Fundoplication This Coming Saturday
I am having surgery this coming Saturday and I am actually looking forward to having this done. I was diagnosed with GERD, LPR, and Barrett's in November. I was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia 30 years ago- I am 51 F.
I actually had no idea that I had GERD. I currently only feel chest pain, breathlessness, a sore throat, and a weird sensation of heat/gas at the back of my throat. Occasionally I have severe pain in my stomach, under my ribs, but I feel zero pain in my esophagus. I have apparently had severe acid attacks that feel like I am being cut open by a hot sword, but that is in my back or straight across my abdomen. The surgeons believe that I am having referred pain. I never knew what those were before and it all makes sense now. Ugh. 25 years of undiagnosed nonsense.
While I was diagnosed with an ulcer, H pylori, and a hiatal hernia 30 years ago, the ulcer and H pylori were treated. I haven't really had typical symptoms since. Looking back at my health and unexplained pain in my lungs and back, chronic post nasal drip, asthma, chronic lung infections (pneumonia), my body was clearly telling me something was very wrong. So my stomach and esophagus have dearly paid the price.
I was actually surprised that my insurance approved the surgery so quickly, given that I have only been on PPIs since November. The surgery was approved in late February. But the surgeon who did the follow up on my gallbladder removal and subsequent endoscopies and also the GI surgeon really felt that the damage to the esophagus (Barrett's) and the Hill Grade 3/4 flap was causing chronic reflux, regardless of meds and dietary changes. Neither of those things were going to change without surgical intervention.
So I guess I am just typing this out to the cosmos and looking for good vibes and any advice!