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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 5/24/2009 10:48 PM (GMT 0)

Had my full wrap on 5/5.  So glad I found this forum.  Seems like I am dealing with the same stuff and your comments certainly have a calming effect when they mirror my experience.  My staples were removed on 5/19 and my scars are healing really well now.  I had a lot of redness around the staples, but once they were gone everything has improved significantly.

My only complaint is the back up problem some experience.  There have been 3 occasions when fluid just will not pass and seems to back up to the point that it just naturally comes up and out.  I have found that cold fluid is the major contrubutor to my problem thinking that the cold constricts my esophogus and wrap to the point of closing it off.  I drink almost hot water with my meals and it seems to help.  I am still on noodles, rice a roni, ice cream (washed down with hot water), grits, syrup loaded pancakes, cereal, and the occasional tomato sandwich without crust and with lots of mayo.  I have thoroughly enjoyed tomatoes again since my GERD and Barretts would not allow it before the surgery.  All in all, I am very happy with the results so far, but am really looking forward to the time when I don't have to think about what I eat.  I have lost 10 lbs and am down to 175 now.  I'm 5'11" so thats not so bad, but I don't want to loose any more.

I am feeling a little better each day and even followed my lawn mower around the yard yesterday for 45 minutes.  I am not a patient person, so this is a journey that will force me to ease back and take it as it comes.  I'm getting better at it, but bad habits and impatience are difficult to overcome.  Thanks for all you share.  It helps.

L Tom :-) :-) :-)

Posted 5/24/2009 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Tom, at 3 weeks out, you may be over the worst, but still give yourself time to heal. You're eating quite a lot and that's good. It seems that the younger you are the easier the recovery, so I hope it continues to go well for you.

You've found the secret of drinking hot/warm fluids to ease the transition while swallowing, continue that for a few more weeks before easing up on this. Also, the stacking problem that causes food, fluid to back up may continue for a while; I've likened it to yacking up a hairball, not a pretty picture, but i does suffice.

Stay with the group here and you will be helped through the stages.

Janice
Posted 5/25/2009 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tom,

 welcome aboard to our official wrapped club. I had my wrap on 5/7/09 and am doing great. If you look at prior postings,my history is there.Like you , I was short on patience.I have sinced learn the true meaning of patience.LOL. I'm actually glad I learned the definition of it and wished I wasnt so pigheaded/hotheaded like I was.

I have come to terms with slow recovery/slow progress from our friends here on this forum. We all post on our own progress and cheer our fellow comrades on. I cannot tell you how much they have eased my fear of the fundo b4 during and after.If I didnt have them and my family I would be lost in space some where.

If you dont mind, please feel free to continue to post your  recovery for others to read.It will ease their minds. Please feel free to read and comment on any of the posts that you can relate to as well. Kitt is our moderator on the forum and will welcome you with open arms as the rest of the gang will. We do email each other @ times.

Best of luck to you,

Bea

Posted 5/25/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)

Wow, Tom--you sound like you're doing some powerfully good eating for someone so recently wrapped!  I didn't attempt bread at that stage in the game.  Actually, did anyone tell you that toasting bread makes it much easier to chew and swallow?  Tomatoes!  I still have some trouble with those...the skins, I guess. 

As Janice said (and you've found out), hot beverages do help when you run into a little problem swallowing.  I'm more of a hot tea fan...I guess I drink it so weak that it's almost like water!  I still have some backups, where I can feel the water sitting on my wrap, or I get a little burp that sends it flying up like Old Faithful! 

The more you can relax and surrender into your recovery, the easier it will be.  We can't rush it, as much as we'd like.  Actually, I'm eating far more and better than I'd ever hoped.  I've got to start controlling the amount of food I'm eating, now that my forced diet is over.  I no longer feel full right away when I eat, so I'll be gaining weight back, if I'm not careful!

Congratulations on your surgery and recovery.  You're on your way! 

Denise

Posted 5/25/2009 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the warm welcome and the encouragement. I will continue to post my recovery for the benefit of others. After I wrote last night, I had a coughing attack similar to the ones I had before the surgery. It may have been from acid reflux as was the cause before surgery becauyse I tasted something like acid. Is this possible? If so, I may be eating more than I need and should probably back off.

L Tom
Posted 5/25/2009 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Tom -
Welcome! Sorry I haven't gotten around To posting yet. It sounds like you may be over doing things to me also. You body will iet you know when your getting a little ahead of yourself. I also wanted to remind you about breads. They are one of the last things to add back to your diet, but toating it does make it easier to go down. I have never gotten a straight answer why it is though. I just had mine redone On the 18th of May. Mine wasn't done correctly the first time and it took me 3 years to get it redone. The wrap is great. I don't have any reflux or swallowing issues now. I am still in the hospital due complications from taking down the old wrap.
Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/25/2009 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
L Tom

Welcome to HealingWell and the GERD/Heartburn forum.  I am Kitt, I have not had the wrap, but sometimes my brain gets wrapped to tight............lol.  rolleyes

You will find the members here wise and caring and please do feel comfortable posting your  daily journal here in the forum.  It is good to be able to write down how you are feeling and how you are progressing post op.

Again a warm welcome to you.

Kitt

 

Posted 5/25/2009 4:01 PM (GMT 0)

Tom,

I had some "reflux sensations" at about the time you're describing.  It was always after eating something that challenged my wrap.  My surgeon said it could be a pain sensation that is interpreted as reflux by the esophagus.  He also said that during recovery, until the wrap swelling goes down and it gets settled in, I could actually experience some reflux.  I think I've gotten some things stuck in my wrap--when I ate things that I shouldn't, which left an opening.

I think you should slow down a bit with what you're eating.  Eat slowly, small bites, and chew things until they are liquid.  You can eat a big variety...just not as much, and chew thoroughly.

I need to listen to my own advice.  This weekend I overate, and am suffering with a bit of an irritated wrap!  Good luck to you!

Denise

Posted 5/25/2009 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all your suggestions. You are probably right. I restarted my daily walks last week and that may be making me a bit more hungry. Baby steps......OK.

Tom
Posted 5/26/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
yes tom,

your wrap wil inform you if your overdoin it.i ate too much 2day and I am stuffed. I will probably be in a deep coma sleep 2night,droolin in my ear.I cant do this again at least not until July 4th.lol

Bea

Posted 5/26/2009 11:24 AM (GMT 0)
Way funny Bea. I know if the day is gonna be a good one if I can get my pills down in the morning. Well......they are stuck somewhere between my adams apple and wrap clawing their way back up but I refuse to allow them to escape. Nasty buggers will just have to melt and slide down before I will allow their release. I had a beer yesterday. Warm and flat, but it was a beer. Toasted my fellow Nam Vets. Hope you have a good day.
Best regards,
Tom
Posted 5/27/2009 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
L Tom,

 Beer is a no no.I am sure you are a grown Man, however, there will be plenty of time for that in the future should your wrap allow it. SLOW DOWN!!!! lol

Bea

Posted 5/27/2009 9:42 AM (GMT 0)
L Tom,
I know that some people tolerate some beer pretty early on. I didn't attempt any alcohol until I saw my surgeon at 5 weeks post op. He gave me his blessings. Before surgery I thought I wouldn't be able to drink beer because of the bubbles, but an acquaintance who had been wrapped a couple years earlier, said beer was fine, but soda was impossible for her.

Just remember that anything you eat needs to be chewed to liquid. I've had pills cause irritation, and set my wrap back a bit. If you notice irritation it could be related to those melting pills. Any that can be crushed and mixed with yogurt or applesauce, probably should be. Timed release are a different story. Try to switch to liquid, chewable, or crushed when possible.

Sounds like you're doing great!
Denise
Posted 5/27/2009 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
There are lots of people that have had the fundoplication at this web site.
http://forums.heartburn-help.com/

You should find good tips on recovery.
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