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New swallowing problems since Nissen

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Posted 7/27/2008 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I'm 11 days post-op and I started out well, first liquids then soft mushy foods. I could eat scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes with lots and lots of gravy, yogurt, very, very soft noodles in soup, etc. about 5 days ago I started having trouble when eating anything like this; food gets caught near the GE junction, maybe an inch higher and it sits there; eventually I yack it up and I'm okay, but it can go on like this for 1/2 hour. I'm at the point where I cannot eat anything soft or mushy and liquids are again the name of the game

The problem too is that I'm starting to have problems, even with liquids. I drink a protein supplement and if I drink it in little sips over 1/2 hour I can get the 6 - 8 ounces down without a problem; water, juice, the same thing; but if I drink in a normal fashion it to gets "caught"!.

I have to crush all of my meds to take them and they get caught as well. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions???
Thanks!
Janice
Posted 7/27/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Janice:  Eleven days is still very early in the healing process.  I think that you probably still have lots of swelling.  What you might try before you eat anything is to drink a glass of warm water (the warmest you can tolerate it) and this will help relax your esophagus before you eat.  They frequently mention this on the other nissen board (www.forums.heartburn-help.com./).  I hope this helps.  Barbara...
Posted 7/27/2008 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Barbara, I'm doing that as well; but I can only do a sip at a time, a whole glass and I clog right up!!
Posted 7/28/2008 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
The swelling can be really bad and last a few weeks. I had to stay on liquids for 12 weeks. Don't gulp anything down, just take it slowly. I know it is aggravating sometimes as you get so hungry. I went on to smooth yoghurts and custard but again eaten very slowly. Good luck! :-)
Posted 7/28/2008 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
My doc reccomended drinking black tea. He said the tea relaxes the upper gi track. Seemed to work for me and keep things from getting stuck so badly. Also, for me, it was always the first few bites that got stuck the most easily. I found that if I drank a bit first, then slowly eat tiny bites at first, I could progress to more normal bites as the meal progressed.
Posted 7/28/2008 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Janice, did you talk to your doctor about this? Please do and let me know what he says.

I don't know if this will help or not, but I've been drinking warm herb tea from day one. I bought a blend that has lemon, ginger, and chamomile in it. It seemed to help ease my esophagus. I wish I lived next door, I'd bring you over some.

John
Posted 7/28/2008 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi John,
Well, I did call the Dr. this morning; they're quite concerned; no this is not normal. We leave for Cleveland on Thursday and I'm schedule for endoscopy on Friday morning.

At the very best, it's just a clogged pipe and a dilation will clear the whole thing up. At the worst, they missed a stricture in surgery and I have to stay for another procedure.

Either way, I'm slightly freaked and okay at the same time.....and really, really, hungry! It's getting so much worse, it takes 1 1/2 hours to get a 6 -8 ounce protein drink down; I even clog up on the liquid vitamins. They said to let them know if it gets any worse and they'll bump a surgery to get me in.

Fortunately, my husband is taking such good care of me, but it would still be nice if you were next door..he could take care of both of us!!!
Janice
Posted 7/30/2008 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
hi, i'm new on this  forum and hope i'm posting as i should.  I have a few questions for anyone that's had nissen surery.  I had it 2 weeks ago. i'm still having heartburn. i'm taking nexium and have starting taking prilosec too.  it tookk about 3 days after surgery for it to start.  i have had no other trouble unless i eat a little too much, then i'm pretty miserable. i am eating much much less. no trouble burping. sick to my stomach sometime but not enough to feel like i will throw up.  everthing goes down good.  i have eaten fish and vegetables since first week.  Because i'm having heartburn and because everything seems to go down good do you think the wrap is too loose. i really don't think its come loose because i get full so quickly. When i go back at 6 weeks , if dr. suggest re doing it, should I or would it be dangerous
Posted 7/30/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Janice, your husband is a saint and I know that you are thankful for him.
I'm hoping and praying that all you need is a dialation. I don't konw that much about them other than what I've read here and there but it seems to do the trick for lots of people. I think that means the wrap is just a bit too tight so the dialation can help a lot. I pray you don't need another procedure. Keep me posted.

Bestfriend, I don't think you should still be having heartburn after the surgery unless you are eating really bad things that you should be. If you continue to have this, DO NOT WAIT until 6 weeks to see your doctor again.. If you haven't already done so, you need to call your doctor immediatley and let him or her know that you are having heartburn so they can get you in and determine what needs to be done.

Speaking for myself and just myself, and this is NOT a recommendation or advice so please take it as such, if my doctor told me that I needed a redo I have to admit that I would say no and I would take as much medication necessary and restrict my diet to keep it under control. But, that is just me because I'm a chicken :) :) :)

Speaking of which, please pass me that plate of delicious fried chicken (I've having cravings)!!!!

Cheers to you all - and I can't say this enough - I wish each and every one of us speedy healing and health!
John
Posted 7/30/2008 2:44 AM (GMT 0)

bestfriend

I am Kitt. Welcome to HealingWell. This is a great site. I look forward to getting to know you better.

We have a new members forum if you would like to share a bit about yourself that would be great............whatever your comfortable with.

You may want to call you surgeon's office and ask about your concerns.  If your feeling something is not quite right it is best to call and ask.

Please know you are family here and post anything you feel is on your mind or you want to share with the members.

Again Welcome.

Kitt
Posted 7/30/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
 

thanks john, When I went back for 1 week i had already started having heartburn and he said sometimes it works and sometimes it dont. 

real concerned! I told him I had strained so much for the first 4 days getting my kidneys to act that i was afraid it had come undone and he said it was unlikely but we would xray in 6 weeks that we couldn't redo now anyway.

Posted 7/30/2008 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
tongue  

thanks Kitt,I'd like to be like family too.I have a lot of questions,especially about lap nissen-but others as well. if i have questions about anything but gerd do i go to a different forum?   I am having some problems navagating around. i'm 58 and almost computer illerate.  But I do love having someone who has experenced some of the same things i do.  I would love to keep the weight lost going since nissen but i can eat so well, i'm afraid i'm gonna gain it back.  if you don't remember i am just two weeks after surgery and i believe my wrap may be too loose.  Still taking nexium and still heartburn..  i thought after surgery, i could eat without heartburn.  doesnt matter whether i eat or not, i have heartburn, although it seems a little better since i added prilosec with the 40 mg nexium. sorry for the long post.  shirley--bestfriend

Posted 7/31/2008 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I thank god yeah I found this Website.  I thought I was a whinner.  I am 7 dys post op for Nissen.  Woke in recovery with severe skull left shoulder pain.  still have it but it fluxuates.  Surgery was a breeze, the shoulder pain is what is killing me. I can not nono eat anything, getting afraid to eat so sticking to liquids.  have post op Dr. appt in morning.  I did have a cronic cough which went away right after surgery which is a blessing.  any thoughts or ideas out there. cool

Posted 7/31/2008 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
I am 14 days post op now and sometimes in the evening the should pain still kills me - it is happening less and less but is still rears up and I understand that it can last for quite some time yet.  So hang in there :) :) :)
Posted 8/1/2008 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone!
Hi John, I'm glad to see you today! For my shoulder pain, I went to my Chiropractor and almost no problems since. How are you feeling today?, Did you go back to work? Let me know, I'm concerned about you and moving and working and hoo-boy! that's a lot after this surgery! My Dr. continues to remind me that just because it's a lap doesn't mean that this was minor...this is a major surgery! I won't be going back to work until the end of August. Oh, one more thing about the shoulder pain John, try the Bengay patches, they help a lot too!

I'm very tired since the dilation and have also been going through some withdrawal from pain meds and a lot of anesthesia, but I do feel better. I have, however, lost 6 more pounds since Saturday and I'll have to watch it. On the plus side, the pain is greatly improved, hooray!!

Bestfriend, I have to agree with John, it may be that your diet is the reason behind your heartburn; you've gone light years beyond what anyone else is eating and when you described all of the fried foods, I got heartburn just thinking of it!!! Did they give you a diet to follow? I know I'm on soft mushy stuff for 2 months!!

Welcome Schell5; you have entered the most wonderful, supportive world of pre and post Nissen and Hill people! John and I are same day surgery siblings; Kitt is our gentle leader, Carolyn has the most wonderful advice on different products; Elaine, Barbara, everyone here is wonderful. I can certainly relate to the fear of eating, I still have that to a certain extent. Let us know what your Dr. says today and good luck!

BTW, I've been scheduled for my 8 weeks testing and I've got (yuch) 24 hour ph, manometry and barium swallow..hopefully that will be the extent of it though; So, end of September, one more trip to Cleveland (oh Joy!!!)

Stay well everyone and keep your chins up!!
Janice
Posted 8/2/2008 5:13 AM (GMT 0)

Hello there lovely friends :)

I did start work this week and it has been rough going.  I think I also have to keep reminding myself that this was no cake walk that we've been through for those of us who had have lap surgery.

Thankfully this is a 4 week temp job just to provide some extra income before we move to San Diego.  It's a desk job so I'm not lifting or exerting a lot of physical energy.  The WORST part about it is having to go to the restroom every hour and a half, let out a huge blast of gas in the stall and then head back. :) :) :)  I think I'll just change my handle on here to "Gassy Jack" :) :) :)

I'm not doing ANYTHING strenous for the move - we've got movers doing all the work.  The most I'm doing is packing dishes and such and that's easy to do.

My shoulder pain is MUCH MUCH better - YAYE!!!  I've also been weaning myself off of the pain meds. However, I find that I still need a small dose - teaspoon of the nausea medicine when I start to eat otherwise those nasty hiccups kick in.  I have been eating soft pastas with sauce, very well cooked and chewed veggies, and very small pieces of chicken and VERY thin sliced tiny pieces of beef - all very well chewed.  I feel very thankful for this - but I've also stopped losing weight - I guess there is trade off for everything.

Oh Janice, you have to go through all of that testing again - I'm so sorry.  I think the barium swallow was the worst for me.  My doctor even concocted a barium hamburger concoction that I had to swallow for the test - BLECH BLECH BLECH!!!

However, I have to say I've had no acid reflux which is wonderful.   Although I'm not throwing out the Nexium quite yet :)

I hope you all have a great weekend!

JOHN

Posted 8/3/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
LdyJane, you and John may be right , I have the last few days, been watching more closely what I eat. I just thought if I could eat it, that it was ok. No my Dr. didn't give me a diet. He said when I was there for 1 week check, to just gradually add back things. It seems my heartburn is some better( not gone) but I am so sick to my stomach so much. My son in law said milk products bothered him. I had cereal for breakfast. i am eating oatmeal or cereal for breakfast and soup or fish, popcycles or such, the majority of the time. I ate half a banana yesterday. I still give out pretty easily but other than what I've mentioned, I do pretty normal.
Posted 8/3/2008 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I am just wondering if all of you had trouble eating after the surgery. I am 9 days post op and I will eat something and I end up throwing up. Like chicken noodle soup, ravioli. I can eat popcicles like crazy. I need to find a good easy ease into food. any suggestions my new friends. :) I have lost 16 pounds in 9 days.
Posted 8/3/2008 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Best Friend; there are several post-op diets on-line; I've included a link for one:

http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/NissenFundoDiet.pdf

It is amazing how so many important things (like diet and in my case, anti-nausea meds) are forgotten! No wonder you have heartburn, you didn't know what you were allowed to eat. I hope this helps.

Schell5, I've started a new topic on eating problems because I have the same thing. I copied your note and included it in the first post, so please take a look there for help too!

We're all in this together!
Janice
Posted 8/4/2008 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
This just proves that we must be pro-active in our recovery. You get as much diversity in recovery approaches as you do in doctor's personalities. We have to take charge of our own destiny and do our research before and after surgery. The internet has made this possible. That doesn't mean we have to believe every approach on the internet but we can make our own choices as to what will work for us individually.

I think we all know when a doctor is really giving alot of care and compassion with out treatments. Just as we can get a sense when we are just another surgery to a doctor. Hopefully, we stay away from those. Be proactive, ask alot of questions for the doctors and when you don't get answers, then be more assertive and make him or her give you answers. Don't just pass it off and think that you are the one being overly concerned or it's trivial to ask that. Nothing is trivial during before or after surgery.

That's my 2 cents today. God bless everyone.
Posted 8/8/2008 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
I remember reading on the JAMA website some years back that the Nissen surgery treatment had a lot of drawbacks. It might not be for everyone. The JAMA ( journal of the american medical association) said that a 10 year study found that:
40% of those who had the surgery were dead in 10 years from Heart related issues as opposed to %28 who stayed on the medications only. ( no mention of cancer at all)
2/3 rds were back on the medication within 5 years.



Has anyone ever read this article? Other problems were listed , but I can't remember what they were.
Posted 8/8/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
Good Day to all.  Well here I am 2 weeks post op and things are getting alot better.  My shoulder pain has greatly ceased but get a few still but not as presistant as before.  I still am having trouble eating but I am working on that.  Still losing weight but I look on the bright side. I will be thinner and can buy new clothes tongue I will hit the market today in search of food that will go down smooth.  I am going to try babyfood as I want the meat and potato taste.  I tried to eat a tid bit of ground beef yesterday and oh my gosh talk about pain.  I suffered because a piece got lodged and it took like four hours to get rid of that uneasy feeling.  I knwo i will survive and be much happier.  I hopeyou all have a great day.
Posted 8/8/2008 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Schell; 2 weeks is a nice milestone, congrats!!!

I still have problems, not with swallowing per se, but with the food going through the new valve...at least that is what it feels like! Sometimes it's nothing, other times I'm doing the wacky dance and coughing and yacking stuff up! (Not a pretty picture!). I am so hoping that this proves to be temporary; John and Scott seem to be doing very well with eating..I am definitely delayed! I'm finding, however, that pancakes are really, really good.

I wish I knew what was normal...well, maybe I do...anything that is not me!!! Everyone has such a different recovery story; it is so difficult to gauge where you should be by this point. I certainly hope you follow the John and Scott route and not the Janice route!!

My weight, now that I'm eating some things, is starting to stabilize. I lost 9 more pounds after surgery (on top of the 41 I lost just to have the surgery!), so I'm happy with that. My surgeon wants his patients as close to a normal BMI as possible; I am now, officially, a normal weight~ woo hoo!

Hang in there Schell, we're here for you!!!
Posted 8/16/2008 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
I'm almost five weeks after Nissen, still having bad heart burn a lot. Doesn't matter if I eat or not. No problems eating , i just get full quicker. i lost about 15 lbs but i'm worried about gaining since I can eat anything now. I need to loose about 30 more lbs and i'm trying. My Dr. said we would x ray when i go back at 6 weeks and make sure everything in tact. I'm wondering if I will have to have it redone, since i still have the heart burn so bad. I'm taking Nexium and pepsid ac.
Posted 8/24/2008 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Bestfriend; I wish I knew what to tell you! I have had a touch of heartburn twice since my surgery in July, nothing like what you're describing. I, too, get full very quickly; what type of foods are you eating? My diet was restricted, and still is...no fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, no caffeine, no soft drinks, no tomato products..on and on. That would be my first place to look.

I have now lost a total of 55 pounds since February, 13 since my surgery and I'm very happy about that; the extra weight did not help matters one bit. My BMI is now in the normal range and I will do everything I can to stay at my weight and to avoid returning to being heavy.

Let us know how you're doing.
Janice
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