Neissen Funduloplication Done--Tonsils/Uvula Next

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

Just wondering if anyone on here has GERD and if so, have you had the "reflux surgery"?

I am 7 days post op and doing pretty good.

Next on list is tonsils/uvula. Keep getting sick over and over again. Tonsils are uge, uvula gets swollen all of the time.

Anyone had either of these surgeries?

Heidi

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

Oops! Incorrect spelling.

NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

So no one has any thoughts on this????

Seems a little odd here at OPINION CENTRAL.....

Come on guys wake up!

[popcorn machine]

I have GERD but have not had surgery. Can you explain what the surgery entails and has it worked?

[SLEEPYCD]

Hello,
Don't have much time, I had tonsillectomy/uvulectomy in Feb 05. I've had strep/etc all my life and large tonsils, also my uvula swelled quite alot. I had a growth beside my uvula, that's why I had the surgery. Dr. was afraid it was cancer, since I smoked, thank God it was not!!! The surgery is VERY HARD ON ADULTS!!!!! They kept me overnight in hospital, just in case of bleeding/PAIN Management (lots of morphine), that's when they discovered I probably had OSA . I have a high tolerance for pain, and I cried alot!!!! The pain is awful, I had two weeks off work and you will suffer for most of those two weeks!!!! I can give you some tips later on. The end result is that I breathe better and haven't had any throat problems since. Not a cure for OSA, but since I had to have it done, the SEVERE PAIN was well worth it in the long run. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!! Keep me posted!!!!! My heart goes out to you!!!
CD (Carolyn)

[kathic]

I had the Nissen done four years ago and it was the best thing I have ever done. You have probably already discovered the joys of no more heartburn. Mine was constant and excruciating and I am thankful every day that I do not have to endure that anymore. Between the surgery and CPAP treatment I now enjoy going to bed instead of dreading it.

Take care of yourself and when your recovery is over and you are back to regular food, enjoy your meals and also painless sleep.

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

Popcorn Machine,

My surgery was done by Dr. Steven Cassivi at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is #1 in treating GI problems.

My surgery was a lap assisted nissen fundoplication. It is done under general anasthesia. They take the top half of your stomach and wrap it around the esophagus to tighten the LES (the bottom spincter that is not working properly and lets the stomach contents, including acid splash back up your esophagus).

I had very severe GERD. I would reflux all the way up into my mouth.

I have not had any problems with heartburn since surgery.

I had my surgery Wednesday morning and went home Friday. I did not have to have a NG tube and yes I can burp and vomit (you may hear of some people who are unable to do either).

I think just like having a good CPAP machine, it depends on the skill of your surgeon as to the best outcome.

As for the tonsillectomy, I'm scared to death!!! I had a brain tumor removed in May of this year and then this reflux surgery and I think the worse is yet to come with this next surgery.

How do you cope after a tonsillectomy? My tonsils are so huge I have a hard time breathing being awake sometimes.

Any ideas/support appreciated.

Thanks,

Heidi

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

Oh, another plus of having the Nissen is that is kind of like a small gastric bypass surgery, they do take some of your stomach so between the swelling that goes along with the healing process and the smaller stomach, I've been dropping LBS!!!

I can only imagine you'd lose weight with the tonsillectomy as well....

My self torture/surgical plan to lose weight, I have no will power

[SLEEPYCD]

Sleeping with Enemy,
Rough year, my heart goes out to you!!!! You will lose weight with Ton/uvula surgery. I lost 17 lbs in about 10 days, only because it hurts too much to eat!!! I became addicted to Dairy Queen soft serve ice cream (main source of nutrition for two weeks!!!) Once I could eat again, all I wanted was fat food, gained about 7 lbs back in less than a month!!!! I think you will feel and breathe alot better after recovery. I didn't get CPAP until months later, so I don't know what it's like to sleep with it after surgery, Im sure that will be a challenge in itself. Also, I had all my friends/family send me funny emails during my recovery, it was the highlight of my day!!! Keep us posted.
Carolyn

[Sleeping With The Enemy]

DAIRY QUEEN EVERY DAY--THIS CAN'T BE TRUE, SOMEONE WAKE ME....

[birdshell]

I had a Nissen fundiplication done in conjunction with a cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal) done laparascopically. It was done about 12 years ago.

At the time, I was very thin. I had done some major lifestyle revisions with the help of a good medical program. I had also had a complication during a surgery 3 months before, causing me to lose even more weight.

I had not gained back very much. I cannot vomit now, and only recently have I burped. I also tend to get hiccups if I eat a larger meal. Thanksgiving, maybe--but not such a huge problem, as only every few minutes will I have a hiccup until enough food is digested.

I have had to go back on a proton-pump inhibitor due to reflux. My internist says that this is not being proven to be the surgical answer, but maybe it has been refined? I thought he referred to a better surgical alternative.

BTW, I had one of the best general surgeons in the area. He told me that I had lost weight in the right way, as he had to often repair gastric bypass/stomach stapling problems.

I hope that your Nissen fundiplication has worked. Please let us know!