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Posted 8/9/2008 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Happy Afternoon. I'm from Michigan, Anne. We live in the Lansing area and we also have a summer place near the Mackinac Bridge in the Upper Peninsula.

Hi John, I'm glad to hear from you; I don't get the hiccups, but I still have a "vapor-lock" that occurs when I eat...it seems that some times food will go down and other times not..it seems to still get stuck and it feels lock it's expanding maybe...or something. It takes a lot of effort, burping, walking, patting on the back for it finally go through...I don't know, I'm getting a little tired of it though! I'm glad to hear about the water though..it's nice to know it's not just you!

I also take liquid motrin at night John and since I've started sneezing (something is blooming out here!!) the pain in that one area is acting up again, and I'm taking it during the day too. Since I've added chewable gas-x to my diet (it helps with the vapor lock!) I don't have problems with gas anymore. While I've tapered the use of nausea meds down, I still use one at night as well.

Watching the Olympics, doing laundry and expecting company tomorrow...I hope everyone has a good weekend.
Janice
Posted 8/9/2008 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ya'll,

Yes, I'm from the south...south Florida that is. Live in a little village on the Gulfcoast about one hour south of Tampa. Moved here from Seattle about one year ago and love it. I'll be going back to Seattle for my surgery in about one week and it's so cold there, 66 degrees today and going to be in the low 70's the rest of the week. That's cold for someone who's become used to 90 degrees everyday.

Anne...I'm going to try the yogurt with blueberries and peaches after my surgery...sounds yummie!

John...I think you've become allergic to the surgery...teehee! Never heard of anyone sneezing and having hiccups so much after this surgery.

Janice...I know you are going to be fine after all the swelling goes down....it is such an individual thing...everybodies recovery is so different.

Scott...you are just sailing through this recovery very nicely... have you stopped losing weight?

Have a great weekend everyone!!
Posted 8/9/2008 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
What is your surgery date?
Posted 8/9/2008 11:22 PM (GMT 0)

Needless to say, I am from Seattle - the COLD place that Carolyn referred to - haha!!!

Hey, 70 degrees is warm for us Pacific Northwesterners.  However, 3 weeks from today I'll be pulling out and on my way down the coast to San Diego.  I'm sure glad I got the surgery out of the way BEFORE the move.  I've been packing a lot of stuff today - NOT lifting though :) but I'm now exhausted. 

I don't know what's going on but yesterday and today have been tough days food wise.  I hope I'm not regressing but at lunch today I was able to get down a cup of creamy soup and little tiny bits of chicken that I chewed chewed chewed and that was it.  I'm also down another 2 pounds which is okay since my goal is actually 15 pounds away so I'm not complaining there.

Yes, I think I've become allergic to the surgery.  I swear everytime I start to eat even little bites I get violent hiccups that hurt.  They do go away after a few minutes of focusing on my breath and relaxing, but by the time that is over with, I've lost my appetite and my tummy is sore. 

I do have questions about esophagus dialation.  Janice, I know that you had this done?  Exactly what is the procedure?  Is it sore or painful afterwards?  Are you knocked out or just sedated?  Does it feel similar to an endoscopy?  If I continue to have as much trouble as I've had yesterday and today I'm going to talk to Dr. Louie about it when I see him this week for my post-op checkup.

I'm sitting in my favorite chair now (4:30 Saturday afternoon) and I may never budge again :) :) :)

John

Posted 8/10/2008 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Janice...my surgery is Aug. 20. I'm having the Hill procedure done at the same place John had his surgery, Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. Small world! Glad you are doing better.

John....I didn't mean to make light of your predicament with the hiccups...it doesn't sound pleasant. I do know that after reading hundreds of posts of people who have had the Nissen, that regression is sometimes common. For whatever reason, the esophagus rebells because of the wrap forcing it to work harder to get things down. Just continue to take it slow. I'm sure Dr. Louie will do the right thing for you.

I'm going to recline in my recliner for the night also. I am so looking forward to sleeping flat again.
You are all in my prayers.

Hugs,
Carolyn
Posted 8/10/2008 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
 Good evening everyone ,

 I am just curious, and I may have missed the info in earlier posts , but did you all or any of you try everything else before surgery. I don't mean to sound trite of course, just concerned that the recovery from this surgery sounds scary to me and in retrospect maybe this is the reason I was made not to have it. I do know that swallowing now can be hard at times and it would not have been wise to chance making it worse. How long did your docs say for you to feel good again ??

God bless us all...Anne

Posted 8/10/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.
Anne, this surgery was my very last resort! No Dr. recommends this lightly, but after trying all of the other options I wasn't improving, but getting worse. Finally after much testing and deliberation I had the surgery; I'm still in the "I hope it was worth it" phase!!! The Dr. never did tell me when I may feel normal again...I sometimes wonder if I ever will.

Hi John, this 'have to eat' thing is really over-rated! I still struggle with food not wanting to go through the 'new' valve. When I went back to Cleveland because I couldn't swallow, they did do an endoscopy to see what was up and stretched my esophagus during endoscopy. I felt nothing later, with the exception of a sore throat; I had no pain, I had conscious sedation (versed and demerol) and did just fine.

Now I'm fighting a UTI; they gave me bactrim oral suspension and I'm having a reaction to that....I really think I've had enough!!!

I sure hope everyone is having a better weekend than I!!!!

Janice
Posted 8/10/2008 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
 Janice

  Thanks for the reply. I am praying for you to start making leaps and bounds in your recovery !!

 Have you lost weight from not being able to eat  ?? I truly feel for all of you....and yet I wish I was in your shoes, but for now .....the protonix and my diet and exercise are making a huge difference for me. I wonder if any of you have also had hiatal hernias and did the docs take care of that at the same time as your surgeries ?? I haev one and my GI doc says that it is fine and only when I am bent over for long periods of time do I feel pain from it, but boy when I do...!!!!!

I was once cleaning all the shelves in my refrigerator and it was taking some time to get all the drawers and such back in and all of a sudden this pain stretched across my entire chest...I thought I was having a heart attack for sure....went to my doctor and he said it was my hernia and did I learn a good lesson from that one. take care..Anne

Posted 8/10/2008 8:54 AM (GMT 0)
hi,
i`m from holland.
anne:most people that get the nissen surgery are having a hiatial hernia and it`s always going to be repaird during the nissen surgery.
i saw you mention Sturgis,last friday i had my wedding anyversary because i was married during bike week on 8-8 1996.
fortunally this year i could have a nice dinner with my husband because i`m 7 weeks post op nissen now.
i did`nt loose any weight because i was on ensure all the time.
the first 5 weeks i had swallowing problems and even liquids got stuck,even yesterday i had an episode with something liquid and i`m almost 8 weeks post op.
that indicates to me that the swelling is still there.
healing is different for everyone,butt i`m so happy that i had this surgery.
it sounds to me that atack in your chest when you where cleaning your fridge was a esoephagal spasm,they are quite painfull and feel like a heart attack.
i had some off those myself,auch.

sillylilli:your in my prayer and i`m shore your going to be fine.

take care.
Posted 8/10/2008 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
Good afternoon everyone,

I'm from North Mississippi just south of Memphis, TN. Very HOT and HUMID this time of year, I'd rather have some of John's Seattle weather.

John....you inquired about my age in an earlier post.  I am a little younger than those of you who have had the surgery I'm only 31. (at times I feel 41)  I do think that is one of the reasons I'm recovering quicker.  It's really amazing soon as I hit the 3 week mark(8/8) I am really able to start eating normal.  I've had pizza, roast, McDonalds cheeseburger, and an ocassional coke.  I still have to make sure I take small bites and chew really well.  I promise it won't be long and you'll be back to normal.

Carolyn....I've lost around 15lbs so far and have maintained it for now.  I really wanted to lose some weight anyway so this was good for me.  Now I just have to be sure I don't put it all back on.  I wish you well during and after your surgery.  Just remember to take it easy for a while.  In the long run I think it is more than worth it.

Janice.....I know one day you will get through all of this and be back to normal.  I wondered if I did the right thing, but looking back I know I did.

Scott

Posted 8/10/2008 10:48 PM (GMT 0)
Anne....I'm what the docs call intractable...which means the medicines do not work for me very well. In fact, I can have more severe heartburn while I'm on the PPI's. Also, the side effects of the PPI's are significant for me: anxiety, mild depression, severe constipation, ringing in my ears that is excruciating, dry mouth, nightmares. I've only had severe Gerd for the last two years out of four but the thought of staying on these drugs for the rest of my life was just unthinkable for me.

After all the tests, my doc said I should consider the surgery since I was having so much trouble with the medications. I did alot of research about the surgery and saw two Nissen surgeons. I was very scared to have the fundo wrap because of my IBS-C which I felt might be worse after the fundo. Then I heard about the Hill procedure that is only done in the Northwest in Seattle by a few surgeons. This surgery has been around since the 60's and was invented by Dr. Luc Hill in Seattle. This surgery is not a fundo wrap but a posterior gastropexy. I don't think I can explain the mechanics of it very well. Look up Hill Posterior Gastropexy or Hill Repair and you will get a few links to it. The attractive part of this surgery is that it doesn't have the side effect of gas bloat syndrome which I can't afford to have because I already have alot of that with IBS-C. Most people can burp and vomit right away with the Hill but many Nissen people can also burp now with the new floppy wrap that is being done. I've also heard that a person with motility issues of the esophagus can have the Hill because it's not a wrap. They establish the tightness of the GE junction by manometrics instead of the wrap.

For some reason this surgery has never caught on in the mainstream because the Nissen dominates the Gerd surgery arena. Both surgeries cure reflux but the Hill is a more complicated technical surgery and takes 3 hours in the OR compared to one hour for Nissen. So, I'm sure that has alot to do with why it is not done by more surgeons. Recovery for the Hill is about the same, about 6 weeks. Liquid diet for a week then mushy stuff and chew, chew, chew. Swallowing can be more difficult in the beginning because of swelling but the general recovery has less side effects than the Nissen is what I'm told.

I guess we'll all find out in about 10 days after I have the surgery.

TTYL
Carolyn
Posted 8/11/2008 1:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I'm feeling a little better tonight; the antibiotic for the UTI really kicked me in the rear..it's taken 24 hours to get it out of my system.

I'm not really having problems with gas bloat, the pain is all but gone (except for the area where the main trocar was used). I think the sneezing has caused it to flare a little. My biggest problem is in eating. Things still feel like they accumulate at the site of the new valve and I wait for it to relax so that the food can go in my stomach.

I wish I could find out more information about that aspect; thus far my research tells me everything I want to know about the technical aspect of the surgery itself, but almost nothing on recovery and expectations. I would love to find something that explains some of this so I can gauge how I'm doing. I'd love to find out, for example, how long will this part of the recovery last?, or is this something that will always be like this? It certainly diminishes quality of life and I hope that it will resolve. Saying that, how does something like this resolve, do you think that it's still caused by swelling in the esophagus? How long does it remain swollen? These are the questions I'm trying to find answer to.

Ahhh, just a need to vent I guess!! Oh, btw, I've lost 8 pounds since the surgery (my pre-surgical weight till now...not including the extra I carried from the fluids and gas). My weight has stabilized in the last 5 days or so, so I'm happy with that.

Janice
Posted 8/11/2008 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Following up to my last post:
I typed a new question into google and got the following:

Trouble swallowing - The stomach wrap gets swollen right after surgery and, when swollen, tends to be a little too tight. This is noticeable in about half of my patients and generally lasts for a couple of weeks to a couple of months. You may have some difficulty swallowing solid foods. Bread and meat seem to be the worst. You will go home on a liquid diet and can advance it on your own. If it requires teeth to eat, start with small bites, chew thoroughly and eat slowly. Many patients find toast easier to swallow than bread, fish easier than chicken, which is easier than steak. Don't get discouraged if some bites feel as though they stick in your chest. This is temporary and almost always clears up by itself. People usually lose weight during the first month or two, which is okay as long as they drink enough fluid. Some people choose to put their meals in a blender to make them easier to swallow.

"generally lasts for a couple of weeks to a couple of months" At least with this line I have an idea of time and that there may actually be light at the end of this tunnel!
Posted 8/11/2008 9:16 PM (GMT 0)

Janice,

Whoopi, you finally got an answer.  I haven't had the Nissen so i couldn't remember all of that but I can tell you that it coinicides with everything I've read on the other board.  Some people bounce back quickly and others take two or three months before they can eat normally.  It's all within the normal realm of healing...just very individual.   Doesn't that relieve your mind.  You are not going to be sucking through a straw forever and you will gain your weight back unless you don't want to....boohoo!  Remember that 85 - 90% of people are happy they did it...

Happy trails...

Sillylilly

Posted 8/12/2008 3:15 AM (GMT 0)
Carolyn, is using a straw a good idea? I didn't think I was supposed to use one. You know, I still can't even get a pill to go through the new valve..I have to crush them up and stir them into something and drink them down. I tried again tonight to take my night meds and I ended up yacking them all up..it is so discouraging.
Posted 8/12/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)

No, sucking through a straw was just a metaphor for liquid diet.  I don't think a straw would help.

I know it must be discouraging and the healing must seem like it is progressing very slowly.  I'm not the one to ask because I haven't had this surgery.  I know Alice on the other board had some of these issues also and a few others.  I think Bo Peep is having some swallowing issues also. 

I have a nurse friend who said that she had swallowing issues for a few months (floppy wrap) but it finally resolved itself.  Just know that everyone heals differently, so you are still within the limits of normal healing times.  I forget...how many weeks are you now?  Did you have the floppy wrap (a looser wrap) or the traditional 360 degree wrap (usually tighter)...I think this makes a difference, along with swelling, in how long it takes to get over the swallowing issues.

I just hope you get some relief soon.  Take care, kiddo...praying for you, also.   

Posted 8/13/2008 1:59 AM (GMT 0)

My goodness Janice, I feel for you.  I am so sorry that your recovery has been such a battle for you.

I suppose the same thing that gives each one our own unique personality, style, preferences, likes and dislikes is the same thing that differs how we heal and recover. 

I agree with the having to eat thing being over-rated.  I was just starting to enjoy food again and started having those feelings again like you're gagging and going to choke.

Scotty, I knew you were younger than us just because you are bouncing back so quickly which is wonderful :)  Have a cheeseburger for me man! :) :) :)

Janice, you know we are all rooting for you so please hang in there. 

John

Posted 8/13/2008 2:11 AM (GMT 0)

Carolyn, something I just read in one of your posts just caught my attention.  You mentioned that the Nissen surgery generally takes an hour.  I remember one of the first things my surgeon said to me after surgery - I don't know if it was later the same day or the next day but he said, "You gave me quite a run for my money in surgery, you were on the table for four hours."  He mentioned that my esophagus was shorter than what he would have liked so he had to deal with that plus get this, "some extra fat pads that were in abnormal places that he removed"  What the heck? :) :) :)  I told him he should have gone for the gold and sucked all the fat out - he wasn't terribly amused.

If one hour is standard for the Nissen no wonder I'm having a few issues.  Oh well, I thought that was interesting.  I also wonder why Dr. Louie never mentioned the Hill procedure.  I see him this Thursday and I think I'm going to ask him if I was considered for this - purely out of curiosity.  At least he'll see that I've been doing my "homework". 

Am I the only one still getting wild and wacky hiccups when I eat?  Another thing I'm going to mention to Dr. Louise this week.  And, if he EVEN suggests a barium swallow test my answer is going to be NO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.  If I'm not better in a month, maybe and he can refer me to a doc in San Diego where I'll be living.  But I am NOT going to eat his gross combination of specially boiled and chopped hamburger mixed with barium like I did pre-surgery - BLECH!!!!

john :) :) :)

Posted 8/13/2008 7:59 AM (GMT 0)

sillylilly said...

No, sucking through a straw was just a metaphor for liquid diet.  I don't think a straw would help.

I know it must be discouraging and the healing must seem like it is progressing very slowly.  I'm not the one to ask because I haven't had this surgery.  I know Alice on the other board had some of these issues also and a few others.  I think Bo Peep is having some swallowing issues also. 

I have a nurse friend who said that she had swallowing issues for a few months (floppy wrap) but it finally resolved itself.  Just know that everyone heals differently, so you are still within the limits of normal healing times.  I forget...how many weeks are you now?  Did you have the floppy wrap (a looser wrap) or the traditional 360 degree wrap (usually tighter)...I think this makes a difference, along with swelling, in how long it takes to get over the swallowing issues.

I just hope you get some relief soon.  Take care, kiddo...praying for you, also.   

Did someone call? :-)   I am just over 4 months post op and still on mush. Had a Barium Swallow yesterday but don't know the results yet so will keep you posted. My surgeon has said to give it 6 months before he intervenes (so another 2 months to go).

The swelling lasted for 13 weeks in my case and the spasms in the oesophagus a little less. But now I feel like I am having chest spasms! It just seems to go from one thing to another! rolleyes

I stay on mushy stuff most of the time and when I am feeling good I try something a little more adventurous like Weetabix/soft noodles, but I can only manage a little bit as it seems to go down so slowly! mad I guess we just have to be patient. wink

Posted 8/13/2008 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
John... Four hours for a Nissen...never heard of that...a good question to ask Dr. Louie about. 

One of the Nissen surgeons I saw was a Dr. Rosemurgy at the University of S. Florida in Tampa, chief professor of surgery. Here is a video of him performing the Nissen before an audience of students and faculty. It takes him about 45 minutes after prepping the patient....a good Q & A follows. A very worthwhile video to watch for anyone who has had the Nissen or considering it. 

www.OR-live.com/tgh/1332/content/faculty.cfm

Dr. Aye also told me something about removing some fat pads that might be necessary and of course, I jumped on that and said, "Oh, some liposuction, I give you permission to take as much as you want." He laughed and said it only amounts to about a teaspoon. Chucks!! Not sure why you wouldn't have been given the option of the Hill, it will be interesting to see what Dr. Louie says. Dr. Aye has been involved in a study for the past 5 years comparing the Nissen vs. the Hill, which one is more effective and durable, etc. He told me 100 patients are involved 50/50 and the results should be out soon. At this point, he said it looks like they are both just as effective and durable.

Bo Peep....I thought I remembered that you were having some swallowing problems even at 4 mo. Don't give up girl, it seems that all of a sudden it just goes away and no one can be sure when it will be. Hope this is the case for you. How much weight have you lost...have you stablized? Are you able to lead somewhat of a normal life right now even with the swallowing issues...work, socializing, home etc.? Hang in there.

Hugs, c

Post Edited (sillylilly) : 8/13/2008 6:58:09 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/13/2008 3:39 PM (GMT 0)

John.........my surgery lasted almost 5 hours, the dr. said my stomach was sitting to high and he had to bring that down along with repairing the hiatel hernia and doing the full wrap. From what I was told the norm for the full Nissen wrap is 3-4 hours.  As far as hicups I have not had any since the surgery I sure hope yours go away because thats go to be annoying.  Are you moving along to any solid foods yet?  I'm pretty much back to normal as far as eating goes the only thing I haven't tried yet is a steak and I can't wait for that day.  As long as I chew chew chew and take small bites I'm ok.

Everyone will be back to normal soon I promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 8/13/2008 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I've been under the impression that the Nissen doesn't take more than one hour or one and a half hours. Maybe that's without complications. Dr. Rosemurgy does it in about 45 minutes but that's with no other issues to deal with. I can't remember if he repaired a hernia during the video.

I stand corrected and thanks for the update. I've been told that the Hill will take about 3 to 4 hours also.

Does anyone want to chime in and tell how long their Nissen took under surgery? 

Sillylilly

Posted 8/14/2008 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Since my surgery include hernia repair and gallbladder removal it will be different. Mine took 2 1/2 to 3 hours; but my surgeon indicated it could have been faster if the gallbladder removal had gone more quickly (a second surgeon was involved) He said that it normally takes him an hour to do a Nissen...but I didn't have any complications with my surgery either.

I had a full wrap and now have what my surgeon calls "a superior" valve; Scotty, I'm holding you to your promise!!

John, I don't have the hiccups, but I do have problems with food not going through my "superior" valve. That, often, causes me a tremendous problem, which usually resolves itself by coming back up and out into the sink...no fun. The barium meal is for a gastric emptying study; a barium swallow is just swallowing the white gunk and they watch it through the fluoroscope to see if there is a narrowing or a stricture..of course, I think I know how that is going to end up for me! I'm scheduled for follow up tests at the end of September.

Elaine, I'm concerned for you and about you, did they give you any information from the barium swallow?

Caroline, I won't be here when you go to surgery; we're leaving tomorrow for our cottage....with Tom's son, daughter in law and two children (4 and 18 months).....I'm going to need all the help I can get too!! But I will be thinking of you and offering up my prayers for a successful surgery and recovery.

Big hugs to everyone! I'm looking forward to catching up when I return.
Janice
Posted 8/14/2008 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, I just watched the video of the procedure.  I am amazed and baffled at the same time.

On one hand they make it look and sound so easy and they, of course, WAY downplayed information about recovery.  They made it sound like a piece of cake - which we all know it is not.

Scotty, I can't imagine that our surgeries took so long and the one in the video was so darm short - we must have really given our doctors a run for their money :)  I guess we wanted full value for our surgery dollars spent :)

On the other hand, it all looked like they were poking and prodding and dissecting and tressing up a fatty chicken to me.  It's a wonder how they know how one globby piece of fleshly matter is one thing and another is the other thing :).

I think what was most helpful and informative to me is understanding the trocars that they used for the procedure - those tubes stuck in our stomachs - just amazing.

Tomorrow is my follow up with Dr. Louie and I am going to ask him about the violent hiccups that I still get.  I got such a painful case of them trying to eat dinner tonight that I gave up and had to lie back and yes, I broke down and cried - first time since the night after my surgery.  I was trying to eat a small piece of baked chicken with sauce.  I was able to eat about 1/4 of 1 boneless chicken breast and then gave up on the rest.  So I consoled myself with my old standby - blended blueberries with lowfat sugar free ice cream. 

And the gas - oh the gas.  Am I the only one still passing enough gas to solve the gas crisis? I swear if it continues I'm going to hang a sign outside of my house advertising cheap gas prices :) :) :)

Scotty, I want to know when you eat that steak and I want to hear ALL the JUICY details :) :) :)

Janice, enjoy your cottage - sounds wonderful!  I hope you do better.  You obviously can throw up right?  I felt like I was going to the other night and it was the weirdest thing that I couldn't.  I can sneeze, burp and FART just fine though!!!! :)

Carolyn, soon you'll be here and I know that we are all going to be anxious to hear you share you experience.

And to everyone else, we're in this together and we'll make it somehow :) :) :)

JOHN

 

Posted 8/14/2008 10:26 AM (GMT 0)

My Nissen op lasted 3 hours but they couldn't get the cameras to work for 20 minutes so it should have been a bit less! That was including repairing a fair size hernia.

I am having a good day today and have just eaten a whole weetabix with no problems! roll

I am going to try some scrambled egg later which so far I haven't been able to manage.

Janice - Have a nice time at your cottage.

John - I hope you get your hiccups sorted out. They must be very tiresome!

sillylilly - I've lost 18lbs but seem to have stabilized now (I weigh 112lbs). Daily life is pretty normal but when we went swimming last week I had to get out of the pool as my chest was hurting so much. Anyone else have this problem?  My surgeon doesn't know what this is but I think I may still be healing up inside. It is a difficult feeling to explain but my diaphragm feels very tight sometimes especially when I eat! And it can make me feel a bit breathless! confused I know, I sound crazy! turn I also don't have quite as much energy as I used to.

When is your surgery?

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