- Consultation with surgeon

[Guest guest]

I guess I don't quite understand why your surgeon doesn't believe in

the Dor Fundoplication (which is also a " partial " wrap)? Is he

a " Thoracic " surgeon? If you don't have a wrap done after they

slice the sphincter, what holds the food and acid in the stomach

when it's hanging wide open all the time? Laying down could also be

a problem at night, I would think. I wouldn't be excited about

having 2 surgeries when they could get it all done at once. Then

you wouldn't have to chance a lifetime of reflux medication either,

which shuts down(blockers)acid that the body really needs to make

for digestion. The expense and medication isn't something I would

like to consider as an alternative remedy when all the bases to

alleviate these things could have been prevented in one operation.

Right now, I'm almost 5 weeks post-op and " really " feeling great.

I'm eating " meat " , chicken, spaghetti, raw fruit, normal meals and

loving every minute. I haven't had any reflux and no further spasms

so far. I lay almost flat in bed and have no problem swallowing my

saliva in a prone position either. I just can't believe what a

difference the surgery made. I don't think I would have the

modified myotomy without the wrap knowing how successful it can be

with both. Isn't it less expensive doing them both together than in

2 separate operations? Is there a way you could talk to another

surgeon to get a second opinion? I know you are anxious to get on

with setting the operation date, but he can't be the only surgeon in

the area who can do this and you do want it to be successful right?

Maybe reflux isn't so bad? I wouldn't know? Some of you who are

not as pleased with your surgery and have reflux might want to add

some input to this.

Ask you surgeon to call Mayo, or you call and find out why they

always do the Dor Fundoplication with their myotomy? They do 3 a

week there. They may have a better explaination of why they do it.

Here's the number of the secretary for my surgeon Dr. Francis

Nichols, USA(507) 284-2942. It's worth a long distance call even if

you are from Canada. Tell her your question (even if you put it on

their voice mail)and they may even be able to respond back to you

via your private e-mail. I guess I feel this is pretty important

and if I were you, I'd call someone for another opinion.

God's blessings on your decision .

Joyce - WI

> After going through different variations of the surgery I have

> decided to have the the modified (cutting muscles on one side

only)

> lap myotomy with no fundoplication. He does not believe in doing

> the fundoplication. I was a little concerned about not having the

> fundoplication but less so when he said he was doing the modified

> myotomy. I have read that people having the modified myotomy

> usually have less reflux than with the full myotomy. I guess it's

a trade off between less extensive surgery (partial myotomy and no

> lap) and the effectiveness of the myotomy. He says the percentage

> of reflux problems is low and if they occur usually managed by

> medication. In extreme cased the fundoplication can be done later.

>

>

> He has done about thirty surgeries at about six per year. I think

> that without going to some major city to have the surgery it would

> be difficult to find someone who has done more.

> (Calgary, Canada)