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Part 3 of POST OP LAP NISSEN...Please continue to post!!!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 4/18/2008 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi sillylilly! I have that wrap and I can burp! I had no problem swallowing liquids straight away and then onto puree pretty quickly (the next day). I don't know what swallowing is like if you don't have the floppy though. I am still having trouble with the burning throat and mouth though. I am thinking this is a bad sign. It feels just like GERD! Anyone else have this problem? confused
Posted 4/18/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was done this time and 6 years ago with an esophageal bougie. I don't think it qualifies as the floppy wrap. I do have a little burp as food or drink passes through and I am about 10 days post op.
Posted 4/19/2008 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Bo Peep,  Have you tried taking one PPI to see if the burning throat issue goes away.  If it did go away, you would know it was acid, if it doesn't, then it is something else.  What does your doctor say?  Thanks for reply. 

 I'm going to do some more research into the floppy vs a bougie.  It's nice to be able to burp a little. It's also nice to see that it can be redone when it fails.  Good luck.


Post Edited (sillylilly) : 4/19/2008 7:35:28 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/19/2008 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
BoPeep you definitely need to contact your MD about the burning. Mine has asked me to take my Nexium for 30 days post op and then he weans you off, although I admit that I only take one a day when I remember (I used to take 2). I have not had a bit of burning or heartburn or reflux. Of course I feel full with only a few bites of food but at least it doesnt come back up.  Sillylilly I have read that a floppy nissen can be done with or without a bougie. I guess I do not even know what kind I have. confused I will have to ask the surgeon.

Posted 4/20/2008 8:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply guys. I think I will go and try a PPI (I have some soluble ones). My surgeon said that I shouldn't need to take any now (when I saw him on Thursday). I just hope it goes away soon. sad
Posted 4/21/2008 7:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again! I have noticed that on one of my trocar sites there are what appear to be 2 ends of silk thread sticking out! Should they be there? confused I am waiting for the surgeons office to open and then going to ring up. I hope I don't have to drive for 2 hours for them to take a look! mad
Posted 4/22/2008 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Bo peep,   What happened about the two threads sticking out.  What was it?  Please let me know how you are doing since you had the floppy wrap.  What is your day like right now.  How long since you had the surgery?  I'm going to have it soon and I'm really apprehensive but am looking forward to no reflux.  Are you happy with the results so far?  Thanks, Sillylilly

Posted 4/22/2008 3:53 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sillylilly! I am still waiting to hear about the thread. All I get is the answering machine! I have left a message but will ring my GP if they don't get back to me soon.

I am on post-op day 13 and still eating purees and liquidy stuff like smooth yoghurts. It seems to be going down okay. The spasms that I had in my oesophagus on the weekend have gone now. No burning mouth now and my throat is a lot better too.

I still feel like I have congestion/phlegm in my throat. Probably due to my motility problems and LPR.

I am sleeping quite well but sometimes I get very irritated. I guess that's because I am so hungry!

I will be trying some scrambled egg and porridge at the end of the week and will let you know how it goes.

I think it is going to be a long haul!

Posted 4/22/2008 8:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Bo Peep,   That's what we are here for, to go the distance with you while you recover.

  I hope your LPR really improves because I have had a little bit of that in the early stages of my GERD and it's horrible.  I don't seem to have that anymore. 

My surgeon's office called today and gave me the name of one of his patients who is willing to talk to me about the surgery she had with my dr.  My concern is that he hasn't done alot of these and I'm going to get a second opinion.  But it's a start. 

How about drinking some of those Ensure drinks that older people drink when they can't eat anymore.  Are they horrible, but at least you will not be hungry. 

TTYL, Sillylilly 

Posted 4/23/2008 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
BoPeep -
Don't worry about the threads - I've had them before. I had it when my tubes were tied and again this time for one of the trocar insicions. They are undissolved stitches. I had them, too. The doctor may want to snip them if they don't dissolve on their own. They aren't anything to worry about.
Posted 4/23/2008 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone

I am pretty new to this site.  I am scheduled next month for surgery.  I have LPR.  I am on my 3rd med 2x a day and still I can only eat a handful of things without feeling like I have a noxious fume simmering and waiting to explode in my mouth.  What is the best surgery for LPRers?  My surgeon has done over 2000 nissen's and  I just want to know should I get a Hill, open nissen, lap nissen, 360, Toupet etc.  Any input would be great.

I am glad to hear that there is light at the end of this awful tunnel.  I am scheduled May 14th.  Anyone else scheduled for May.  We can keep each other company.  Also I have no medical coverage so the stress of coming up with all this cash has got my anxiety really going. 

Tina

Posted 4/24/2008 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
HappilyWrapped - Thanks for your reassurance! My surgeon says he thinks they are bits of tissue as he didn't put any stitches in that trocar site. But we all think they ARE stitches! He told me to trim the ends off anyway.

tsquared - Nissen is the best for LPR I think. I spoke to my surgeon about still having the burning in my throat and he said that it is probably residual from before the operation and that it will take a while to heal up. It is getting better though (fingers crossed)! He also said that they can't guarantee to get rid of the lump in the throat feeling but it may get better over time. I haven't had any heartburn since the op! Do you get the normal symptoms of GERD aswell, like heartburn?

Posted 4/24/2008 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Only when I take certain PPI's do I get heartburn then no throat symptoms.   It's very confusing.  My Les is wide open and because of the acid in the throat my ues is opening but both doctors said once the acid is not sitting in my throat anymore the ues will heal but you have to be patient because the throat tissue is very sensitive so it takes a while to heal.   I don't seem to have any good days anymore which is hard to keep your spirits up.  Nothing I can do but keep going.  I guess depression and GERD go hand in hand.

Tina

Posted 4/24/2008 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Who has had esophageal spasms? I had an EGD yesterday because the chest pain and spasms were bad and they wanted to be sure I did not have any obstruction. Of course I did not since I haven't eaten anything but mushy food and not much of that before this happened. I am 2 1/2 weeks post op. They are trying me on imapramine which is an antidepressant that is supposed to help with spasms. The next drug is verapamil if the first doesnt work. I found it strange that I had esophagitis on the EGD. I am back on the PPI's twice a day to heal it. I was on once a day. I don't think I am refluxing and the wrap was intact. My surgeon has been out of town and is back Monday. I hope he has some answers. It has been a couple of miserable days. The spasms are better today and I only took the one pill so far last night. I am hoping this is post op stuff and not something serious. I was doing great until the 2 week mark.
Posted 4/25/2008 6:54 AM (GMT 0)

Sushan - I had the spasms on and off from last Thursday through to Tuesday. They seem to have disappeared now. I haven't been able to progress on from purees to mushy food yet though and my chest feels very tight. How is your chest Sushan? Everything is taking longer to heal than I thought but as we have been ill for so long I suppose it won't disappear overnight. Wishful thinking on my part!

tsquared - I was on meds 3 x a day which finally started to help my LPR but I think if I had been on 4  a day it would have been even better.

Let's hope we all have a better weekend and if we don't, at least we can moan about it to eachother! scool :-)

Posted 4/25/2008 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
The chest tightness comes with the spasms. They take my breath away. I know the strong ones cause a reflux action because I can feel stuff come back up. Since I am on my Nexium I know it is not acidic anymore. I am calling the surgeon everyday. They think I am crazy! sad
Posted 4/25/2008 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sushan. Hopefully the chest tightness will get better over time then. What sort of things are you eating? I could use some ideas! confused
Posted 4/25/2008 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I try all kinds of things. Since you are on pureed you should be able to eat really mushy softs too. I am losing weight which is good (I need to lose about 25 pounds) but I think I am losing too much too fast. I have lost more than a pants size in 2 weeks but I am not sure on the pounds. I haven't been weighed for at least a month now. I have been trying to add calories to the small amt I can tolerate. I had a scrambled egg with a piece of american cheese. I did it in the microwave. Now keep in mind that I also added milk so it was cooked but rather mushy. I ate less than pea sized bites over about 1 hour and got about half of it down with tiny sips of liquid. No spasms or choking or pain. I also take milk, carnation instant breakfast or boost, frozen yogurt and blend it. Then I also add regular vanilla yogurt to milk (I use lactose free) to add calories and nutrition. There is the cream of chicken cup of soup and some other various soups that are good pureed. I let it melt in my mouth so is isnt too cold or hot.  The only reason I eat at all is because I have to. I have zero appetite and the spasms make me not want to eat at all.  I do remember mild spasms with my first Nissen but nothing like this. None of this happened to me with the first Nissen so I am sure I have post op complications of some sort. Just be creative with the food. Try things you could eat if you had no teeth and take tiny bites. Test the waters........ :-)
Posted 4/25/2008 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sushan! I am eating pretty similar things to you but like you said, I'm not that interested, because every time I eat my chest is painful and I find it difficult to breathe! Tried some really sloshy scrambled egg but coudn't get it down. sad So I have got rid of the burning but now I have spasms instead! Aaagh! I guess I just have to keep thinking positive! :-)
Posted 4/25/2008 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Me too. I try not to focus on it but it is kind of hard. eyes
Posted 4/25/2008 7:00 PM (GMT 0)

I hope you both start feeling better soon.  I'm still pursuing talking to the Dr that does the Hill repair.  I want to find out if there is an advantage to having the Hill vs Nissen.  I think there is pro and con with each but my main concern is longevity...I sure don't want to have to have it again. 

Sushan, what do you think attributed to your having to have a redo after 6 years.  From all of my reading on these sites, it seems that 6 - 7 years is about the time things start deteriorating.  Do your doctors know why it happens.  Is it something that we can prevent by watching our diets and physical activity or do you think it's a problem with the dr who did it...maybe some of all three.   

Sillylilly


Post Edited (sillylilly) : 4/25/2008 1:06:17 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/26/2008 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
SillyLilly, I have my suspicion that it was my asthma. I had a terrible bout of bronchitis, asthma and coughed hard (I mean hard) for weeks. The kind that brings the veins out of your head and turns you beet red. That was about 1 1/2 years ago. My goofy doctor would not give me narcotic cough medicine (I switched Docs after that) and needless to say shortly after that I started having to take acid reducers again. First over the counter than it got worse and worse. I also gained a bunch of weight with undiagnosed hypothyroidism. about 25 pounds in short order. I consider those my precursors to the failure. Anyway, the surgeon who did my original is one of the best. He is the pioneer of bringing the lap nissen to the US, so I guess I can't blame him. People go to him to have re-dos and complicated procedures. Charles Filipi - Creighton University in Omaha (look him up).My surgeon told us he couldn't even find the sutures from my original, it really broke apart literally. The new hiatal hernia may have been part of the original wrap according to the surgeon also. I hope if I make it through this one with my mind intact sad it lasts a whole lot longer.
Posted 4/26/2008 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
I was just wondering how many had the open fundo and how the recovery was.  I chose to do the open after alot of research and speaking with several doctors(or at least attempting to).  I was in the hospital for about two weeks and the first week of course was horrible.  I wanted that hose out of my nose.  I know it had to be there to get the juices out, but darn was that uncomfortable.  That really was the worst part.  I do have a scar from my chest to my belly button, but the releif it has given me is so worth it.

Once I was off of the stomach hose I was given rice porrige with different flavors.  This was much better than the broth I had for the previous week.  Then after a couple days they gave me poached or steamed fish.  It was really easy to get down.  Yes, sometimes if you eat too much or don't chew things get stuck, but it was real food.  I went home and was to recover for 30 days.  Well, after about 10 days I went to the office for a bit and then started going more and more every day.  It did not take me anywhere near the 30 days.  Getting the eating habits changed takes some time and I would say it took me about 3 months or so.  I am sure it is different for Lap and you may have some pain and change your eating habits for awhile but in the end it's worth it either way.  I can eat anything I want now without any problems.  I can drink anything.  No you cannot vomit, which can be a small problem at times, you will have or at least I have alot of gas, but rarely burp.

Just do the research and see what is best for you.  I don't know if I am one of the lucky ones or not.  I hope many others have had successful procedures.  

Good luck everyone and just to let you know that I had this procedure done in Thailand.  The place I call home now.

Posted 4/26/2008 7:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mr. T! I didn't have the tube in my nose, I can burp pretty well and I am able to vomit (according to my surgeon, I haven't had to test it out yet though thank goodness)! I am hoping I won't have to have the redo done for a long time if I am careful and don't overload my stomach or strain my body too much.

I am feeling slightly better this morning (I think, fingers crossed)! :-)

How are you Sushan?

Posted 4/26/2008 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Elaine, A little frustrated because I wanted to try Reglan to help things move along better but my surgeon and it appears all of the attending physicians from the GI surgery at the hospital were gone Thursday-Sunday at a conference. The young resident was afraid to order me anything! I think he is afraid of the rath of my surgeon who I understand can be quite tough on these young kids. I will admit the spasms have gotten better on this antidepressant they gave me (or maybe I don't care anymore, happy,happy,happy pills :) To answer your question, I do feel better but I have had very little food intake in several days. Maybe like you I just had a round of swelling and spasms and it is resolving itself. I hope so.

Susan
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