My husband suffers from severe reflux and regurg and has for many years. Last year he had a ph probe test and a manometry , they showed severe reflux and regurg , he then had a scope showing a small hiatal hernia. He has been on many meds for the heartburn and none had helped. The doc thought it would be good to try the stretta procedure. I thought it was strange only one out of 9 surgeons where we live would even try it at all , they said it was not safe or effective. Well we did try it and they had to stop due to a breathing problem even though it is only a sedation procedure. Now he is still choking when he eats and drinks , his pill he takes for his stomach keeps coming back up and his stomach kills after he eats, he also throws up after eating and is nauseas , his belly bloats big time after he eats. Last week he even had Black stools , I took him to the doc and he ordered gallbladder tests which were normal. But , hubby did not tell about the black stools. i was not sure if the reflux and regurg could be that bad to do that many problems or if its something else???? i was told black stools usually mean a high up bleed of some sort. Could he be bleeding a little because he has damaged something due to the reflux ???

I think it might be wise to have a follow up apointment with the doc and provide him with the information about the black stools. You are correct in thinking they may be caused from internal bleeding which could indicate a severe medical condition. I would think the doctor would want to do some testing to determine the cause. Possibly a ulcer but it could be caused from many different things.

I'de never heard of the stretta procedure so I looked it up. Sounds like an interesting alternative treatment. Sorry to hear it didn't go well for him.

It sound like your husbands digestive troubles are severe and he has made no progress with conventional treatments or medication. I personally would consider naturalpathic treatments at this point if you can afford them. I would also see if he possibly had better luck keeping foods down if they were in the form of raw fruit and veggie smoothies.

But first get him to the doc and find out what's bleeding!

There's nerve endings (apporx. 2) that could have beeen damaged in the procedure that could cause digestive problems that would lead to black/dark stools...

I have a hiatal hernia, and am going to have it repaired along with fundoplication wrap.. I did research as the surgeon said, only a small hand full of surgeons will touch this sensitive problem, and few are good enough at it..

If you were in NC, I would suggest speaking with Dr. Uday Kave... sounds like a weird name I know, but he's been doing this stuff for over 11 years, speaks fluent English and has done more than 130+ Fundo's with 99.5% success rate..

Maybe he can go in there and fix what sounds like an in experienced surgeon has messed up.. Hope this helps some and good luck, I know how reflux/gerd, etc already feels, can't imagine the after effects he has..

He definitely needs to mention the black stools to his doctor as it could indicate bleeding. But did you know that when you take bismuth (Pepto Bismol, Maalox), it can turn your stool black? If he took Pepto Bismol, that could be an explanation. Some people even wake up with a black tongue after taking it!

Hope he gets some relief.

thanks for info about the pepto bismol , I had noticed that on the posts from others , but no he dosen't take it cause it never has helped before. I just wonder if we need to mention it to the doc since it only happened when he was really sick to his stomach about a week ago. It was only black a few times according to hubby so he says it is nothing to worry about , he says let it go I will be alright.He still has the nausea , the stomach pain and the bloating and the burping and some diarrhea and is still going to the restroom not long after eating at times. I just wonder what tests they will do ?? He had the ph probe and manometry and a scope. He had a barium swallow many years ago when he was a teenager. I just wonder if his hiatal hernia which was small last year on a scope is getting worse. He says he has had regurg for years and there has been nothing thats helped so why go to the doctor again. I keep telling him his symptoms are not normal , it is just normal to throw up and have stomach pain like that especially knowing that severe regurg and reflux can really damage the lining and may give some people cancer. anyone else out there this stubborn about going to the doc???