Part 1 Day 4 post Nissen Revision

Hi, I'm a new registered member, although I've been reading as a guest for about a year..I guess I just normally don't join in too much, but I really have to agree with ldyjane and sillylilly; the surgery has changed my life! It was seriously the right thing to do! I think, okay I know! that the pro's vastly outweigh the cons!

Like others, I had challenges in recovery period for many months; it was the wisdom of the members here that allowed me to see that I was okay.

I'm sorry to hear about the re-op picklepuss, I hope that all will go well for you. rbrunett, I hope you continue to get stronger each day!
Renee

Teala, the bacterial infection is a fairly common issue with abdominal surgery I guess; I had a combo surgery: gallbladder/diaphragm repair/nissen/ esophageal repair so who knows!?? I am happy to hear that the antibiotics can take care of things though!

We're still monitoring the heartburn/chest pain for a couple more days; they'll probably be ordering a barium swallow after that..mostly because I'm having symptoms even with the med change.

I dealt with the shoulder pain from surgery with gas-x; that seemed to take care of in fairly short order. Please make sure you let us know how you're doing!

Renee, welcome to the forum! I agree with you 100%; I've had the cons of this surgery, but the quality of life is so much better now; the pro's definitely have it!!

Rbrunet, how are you feeling? Better I hope! My surgeon was also a lung transplant/thoracic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. I've had zero heartburn/chest pain, pulmonary problems, etc., until the flu, and I'm hoping for the best! Had I had just the nissen, my situation may be different; but I had a lot of repair work besides the nissen, so who knows what I may have done!!

Janice

Hi Teala. I had no idea what I was getting into! Anyway, yes the phenergan is in pill form and it did work for me.. I crushed up pills when I had to take them, but the phenergan was small enough that it wasn't a problem like the other meds I took.

I didn't have barrett's, so I don't take part in those conversations; what I had was a hole (a very small hole mind you!), but a hole just the same, in my esophagus...it was one of those happy little discoveries they made when I was on the operating table!! My surgery was a lap nissen, I think they pushed the envelope with it, but it was a lap. It wasn't until afterwards that my surgeon told us that they thought I was going to have to go to an open..thank goodness for that one!

I have had an enormous problem with migraines, and since the surgery I have had a tremendous decrease in the chronic daily migraine. I go to MHNI in Ann Arbor, MI..Dr.'s Saper and Rozen. I've been the subject of two papers for them thus far, and now they're waiting until I'm perfectly stable to write the third. I was always resistant to most modalities of treatment and Dr. Rozen felt there was a connection between my GI problems and the headaches. The surgery is proving him right; he's calling it gastrointestinal cephalgia. There is almost nothing online about it, but a Dr. in Norway (I think) is doing investigational work on it. I told him I should get a cut on the residuals!!

Anyway, beta-blockers and/or calcium channel blockers did nothing for me. I've used a form of Topomax...Zonegran...as a preventative. Topo work amazingly well, but I didn't tolerate it, the Zonegran has a lot of the same properties, and fewer side effects. The med wasn't an issue for the surgery. Since the surgery, I've been able to tolerate Neurontin as a preventative for the other types of migraines I still get...but the change in the overall character of them has been greatly improved.

I had several, seemingly unrelated issues start around 2000, 2001; little did we know that the reflux was the core problem. Now that this has been fixed I'm getting so much healthier, and happier!! If it were me, I would have the re-do, only because the change has been so dramatic for me. Tell me your date again???

Janice

Janice,

My date is the 19th of this month. I'm so excited and scared to have it done again. I get some of the most horrid pain when the hernia is going up into my esophagus. It is so intense some times it's like I'm having a heart attack. That is what caused me to go back in. I thought a few months back I was having a heart attack but it was the hernia pushing it's way up. I had all those awful tests again to check everything out and walla everything is undone plus they found the hernia.

I'm going to ask about the phenergan before I go home from the hospital. What pain meds were you put on after the surgery? They put me on Oxycodone (liquid which is nice), which I take now when I'm having one of those extreme pain episodes but it makes me feel nauseated. So I'm worried about taking that after I get home.

Glad I got the right person about the migraines ; ) I have read so many posting and I couldn't find that post again where you mentioned the headaches. I'm so sorry to hear you have them so bad. They are so debilitating. I couldn't imagine having them everyday. Good grief I would be a basket case. You sound like quite the trooper.

Before I had the surgery I was having 3-6 migraines per month where I would be bed ridden for a couple days each time. I take the Atenolol daily and Maxalt for abort which works most of the time. I have a 4 year old that doesn't understand mommies pain and a 15 year old that can be a huge help when I'm down for the count.

You know thinking back As my gerd problems increased it seemed my headaches did as well but I never linked them together. I haven't been having them as frequent as I use to so there is a chance that one problem triggered the other? Oh my gosh, if having my redo fixed and done right there could be a chance that my headaches could even get fewer and farther between? That would be AMAZING!

You be sure to get your fair share from that Doc. LOL 

Here's to perfectly healed Lap surgery's and no more or much less migraines for you and me ! Cheers, Teala

Janice,

LOL about my daughters age. My youngest was a enormous uh oh surprise, she was my miracle baby and filled a huge void after I lost my mother. But thinking about starting over with grade school and all that is like crazy for me... LOL

Bad girl ripping out the incision ...    My mother had a fentanyl patch for a period of time. Do those make you pretty loopy ? She was on several meds so I don't know really how it effected her since she was on more then that at any given time.

You know I have taken Tummy Soothers and still do time to time. It is a infant/child medicine made by baby orajel. It has chamomile, ginger and fennel and it really is nice when my tummy is just yucky. I would give it to my youngest cause she suffered from reflex from birth and it helped her tummy pain. So when I wasn't feeling so hot and had no nausea stuff I took that. Which would sooth my tummy and its very tasty too... LOL

I'm going to try to come back on here after the surgery for a daily dairy thing like what rbrunet did. I truly found that so helpful reading his postings and I hope maybe my experiences can help someone else that's facing what I am. It's comforting knowing someone else is doing or has done what you are. Plus reading how others have come up with ways of couping or healing are awesome.

Have a lovely evening, Teala

Hi Plegal

Congrats on your surgery going so well. It is nice not to suffer with so much pain isn't it?

I looked up the procedure you had done because I wasn't familiar with it all though I have read others were getting it done also. It seems to be quicker and less invasive then the Nissen. I'm wondering why I didn't get this instead   I suppose the doctor had his reason.

How long did the surgery take ? I had another of those awful mobility tests done last month where you swallow the tube then take water, swallow repeat etc that showed my LES was as the doctor put nonexistant. Did you have damage to your LES ?

Teala

Day 25-26-27 post Nissen Revision-

First- Teala- Good luck tomorrow !!!! Stay strong and know that this is the way to getting better. Like you- I had a "slipped" wrap and this was much more painful than a regular hernia. Now, tomorrow is 4 weeks for me and I'm so so much better it's unbeleivable. Daily pain is gone and I'm sleeping in peace rather than tossing and turning looking for a comfortable position. The last 3 months were hell prior to my re-do.

The only way I can convey the change this has done for me is like this. Pretend someone gave you a tranquilizer that works 24/7. I'm no longer fighting myself with every bite I eat. I now eat everything without fear. My mind and body are at rest- all the time. It sure accelerates healing which I am still doing- I feel my energy is at 80% now. I went to see "Slumdog Millionaire" last night and I highly recommend it when you feel strong enough Teala.
Also, I'm glad to hear you will report back like I did. In this experience, no matter how much love you are surrounded by and I am blessed, you are alone. Reporting back was important to me because it connected with others who might be in similar situations- and it helped me to see progress in my own life. Thank you for mentioning me- I feel honoured.

My next goal is to slowly increase my exercise as I get stronger. Walking will be my preferred method- with incremental distances. This will also be my spiritual time- no music. I'm not religious but going through difficult periods does focus the mind on the larger picture. I feel blessed in so many ways and this does feel like a new "start" for me. I'm much more at peace with life and I'm trying to pass that forward. "Happilywrapped" is an apt term for how I feel.

So Teala- you will be in my thoughts tomorrow and I send you courage. I truly beleive that you will be better for it. Good luck !

Teala, good luck tomorrow, we'll be thinking of you and praying for you. Your husband sounds like a pretty good guy!! what a nice treat! We'll be here waiting for you and helping you get through recovery!

I think rbrunet has the best take on it right now; your explanation is very appropriate!, not to mention that your experience is much "fresher" than mine.

Hang in there both of you!!
Janice

Hello everyone. I want to say Thank you to all the kind folks for your prayers and keeping me in your thoughts.

I had my redo on the 19th which was suppose to be done in 4 1/2 hours. However, I was on the table for 8 hours!

My hernia was really bad and had went up behind my heart which made the surgery much worse. My doctor said it was the worse hernia she had seen and very difficult to get at. The Nissen repair went well and now just trying to recover.

I have pain in my arms and my rear end from being on the table so long. I also had a chest tube put in and a drain tube due to my lungs collapsing.I look and feel like I have been through a battle.

Today is my 1 week mark since the surgery and I think I'm coming along fine. I can not drink thin fluids. I have to have shakes or such because if liquid goes down to quick I choke. I tried a soft scrambled egg, had a couple bites and that was enough of that. Mashed taters taste good and I can get them down fine. Keep in mind you have to go slow slow slow when trying to eat or drink again. Carnation breakfast drink is fabulous, kind of thick and lots of vitiams that your body needs to recover.

I have many pillows propping me up in bed,I sleep and sit up in bed during the day with them. They help with the shoulder pain as well as a heating pad on my chest and shoulders for pain management.

I highly recommend sitting straight up while you eat or drink even if for a sip. That's something that helps for me with the swallowing. I made a mistake of having a drink at an incline and oh boy did that hurt.

I will update as I can. Take care eveyone. If you have any questions for me feel free to ask.

Teala

Rick- Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.Your kind words bring tears to my eyes just knowing someone else (that I don't even know) can care is a awesome feeling !

I had a awful night last night with the shouder and neck pain    Then I could just not get comfortable at all so I stayed out on the couch basically at a sitting up position (sitting up does seem to help the pain) to sleep. I double my dilaudid (which I was only taking 1 so I took 2) and then some of my daughters childrens advil and now the pain is managable at least.Of course those are chased by nausea meds as well. I sent my husband out to get a neck/shoulder massager and that does give some relief with massage and heat for not much money. I recommened giving the massager a try to others that have the same shoulder pain.

I'm slowly able to stay up out of bed a little bit more and more each day. I do my breathing lessons several times a day to help with the healing and to keep my lungs functioning. That little breath tube blower thing they send you home with is a good thing to keep doing for any one who has had the surgery. Deep breaths in and all the way out... aww yes air is good and boy it can be painful LOL

I really think by sharing others tricks and ideas on how to deal with healing is helpful because while the doctors know how to do the surgery they haven't experienced it them selfs like us so Thanx to this forum we can all help each other.

God bless you all, Teala

Bill- Thank you for the nice reply. Yes, the surgery was a bit more then expected and I'm keeping all digits and limbs crossed that this one will stay intact and not give me to many problems . I don't know how eager I would be for a third surgery after all the troubles with this one. How long ago did you have surgery?

You said you have nerve pain still, what does that feel like cause I'm having horrid shoulder/neck pain but I'm contributing it to the air from the surgery. Maybe it's something else I don't know.When I take deep breaths in I get some jabbing pain in and around my collar bone shoulder area.

You sound about right with the breathe thing. They give so much information while in the hospital and of course I was under the influence of drugs so I really don't recall so much. I think it's best that a lot of it remains a blur.

I unfortunately don't have a couch with recliners in it so I was just sitting up on the end then I would get brave and try to stretch out with much pain and no luck. I will have to see how creative I can get tonight. I have been thinking of redoing the living room perhaps I should invest in one of those couchs just to be safe

Warm Regards, Teala

Teala,

My Nissen was in June of '06, I was lucky and didn't have any shoulder pain after the first day. I did have a lingering pain below my left ribs for about a year. That seems to be quite normal. My nerve damage came from a lung surgery I had on 12-28-07. The place they went through on my back has given me fits ever since. It feels like having a muscle cramp all the time with what I can only describe as electrical shocks following my ribs from back to front. I've had 6 cortisone shots as a nerve block, but they only work for a short time. With the extreme cold things get worse... COME ON SPRING! After my last cortisone shot I did have some bad shoulder/neck pain on that side for a few days. I wasn't ready for what my ribs would feel like after the lung surgery. I could feel my ribs move in my sternum and laying down or deep breathing hurt bad for a few months. My surgeon told me it could take up to 6 months for the rib cartilage to heal and stop them from moving. Once again, I am sorry you had to have a chest tube. I think that was the worse thing I've ever had done to me.
It's funny you can eat mashed taters right after surgery and that is the worst thing for me to get to go down now. I tried some today and they had to come back up in reverse. Oh well, hopefully that will be fixed.


Bill

Hi rbrunet. You sound like your just doing fabulous! Boy I wish I could get away for a vacation to some place warm. I'm in Oregon and it's been cold.

I'm 12 days post op now and I'm still struggling with a lot of pain. My first wrap was definitely not this bad. I've been having up and down days. If I take my nutritional drink in the morning followed by pain meds and nausea meds I can manage to get a few hours of house hold things done. Then I'm back off into bed for a rest. Pain in shoulders/neck and chest are still present and very hard to deal with at times.

I have NOT had any reflex of any sort I eat very slowly and watch that everything that I put in my mouth is chewed very well before I swallow. I still have had a couple bites get a little stuck, when they do I just stop eating for a while and take some sips of fluid slowly and that seems to get it down for me.

My sleep is greatly disrupted. Flipping and flopping until 3 or 4 in the morning trying to get comfortable is taking a toll on me that's for sure. Then by the time I do manage to fall asleep my 4 year old is saying mommy it's morning, see it's light outside time to get up.... LOL

I'll check back in later. Take care everyone, Teala