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From: mrmonster on 26 Jun 2008 21:11
I'm actually thinking of getting my fundo reversed. I'm finding the
complications -- unbelievable bloating, cramping, and gas -- to be
unbearable and unmanageable. Nothing is working to alleviate it. The
surgery was a bit over a year ago. I'd go so far as to say the
bloating and discomfort is worse than it was after the surgery. It's
causing lots of social/work problems. I could at least somewhat manage
the heartburn. My surgeon worries that a reversal might not fix the
bloating and gas if they're the result of a stressed vagus nerve --
he's speculating here, I think. But I did have a big hiatus hernia
fixed, which apparently exacerbates the problem. BTW, I had a gastric
emptying test and it came out fine, so the surgeon is taking this as
some evidence that the nerve wasn't damaged.

Anyway, Howard, I'm wondering if you have experience with this, and if
there really is a chance that a reversal _won't_ fix the complications
(in which case I'd be stuck with both problems). BTW, the surgery
wasn't a complete success, anyway; I still get a little heartburn (but
not nearly as bad as pre-surgery; and I'm sleeping flat)

Thanks
From: Vanny on 27 Jun 2008 04:31
A reversal sounds a bit drastic especially as wind is generally something
that you can address by dietary changes and by medication that they give
babies - infant colic, colic drops aka Simethicone, etc. www.drugs.com

I suggest that you try a few other things before you resort to surgery,
which IMHO should always be the last choice.

As much as we would all like to regain our former health, I would argue that
one of the processes of growing old is realising that one can't do as much
as one did in one's youth. This includes eating everything one wants and
bingeing on alcohol or other poisons. The gut ages and as one grows older it
becomes more difficult to digest food. Hence, really old folks tend to get
thinner and thinner even though they might have the same calorie intake as
in their hayday. I don't know how old you are, but I think that you have to
accept that you are not going to reach that 100% ideal.

Have a look at the food classification table here and the 'F' foods under
the column 'Col' and avoid them for starters
http://ostomyland.com/mainsite/chapter-17-food-and-drinks-effects-chart-2/

Try eliminating the flatus causing foods (see above), eating slower and 4-6
smaller meals throughout the day, drinking only sips, avoiding yeast
containing beverages and food (such as beer, marmite/vegemite, etc.), and
avoid trying to keep up with healthy people - you won't win there. With such
an elimination diet you can slowly reintroduce foods and then establish
which ones cause you the greatest problems. Generally patients with gut
problems have great success by eliminating fast foods (too high saturated
fats and sugars), food additives and colourings and eating frequently
throughout the day.

Have you been tested for lactose, fructose, glucose or glutein intolerance?
It would perhaps be a good idea to eliminate such like prior to having a
reversal and then finding out that you have exactly the same problems due to
something else other than the wrap.

Intolerances and allergies can develop at any stage of one's life. One in
three people are indicated to have a fructose intolerance and fructose
syrups are used in the majority of fast foods and ready dinners.
http://www.google.de/search?as_q=fructose+intolerance&hl=de&num=10&btnG=Google-Suche&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=lang_en&cr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&as_rights=&safe=images

Another tip would be to have your vitamin B12 levels checked. If they are
low, but still within the normal range, I would suggest that you supplement.
You might be short of other vitamin and minerals
http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_information/Vitamin_and_Mineral_Supplement_Fact_Sheets.aspx
This can lead to gut dysfunction.

If I were you, I would start on Simethicone, eliminate the flatus-causing
foods, eliminate simple sugar foods including sweets and sodas, limit fast
foods to once every fortnight and eat healthy, cooked from scratch foods
(use high quality olive oil for cooking, walnut or linseed oil for salads -
not for cooking and keep in the fridge) the rest of the time and address any
possible intolerance issue. Of course, exercise after a meal is one of the
best ways of aiding the digestion and increasing your exercise regime will
help you in many other ways.

Vanny

"mrmonster" <dickbroadway-reflux(a)yahoo.com> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:259f380f-d299-4e06-8323-cd5325b3f93f(a)c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm actually thinking of getting my fundo reversed. I'm finding the
> complications -- unbelievable bloating, cramping, and gas -- to be
> unbearable and unmanageable. Nothing is working to alleviate it. The
> surgery was a bit over a year ago. I'd go so far as to say the
> bloating and discomfort is worse than it was after the surgery. It's
> causing lots of social/work problems. I could at least somewhat manage
> the heartburn. My surgeon worries that a reversal might not fix the
> bloating and gas if they're the result of a stressed vagus nerve --
> he's speculating here, I think. But I did have a big hiatus hernia
> fixed, which apparently exacerbates the problem. BTW, I had a gastric
> emptying test and it came out fine, so the surgeon is taking this as
> some evidence that the nerve wasn't damaged.
>
> Anyway, Howard, I'm wondering if you have experience with this, and if
> there really is a chance that a reversal _won't_ fix the complications
> (in which case I'd be stuck with both problems). BTW, the surgery
> wasn't a complete success, anyway; I still get a little heartburn (but
> not nearly as bad as pre-surgery; and I'm sleeping flat)
>
> Thanks


From: Howard McCollister on 27 Jun 2008 08:13

"mrmonster" <dickbroadway-reflux(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:259f380f-d299-4e06-8323-cd5325b3f93f(a)c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
> I'm actually thinking of getting my fundo reversed. I'm finding the
> complications -- unbelievable bloating, cramping, and gas -- to be
> unbearable and unmanageable. Nothing is working to alleviate it. The
> surgery was a bit over a year ago. I'd go so far as to say the
> bloating and discomfort is worse than it was after the surgery. It's
> causing lots of social/work problems. I could at least somewhat manage
> the heartburn. My surgeon worries that a reversal might not fix the
> bloating and gas if they're the result of a stressed vagus nerve --
> he's speculating here, I think. But I did have a big hiatus hernia
> fixed, which apparently exacerbates the problem. BTW, I had a gastric
> emptying test and it came out fine, so the surgeon is taking this as
> some evidence that the nerve wasn't damaged.
>
> Anyway, Howard, I'm wondering if you have experience with this, and if
> there really is a chance that a reversal _won't_ fix the complications
> (in which case I'd be stuck with both problems). BTW, the surgery
> wasn't a complete success, anyway; I still get a little heartburn (but
> not nearly as bad as pre-surgery; and I'm sleeping flat)
>
> Thanks

By this time a "stressed vagus nerve" will have recovered, and indeed if
gastric emptying is OK then those two nerves are intact.

Sure. It can be reversed, and it's usually not difficult..... it's not
unusual for that to be an outpatient operation. Usual approach is to just
take down the wrap anteriorly. Trying to dissect out the posterior part does
put the posterior vagus nerve in jeopardy. A manometry needs to be done
first...

If the reason for the problem is that the hiatus is too tight instead of the
wrap...that does tend to be a little more difficult, but certainly possible.

HMc



From: mrmonster on 27 Jun 2008 08:45
On Jun 27, 8:13 am, "Howard McCollister" <nos...(a)nospam.net> wrote:
> "mrmonster" <dickbroadway-ref...(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
> news:259f380f-d299-4e06-8323-cd5325b3f93f(a)c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > I'm actually thinking of getting my fundo reversed. I'm finding the
> > complications -- unbelievable bloating, cramping, and gas -- to be
> > unbearable and unmanageable. Nothing is working to alleviate it. The
> > surgery was a bit over a year ago. I'd go so far as to say the
> > bloating and discomfort is worse than it was after the surgery. It's
> > causing lots of social/work problems. I could at least somewhat manage
> > the heartburn. My surgeon worries that a reversal might not fix the
> > bloating and gas if they're the result of a stressed vagus nerve --
> > he's speculating here, I think. But I did have a big hiatus hernia
> > fixed, which apparently exacerbates the problem. BTW, I had a gastric
> > emptying test and it came out fine, so the surgeon is taking this as
> > some evidence that the nerve wasn't damaged.
>
> > Anyway, Howard, I'm wondering if you have experience with this, and if
> > there really is a chance that a reversal _won't_ fix the complications
> > (in which case I'd be stuck with both problems). BTW, the surgery
> > wasn't a complete success, anyway; I still get a little heartburn (but
> > not nearly as bad as pre-surgery; and I'm sleeping flat)
>
> > Thanks
>
> By this time a "stressed vagus nerve" will have recovered, and indeed if
> gastric emptying is OK then those two nerves are intact.
>
> Sure. It can be reversed, and it's usually not difficult..... it's not
> unusual for that to be an outpatient operation. Usual approach is to just
> take down the wrap anteriorly. Trying to dissect out the posterior part does
> put the posterior vagus nerve in jeopardy. A manometry needs to be done
> first...
>
> If the reason for the problem is that the hiatus is too tight instead of the
> wrap...that does tend to be a little more difficult, but certainly possible.
>
> HMc

Thanks, for the info, Howard. Do you think a reversal would also
reverse the bloating, gas? My surgeon is worried that it might not
actually help that; he said there's no way to know. I had a recent
manometry, and everything looked good. Is this how you measure for a
tight hiatus?

Vanny: trust me, I've tried everything. Various meds, diet
restrictions, acupuncture, supplements, probiotics, chinese herbs,
etc., etc. I had none of the problems before the surgery; I never even
knew what bloating meant. I'd rather live with the heartburn.
From: mrmonster on 27 Jun 2008 09:05
Howard, I just looked at the report from an endoscopy I had about 8
months post surgery. It does refer to a "small sliding hiatal hernia."
I suspect that means the hiatus is not too tight, no?
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