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Part 2 of Day 4 post Nissen Revision

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/18/2009 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bea, I am so happy for you. The healing process is long and sometimes slow, so take each day as it comes and listen to the wonderful people here.
I'm glad you overcame your fears and were able to move ahead; you will be so much happier!
Janice
Posted 5/19/2009 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Janice,

 Well its official. I am now a member of the wrapped club as Bill says LOL. What a relief with this surgery. Im wondering will i wake up from this dream of good health. Sometimes I think, is this ,this good becuz its somehow hard to believe .My quality of life is beauitful. I sleep,no nasty taste, no backwash,aspirations,asthma.Sometimes i think i will badmouth myself becuz it was a success. Then I wonder for how long will it really be. I hope your doing better .Im so glad you came back. You denise,wendy & bill helped me out.you left,wendy left so it was just Bill & Denise. Thank you though for all your knowledge, understanding and comfort messages.

take care

b

Posted 5/19/2009 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Janice,
I was really hoping you didn't have the nerve damage. So now I am praying it grows , heals itself, and gives you much needed relief. As Bea said, I am SO glad you decided to return. We have missed you very much. This forum needs your comforting and insightful posts. I know I owe you a huge Thank You for being here in the past. I am beginning to get tired so I'm gonna stop for now.
'
Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
 

Well dang ! 

The whole gang is here- and Bea, though I read you, and you read me, we never met. So glad all is well and progressing for you after May 7th ! Your energy should come back and every day should be a step in the right direction for the most part now ?

Bill- I didn't even check my computer thinking- naw.... he's out of commission. Beauty! So the thing wasn't done right in the 1st place as we had both surmised. And here you are typing on a PDA for goodness sake. I can 't do that even healthy.... good on ya mate. You're on the right track and every day will get better. You're a trooper but take the time you need- nobody can say you don't deserve it.... looking forward to progress reports.

And Janice- so glad to hear from you again. I beleive we were operated at about the same time- dec / 08 ?. Sorry to hear about the vagus nerve- I know that when I read the operatory notes from my surgery- they mentioned it a lot. Let's hope that it heals with time. Are you still better off than before?

Well, I have to admit, my situation is not as good as I had hoped either. After 3 months of perfection, some not so perfect things started to happen- like acid reflux at night. It's nowhere near as bad as prior to the last Nissen, but still- it was pretty depressing after that trip to Spain with perfect sleep. So I'm in tomorrow for a 24 hour PH test- and I have an appt. with a surgeon June 12th... to see what it is this time. If I take Tumms and a Zantac before bed I do get a 7 or 8 hr sleep so it's not all bad. Hopefully this testing will help determine what's up.... Sorry for not being the Great White Hope of Nissen's but hopefully, I can be again someday. One thing sure- I'm not giving up after that short period of feeling absolutely great.

Rick

Posted 5/19/2009 9:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Rick,

 Yes,Its offical I am now a member of " the wrapped club". See I was saying in a few of my prior postings, that i wonder sometimes ,if this is too good to be true? I mean I think Im in a beautiful dream right now and someone will say ,"times up on this disney ride". I dont ever want to go thru what I went thru.I certainly do not want  a revision although that is inevitable at some point. I do hope its the furthest away.My surgeon says 10 years from now, But he isnt god.So who knows.

Glad to hear your well and have just a few issues. At least we all have life and that is the most important aspect of our health.

Good Luck Rick with your tests.Im rooting for you here in NY

Bea

Posted 5/19/2009 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Rick -
I sure am sorry you are having some reflux again. I had barium swallow done this morning and they say everything looks great with no reflux. I can feel a huge difference between the 2 surgeries. I can swallow much better this time. When I was in recovery the first thing I remember is how different my swallowing is.
Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 10:03 PM (GMT 0)

Bill,

 I think we are on at the same time here. I am going to try to eat meatloaf mushed up with ketchup in a few along with rice. Im sorta sick of mashed potatoes. I lost a total of 14 pounds. Im so happy

b

Posted 5/19/2009 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
Bill and B.... thanks for the concern- feels silly when it's you two who just has surgery. You both sound much better- good to see. Good to hear that the swallowing is better this time Bill- that's got to be a big relief for sure. Glad it feels so different.

As for me- they'll measure my acid tomorrow.... and I 'll have that test result for my meeting with a local internist. I'd gladly do it all over aging if need be but hopefully that won't be the case.

Good luck with convincing them to let you out as soon as possible ! Bea- hope you loved the meatloaf !

Rick
Posted 5/19/2009 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
hahahaa guess what.I tried fried chicken instead.Hope it doesnt come back to haunt me.I cut it into gerber baby pieces. I also ate mushed mashed potato salad.God help my hubby 2nite!! I pray  I dont blow him away in my sleep. he may need a gas mask but hey through sickness and good health,til death do us part.Its the long haul here. LOL. Let us know whats going on Rick.I will pray for you

B

Posted 5/20/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Bea,
You gave me good laugh! Thanks, I needed that.

Bill
Posted 5/20/2009 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Bill,

 I think I already started gving my husband mouth to mouth to resucitate him. The eggs in the potato salad did me in and maybe  him. God I hope this disappears b4 goin to the surgeons office. I wudnt want  the whole office to wear helmets and face masks.****. Im still lol

thanx

b

Posted 5/23/2009 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Rick -
Have you gotten any results from the ph study yet? I was readmitted to the hospital one day after I got dischared. Going to be here until Tuesday atleast. One of the holes they repaired in my stomach started to leak. I may end up back in the OR if I don't improve by tonight they say.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/23/2009 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Bill-

Say what? A hole.... As you know, when they do the barium x-ray after the surgery, that's exactly what they're looking for. I find it odd that it undid after that.... I can't imagine how hard it would be to hear that and I hope that this somehow solves itself soon. Does this surgery ever become  easier ? This may be a temporary setback if in fact you're functioning better. How's your swallowing, digestion and sleep ? Don't get discouraged- life throws monkey wrenches in all the time but somehow we survive. I hope you have good nursing and that the TV is working  :-)   .

I did do the 24 hr PH test with that annoying wire up my nose and a box hanging from my neck for 24 hours. They don't do the "pill" thing here- too expensive- I would have to pay $ 5000 in the U.S. for it so I'm quite happy it 's free at least.  I won't get results for a week and I see my new DR. June 12th when  we can assess it. In the meantime, I sleep well if I take a Zantac 150 before bed I found out lately. Not what I wanted but I can live with that- I eat and drink anything I want so I can't really complain too much.

Bill- they will get this right eventually so keep that in mind. Keep us informed and stay positive as you always have. I'm off to bike my regular 14 mile ride and I'll be thinking about you. Someday, you won't remember any of this....

Rick

 

Posted 5/23/2009 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Rick -
The wrap itself is great. They did a ct scan on Thursday night when I got here. It shows the wrap looks perfect, but there is a small collection of fluid. I haven't had any reflux and can swallow normally again. Even the largest pill I take goes through. Before it would get stuck for about 20-25 minutes. The original wrap was so messed up they couldn't avoid putting a couple small holes in my stomach. It was done using the wrong part of my stomach and had a lot of scarring. They kept me on IV fliuds onlly for the first 24 hours to let it rest a while. They did a barium swallow that didn't show any leaks. He was worried one of them may leak because of their locations. I felt so great Weds. they decided to let me go home.
I woke up Thurs. with a knot feeling in my stomach and figured it was from sleeping 11 hours with no pain meds. I took my pain meds and hit the couch. Out of the blue I got severe pain in my upper right part of my belly. Eventually in went to the lrft side about midway up. I talked to the doctor and he said one of them may be leaking and as long as it would come and go he wanted me to come back to see him in the office on Friday. about an hour later it came back and didn't stop. My wife called him again and he told us to get up there and call when we were 5 minutes away so he could meet us in the ER. He was waiting outside for too. They were going to go straight to the OR, but decided to do the ct first. This morning he told me if the pain stays the same or worsens I am ging to the OR. As long as it gets better each day I should go home Tuesday. I can't have anything by mouth until then though. They put in a PICC so they can feed me that way.It's actually pretty nice to have this. I don't get stuck anywhere else.
I hope you get good news on the 12th.
Take care,
Bill

ps. sorry I didn't paragragh. Using the PDA again!
Posted 5/24/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)

Rick,

Sorry to hear you're having problems.  Do you think it might just be irritated?  First...your positive attitude and great posts helped me get the courage to have the Nissen in February.  Thanks for that.  I know you're way out there in recovery, and I'm only 3 months out, but I've found that at times a wrap irritation can be read by the esophagus as reflux.  Just a thought.  I've had some reflux sensations as my wrap has been healing.  My surgeon told me that the swollen wrap could conceivably let some acid through, or that the sensation wasn't reflux, but was just interpreted as that by my esophagus.  I'm sure I've read on posts here that the esophagus is a "dumb organ", and interprets everything the same way.

I hope your test finds that your wrap is fine.  Good luck!

Denise

Posted 5/24/2009 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Bill-

So glad to hear the wrap is good this time around. Once that hole is patched, you should be good to go. Hopefully this heals itself. I think you had them worried though- when they meet you at the OR- you know they're serious. Hopefully, this time without eating is giving your stomach needed time to heal and rest. about the PDA- you seem to be doing fine with it- I don't know how.

Denise- thanks for the kind words and glad you got some comfort out of my experience. Glad to also see that the February surgery went well and that it was worth it for you. I was taken aback that you were there all along and that I didn't know it ?

about my situation- we should soon see what the deal is. PH tests don't lie. I hope you're right but my 1st wrap done 20 years ago had zero complications so I probably have high expectations. Hopefully it gets resolved because I got used to sleeping like a baby.

Good luck Bill...hopefully you're outa there Tuesday !

Rick
Posted 5/24/2009 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
Rick,
Good luck with the PH monitor...Yes, I was on the forum...your recovery from your redo was amazing to me. I couldn't believe the things you did afterwards! Wow. 20 years durability.

Unfortunately, I'm fearful that mine isn't going to be that problem free. I have severe asthma (the reason for my surgery to begin with), and although the GERD trigger is gone, I've got severe allergies, and am coughing a lot. That stresses my newly fixed hernia. I'm always telling people not to worry about what hasn't happened, and here I am doing what I know I shouldn't!

Good luck, Rick. Hopefully you'll get things straightened around soon.

Bill...
Continued thoughts and good wishes!
Posted 5/24/2009 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all-
Well I have to do another ct scan today first. He said my white cell count is lower now and my vitals are better. But since the pain is still there he wants see what the ct shows..Hopefully I won't have to go to surgery.

Bill

Post Edited (opnwhl4) : 5/25/2009 6:49:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/25/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hey rick,

How are you? I am sure you will get thru whatever it is cuz you are such an upbeat guy! Did you say your wrap was done 20 years ago? I pray I can have this longevity.Where did you have the surgery? Where are you from? I read a post about you saying in the U.S it costs blah blah blah (well not blah blah blah but you no what I mean lol)

take care,

bea

Posted 5/25/2009 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Bea-

The 1st surgery was in 1989, the second was done in Miami in Dec 08.... and I paid for it.... a lot. Thanks for the good thoughts ! Rick
Posted 5/26/2009 12:57 AM (GMT 0)

Rick,

 why did you pay for your operation? I gather you didnt have medical insurance? Are you nuts? lol. well I hope I have te same longevity times 3 lol good luck

Bea

 

Posted 5/26/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Rick, I can deal with the barium swallows, the scopes, the whatevers, but I hate the 24 hour ph...not because of the up the nose, down the throat thing, not because of the wires sticking out of face thing, but because the wire in my nose and then taped outside of my nose thing! The wire causes such an irritation to the inside of my nose that it runs incessantly and the runny runs down the wire to where it's taped outside my nose and then that area gets so sore!! I hate that!!! I hope your Johnson De-Meester score is low and that the answer to your problem is a simple (and less expensive!) one.

Denise, I'd like to talk to you more about your breathing and allergy issues, I hope you're doing okay.
Janice
Posted 5/26/2009 1:19 AM (GMT 0)

Janice,

 I bugged out when I woke up with the ng tube into my stomach!! I was like do not look in the mirror.This is why you couldnt take the manometry but I wake up with one in my tract. When she pulled it out, i thought i saw death.blood clots everywhere. my nostril 3 weeks later is still sore. I can so relate!!!

Bea

Posted 5/26/2009 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Manometry was actually not a problem for me Bea, a 24 hour impedance manometry is more difficult than the 24 hour ph, just because the cathode is a larger diameter than that used for the ph study; a regular manometry though is no problem. An ng tube is far different; a very large diameter and, I imagine, more uncomfortable; I'm really surprised by the blood clots, but then again, maybe not considering the purpose of the tube.

I'm sorry your nose still hurts, have you tried neosporin + pain to help it heal?, that may be worth a try.
Janice
Posted 5/26/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
neosporin is the key baby!! I been sticking it up my nose like a drug addict from A & E intervention lol

Bea

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