Hello :wave: ,

I was wondering if anyone has had nissen fundoplication surgery and still have alot of mid-chest pains? I had surgery about 7 months ago and Im still taking PPIs as my tests, PH Study and EGD, indicate Im still refluxing...What is the most bothersome is I have terrible pains in the chest area that come with no warning and double me over.....What can be causing them? Thanks, Sara

Hello :wave: ,

I was wondering if anyone has had nissen fundoplication surgery and still have alot of mid-chest pains? I had surgery about 7 months ago and Im still taking PPIs as my tests, PH Study and EGD, indicate Im still refluxing...What is the most bothersome is I have terrible pains in the chest area that come with no warning and double me over.....What can be causing them? Thanks, Sara


Hi sara - so sorry for your troubles. I had fundo surgery back in 2001, and although I don't seem to have the reflux pain, I get terrible chest pains from trapped gas. Even when I haven't had anything to eat/drink in awhile. Sometimes I'll burp and then the pain is gone, but since burping is still very difficult for me, I usually have to wait for gas to pass out the other end (sorry for the graphics!), and then once the gas is passed, my pain disappears. I'm no longer taking PPIs, but still need endos done every 2 years to monitor my esophagus.

Good luck to you,
Katie G

Thanks Katie, :)

I also think it might be from trapped gas.Noone told me about all this gas bloat and pains prior to having this surgery.I can make myself burp usually at will except when I REALLY need to and then I can't do it.Im happy you have been able to stay off PPIs since surgery.I am back on nexium as post-op tests show I am still refluxing :eek: I also have barrett's so I have to becareful about what I eat even since having surgery.

Sara

Wow sara very sorry to hear that! Be honest that freaks me out because I am in opposite situation given my 6 year with gerd and my vomiting yellow stuff nonstop last 2 years and that with 2 dosage of nexium a day. I been waiting and waiting for GI to recommend fundo I see as my last chance at sanity. But only thing it can NOT do is add to my chest pain! I have incredible tighting eye watering pain last 3 years on left side between esophagus and heart (enough to confuse for heart attack 5 times in ER already and now on rightside as well). If I had this surgery I could not possibly live with more, it would have to lessen which I truely thought it would as esophagus heals no more acid but I dont know exact origin of this pain though always linked episode of GERD(which now can last everyday for straight 6 months now).

So very confused after reading this, especially having to do that god awful PH test again after a fundo which should have ended those days. How do they even get down there after fundo. Sorry hear your still refluxing, definitely giving me alot think about , possibly not begging or being mad I have not be offered it. But given I lost over 100lbs less then year and running out of room I dont see much choice besides dying.

I take it those "gas relief" pills dont help for you post op'ers? Always wondered how fundo ties in if you have gastritis and IBS as well.

I take it those "gas relief" pills dont help for you post op'ers? Always wondered how fundo ties in if you have gastritis and IBS as well.


Actually I tried the gas relief pills once when I had a real bad attack of chest pain. It still took about 15-20 minutes for the pain to subside, which is about the same as if I didn't do anything at all, and just waited for the gas to pass on its own. And yeah, I have IBS-D too, so my digestive tract is basically my Achille's tendon.

Katie G

Sorry to hear about you problem with the nissen. I had a fundal about two years ago and it work great for the first four months, then my acid reflux came back stronger than ever. The surgery did not help me in any sense of the term. I was not told that there was no study done on the long term of having this surgery done. I am on 80mg of Nexium a day, 300mg of Zantac , 10mg 4 times a day of reglan. This doesnt even come close to helping me with my condition. I also have very bad Barretts, that has destroyed my esphogus. I have scopes done every three months to see if any changes. I have seen 7 specialist in this area and have seen contradicting treatments. I have noticed that no one seems to know what is wrong in my condition. I have been to the hospital off on on for severe bleeding from my throat and stomach. I have run the gammet of test medicines and procedures. I know the next thing they have suggested is removing my esphogus and stomach area and replacing it with a feeding tube. I am not looking forward to this procedure but afraid of the cancer coming up.

I suggest to everyone that has barretts or acid reflux, please get a couple of opinions before you get a nissen. I would have opted for the removal of my esphogus if i knew that the nissen would have caused me more complications. Though I do understand that each case is different and each person is different. I am glad to find a real website with people who have gone or who have the same problem I do. It is great to talk with someone who knows what it feels like to have these problems.

Jamais, I'm so sorry you are dealing with all this. If you are having 3 month surveillance then you must have high-grade, right? I'm having 6 month EGDs because I have low-grade dysplasia but I also have long segment now. It seems to me this just never ends. I agree that anyone with GERD needs to wake up and get it controlled before they one day end up with Barrett's esophagus and live forever having EGDs, biopsies and holding their breathe waiting for the worst to happen.....Why would they just want to place a feeding tube? If they can't use your stomach, why isn't a colonic imposition possible? I wish you the very best of luck....
Sara

I was one of the fundo pioneers way back in 1996, and I know EXACTLY what pains you're talking about. I had them before surgery and continuing on about a year or so after. My surgeon said that the pain in my chest and throat was my esophagus spasming. Before surgery, it was spasming because of the acid...after surgery, it was spasming because of the physical changes of the surgery. It eventually went away, but it took awhile after the surgery. He said that there really was nothing that he could do to stop it, unfortunately.

But, oh yes...I know exactly what those pains in your chest/throat/neck feel like. Trust me...they'll eventually go away.

Library Lynn

Hi Jamais - I'm so sorry for what you're going through. My Barrett's was considered short segment and with the fundo, I've had "clean" endoscopy/biopsy reports for the last 3 years. So now my doc says I only have to repeat an endo 3 years from now, and if it's still good, then I'm done with surveillance endos.

I do find some of the side effects of the fundo bothersome - like only having dry heaves when I have needed to vomit, and in the last month, some food has gotten "stuck" in my esophagus causing severe chest pain, and then I had to regurgitate it up. It never made it to my stomach; that's the only way I could "vomit" it back up. It only happens occasionally with starchy or tough foods like some meats and bread, noodles and potatoes - and ooh, the chest pain is excruciating!

But since my Barrett's is gone, and I'm "clean" as of now, I'll take the negatives with the procedure. I'm so sorry your problems have continued to worsen. I'll keep you in my prayers that you will not require esophageal removal and that your GERD will come under better control.

You're in my thoughts/prayers,
Katie G :angel:

Katie G, I wondered if you have considered that you might need a dilation to open things up a little if food is getting stuck? I had many of them prior to surgery because of strictures and I have had 2 since surgery...Good luck,
Sara

Thanks sara. I did have dilatation done the first year after fundo, and I talked to the doctor who did my most recent endo (who was also my surgeon) and he offered to dilate me again, but I told him the problem was so infrequent that I didn't want to bother. I want to keep things real tight down there to prevent the chance of reflux occurring again.

I sometimes eat too fast or don't chew thoroughly enough, so it's my own fault when food gets stuck.

Thanks for your response.

Katie G

Even before I was found to have acid reflux I used to get real bad chest pains from milk products. When I stayed away from them I didn't get the pains.

I had my nissen fudo in Dec 2001 since then I have been having severe abdominal pain, gas and diareah, I have been unable to burp or vomit. I however have not had any heartburn at all, after the surgery I was in the hospital for 7 days and then in and out since then untill now, they say that the surgery was unsucsessful and have to reverse it. Does anyone know of a good medical lawsuit atty.

Chris North Carolina