Has anyone esperienced this relatively new surgery for acid reflux which doesnt respond to drugs.
Or does anyone know anything about it. It is much es invasive than the nissen fondiplication op. done by day surgery I think. My gastro ent. didnt mention it but I thought I might investiage.just out of interest as a possible future option if all else fails. I am having so much trouble with side effects from
drugs and not much effect on my acid reflux either still getting reflux at night and quite sore throat.
Any comments welcome.
Linda, I don't know about this operation but I have posted my comments about the Nissen op as I have a hiatus hernia and Barrett's Oesophagus. That is the danger with acid reflux, it turning to the precancerous condition. I take plenty H2 antacids as I tried proton pump inhibitors but had very bad side effects. I don't want to keep taking them as I am prone to b12 deficiency which someone on here thinks it's nothing to worry about but I disagree. What's the point in eating a healthy diet when your stomach can't absorb the nutrients due to not enough acid in the stomach! So my operation is to fix my HH and hopefully stop the risk of my BO turning cancerous. An operation is the solution to these problems but obviously the NHS is reluctant to do so many!
Hi all, I have been diagnosed with GORD and I can honestly say the lifestyle change is dramatic. Low Fat diet, low sugar intake and strictly NO cafferine or citrus. not to mention the strict medications you have to take for god knows how long, how expensive is that?
My hiusband had a Fundiplication done over 20 years ago and has not looked back, NO more meds, No strict diet or lifestyle change oh do i wish they would suggest that for me!
Why oh Why do they not offer this to all us suffers?
surly it would be cheaper i.e. cost effective?
I just can not understand why
Responding from Colorado: I had Silent/LPR which caused a large mass to grow in my trachea - what I thought had been difficulty breathing from repeated sinus infections turned out to be a 65% blockage of the trachea.
After removal of the mass in late Dec 2012, no amount of drugs would stop the reflux from escaping my esophagus and reaching my airway - so scar tissue started growing back again in the trachea. NOT GOOD!
After a series of tests to confirm the extent of LPR and to discover Stage 1 Barrets, I had the LINX system implanted in May 2013. Surgery was pretty easy actually - I took off a week from work to give my 52 yr old body time to recover. One night in the hospital but only because I could not keep my oxygen levels up.
So far so good. I was able to stop all reflux meds right after surgery. It took some getting used to - you really learn to chew your food more effectively. My trachea looks much better today!
No regrets!
Hi Linda,
I had the LINX surgery last August. Like you I wasnt responding to drugs (and was suffering from side effects) and the Nissen wasnt made available to me on cost ground and because they could be certain i would get significant improvement.
Must say it was the best decision I made. Have none of the side effects of the Nissen, my diet is now completely back to normal, and I have had zero reflux and I am on zero medication. I also now get more than 3-4 hours sleep per night, so it really has changed my life.
Recovery was straight forward, I could have returned to work within a week - but unfortunately got a slight infection to had a little more time off because of that.
The only 'bad' thing about the operation (if you can call it that), is the mild dysphasia. Starts of being completely fine, then by about 6-8 weeks you really notice problems swalling food. Then it gradually goes back to normal about 3-4 months since the operation.
Also it is really non-invasive surgery. Pain after the op was mild discomfort - didnt need any more than paracetamol - and the wounds have healed to the point that you wouldnt know I had surgery bar a little 3-4mm scar left from one of the larger incisions.
If you want any more information please feel free to ask.
Hi Stuart,
I would really love to hear how you are doing since your LINX surgery. I am scheduled for the LINX on June 9th. How bad we're your side effects after surgery? Are you now symptom free? I am dying to have relief from my gerd! I am only 29 and have been dealing with this since I was 18. I had more silent reflux symptoms so I was only diagnosed 2.5 years ago. I was put on dexilant which helped tremendously in the beginning but I still had symptoms and now 2 years after being on PPI my symptoms are not controlled with PPI anymore. My dr at UCLA referred me to a surgeon after my PH test showed significant gerd. I haven't been able to talk directly to anyone who has had the Linx done.
my surgeon at ucla tells me the Nissen or Linx would be a good option for me. I am going with LINX since it doesn't change your anatomy and is reversible and supposedly doesn't have the side effects the Nissen does. Could you please let me know your experience with LINX and whether you are now symptom free and living a normal life? Thanks and hope to hear from you!
I am in the UK and PPIs not working with reflux symptoms which are pretty much all day. Considering LINKS procedure but doesn't seem very much available on the NHS in the UK. I know Royal Exeter does it but not my area. Has anyone had experience of trying to get this surgery on the NHS or know hospitals in London that offer it on the NHS?
I am at the point where I have to do that or the fondiplication. I have a large Hiatal hernia that needs to be repaired and my doctor said I should have one of the other things done as well. My doctor had the LINX put in and he likes it. He suggested I do that, but reading the phamplet on it, MRIs are hard to have done because of the metal and it said if you have allergies to metals and it names some. I am allergic to nickel and that was one of them. I confronted my doctor about that and he said I can stil lhave mri's and they can use a different fitting device to attatch the LINX too. I am not sure about all of that with the LINX. He never said anything to me about the allergy part to the metals. So wondering if I would have found out when I had a horrible infection. He is the best doctor for this procedure here supposedly, but sure makes me wonder. My surgery date is June 25th and I still don't have a clue which route to take.
Hi, I don't know anything about LINX, I haven't been told about it or offered it by the NHS. A few weeks ago I was offered the Nisson op and will be going for the pre op tests next week. I have a small hiatus hernia, only found out last summer, I must have had it all my life as I've suffered from reflux all my life and they also found Barrett's Oesophagus which is scary! At last it's being addressed and I won't have to take the H2 blockers. PPI's gave me pain in my hands and feet...even though they didn't put it down to that..it couldn't have been anything else and stopped when I stopped taking them. I am in N Yorkshire by the way.
You are entitled to ask to be referred to any hospital. I asked to be referred from Edinburgh to The Freeman in Newcastle for a prostate laser procedure that had not reached Scotland.
A friend asked to be referred from Inverness to Kings College in London.
Not only was he referred but the NHS paid his travel expenses.
Hi. I recently had the LINX procedure at Exeter hosp, my surgeon mr wajeed was excellent I was weary of the Nissan procedure due to the severity of it and decided to go with the less invasive op
the acid reflux, the regurgitation of every mouthful of food, the coughing and everything else connected with reflux disease seems to have gone. I have had this 37 yrs and was becoming unbearable I would recommend this procedure to anyone who is offered it but maybe someone could answer a coup
e of things re post op. My shoulders have been really sore for a week due to the co2 they pump into you but I understand that and I know this will go over time. The things I'm not sure about are the belching and wind, after every meal it's intense and the smell is very sulphur like it's highly embarressing , I had the op a week ago does anyone else have this ? And more to the point does it leave ok after a while. My stomach is also very bloated and hard !
im sure these side effects will subside but as my follow up is not for another 5 weeks I thought I'd ask
all in all though I'm sure it was the right decision and worth the hassle of excess wind and gas .....any comments ?
Hi Linda,
My son had the Linx procedure in 2010. His sphincter was severely damaged because of the acid reflux. My son was on liquid food for 2 yrs. The operation went well and as soon as he fully recovered the anaesthetic, he ate a bag of crisps, sandwiches and some cheese cake with no after effects whatsoever. This operation has changed his life so much. My son and I would advise anyone who is offered this op to seriously consider it. The 360 degree wrap causes problems if ill at any time, with a sickness bug as vomiting is impossible. Therefore the bug has to be digested....how awful...and is not irreversible.
Hi Linda. I can't offer any advice as I'm in the same boat myself. I saw my surgeon yesterday fully expecting him to say I'd be having the Nissen Fundoplication. He did talk about that at first but then mentioned about Linx. I'd never heard of it and hadn't realised that there was an alternative. He asked if I had medical insurance as it's expensive. The success rate seemingly is a couple of % lower than the NF but that's all. He said it has less side effects than the NF and you have to eat as normal with the Linx otherwise it will close up! Am now sat here thinking do I have the Linx as my life would go back to 'normal' much faster and did he not try and sell the Linx to me purely bacause it's a lot more expensive than the NF? Not with it today. Have just seen this post is five months old lol. If anyone else could reply it would be much appreciated.
Hi , I had LINX 25 days ago, best thing ever, apart from training your system to get used to it I have stopped all meds and feel 100% better! I can sleep have no cough nor pain.
if your offered it take it. Thanks to the good old nhs it's free over here
hope this helps
Hi, I'm having it done privately based on recommendation from my Gastroenterologist. I've had to go private to get answers. Think I need to look into it further. What do you means when you say 'training your system'? I've got a fair bit of time to figure it all out as surgery won't be till the 22nd of August. He's totally thrwon me by putting something else into the mix!
Are you in uk ? I have a booklet about it but there's plenty online
all I meant was there's now a foreign body in my stomach and it will take a little time getting used to it. Plus my surgeon said scar tissue will form around it after a month or so and it MAY, just MAY be a little uncomfortable swallowing for a few weeks after the scar tissue has formed. Other than being quite gassy when I burp I'm absolutely fine. The LINX band is a titanium magnetic band so you can never have an MRI scan and they also give you a card in case any airport scanning machine is set off. Hope this helps and as I say it's a pith as I have booklets here explaining everything
Hi Gail,
My son was told the same about the 'Closing issue', however everyone has to eat and drink through the day..really it is no problem. The only thing my son has to do is to drink with every meal. Sometimes he feels the food has not fully passed through the bracelet, but he does have a tendancy not to chew is food properly. The NF was only available before the Linx was discovered but the most frightening news my son was told about the NF was, he would never be able to vomit. I asked, what would happen if he ever had a sickness bug, his reply was, it would have to be digested. How unpleasant!
My son had his Linx operation 4 years ago and did not suffer with flatchulance, unfortunately he cannot remember if he was told if this was normal. Unless your consultant mentioned this embarrasing problem I think it would be best to contact the consultant or his secratary for advice. He/she will be extremly helpful.
Hi, yes I am in the uk. From what I've read about the Nissen, most people can't burp but have excess gas! I'll look online and try and get as much info as I can before making a decision.
Hi, I've been wondering about the vomitting thing. I have a bit of a phobia about vomitting anyway so initially I thought, great. Then I got to thinking well what happens instead then? You just answered my question. Yuck.