|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 25, 2019 11:41:36 GMT -5
I was referred by the doc who did my upper GI to surgeon. He has looked at my gut from both ends for a long time. I have suffered from GERD for a time and have a condition known as Barrett's esophagus. This is from a leaky valve at the top of my stomach letting gastric acids backup and cause pain and damage. It has been controlled by a drug called Protonix which reduces the production of acid. I also have a hiatal hernia, letting a portion of my stomach intrude into the space which should be lung.
The surgeon is new to the area. He was recruited to head a new department of robotic surgery at the new hospital. He spent a portion of the visit reassuring me that although his first surgery in Utica will be next month, he has been doing these procedures in CT for more than 20 years. Less grey hair than me but enough to know that he has been at it for awhile.
One of the first things he said is that the Protonix controls the symptoms but does nothing for the problem. He spent some time explaining the procedure and the device he proposes to implant. The device is a loop of rare earth magnets on a titanium string. One of the magnets is actually 2 half magnets which allows the loop to become beads on a string. A small incision is made, the string is guide by a robotic arm to its position above the leaky valve and snapped into place. Re-positioning the stomach and repairing the diaphragm can be done through the same small incision.
When everything is healed the idea is that when I swallow the ring of beads expands enough to let the food pass through and then close down to keep the acid where it belongs. Ralph has given us an idea of recovery from have a hole cut large enough for a surgeon to get his hand inside. In contrast this should be much faster. I still have a lab test to see if I qualify for this but I am optimistic.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Oct 25, 2019 14:45:41 GMT -5
Kathy has Barrett's esophagus also. She has been treated for it for years. Lately, it hasn't presented too much problem or discomfort as long as she watches what she eats and doesn't eat too late at night before going to bed. At 80 yrs old and have had 6 very traumatic and involved back surgeries she is not up to having any more surgery, even if it is not invasive.
It seems like a great advance in treating the condition. I know when hers is acting up she is in misery and I worry with the gerd that she will aspirate something into her lungs when she wakes up choking on the acid. Good luck CB if you decide to move ahead with the procedure.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2019 15:07:51 GMT -5
Good luck in the surgery, CB. Say you mentioned some use of magnets. Will you have to avoid standing near metal surfaces?
|
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 25, 2019 16:08:34 GMT -5
Barb asked me a very good question which I will have to ask the doc. Will this affect going through security checkpoints? My Dad used to carry x-rays of his legs with him on trips. His legs had been badly damaged in an auto accident. He had almost as much metal as bone in his lower body.
Also a question: will this affect any future MRIs?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2019 17:53:39 GMT -5
I thought the same thing after I signed out. I would think yes to both. You might even set off security inside department stores.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Oct 25, 2019 18:24:55 GMT -5
Kathy has numerous large rods in her back and also numerous screws to hold them in place, but they are titanium. They show on x-ray but are not affected by an MRI, although I don't know if they reduce the power or anything.
Magnets? I have to think that they would prevent a person having an MRI. I don't know, but aren't magnets made with a ferrous metal?
CB, I had scopes from both ends years ago at an office in Rome. I made them promise to make sure to use a separate scope for each end. They must have respected my wishes because when I woke up I didn't have a crappy taste in my mouth, haha.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ralph on Oct 25, 2019 23:50:42 GMT -5
Actually CB, no human hands ever dove into my insides this time.........mine was all done with the da Vinci robot, piloted by Dr. Joseph Hedrick. The only thing I have to compare it to was my inguinal hernia surgery, which was "hands on" back in 2007. That was a cake walk, the umbilical, not so much. Though I have to say that both surgeries were entirely different.
I too have GERD w/Barrett's, as well as a very small hiatal hernia, but neither one bothers me and I haven't had heartburn in so long I honestly can't remember. Though they tell me that because of the GERD I need to stay on the proton pump inhibitors regardless. I was actually off of them for about 5 years or so with no ill effects, and no heartburn.
I was watching the news clip they had on WKTV the other day regarding the procedure you're referring to and it sounds like it may be a good fix.. Don't let them fool you on the easy peasy though. The operation is quick and easy for them.  The CO 2 they use to inflate you takes a while to leave the body, and it, combined with the effects of the anesthesia, doesn't make for a pleasant time and leaves you with aches you wouldn't believe. At least it did me, and I have a pretty good level of pain tolerance. Hopefully you will fare well, I think it looks like a great procedure. |
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 25, 2019 23:52:41 GMT -5
My doc used to do scopes scopes from both ends at the sametime. Now they are 2 separate procedures. Barb thinks it's so he gets paid twice. Maybe but I do have more confidence in someone who has been there before.
|
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Oct 27, 2019 18:12:08 GMT -5
I too had both scopes done 5-6 years ago. The esophageal test showed that I had h.pylori which is a bacteria that effects the G.I. tract. The gastro doc put me on a 2week regimen of antibiotics which cleared it & i haven't had any symptoms since. I'm glad he did the procedure after he misdiagnosed me for two years telling me I had acid reflux.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2019 19:35:18 GMT -5
I too had both scopes done 5-6 years ago. The esophageal test showed that I had h.pylori which is a bacteria that effects the G.I. tract. The gastro doc put me on a 2week regimen of antibiotics which cleared it & i haven't had any symptoms since. I'm glad he did the procedure after he misdiagnosed me for two years telling me I had acid reflux. Hey I had the same thing happen to me. About 25 years or more ago I was diagnosed with a ulcer I was having significant stomach problems. My Doc at the time also placed me on a antibiotic for two weeks and low and behold it cleared up and no problem ever since. I was reading many years ago in Scientific American Magazine that the culprit in stomach ulcers was H. pylori and getting rid of that would stop the ulcers. It worked. |
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Oct 27, 2019 22:23:42 GMT -5
I had bleeding ulcers when I was about 25 yrs old. It was mostly from drinking and not eating. I went for quite a while marinating my innards in Christian Brothers brandy or white creme de menthe and beer. Sometimes I would go for a couple of days with only a couple bags of pretzels or beer nuts and a roll or two of Rolaids. I ended up in St. E's for a few days on antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors to start the healing process. I did well on milk toast, soft boiled eggs, steamed rice with butter, and very lean protein, broiled or baked, not fried. It took a while to heal completely because I went back to drinking but tempered the brandy by carrying a bottle of Maalox in the glove box of my car and Rolaids or Tums in my pocket at all times. I really don't know what they treated me with. I certainly was not very medically astute back then, haha.
I am surprised that I don't have any stomach issues now. I put hot sauce on everything but my cheerios, crushed red pepper flakes on anything Italian, and there is always a jar of pickled jalapenos in the refrigerator to use on salads and sandwiches.
How often do your primary care docs recommend that you have a colonoscopy? My doc says that unless there is a problem, I only need to have a scope every 10 yrs. I have been thinking about asking my doc to prescribe one of those mail-in test kits.
|
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Oct 28, 2019 6:38:15 GMT -5
Mr Dr. also told me 10 yrs. Must be the new protocol. I've had 3 colonoscopies. The first two he found numerous polyps. The last one about 5 years ago he found not a one. Don't know why but I'm not complaining.
|
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Oct 28, 2019 9:33:47 GMT -5
I had both this year because of the bout of diverticulitis I had last December. I don't remember what the standard protocol is. Hopefully Barb knows.
|
|
|
|
Post by clarencebunsen on Nov 7, 2019 2:34:23 GMT -5
I got my schedule for cataract surgery. Right eye 11/21. Left eye 12/5. Barb is still getting opinions on her shoulder.
|
|
The CO2 they use to inflate you takes a while to leave the body, and it, combined with the effects of the anesthesia, doesn't make for a pleasant time and leaves you with aches you wouldn't believe.