptying of the stomach.
* Having more but smaller meals also reduces the risk of GERD, as it means there is less food in the stomach at any one time.
* avoid eating for 2 hours before bedtime
* avoid soft drinks
* avoid chocolate and peppermint
* avoid spicy foods
* avoid acidic foods like oranges and tomatoes (however, they are okay when fresh.)
* avoid cruciferous vegetables: onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts
* milk and milk-based products contain calcium and fat, so should be avoided before bedtime

The standard surgical treatment for GERD is fundoplication. The goal of this procedure is twofold:
* To increase Lower Esophageal Sphincter pressure and, therefore, prevent acid back-up (reflux).
* To repair any present hiatal hernia.
There are two primary approaches:
* Open Nissen fundoplication (the more invasive technique).
* Laparoscopic fundoplication.
Candidates. Fundoplication is recommended for patients whose condition includes one or more of the following:
* Esophagitis (inflamed esophagus).
* Symptoms that persist or are recurrent in spite of anti-reflux drug treatment.
* Strictures.
* Failure to gain or maintain weight (children).
Please see the web pages for more details on Fundoplication (Hiatal hernia repair).