My EsophyX procedure..9 days post-op

[dutch girl]

Hey DTanna,

I have a question for you,can you give me some more details about something you posted before??

Both Dr Aye and Dr Jobe feel the nissen is a better option for someone who is having an esophyx takedown first.

What do they mean with a takedown...remove the fasteners??
And why do they feel the nissen is preferd after the Esophyx??

your surgeon who is performing your nissen wil leave the fasteners in right??

[DTanna]

Hey there dutch girl! First Dr. Jobe told me that he does an esophyx takedown procedure before the nissen. He said this essentially returns me to where I began. I asked him about the fasteners and he said most...if not all...would be removed. He said that if any were too complicated to remove then he would leave them since they wouldn't be bothersome anyways.

When I spoke with Dr. Aye, he said that he had not personally done an esophyx takedown but is often in contact with Dr. Kraemer from endogastric solutions. He is the one who developed the esophyx takedown procedure. Dr. Aye said from all accounts it is much easier than a nissen takedown for redo. He also said that the t-fasteners would be removed.

The reasons they felt the nissen was better....Dr. Jobe felt it was better since I have previously had some motility issues. He felt that there may be a greater chance of me having swallowing difficulties with the Hill repair. Dr. Aye felt the nissen would most likely be a better option because the T fasteners used for Esophyx penetrate through the wall of the esophagus. Once removed they could leave small defects that could lead to leaks which would create bad complications. The "wrap" part of the nissen would eliminate the worry for this issue.

[dutch girl]

Thanks for the info DTanna,i apriciate it very much.

it also confuses me and i start to wonder if they should have removed my Esophyx also before the nissen
i need to find out more about this!!!
i hate to think that my nissen is not working properly because the Esophyx is stil in there.

thanks again!!!

[tricia]

hello.seeems u have a lot informations about esophyx procedure,plse can u share with ur ur opinions about that? thank you

Hi Soliver My opinion in the esophyx is that it is still experimental . . I would not do it personally . From the people i've seen on the message boards, it has less than a 5 percent success rate . Would like to see more people post who have had success before i beleive .

It is important to see actual people because most studies are biased , The company running the study has a lot of investment in it being succesful. The authors of the studies responsible for managing the trial, and data analysis own stock in the company and are employees of EndoGastric Solutions.... so they have a personal / financial interest in it being successful . A study is easily spun to look more successful than it actually is .


In their 2 year Feasibility study that was just published several months ago only 29 percent were called cured 2 years after the procedure . ... and if you read the fine print , cured does not mean symptom free . As in their multicenter study 60 % of people cured means these people had a 50 percent reduction of symptoms . To me, a reduction in symptoms should not mean cured . They call it cured though. People off of PPIS does not mean totally off of PPIS for good . It only means for a specified period of time designated by them.

So.... i am not impressed by their studies when i read the fine print . That is why i would like to see more people post actual success .

There is no long term data on the procedure . A 29 percent so called cure rate over 2 years is not impressive to me , Also we don't have any long term safety data .


They are still talking about making improvements to the procedure . . I feel waiting a year.... relaxing ,and then looking at things again would be a sensible thing to do . What have you tried for your GERD ? Any special diets , alernative treatments ?

Doctors are really pushing this procediure onto patients , In a year there will be thousands more who have had it done and a person will definately get a better idea if it is the right thing to do or stay clear of . . I really hope it works out but it is way too soon to tell I am only expressing my personal opinion

[iva]

Hey, guys!

it`s been 3,5 months after my Esophyx and I`m still on Nexium and I still feel the acid in my mouth..
I guess it didn`t work for me, unfortunately I have no test results to prove (ph measuring, bravo or whatever) this.
Perhaps the Nissen works better but I would NEVER go for it.
Good luck everyone!

[Kevin]

Ditto this. Tricia is right on. Even if Esophyx works for some people, do not make yourself a guinea pig to find out. Most troubling to me has been the tendency to view this procedure as 'non-surgical.' Just because they don't make incisions does not make this a risk-free procedure. The plastic implants remain forever, the anatomy is altered for good: it is not reversible. There are reports of successful Nissens following Esophyx, but several people have had trouble getting them, since many surgeons have never run into this procedure before.

Try other things:

1) It's always, in my view, worth getting food allergy evaluation before a surgery if you do not respond to ppis. I have had outstanding (miraculous!) long-term results from food avoidance (many symptom-free days; symptoms of heartburn and dysphagia if I eat eggs), and I have recently switched from Nexium 40 mg to Prilosec 20 mg once a day, whereas a several months ago I was on Nexium twice a day (for years) with unremitting heartburn, LPR symptoms, and asthma. I hope eventually to come off of Prilosec--I'm a bit wary of acid-rebound caused by withdrawal of ppis, so I will take it slowly. The discovery that I have multiple food allergies, confirmed by both skin and blood tests and by food challenge, has been a major breakthrough for me. I can tolerate some of these foods ok, but eggs are a no-no (although I can tolerate a flu shot, thank goodness). My migraines are also much, much less frequent!

2) Try more aggressive ppi-therapy if you are having nighttime symptoms only.

3) Baclofen may be worth asking your doctor about, as well as a promotility drug like Domperidone if severe regurgitation leaves you choking and vomiting.

4) Weight loss (if you are overweight) may help.

If all of this fails and you have confirmed acid reflux (Bravo test is a must!), then surgery may help. It is not without risks, but a Nissen does have a confirmed track record. Some here have had good luck with the Hill procedure too. Find the best surgeon you can.

Hi Soliver My opinion in the esophyx is that it is still experimental . . I would not do it personally . From the people i've seen on the message boards, it has less than a 5 percent success rate . Would like to see more people post who have had success before i beleive .

It is important to see actual people because most studies are biased , The company running the study has a lot of investment in it being succesful. The authors of the studies responsible for managing the trial, and data analysis own stock in the company and are employees of EndoGastric Solutions.... so they have a personal / financial interest in it being successful . A study is easily spun to look more successful than it actually is .


In their 2 year Feasibility study that was just published several months ago only 29 percent were called cured 2 years after the procedure . ... and if you read the fine print , cured does not mean symptom free . As in their multicenter study 60 % of people cured means these people had a 50 percent reduction of symptoms . To me, a reduction in symptoms should not mean cured . They call it cured though. People off of PPIS does not mean totally off of PPIS for good . It only means for a specified period of time designated by them.

So.... i am not impressed by their studies when i read the fine print . That is why i would like to see more people post actual success .

There is no long term data on the procedure . A 29 percent so called cure rate over 2 years is not impressive to me , Also we don't have any long term safety data .


They are still talking about making improvements to the procedure . . I feel waiting a year.... relaxing ,and then looking at things again would be a sensible thing to do . What have you tried for your GERD ? Any special diets , alernative treatments ?

Doctors are really pushing this procediure onto patients , In a year there will be thousands more who have had it done and a person will definately get a better idea if it is the right thing to do or stay clear of . . I really hope it works out but it is way too soon to tell I am only expressing my personal opinion

[soliver38]

Nevermind

yes Dr adrian will make me the esophyx..in creteil,parisx12.i wish i ll be lucky as u r.tell me plse u can eat evrything u like?no slight pressure like bfre?well seems so great.ill keep u informed step by step after my op....thank you

[soliver38]

Tricia

i read ur message many times.seems ur right about what u think,no enought data...and rate of success.i willtry to wait...if thinks go bad to me ill go under esophyx...and my symptomes r burning throat.initially i m still under single or double dose on nexium..it depends about my symptomes...thank you again for ur reply...

[soliver38]

Iva

Hey, guys!

it`s been 3,5 months after my Esophyx and I`m still on Nexium and I still feel the acid in my mouth..
I guess it didn`t work for me, unfortunately I have no test results to prove (ph measuring, bravo or whatever) this.
Perhaps the Nissen works better but I would NEVER go for it.
Good luck everyone!

hello why u dnt make ph monitoring and u make urself sure if its work properly or not..if the bravo test show no acid reflux it would be easy to treat ur case...thank you for posting here.

[Nevermind]

yes Dr adrian will make me the esophyx..in creteil,parisx12.i wish i ll be lucky as u r.tell me plse u can eat evrything u like?no slight pressure like bfre?well seems so great.ill keep u informed step by step after my op....thank you

You will be in pain for several days (like 10) I had to hold my breath cause I had seconds on intense pain, but I loved it since it meant it worked, only liquids for 4 days then you can begin eating creamy stuff, BUT after 1 months let's say I could eat EVERYTHING I wanted yes, even sip on coke (even though it made me burp) well, i would allow myself everything, even chocolate (although it is not recommended) I never felt the gastric content rise up on my esophagus again, like it used to happen every day in the past! I stayed only one night in the hospital. Ask me whatever you want, I will be here often :-} you will be fine,, you'll see

[soliver38]

nevermind.

desert rose need ur help...me either.tnxs for ur reply.i will considere again esophyx since ur feeling great.but i donno why its not working for iva either.what makes me go under esophyx is the burning in my throat like laryngities.due to acide....tnxs again nevermind

[jennNYC]

Hi All,
Just checking in. I'm 3 days post-op from having surgery last Wednesday. My impressions - very bad nausea for the first 24 hours post-surgery. I constantly feel full with no appetite thus far. I've been running a low-grade fever too (99.3 - 99.8), which the doctor feels is my body's reaction to the scope scraping my esophagus for as long as it did. It doesn't seem to be getting worse, so I am thinking there is no infection.

I have been able to eat jello, tea, an Ensure shake, chicken broth, and even a little bit of chicken noodle soup (really chewing noodles good). I tried to eat a chocolate pudding too but my stomach didn't like it very much. Guess I have to wait for that texture to be ok.

I have a follow up appointment with my doctor on Friday, so I guess I'll know more then. Just trying to keep energy up and pain down. They prescribed painkillers but I have a hard time with them in terms of nausea so I just stay on track w/tylenol. Right now I just wish the feeling of constant fullness goes away soon.

Hope all is well with everyone and I'll check in again soon.

[soliver38]

jennNYC

i wish u full recovery.....and succesfull esophyx.and thank you for postingg...i m going under esophyx soon.let u know the exacte date....u only spoke about nausea ..no slight pressure or chest pain??..thats good....keep us informed step by step i m following until ur full recovery.where did u do ur esophyx?who did it for you???

[jennNYC]

i wish u full recovery.....and succesfull esophyx.and thank you for postingg...i m going under esophyx soon.let u know the exacte date....u only spoke about nausea ..no slight pressure or chest pain??..where did u do ur esophyx?who did it for you???

Hi - Thanks.

I do have chest pain when I try to burp - it kind of seizes up and hurts for 10-15 seconds. That's very annoying and I hope it goes away soon. No nausea after the first 24 hours after the surgery, and right now just chest pain when gas gets trapped. I take simethicone and it helps some. I think it's just the stomach getting used to being "tighter".

My procedure was done in NYC by Anthony Starpoli. So far he's been very helpful and I'm thinking positively. But a few days postop, it's easy to get discouraged because the symptoms are still here.

[desert rose]

nevermind, how long has it been since your esophyx procedure? are you still able to eat everything such as spicy food, food with acid, drinks with acid, 3 normal sized meals a day instead of 6 small meals a day and having to chew until food are small pieces before swallowing? are you or have you had any complications or problems after your procedure or are you normal like before you had this illness? it is difficult to stay off food that you like and used to eat because there are lots of temptations around, especially since the people around you are eating the food that you like to eat and used to eat. If you are having no problems whatsoever, no pain and no suffering after your procedure and you can eat normal like before your illness, then you are very lucky that this procedure has worked for you and hopefully you will not require a redo because people who have the nissen done need 2 or 3 redos due to slipping and loosening. They also have permanent complications, suffering and pain and can no longer be normal or do normal things such as lifting things, bending over, active physical things, lifting heavy things for moving house etc.

jennnyc, i understand that it is discouraging when after the op it seems like the symptoms are still there and you must be scared and worried that it has not worked because everyone who has had this procedure would have gone through this. I will cross my fingers for you and hope that it has worked for you. Keep us posted with your progress, even if you feel it has worked because this will help others going through this.