to have a fundo or not?

[Anonymous]

my reflux really flared with my MRSA and the thrush it caused. even with all that cleared up, i still have trouble bending over–even just to make my bed, without my stomach contents coming back up. also, when i lye down at night after taking a drink, i have to sit up and burp—–i’ll bet you can imagine how romantic that can be when kevin is looking for a little lovin”!! i have to stop, sit up and burp. he’s getting used to it now.

i am still having trouble swallowing certain foods, they just don’t want to go down—and sometimes that can hurt.

when i was doing an appeal with my insurance company, i found the doctors notes from when i was around 34-35 years old. it said i was having breakthrough symptoms, even on medication, and he had discussed lap fundos with me—i didn’t want to do it. he told me clear back then (i’m 46 now) that with as young as i was and as bad as my symptoms were, it was just a matter of time before i was going to have to have the anti-reflux surgery done.

several years ago i had a scope done that showed , microscopically, that i had severe refrlux esophagitis. i had been taking PPIs on and off during the years.

now that we don’t have the best insurance, i had to change the stimulant that i take—-and the protonix will interfere with how it works. when i was able to take vyvanse, it was not affected by the PPI. i am stuck between a rock and a hard place. i need the PPI, but i also need the generic stimulant to work for me, and i can’t afford the $63 dollars that the vyvanse costs.

ou ped gi told me once that if he had to take reflux meds for the rest of his life, he would have the surgery done. he has given me the name of two surgeons he feels confident with.

every time i mention having this done to my sister, she really tries to talk me out of it for some reason. she told me her husband had alot of trouble after he had it done—i asked him myself how his recovery was, and he said it wasn’t that bad. my sister keeps telling me i need to go to a gastro first—but all they are going to do is put me on meds, which are a problem because of our financial situation right now.

we are close enough to our stop-loss, that it would be a lot cheaper for me if i could get this done before the end of the year.

i had a lot of confidence in the surgeon that originally told me i would eventually need surgery, i also have alot of confidence in my kids ped gi. plus, i’ve got the scope results that show severe reflux esophagitis and that he clipped the ring at the bottom of my esophagitits in 4 places to help me keep from getting food stuck—which must mean i am getting some scarring.

what would you all do? i am going to run out of time if i don’t make some decisions quick.

[Anonymous]

I am not a fan of fundo. But if you have already tried medsand they are not helping much with your reflux and t’s causing, swalling issues and esophagatis (sp)?, i think the decision might be a bit easier to make.

I really hope you do the right thing and whatever you do, it works out good.

[Anonymous]

It’s a hard decision. I might look around for a forum of adults who have had it done, and see how most of them turned out. I hate the complications that seem to arise for many people from the fundo. But, like Leo said, if you’re maxed out on meds and out of options, then you might not have a choice. That being said, I’m a huge fan of second and third opinions. Sometimes a set of fresh eyes and a new mind looking at your case can make a big difference, and it’s always surprising how two docs can give two completely different opinions. The problems is that sometimes your file follows you, so best to go without a chart and just the test results if possible.

Good luck. It’s not an easy decision.

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