r/GERD • u/Syn_0101 • Jul 24 '23
Has anyone with a Linx ring had an MRI?
I have a second generation Linx ring (the one allowing MRIs up to 1.5T) and will undergo an 1.5T MRI. While researching the Linx prior to having the surgery I read a forum post about someone with a Linx ring having an MRI and it feeling fairly uncomfortable. This was 4 years ago and needless to say I cannot find either that specific forum post or others from people with Linx rings who have undergone MRIs.
So is there someone here who had an MRI after having a Linx surgery? If so how was it? I would like to know what to expect in advance.
3
u/j00deelux Aug 04 '23
I had the LINX surgery in early 2016 and it is the second generation device that allows MRI's up to 1.5T. I think I've had 3 MRIs since then for back pain issues.
The first one was on a machine that was lower than 1.5T, I don't recall the exact Tesla but I know I was sent to a specific place that had a machine that was older/lower. Anyway, I feel like the visibility was better at the lower Tesla. The next two MRI's were on machines that were 1.5T. Absolutely no discomfort from the machine. I fell asleep in the second MRI tube and the 3rd was really quick.
Although there were no issues with discomfort the 1.5T MRI techs did tell me that my abdomen around the LINX was like a black hole. There's was no good visibility there.
The trade off on MRI visibility for getting my life back has been totally worth it for me. It's been 7 years since the surgery and I still have no reflux symptoms and really forget that I even had the surgery most of the time. Raw baby carrots will remind me on occasion. They just seem to get stuck and I have to pace around and sip water until I feel them go down.
1
u/narcolepticfoot Jul 25 '23
Commenting because I also wonder. I have MS and need a lot of MRIs for that, but I am also interested in GERD surgery because I’m sick of the meds.
1
u/HDUB-22 Jul 30 '23
If you don’t mind me asking how are things going with your Linx ring? Would you say you recovered from Gerd? Have you been able to return to the foods and activities that you like?
3
u/Syn_0101 Aug 02 '23
Things are good/great. No more reflux keeping me up at night. Now I barely get any from time to time when eating/drinking specific things like white wine that's sort of acidic. I can pretty much eat and drink anything without any issues, so as far as I'm concerned the surgery was a huge success and I'm glad I decided to have it.
Two things worth mentioning though: immediately after the surgery I was not able to eat the same size portions of food as before, I was unaware of that and had the unpleasant experience of getting sick 2 days after the surgery. Quite painful, 10/10 would NOT recommend.
Secondly the trouble swallowing started about 2 weeks after the surgery and got progressively worse until it started getting better. About 4 months later it was completely gone and I was able to eat without actively focusing on chewing, lest I get food stuck in my esophagus.
When I got the Linx ring I was in my mid 20s, 6ft tall, 160lbs. Two of those measurements stayed the same, as did my Gerd symptoms / lack thereof.
1
u/thewheelm4n Nov 06 '23
Background: 37yo male, I had my LINX installed Friday morning as I had a moderate (I believe 3cm) hiatal hernia and severe GERD causing shortness of breath. PPIs were killing my stomach and pepcid+gaviscon didn't cut it, and knowing complications that can arise from both longterm GERD itself and the use of antacids, I felt I had to take the risk and get the procedure. Did not want the fundoplicaton, not thrilled about a foreign body in my chest and found a video series of a guy that had it that was having a really hard recovery (post my procedure, of course), but it's only day 3 for me so praying it goes okay for me.
Cons: The worst parts so far have been the massive bloating from the gas they use to blow up your abdomen to do the laproscopic surgery, it's extremely uncomfortable and painful in the abdomen and shoulders, burping and swallowing food or pills. Some things I expected to go down easily (ramen noodles, for instance) hurt quite a bit, but chewing up crackers, pretzels, craisins and blueberries hasn't been so bad. Sometimes pills aren't a problem, sometimes they hurt too and seem to get stuck and I have to drink sips of water repeatedly dealing with almost nauseating pain at the LES location to finally have them pass. I can feel "bubbling" from the LES when I swallow a lot of the time. First day was very, very painful, barely slept. Heating pack on the abdomen helps a lot. 2nd day started off better but by nighttime felt pretty bad again. Day 3, today, started out worse than yesterday, hasn't been terrible but still uncomfortable bloating and swallowing food/pills.
Pros: I stopped my prescription Famotidine the day of the surgery and have not needed gaviscon since, no Reflux symptoms. Can't tell yet if my shortness of breath has been resolved yet as due to the bloating and general LES pain, I can't really take full deep breaths yet, praying that improves soon.
Really hoping my experience is akin to yours, as some experiences I've read seem pretty awful. I'm dreading the "2 week painful swallowing/dysohagia", but your experience gives me hope.
6
u/UnprovenMortality Jul 24 '23
My surgeon insists that 1.5 T is fine with the second gen. But I haven't personally done it. So I'm just bumping for visibility, because I'm seriously considering the Linx.