hiatus hernia.

D-FENS

Hi

I’m going into Blanch for a Hernia repair next month, the consultant said there is possibly a need for Nissen Fundoplication (I have Barrett’s oesophagus also)
I cannot get hold of anyone over there to tell me how long the recovery time will be, need to tell work, anyone got a rough idea of best and worst case scenario?

Thanks

tazmission

D-FENS wrote: »

Hi

I’m going into Blanch for a Hernia repair next month, the consultant said there is possibly a need for Nissen Fundoplication (I have Barrett’s oesophagus also)
I cannot get hold of anyone over there to tell me how long the recovery time will be, need to tell work, anyone got a rough idea of best and worst case scenario?

Thanks

Hello , I know someone that had the op , and they said 2 -3 weeks off work , but everyone recovers differently.

Luco Zademann

I only read some of the posts but it seems many have had surgery, I have GERD diagnosed a few years back, as folks will probably know it's a gastric condition (acid reflux basically I think) I was diagnosed with a rather large hiatus hernia a few months ago and had a follow up consultation with a consultant, I'm a med card patient. Surgery was never mentioned to me, can't recall if I even asked about it, I may have. I was essentially told: you have a hiatus hernia, no need to come back again, goodbye.....hmmm. I've been on Nexium for several years now. Guess I simply continue to take it. But shouldn't I have the option of surgery if I have a hiatus hernia rather than having to be on pills for life? Thanks.

Mmmm_Lemony

Every case is different, but the specialist I went to thankfully gave the option for surgery. I can only suggest going back to your GP and talking to them about it. There may be a reason they ruled out surgery, but if not, they should address the steps necessary.

Fundoplication for GERD

Robbo

JC1203 wrote: »

Robbo, Do you recall if it was Professor mc enena that did your surgery in the Galway Clinic.

It was. Top job and a nice guy to boot.

Luco Zademann

Mmmm_Lemony wrote: »

Every case is different, but the specialist I went to thankfully gave the option for surgery. I can only suggest going back to your GP and talking to them about it. There may be a reason they ruled out surgery, but if not, they should address the steps necessary.

Fundoplication for GERD

Thanks. Yeah, I cannot figure out why surgery wasn't an option put forward, will go back to my GP to discuss it further though, personally I see no reason why I should be on pills for life when you can have what is more or less a run of the mill op to rectify the problem.

tazmission

Luco Zademann wrote: »

Thanks. Yeah, I cannot figure out why surgery wasn't an option put forward, will go back to my GP to discuss it further though, personally I see no reason why I should be on pills for life when you can have what is more or less a run of the mill op to rectify the problem.

I think , they dont think its a serious condition because many have hiatus hernias but have no symptoms. But everyone is different.
I went to the Doc many times with chest and upper back pain and he more or less said it was bad back or muscle strain etc, so my physiotherapist said my back seemed fine and it was perhaps hernia or gallbladder, I said it to my doc and he more or less ignored it!
so i had to get it diagosed myself .
Also my physio told me about a girl who had bad upper back and shoulder pain and she was diagnosed with small hiatus hernia and they said they wouldnt operate , she demanded it and now she is fine , no pain.
Mine feels like upper back spasm between shoulder blades on the left.

Smokie399

I'm a male now 28 years old and I've been suffering these symptoms since I was 19. Started with chest pain and extreme bloating constantly feeling like vommiting after eating and the worse possible heartburn you could ever imagine. Was poppin Rennies every 10 mins but no relief. Went to doc and he put me on zoton and scheduled an endoscopy as he suspected acid reflux. Worked absolute wonders for a while but a year passed and I began to deteriorate again and was still waiting for an endoscopy. After severe chest pains and a fright that I had suffered a heart attack I bit the bullet and went for A+E and they scheduled the endoscopy the following week to reveal a hiatal hernia. In the years that have passed they'd altered my ppi tabs every few months but any time I mention surgery to doc he rules it out just says lose weight etc change diet. Personally I think this is a sentence and in the last few weeks I've been getting shortness of breath aswell (dunno if anyone else has had this) After over 8 years of this I honestly don't know how long more I can suffer it. I want the op but it scares me that i may not be able to swallow and have choking sensations 😮. But I don't want to continue the way I am either. If they continue to refuse me the op then I'm going to go to uk and see if I can get it there. It depresses me to think I may have to spend the rest of my life on tabs every day when there may be a chance I don't need them. Taking those tablets for so long also must have its own side affects

gerrybbadd

Smokie399 wrote: »

I'm a male now 28 years old and I've been suffering these symptoms since I was 19. Started with chest pain and extreme bloating constantly feeling like vommiting after eating and the worse possible heartburn you could ever imagine. Was poppin Rennies every 10 mins but no relief. Went to doc and he put me on zoton and scheduled an endoscopy as he suspected acid reflux. Worked absolute wonders for a while but a year passed and I began to deteriorate again and was still waiting for an endoscopy. After severe chest pains and a fright that I had suffered a heart attack I bit the bullet and went for A+E and they scheduled the endoscopy the following week to reveal a hiatal hernia. In the years that have passed they'd altered my ppi tabs every few months but any time I mention surgery to doc he rules it out just says lose weight etc change diet. Personally I think this is a sentence and in the last few weeks I've been getting shortness of breath aswell (dunno if anyone else has had this) After over 8 years of this I honestly don't know how long more I can suffer it. I want the op but it scares me that i may not be able to swallow and have choking sensations 😮. But I don't want to continue the way I am either. If they continue to refuse me the op then I'm going to go to uk and see if I can get it there. It depresses me to think I may have to spend the rest of my life on tabs every day when there may be a chance I don't need them. Taking those tablets for so long also must have its own side affects

This is my line of thinking too. These tablets effectively stop your body from doing what it does naturally, which is produce acid. Food then takes longer to get broken down. It can't be good to be on these tablets long term. I'm on them now over 12 years, but I simply can't do without them. I really want to have the op done as well.

Smokie399

gerrybbadd wrote: »

This is my line of thinking too. These tablets effectively stop your body from doing what it does naturally, which is produce acid. Food then takes longer to get broken down. It can't be good to be on these tablets long term. I'm on them now over 12 years, but I simply can't do without them. I really want to have the op done as well.

I know exactly where you're coming from I'm also at the stage where I can't do without them. And I'm tired of waking up every morning with that sickish feeling in my stomach. And now the shortness of breath. It's a poor quality of life to have to tolerate in this day and age. I wudnt know what it feels like to be normal again

tazmission

Smokie399 wrote: »

I know exactly where you're coming from I'm also at the stage where I can't do without them. And I'm tired of waking up every morning with that sickish feeling in my stomach. And now the shortness of breath. It's a poor quality of life to have to tolerate in this day and age. I wudnt know what it feels like to be normal again

I know exactly what you mean , i do have some OK ish days but last 3 weeks have been bad enough, I wake up every morn with burning in sternum raw sore throat , ans sick feeling , i also have upper back pain around shoulders, i,m training for soccer and it even hinders that.I,m only on those tablets over a year and they dont agree with me at all.
all my crap doc does is give me different PPIs and a throat spray , one thing i dunno whether is significant , last year my my crap Docter was treating me for sinus infection that i had for 6 months on and off with antobiotics , which turned out to be badly infected tooth. but after that , I went to a nutrionalist and told her that i was having a burning throat and funny taste in my tongue , and she tested me for Candida (thrush) , results said i had very high Candida in my mouth , and was treated for it. I read up on Candida and it can cause reflux symptoms , If PPIs are not working , surely its not Reflux?!!
also , on on this website it stated that PPis can cause Candida of the gut. I know its on the net and take with a pinch of salt but it makes sense in a way.
But i too am fed up of it.

gerrybbadd

Apologies for resurrecting this thread.

For the past while, i've been doing a day on / day off with my Zoton tablet. This is due to me having severe problems with my stomach, such as extreme bloating, really nasty sulphur burps and farts etc. Symptoms last about 24 hrs, and I feel really sick. I'm putting this down to the PPIs, as food is not broken down naturally as it would without PPIs, and begins to ferment in the stomach / intestine.

Now, on the days off the tablet, I absolutely die with heartburn, reflux & nausea. Really debilitating. You would genuinely be left exhausted after this. I spoke again with my GP regarding having the Hiatus Hernia stitched up, and was again fobbed off, so I think i'm going to have to go to another doctor.

I'm diabetic too, and I think all of this upset with the stomach, and food not being broken down is not doing me any favours with my diabetes etc either.

tazmission

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Apologies for resurrecting this thread.

For the past while, i've been doing a day on / day off with my Zoton tablet. This is due to me having severe problems with my stomach, such as extreme bloating, really nasty sulphur burps and farts etc. Symptoms last about 24 hrs, and I feel really sick. I'm putting this down to the PPIs, as food is not broken down naturally as it would without PPIs, and begins to ferment in the stomach / intestine.

Now, on the days off the tablet, I absolutely die with heartburn, reflux & nausea. Really debilitating. You would genuinely be left exhausted after this. I spoke again with my GP regarding having the Hiatus Hernia stitched up, and was again fobbed off, so I think i'm going to have to go to another doctor.

I'm diabetic too, and I think all of this upset with the stomach, and food not being broken down is not doing me any favours with my diabetes etc either.

Sorry to hear about your symptoms.I hear you have to slowly wean yourself off these tabs , there is supposedly what is called a rebound affect , which means the body tries to re adjust to the tablets which stop (lower) acid production , and then over produce cause worse re-flux than before.
my symptoms are mainly inflamed gullet and throat , so annoying.
also try Probiotics which helps the re populate good bacteria. slippery elm also helps .
Also stress is a major factor , and it can cause more acid production, so the symptom and the way you feel could be made worse by the fact that you are understandably stressing out about symptoms, so causing a vicious circle, and Doctors that appear to Fob you off doesn't help.
maybe you are coming off tabs too quickly, maybe lower doses at a slower rate ?
i hope you get better soon.

Alancillhill

Hey there . . .
This seems to be the main thread on this issue...
just wondering- are there any other options alongside the Nissen Fundoplication? I read online that they can "repair" the hernia, or do something with a mesh? Is the Nissen the only way forward? or has anybody had any other types of surgery for this ?

Just had a really bad weekend, with puking, the works. I am a long term sufferer, long term on Nexium... try to not take it all the time... and then when I don't I'm a mess, totally dependent on it. I have the same concerns as others... I think the nexium is not good for me and giving me sleep issues etc. Then 2 days after I stop taking it, it's like constant acid explosion in my stomach.
Any advice appreciated...

tazmission

Alancillhill wrote: »

Hey there . . .
This seems to be the main thread on this issue...
just wondering- are there any other options alongside the Nissen Fundoplication? I read online that they can "repair" the hernia, or do something with a mesh? Is the Nissen the only way forward? or has anybody had any other types of surgery for this ?

Just had a really bad weekend, with puking, the works. I am a long term sufferer, long term on Nexium... try to not take it all the time... and then when I don't I'm a mess, totally dependent on it. I have the same concerns as others... I think the nexium is not good for me and giving me sleep issues etc. Then 2 days after I stop taking it, it's like constant acid explosion in my stomach.
Any advice appreciated...

hi , I know someone who had the operation , hes glad he did it but he had swallowing issues after and some sensations of food getting stuck in throatbut it has been a while since we chatted , it was about 3 months after the op.
me , i,m off the meds now ( i think they are bad for you long term and you become dependent , so i weaned off it took a long time but I might take one every week or two if i feel i ate wrong stuff , I watch what i eat and lost some weight , also apple cider vinegar(can be good or bad depending on person)helped along with some other supplements but it took a long time.
I was seriously thinking of the op but i have a small HH, but i understand why you want to its horrible.
If i was you I would try contact someone who has had the operation , there are forums online specifically for it.
I wish you all the best hope you find a solution cause its not nice.
regards

gerrybbadd

Been meaning to post an update in here.

Finally got a Doctor in my local surgery to refer me (for consultation at least) for the operation.

I have the consult on 05th December, so fingers crossed, it will go ahead

CJmasgrande

I was diagnosed with same as OP about 6yrs ago too. Doctor told me an operation is a last resort as mine is in a difficult place by the heart. I learned myself that if I stay away from all food or drink with yeast I'm fine. Yeast is in different breads, alcohol etc etc.

bilbot79

Hi folks. How did everyone get on from this thread? Did you have the op?

Has anyone used the iqoro device that claims to cure by training the diaphragm muscle?

wally1990

I had the nissen Fundo OP on 17th of May for HH/Gerd etc

Feel free to PM with any queries or just ask here

Smokie399

wally1990 wrote: »

I had the nissen Fundo OP on 17th of May for HH/Gerd etc

Feel free to PM with any queries or just ask here

Just noticed that I posted here before on this thread back in 2013 and I still haven’t had anything done about it since then 😭. Did you get it done through public or through health insurance I wonder what is the cost of this op as sadly I have neither health insurance or medical card. My main question is what did it feel like when you woke up after the op and about the recovery time. Also how long before you could eat solid foods again and are there restrictions on what you can eat afterwards as I’ve heard you lose the ability to burp or vomit and that petrifies me 🙈

Mmmm_Lemony

I had my operation almost 10 years ago now. I also gave up smoking the day before the op and haven't smoked since. I've not had a single minute of a single day where I've suffered with heartburn/reflux. I was in agony for a long time with it. I can burp now but that has only been in the past couple of years. I haven't been able to vomit when I've had to which makes it terrifying. That said, I was almost vomiting with reflux every single day, losing sleep, waking up in the night thinking I'd swallowed something...absolute torture, so I 100% believe the pros outweigh the cons.

I've no idea of the costs unfortunately. It's been so long ago but I think I was covered with VHI for a lot of it. The consultations were private but the op was in Tallaght hospital (still may have been private though). I was groggy when I woke up after the op but was grand within a few hours. I had to take suppositories for a couple of days but that was about it for meds.

It was a good while before I could eat normal food. I couldn't eat anything hard for a couple of weeks then anything stodgy, like bread/bananas for a few months still. Oddly, drinking water proved to be the most difficult for a immediately after and for few weeks. To be honest I ate a lot of ice cream during the recovery. A lot! It was easy to manage and very comforting!

The difference in my quality of life is immeasurable. I'd often forget how bad it was until I'm reminded by friends/family complaining of heartburn/indigestion. If it's bad enough that you have to take a pill to suppress reflux I'd recommend going for this surgery.

Obviously, if there are non invasive steps you can take, its a no-brainer.

seannash

Can i ask (for my own curiosity) when you say you cant vomit anymore, what happens when you feel like vomitting or need to vomit

gerrybbadd

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Been meaning to post an update in here.

Finally got a Doctor in my local surgery to refer me (for consultation at least) for the operation.

I have the consult on 05th December, so fingers crossed, it will go ahead

Jesus, 3 years later and i'm no further on.

referred to Galway. They have scoped me 3 times down into the stomach now, and once up the aul sherrifs badge.

They told me, after scoping me the first two times, "you have no hernia" Strange thought I, after being diagnosed with one in Sligo when i was 18. These things don't heal themselves.

Anyhow, I was told after my last consult i was "extremely symptomatic" and that I wouldn't need to be seen again for 3 - 5 years. Virtually a week to the day later, i had a letter out from Galway for another scope. Rang them and told them the story - they start arguing with me, as If i'm telling them lies about what the Consultant said. So I didn't go to the appointment.

Another letter, another argument. Eventually I go to be scoped. They always tell me to come in early due to the diabetes, and they'd see me first. I did, landed down early. They tell me when i get there that the consultant himself wants to do the procedure on me this time around. So i wait all day. Literally from 10am, until 4pm. Nothing to eat or drink from 10pm the night before. I'm so dehydrated they can't put a line into my vein, the student nurse tried 5 times before eventually finding one.

4pm comes, i'm the last one left to be seen. Lo & behold, no sign of the consultant. The general team carries out the procedure. They gave me someting called a "waking sedative" which meant i felt every single bit of the procedure.

They were sending me home then and I had to ask - "well, whats the story?" The answer was "Oh ya, you have a sliding hiatus hernia there"

So, i've been made to feel like a liar, fúcked about, have had to have a tube up my nose and down into my stomach for 24 hrs, have endured 3 stomach scopes and one up the jacksie, and i'm still no further on.

I'm due back in galway tomorrow, and i'm going to let loose on these fúkers

Mmmm_Lemony

seannash wrote: »

Can i ask (for my own curiosity) when you say you cant vomit anymore, what happens when you feel like vomitting or need to vomit

It's a dry heave. Nothing comes out.

Mmmm_Lemony

gerrybbadd wrote: »

So, i've been made to feel like a liar, fúcked about, have had to have a tube up my nose and down into my stomach for 24 hrs, have endured 3 stomach scopes and one up the jacksie, and i'm still no further on.

Sorry to hear that. All the staff and consultants I dealt with were all great. No confusion or difficulties. I guess I was lucky. Hopefully you get what you need and don't have to go back to them!

gerrybbadd

Mmmm_Lemony wrote: »

Sorry to hear that. All the staff and consultants I dealt with were all great. No confusion or difficulties. I guess I was lucky. Hopefully you get what you need and don't have to go back to them!

Had the consult earlier. 30 seconds is how long it lasted.

For a 5 hour round trip. So pissed off.

They said, keep taking medium and watch the diet. The polyp theuly removed isn't cancerous. See ya in 12 months

Smokie399

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Had the consult earlier. 30 seconds is how long it lasted.

For a 5 hour round trip. So pissed off.

They said, keep taking medium and watch the diet. The polyp theuly removed isn't cancerous. See ya in 12 months

Usual fob you off craic again so watch the diet and keep taking tablets. Consultants must be on commission for the sales of tablets

gerrybbadd

Smokie399 wrote: »

Usual fob you off craic again so watch the diet and keep taking tablets. Consultants must be on commission for the sales of tablets

Guaranteed they are.

bilbot79

gerrybbadd wrote: »

Jesus, 3 years later and i'm no further on.

referred to Galway. They have scoped me 3 times down into the stomach now, and once up the aul sherrifs badge.

They told me, after scoping me the first two times, "you have no hernia" Strange thought I, after being diagnosed with one in Sligo when i was 18. These things don't heal themselves.

Anyhow, I was told after my last consult i was "extremely symptomatic" and that I wouldn't need to be seen again for 3 - 5 years. Virtually a week to the day later, i had a letter out from Galway for another scope. Rang them and told them the story - they start arguing with me, as If i'm telling them lies about what the Consultant said. So I didn't go to the appointment.

Another letter, another argument. Eventually I go to be scoped. They always tell me to come in early due to the diabetes, and they'd see me first. I did, landed down early. They tell me when i get there that the consultant himself wants to do the procedure on me this time around. So i wait all day. Literally from 10am, until 4pm. Nothing to eat or drink from 10pm the night before. I'm so dehydrated they can't put a line into my vein, the student nurse tried 5 times before eventually finding one.

4pm comes, i'm the last one left to be seen. Lo & behold, no sign of the consultant. The general team carries out the procedure. They gave me someting called a "waking sedative" which meant i felt every single bit of the procedure.

They were sending me home then and I had to ask - "well, whats the story?" The answer was "Oh ya, you have a sliding hiatus hernia there"

So, i've been made to feel like a liar, fúcked about, have had to have a tube up my nose and down into my stomach for 24 hrs, have endured 3 stomach scopes and one up the jacksie, and i'm still no further on.

I'm due back in galway tomorrow, and i'm going to let loose on these fúkers

They chiropractor is working wonders for my wife

gerrybbadd

bilbot79 wrote: »

They chiropractor is working wonders for my wife

?

bilbot79

gerrybbadd wrote: »

?

Erm....


?

JP Liz V1

I'm on Protium 20mg and recently got the bad egg burps (sulphur burps) very embarrassing when out, any tips please to get rid asap?

gerrybbadd

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I'm on Protium 20mg and recently got the bad egg burps (sulphur burps) very embarrassing when out, any tips please to get rid asap?

I've been living with them for the past 9 years Liz, and have found nothing that works.

raclle

I had an Inguinal hernia done on Thursday and have passed water but no bowel movement since.

How long does it normally take as im thinking of ringing them tomorrow?

SwordofLight

Has anyone tried that device iqoro? Long time sufferer here, 26 years. I go through 2 nexium a day and a bottle of gaviscon every few days

So can you tell me if I visit my GP - they refer me where? to a specialist? Then the specialist refers me to a hospital? How does it work? Can i go on a HSE waiting list or something? Private is probably ten grand

bilbot79

SwordofLight wrote: »

Has anyone tried that device iqoro? Long time sufferer here, 26 years. I go through 2 nexium a day and a bottle of gaviscon every few days

So can you tell me if I visit my GP - they refer me where? to a specialist? Then the specialist refers me to a hospital? How does it work? Can i go on a HSE waiting list or something? Private is probably ten grand

Surgery is you'll end up if going down the doctor route but you won't be able to vomit any more.

My wife was suffering terribly and we got the iqoro device which is ridiculously expensive for what it is. She was using it with every meal and we were hoping for the suggested improvement which takes about 13 weeks according to their website.

However I was looking at some YouTube videos myself of physios in the US that were claiming to treat hiatus hernia. I pushed Mrs to go down that avenue and she called a chiropractor here in Dublin who referred her to someone else that specialised. She did plenty of regular sessions and now the effects are all but gone. She kept using the iqoro throughout but insists it was the chiropractor sessions that haved cured her.

Iqoro claim support from NHS examinations of their device but I read them and they basically say 'it might work but there isn't enough evidence'. Part of me wonders if iqoro is a rip off as the process takes a long time and time sometimes heals this affliction anyway. They might falsely get attributed success.

It's a pathetic piece of plastic that costs about 200 euro, surely someone has imitated it?

Anyway it was good for us at least because we chose to believe in it and needed to be doing something about it. Like the NHS said...'it might work'

However if I could turn the clock back I would have committed her to chiropractor sessions from the outset as I believe this is what cured her. She's out now but when she comes back I'll pm you the name of the chiropractor.

And btw, I've seen the impact this s*** can have on your quality of life. Hang in there!

wally1990

Swordoflight PM me if you wish
I had the Nissen fundoplication procedure done last May

SwordofLight

https://www.mun-h-center.se/hjalpmedel/munmotorisk-traning/munskarmar-och-lapptraning/munskarm-ulmer/

This is €20 and looks the exact same as the IQoro. It also makes the same claims as the IQoro. So it seems you are paying for the additional support and specialised exercises?

Mm27121992

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice re severe acid reflux.

I’m a 27 year old female. I’ve been having very bad acid reflux for just over a year and it’s really starting to take over my life as nothing seems to help it.
It started out that I had H Pylori and I was put on a weeks treatment last March for that and it got rid of my symptoms for about 6 months. However around September last year these symptoms came back and seemed to be worse so my doctor put me on two weeks H Pylori treatment as it may not have been eradicated the first time. This worked for a few months but I am now getting reflux worse than ever. It’s lasting 24hours a day everyday. I’m currently on 20mg of pariet twice a day as well as maxolon. I’m awaiting a scope but I feel hopeless as I don’t know when I will get one due to the current pandemic and it’s really starting to effect my mental health and also my relationship and I am constantly miserable lately. I’m in the middle of buying a house and I’m not even excited for it due to this problem. I’ve tried nephramel, zomel and now pariet, which seemed to work at the start but not anymore. I’m assuming it’s a hiatus hernia but I have to wait for the scope for confirmation. Does anyone have any idea how much the Nissen fundlopication procedure costs to go private in Ireland?

bilbot79

Mm27121992 wrote: »

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice re severe acid reflux.

I’m a 27 year old female. I’ve been having very bad acid reflux for just over a year and it’s really starting to take over my life as nothing seems to help it.
It started out that I had H Pylori and I was put on a weeks treatment last March for that and it got rid of my symptoms for about 6 months. However around September last year these symptoms came back and seemed to be worse so my doctor put me on two weeks H Pylori treatment as it may not have been eradicated the first time. This worked for a few months but I am now getting reflux worse than ever. It’s lasting 24hours a day everyday. I’m currently on 20mg of pariet twice a day as well as maxolon. I’m awaiting a scope but I feel hopeless as I don’t know when I will get one due to the current pandemic and it’s really starting to effect my mental health and also my relationship and I am constantly miserable lately. I’m in the middle of buying a house and I’m not even excited for it due to this problem. I’ve tried nephramel, zomel and now pariet, which seemed to work at the start but not anymore. I’m assuming it’s a hiatus hernia but I have to wait for the scope for confirmation. Does anyone have any idea how much the Nissen fundlopication procedure costs to go private in Ireland?

Surely your doc would have looked at hiatus hernia no?

Apart from acid reflux do you ever feel like there is something stuck in the back of your throat?

Space Dog

Mm27121992 wrote: »

Hi there,

Just looking for some advice re severe acid reflux.

I’m a 27 year old female. I’ve been having very bad acid reflux for just over a year and it’s really starting to take over my life as nothing seems to help it.
It started out that I had H Pylori and I was put on a weeks treatment last March for that and it got rid of my symptoms for about 6 months. However around September last year these symptoms came back and seemed to be worse so my doctor put me on two weeks H Pylori treatment as it may not have been eradicated the first time. This worked for a few months but I am now getting reflux worse than ever. It’s lasting 24hours a day everyday. I’m currently on 20mg of pariet twice a day as well as maxolon. I’m awaiting a scope but I feel hopeless as I don’t know when I will get one due to the current pandemic and it’s really starting to effect my mental health and also my relationship and I am constantly miserable lately. I’m in the middle of buying a house and I’m not even excited for it due to this problem. I’ve tried nephramel, zomel and now pariet, which seemed to work at the start but not anymore. I’m assuming it’s a hiatus hernia but I have to wait for the scope for confirmation. Does anyone have any idea how much the Nissen fundlopication procedure costs to go private in Ireland?

Did you get triple therapy for h pylori?

Have you looked at your diet already? is there anything that makes it worse? Coffee, chocolate, fried stuff, alcohol, tomatoes, bread, cakes, sweet things in general, many fruits etc. can be triggers for some people. I'm assuming you tried the usual recommendations, like smaller meals, have your dinner at least 3 hours before you bed, no bending over/working out after eating and so on? If the above meds aren't working anymore there's also pantoprazole, esomeprazole and other PPIs that you could try to see if it helps. Gaviscon Advance is very good, you can by it OTC.

I'd try all of the above before thinking about a fundoplication.

Mm27121992

Space Dog wrote: »

Did you get triple therapy for h pylori?

Have you looked at your diet already? is there anything that makes it worse? Coffee, chocolate, fried stuff, alcohol, tomatoes, bread, cakes, sweet things in general, many fruits etc. can be triggers for some people. I'm assuming you tried the usual recommendations, like smaller meals, have your dinner at least 3 hours before you bed, no bending over/working out after eating and so on? If the above meds aren't working anymore there's also pantoprazole, esomeprazole and other PPIs that you could try to see if it helps. Gaviscon Advance is very good, you can by it OTC.

I'd try all of the above before thinking about a fundoplication.

Yes both times I was treated for H Pylori it was triple therapy, the reflux would go for a few months and then come back. Yeah I’ve tried all recommendations advised above and I still have it from the moment I get up in the morning until I go to bed, I also sleep upright to stop acid coming back up. I’ve had to cut coffee out of my diet and reduce chocolate to nearly nothing as these make it worse. I could deal with it if only certain foods caused it, however I constantly have it, after eating bananas, porridge etc the things that are supposed to help it. My doctor has mentioned it could be a hiatus hernia but I’m awaiting a endoscope to confirm this. Some days I’m really bad and I’ll have pins and needles in one of my hands all day. My throat feels like it’s scalded, this cannot be good for a person. I have gaviscon and I’ve tried baking soda in water, both of these only help it for a few minutes. I do not want to be taking PPI’s for the rest of my life, especially ones that don’t even fully stop the symptoms.

Space Dog

Mm27121992 wrote: »

Yes both times I was treated for H Pylori it was triple therapy, the reflux would go for a few months and then come back. Yeah I’ve tried all recommendations advised above and I still have it from the moment I get up in the morning until I go to bed, I also sleep upright to stop acid coming back up. I’ve had to cut coffee out of my diet and reduce chocolate to nearly nothing as these make it worse. I could deal with it if only certain foods caused it, however I constantly have it, after eating bananas, porridge etc the things that are supposed to help it. My doctor has mentioned it could be a hiatus hernia but I’m awaiting a endoscope to confirm this. Some days I’m really bad and I’ll have pins and needles in one of my hands all day. My throat feels like it’s scalded, this cannot be good for a person. I have gaviscon and I’ve tried baking soda in water, both of these only help it for a few minutes. I do not want to be taking PPI’s for the rest of my life, especially ones that don’t even fully stop the symptoms.

Ok it looks like you're doing what you can, this sucks (I know from experience). I was in a bad stated for about 6 months myself, that was years ago. After that it gradually improved to manageable levels. Maybe try a different medication for a while. I don't want to take medication either, but it makes life bearable. Stress makes it worse for me, I went through a 2 month period recently when I could barely eat and lost 2 stone. Regarding the hernia: I don't have a hiatus hernia, so it might not always be the reason for reflux. I was scoped twice and they didn't see a hernia, but I think they don't always show up in scopes, so who knows...

JP Liz V1

SwordofLight wrote: »

Has anyone tried that device iqoro? Long time sufferer here, 26 years. I go through 2 nexium a day and a bottle of gaviscon every few days

So can you tell me if I visit my GP - they refer me where? to a specialist? Then the specialist refers me to a hospital? How does it work? Can i go on a HSE waiting list or something? Private is probably ten grand

What is iqoro?

99farlo

Does anyone know of a case where someone has a HH and reflux etc but the meds worked, they came off them a man they’re now grand?

I’d love some good news stories.

wally1990

99farlo wrote: »

Does anyone know of a case where someone has a HH and reflux etc but the meds worked, they came off them a man they’re now grand?

I’d love some good news stories.

Unfortunately not, meds did nothing because HH was too big that acid kept Coming up

All the daily 2 x meds did was neutralise the PH /stomach acid but not fix the root cause so I had to get nissen fundoplication to fix the HH (best decision ever and reasonable pricing

JP Liz V1

gerrybbadd wrote: »

I've been living with them for the past 9 years Liz, and have found nothing that works.

Did you try baking soda in water, tastes rank but effective

gerrybbadd

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Did you try baking soda in water, tastes rank but effective

Yup, i've tried it. It does nothing but bloats me even further than i may already have been.

Space Dog

99farlo wrote: »

Does anyone know of a case where someone has a HH and reflux etc but the meds worked, they came off them a man they’re now grand?

I’d love some good news stories.

If you look online you'll find lots of success stories - people cutting out all kinds of stuff from their diets, gluten, yeast, sugar, dairy, alcohol, meat, fruit, processed foods, or all of the above, you name it... it's trial and error and depends on the person and how strict you can be with regard to your diet. I assume it won't work for everyone though.

Meeoow

Has anyone come off PPI cold turkey? I was on lansaprazole for 20 years, hiatus hernia, Gerd etc. I got tinnitus from anti depressants. Stopped them. Tinnitus didn't go. Looked up PPI, and they can cause tinnitus. So I went off them. But I am suffering terrible rebound reflux. I completely overhauled my diet, but its not helping. Still have tinnitus too. Lucky me.
I read that rebound reflux can last months.