Why are you wanting this surgery and has your doctor suggested it? I never would do something so invasive first...I would take all the steps which are less invasive to take care of GERD symptoms. I hope you read up on this and do some research on it...make sure the doctor explains the pros and cons fully. Good Luck to you.

Diane

This isn't my first step. I am on a double dose of Nexium each day and tums with symptoms still. I am just poking around this option. I also have limited scleroderma and GERD is a major symptom of that. My doctor wants me on the high doses of meds first before we could even talk about it.

This is a tough issue to deal with and there are never easy decisions. Have you tried being extremely disciplined with your diet for a good 6 months and healing the area in addition to the meds? I can keep my reflux away for long periods of time with a strict diet and not eating after 6 etc. Then it gets way better if you follow all the rules but I dont know anything about the impact of scleroderma. I have a small hiatla hernia.

Good luck whatever you do! Things usually get better and stay positive!

I also have hiatla hernia. It is an issue for sure. I do notice when I eat better it's not as bad. When I drink water in the morning I can get it. It's crazy. I am not going to do the surgery at this point. I will try my daily dose of Nexium and tums.

Hi jlh2375!

I have had that water issue in the past as well. I think when the esophagus is inflamed it gets annoyed by anything passing thru it, especially in the morning. It does behave like an injured muscle and if there has been acid coming up at night it probably spasms for a while in the morning after you eat or drink and is quite irritated and sore. The hernia does weird stuff at night as well.. Sometimes I feel it is strained or pulling if my esophagus has been inflamed but if it is not inflamed and I am not in a flare up I don't have that issue. The hernia can cause more swallowing problems just on its own even without inflammation. I find general doctors don't really understand the issues with even a small hernia. I find I have to go to the gastro specialist instead.

You have the hernia and the scleroderma to deal with which must be hard! My sliding hiatal hernia is small but if I am not careful it can cause my esophagus to get quite annoyed. I have to stay clear of pepper and onion just to name a few! Acid reflux is a hard issue to manage for sure! I have found if I stay really disciplined with diet, the whole thing gets way better and goes away. I have gone a year without any reflux but it is a lot of work to get there. I stick to all the rules. You can heal the esophagus and eliminate reflux and GERD but it is hard! It does require a major lifestyle change. I got the hernia from weight lifting over many years and putting too much pressure on my stomach. So now I totally avoid ab machines!

Just do the best you can and try to eliminate certain things from your diet everyday and it will get better! I find the 2 times I took meds it didn't totally work if you still eat things that are acidic and fatty etc. Even on the meds a diet change is required I find. Dexilant is stronger and I tried that once and I still found I got heartburn on it and I am pretty good with diet but as soon as I would treat myself I got heartburn that day or the next. So now I stick to a strict diet and don't have symptoms too often.

I hope you have some days soon where you are feeling much better!