Cant stop crying!!!

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Displaced MassHole

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Just got back from my surgery consult, I'm having a procedure to fix my GERD. One of the side effects is never being able to burp or throw up again. The doc said drinking carbonated beverages will be VERY painful because of it.

Why? Why? Why?

I'm seriously considering just dealing with the chronic heartburn and everything else associated with it.
:(
 
I would drink cold flat beer if I had to. Its better than no beer.
 
Damn bro, that sucks. Maybe it's time to get into mead and wine? Or possibly, you could brew still beers?
 
I am with Shooter. Try a few real ales. See if that gives you any discomfort before you decide to throw in the towel.

Sorry to hear about your issue btw. That is rough. Even if beer was not a factor. That just plain sucks.
 
I'm sorry to hear that bro. Like others have said, maybe you should try mead or wine. I'm lifting a nice cold glass of still (not carbed) apfelwein in your honor.
 
Just got back from my surgery consult, I'm having a procedure to fix my GERD. One of the side effects is never being able to burp or throw up again. The doc said drinking carbonated beverages will be VERY painful because of it.

Why? Why? Why?

I'm seriously considering just dealing with the chronic heartburn and everything else associated with it.
:(

What are they doing?
 
I'd still have the procedure done.

GERD and Acid Reflux can lead into Esophegeal cancers.

Sorry for the dilemma man!
 
nothing to mess with...lost my dad from Esophagus cancer after he fought many years of heart burn
 
Bad news man. Im pretty sure the doctors referring to traditionally carbonated drinks which are normally highly carbonated. Don't throw in the towel just yet.
 
I may be in the same boat. I was diagnosed with GERD about 8 years ago. What's your issue if you don't mind me asking? I had an upper GI Endoscopy done a few weeks ago and there is no damage as of yet. I'm going in mid February to have the esophageal manometry and the 24 hour pH test. I'll find out after that if I need the surgery. The Dr hasn't mentioned that side effect to me though. If that's the case I may opt out and just keep taking the drugs.
 
What are they doing?

Nissen Fundoplication
Gerd%20diagram.jpg


I may be in the same boat. I was diagnosed with GERD about 8 years ago. What's your issue if you don't mind me asking? I had an upper GI Endoscopy done a few weeks ago and there is no damage as of yet. I'm going in mid February to have the esophageal manometry and the 24 hour pH test. I'll find out after that if I need the surgery. The Dr hasn't mentioned that side effect to me though. If that's the case I may opt out and just keep taking the drugs.

I have a severe case of GERD, had the upper gi scope and the esophogeal manometry and 24 hr Ph study already. Those two tests sucked something awful. The manometry test involved sticking a wire about 28 inches long about the diameter of a pencil down my nose all the way into my stomach and having to swallow small sips of water while laying on my side for 20 mins. If you have a bad gag reflex (like most men should) its going to be rough.

The 24 hr Ph study involves another wire about 14 gauge going down your nose as well but it's left there for a day and hooked up to a little box you wear on your belt. Every time you eat/drink/lay down/sit up or have reflux you have to press a button.

I get reflux about 15-20 times a day so I'm glad that I will finally be rid of it, but the no beer thing stung. I'm still not ready to throw in the towel yet, I plan on trying lower carbed beers and see how it goes.

The reason they say no carbonated beverages is because I will no longer be able to burp or throw up again. The gas will still go through me, just taking a more southerly route, and supposedly more painfull too.

The worst part is that this past weekend I FINALLY put the last burner on my brutus after starting 3 years ago. :(
 
Is the no burping thing a possibility? Or is it a guarantee?

Mines bad too, but it's mostly controlled with the meds. I stress mostly. There are still times when it sucks real bad. I'll have to talk to the doctor about it.
 
My boss at work just had a simular thing done, had the top valve of the stomach replaced. Was also told the no carbonation, no puking thing, but after a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, things should get better. I think it was more of a warning to make sure the healing went well rather than if you be careful you can risk it. She still says it hurts if she lets out a big blast of a burp, and hasn't tried throwing up yet, but it can be done, and it is better than what it was like before.

Hope it all goes good.
 
My wife had her Nissen a year ago. It totally cured her acid reflux, she now takes one over the counter 20mg Pepcid before bed. Before, she was on Aciphex twice a day and still woke up in the middle of the night vomiting because her reflux was so bad.

She lost about 30# as a side effect of the surgery, since your stomach is smaller you can't eat as much after the surgery without great discomfort. When we go out to eat, she asks for a small plate and puts the food she is going to eat on that plate, everything else goes into a takeout box so she isn't tempted to over-eat.

My wife used to drink soda regularly; now she can't have any carbonated beverages at all. She tried soda once after her surgery, she had about 6oz before the gas built up and became unbearable leaving her in great discomfort for several hours. She can't vomit at all, just dry heaves. After a year, she can pass some gas now through small burps, but most of it passes through to the intestines.

As much the prospect of having this life changing surgery sucks, based on my wife's experience I think you should go through with it. If you don't you will have severe erosion of the esophagus, and will likely develop cancer down the road... it's just not worth it.
 
i hate to be the holistic person, because it's not normal for me to suggest anything of that sort, but i was just reading today on a few websites that lacto-fermented foods (kefir specifically) can help to combat acid reflux, and in some cases, completely eliminate it. i have no idea if this would work for you or maybe you've already considered it, but it might be something worth looking into before having the surgery. and it's something you can make yourself.
 
i hate to be the holistic person, because it's not normal for me to suggest anything of that sort, but i was just reading today on a few websites that lacto-fermented foods (kefir specifically) can help to combat acid reflux, and in some cases, completely eliminate it. i have no idea if this would work for you or maybe you've already considered it, but it might be something worth looking into before having the surgery. and it's something you can make yourself.

Thanks for the info but I think I'm gonna have to pass on that kefir stuff. I've tried every OTC medication and been on all the prescription ones as well to no avail.

From what I've been reading the no carbonated drinks may or may not apply to me. Only time will tell............
 
If you have reflux bad enough for a Nissen it means your sphincter that keeps your stomach contents in doesn't shut properly because it is too big, or the muscle is too weak. Surgery is really the only option. :( My wife was on the fence for a long time, but now that she had it and it cured her, she is glad she did it.
 
Thanks for the info but I think I'm gonna have to pass on that kefir stuff. I've tried every OTC medication and been on all the prescription ones as well to no avail.

From what I've been reading the no carbonated drinks may or may not apply to me. Only time will tell............


I am very familiar with you condition and also the procedure you are having done. I sell many of the products that will be used during your procedure to repair your condition. I was around when many general surgeons and foregut specialists were training and learning this procedure. I have seen hundreds of Nissen's and I think if you have a surgeon who routinely performs this procedure you will be very happy with your post op

Short story is that the Nissen is a great procedure that unfortunatly is not as popular as it once was. The purple pill and others killed this procedure. Everyone prefers meds over invasive surgery. In your case it seems that surgery is indicated and called for.

Beer may or may not affect you. Soda most likely will. Larger bubbles like warm beer and warm soda forget about it. Nitro beers may not affect you. Also, you could probably get into low carbonated beers and be fine.

Depends on how tight and aggressive your wrap is. The fundus or head of the stomach is plicated (folded) or more accurately wrapped around the lower part of the espohagus creating a narrowing since your spincter is non functioning. You probably know this, but there was some mis-info given in this thread and i didnt want you to be misled.

There are probably many support groups on the net, similiar to HBT is to beer. reach out and ask some pre-op questions. Like here you will get tons of great advice. Good luck on your surgery.
 
I am very familiar with you condition and also the procedure you are having done. I sell many of the products that will be used during your procedure to repair your condition. I was around when many general surgeons and foregut specialists were training and learning this procedure. I have seen hundreds of Nissen's and I think if you have a surgeon who routinely performs this procedure you will be very happy with your post op

Short story is that the Nissen is a great procedure that unfortunatly is not as popular as it once was. The purple pill and others killed this procedure. Everyone prefers meds over invasive surgery. In your case it seems that surgery is indicated and called for.

Beer may or may not affect you. Soda most likely will. Larger bubbles like warm beer and warm soda forget about it. Nitro beers may not affect you. Also, you could probably get into low carbonated beers and be fine.

Depends on how tight and aggressive your wrap is. The fundus or head of the stomach is plicated (folded) or more accurately wrapped around the lower part of the espohagus creating a narrowing since your spincter is non functioning. You probably know this, but there was some mis-info given in this thread and i didnt want you to be misled.

There are probably many support groups on the net, similiar to HBT is to beer. reach out and ask some pre-op questions. Like here you will get tons of great advice. Good luck on your surgery.

Thanks, I really appreciate the positive support. It's been a few days since the consult and I'm committed to the surgery now. I'm pretty sure I will be just fine post op, I've just been freaking myself out and I know I need to stop. Only time will tell, I just tasted a hydro sample of an amber I brewed two weeks ago that wont be tapped until after the procedure and I'm really hoping that I can enjoy it fully carbed once it's ready.
 
Just checking in to see how it's going.... I'm in the middle of my 24 hour PH study right now. I've been off all meds for about three weeks now. I'm ready for some relief tomorrow after I get the probe out.

How long between all of the studies and the surgery for you? Best of luck with it all!!! I may be in the same boat soon.
 
At the very least, maybe you could gradually reduce the carb pressure on your beers and ease into drinking cold low carbed beers.. Like around 3-4 psi or so...

Every person is different, and 'conditions' affect them all differently.. and as such the number of ways people manage their 'condition' are as varied as there are people...

I'd make sure your doctor knows how much a part of your life this hobby is to you and how much you enjoy it, and then run these ideas and others past him... sometimes there are 'out of the box' approaches to problems like this..

Hoping it works out for the best in your life... :mug:
 
Just checking in to see how it's going.... I'm in the middle of my 24 hour PH study right now. I've been off all meds for about three weeks now. I'm ready for some relief tomorrow after I get the probe out.

How long between all of the studies and the surgery for you? Best of luck with it all!!! I may be in the same boat soon.

I started with the Upper GI Endoscopy in November and my surgery is March 9th. Been off meds for a long time myself as none of them worked for me. I'm really hoping that the surgery works.
 
I had acid reflux bad enough to puke 2x a week.

3 weeks of protonix and it was virtually gone. Been on Nexium for 4 years now and its a distant memory.

Pepcid, Zantec all otcs were worthless. HAve you at least tried those?
 
You could also inject beer into your blood stream. You don't taste it as much, but at least you don't need to be as careful when you are making it.

"Lets see...no hops but I do have horseradish..."
 
I had acid reflux bad enough to puke 2x a week.

3 weeks of protonix and it was virtually gone. Been on Nexium for 4 years now and its a distant memory.

Pepcid, Zantec all otcs were worthless. HAve you at least tried those?

Never tried the Protonix but I have been on other PPI's. Was on Nexium for over a year, it didn't do a thing for me.
 
If you are a surgery candidate none of the prescription drugs are effective. It's a total defect in the anatomy, surgery will fix it in all likelihood...

Best wishes with the surgery! Drop me a line if you need support or have questions, SWMBO has been through it all!
 
Whew, that's rough, sorry to hear that.

I would just pop open a beer in the morning before leaving for work, leave it in the fridge, and drink in uncarbed that night. If it's a good beer, chances are it'll still taste great flat.
 
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