November 16, 2004

Hi Gene,

Once again thanks for the site.

Had heartburn for the past 10 years, up until 5 years ago I ate Tums like they were candy (at least I have strong bones) I literally carried a pack of Tums no matter where I went. It became quit a conversation piece when we went out to dinner with friends.

All joking aside, my wife finally convinced me to see a Doctor after the nights got progressively worse, I would wake in pain that was indescribable. The Gastroenterologist I saw scheduled a North bound scope the next day. Not a bad procedure once they knock you out. He found a hiatal hernia and severe reflux disease. Put me on Prilosec once a day. What a wonder drug!!! Give me the purple pill anytime; within 2 days of my starting to take it the heartburn was gone. How cool, no more Tums, ate what ever I wanted. Stayed on Prilosec for the last 4 years, no problems until a few months ago, when things went southbound.

Had back to back reflux episodes 2 days apart that took me to my knees, my wife wanted to take me to the ER because she thought I was having a heart attack, could not catch my breath, unbelievable pain, and the worst possible taste in my mouth. Called the Doctor the next day and had an appointment that afternoon. after describing the attack he up�d the Prilosec to 2 a day. Great for a few weeks, and bang another bad one.

Called the Doctor again, scheduled a second scope in 2 days. Found severe erosion, took biopsies, Lab reports came back with signs of erosive esophagitis. Now what? Up the Priolsec to 3 a day.

The day after the scope I developed abdominal pain that got progressively worse, went to the ER, was admitted for 4 days with internal bleeding, it appears that 1 of the biopsies sites broke through.

After that, my wife researched a specialist in Reflux disease. Found one at the University of Illinois (Chicago). Met him, described the events over the years; he scheduled the 24 hour test, the pressure test and an UGI. The UGI was not bad, got a lot of exercise rolling around on the table mixing up the mortar in my stomach. The next day was the pressure test with the tube in your nose, not to bad, although it takes about 45 minutes and when they get close to the top, the gag reflex takes over and makes for some embarrassing noises.

Now for the 24 test, not a lot of fun! Keep in mind you can�t take in my case the savior purple pill for 7 days leading up the test. All you can take is Mylanta YUCK!!!!! and it did not help much. The tube is smaller, however it stays in place for 24 hours. You can feel the tip when you swallow, and I developed a sore throat within 2 hours. TIP: cough drops and warm tea with honey worked great. Now each time you feel an attack you push the button, take notes and go about your day, right! Keep in mind you can�t take anything like Mylanta, Tums etc for these 24 hours. I found my self-hitting the button quite often, that is until about 1:00 in the morning, I almost pulled the tube (which they told me I could do if the pain became unbearable). I elected to continue the test, (what a man!!!!!) Did not sleep much and there really is not a lot on cable at 2 in the morning.

Could not wait to get back to the hospital to have the plumbers drain snake removed. The next day I met with the Doctor to go over the results and to my surprise a surgeon was in his office. The UGI was fairly normal; the pressure test had some issues at the bottom end (imagine that), now for the results of the 24-hour test; in the history of the Hospital doing this test I had the longest duration of a reflux and lowest PH ever recorded. I won!!!!!!!, I soon found out it�s not the lowest score that�s good like golf.

Surgery scheduled for the 9th of November. They say 2 to 3 days in the Hospital, swallowing will be an issue, discomfort, eating habits will change. Maybe a good way to drop a few pounds (not really I like to eat) 6-1, 220 lbs.

Surgery went well (I think), was there in body not mind. From what I remember and have been told, I had trouble in recovery with low oxygen saturation, therefore they decided to keep the ET tube in place even though I know I was awake, the words panic and uncomfortable best describe the feelings of having something down your throat that you have no control over. Got a shot of something, out for a few hours, awoke, no tube, but what a sore throat. Wife late told me that the Surgeon came out to meet her in the waiting room after 5 hours of surgery on me. He told her that he had to go higher than normal to sew the flap since most of the bottom portion of my esophagus was so eroded he said it was like trying to stitch through wet tissue paper.

Off to a room, and hooked up to a PCA which I think stands for Patient Controlled Analgesic. The person that invented this gadget should be Sainted!!!!!!. All in all the pain was not that bad, I was expecting worse. I used the PCA for a day and a half and found that I did not use what they calculated I would need; in fact I used half the allotted dose. However, once that sweet, sweet little friend of mine was disconnected, things started aching. I was switched to injections of Morphine every 4-6 hours as needed, they helped, but what I found helped best was getting up and taking a walk. Stayed in the Hospital from Tuesday morning until Friday afternoon. Don�t be afraid to ask for medicine to help with the pain, that�s why the stuff was invented, no need to tough it out. And ask for something to keep things moving, since they won�t let you go home without going to the bathroom (codeine and morphine will bind you up).

Something to be aware of is what happened to me on the ride home. I had a Vagus nerve attack for better words. About half way home, I got nauseous, starting sweating, and had a lot of pressure below the diaphragm, according to my wife I passed out twice. She called the Doctor, who suggested either the closest ER or head home and follow his instructions, we headed home. His diagnosis was the Vagus nerve was pinched or because of the gas they use to inflate you was putting pressure on it somewhere. Things settled down overnight and all is well.

Home now, and other than being tired and sore from time to time, I can really say that it was not as bad as I expected. Ask for liquid Tylenol with Codeine, it�s easier to swallow than tablets. Yes it is hard to swallow and you will feel full quicker, TIP: don�t over eat or eat too much at one sitting IT WILL HURT!!!!!

As far as side effects, it�s been 2 weeks and other than eating slower and chewing your food more, absolutely no problems!!. I can burp, cool! But not like before, as far as the south end of the alimentary canal, yes it gets a work out, and can be both uncomfortable and embarrassing at times. I consider myself young at heart and bathroom humor is still funny to me. So having a little fun with the south end is OK with my kids, and me my wife on the other hand has nicknamed me �Boxer� (I guess that breed of dogs has a reputation).

If you are looking for a Surgeon in the Chicago area I HIGHLY recommend Doctor Philip Donahue (contact me for his phone number) he works out of the University of Illinois, Chicago. I can�t begin to tell you how impressed we are with him, he, not his staff called each day for 4 days (even over the weekend after surgery) to check on me.

Your site has been very helpful in reaching a decision to have the surgery; I hope my comments will help others. People that don�t have reflux disease have no idea what we go through.

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions.