Part 2 of Day 4 post Nissen Revision

Rick-

I get to go home today! Now I just have to wait for all the discharge stuff. Why does it take so long! Oh well, a couple more hours is better than a few more days.
Take care,
Bill

Hello Bill, Denise, Teala, Janice and.....?

First- Bill- I was away when you got out. Did you make a run for it? I wouldn't blame you if you did. Tell me you're still at home. Let's hope the hole(s) in the stomach lining are healed and that you're eating now. I'm up in the middle of the night again- and reporting back finally.

I got through my week last week-got the taxes done and saw my new surgeon last Friday. I went directly from that appointment to the 14th annual gathering of 22 guys for a weekend of golf and poker. No heatburn and had a ball and ate and drank pretty much anything. But I'm getting ahead of myself. The Dr. gave me the result of the 24 hour PH test. NEGATIVE.

That's right- normal is 2.3%- mine is . 01 ! The wrap is good- as a matter of fact it's fabulous. He complimented the surgeon who did the 6 hr surgery by saying only 1 out of 10 surgeons would have done it lapriscopically without resorting back to open surgery. This was a huge relief so that I now know that we're dealing with a different problem than hiatal hernia. The esophagus is seeing no acid at all and I'm swallowing normally.

So now he recommended 3 avenues of proceeding. CT scan, barium xray and heart workup. He's very good and just wants to cover all the bases. Why is it that some Doctors just inspire such confidence in them? This one has got both my wife and I on board.  What I have is a complete mystery. Anyway- the wrap is good and hopefully the barium swallow will show it at the right place and functioning normally.   On the weekend I was a bad boy- wine, ate late and slept great though I lost at poker : ).

Once back home, I ate much better, no alcohol and I'm up in the middle of the night. For dinner tonight- 2 shrimp and a Boost and still I'm up. Go figure. My hope is that this Dr. finds out why the witche's brew in my stomach at night while the days are fine.

Well, that's it for now. I dodged a big bullet with that PH test according to the Dr. and now we have to figure out what else it could be. Isn't the stomach amazing? I'm hanging in there and I hope all of you are too. I hope to get answers soon and will advise.

Rick

 

Bill- great to hear that you're goin fishin. Catch a big one.... talk to you when I have news.... Rick

Hello Rick - Well that's some good news that all is ok in the wrap. I'm sure that is a big worry off your head or stomach... LOL

It is frustrating not knowing what the trouble is though. More tests tests tests, argh that's what I'm looking at also. My swallowing is still awful and pain in my side. Geeze I just wanna be done with this all ready.

Bill - I'm so proud of you. I think you should secretly wear a undershirt with a big "S" on your chest ... LOL

I have some questions that you may be able to answer but I will start a new topic about it.

Keep us updated with your doctors findings Rick.

Take care, Teala

Hey Rick

Congrats, you truly amaze me.I thought i was the energizer bunny but you beat me. are u a kangaroo. lol  Poker & alcohol equals bankruptacy  just kiddin lol. glad to hear about your dr. Sounds qualified,geniune and right ontop of your symptoms. Good luk

bea

Rick,
You're unbelievable. Nothing keeps you down! I remember before my surgery, reading about the things you were doing...bike riding, trips to Spain...WOW. Now hiking up Mount Washington! It's beautiful there. When my husband and I were lots younger, we took the cog railway to the top. That's a scary trip...straight up ad straight down. Coming down, the brakeman just works as keeping the train from taking off full tilt.

Hope you have great weather! When we got on top, (in August) it was foggy, and I think the temperature was about 30 degrees! After all that hiking, I hope you get a great view!

Have fun!
Denise

Rick,

Wow and I am impressed.  Good luck on your climb and know I will send out a pray that you have a safe climb and that your enjoy every minute of your time on the mountain.

You are truly an inspiration.

Gentle Hugs
Kitt

Rick,

Good Morning to you.  I have to ask if those couple of people that jumped out of your plane did it for fun or under duress ??      

"If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance." ~ Samuel Johnson

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Rick, you're starting to sound a lot like me...Nissen last July, got sick in December and become so symptomatic again. Went through a battery of tests at Cleveland and another scope..the result? a big, fat, ZERO!! (almost..okay maybe a big fat 1 or 2!).

My scope showed a perfectly intact, "superior" repair, no signs at all of esophagitis, strictures, ulcerations, lesions,...on and on. The barium swallow shows signs that the wrap may actually be a little too tight; the 24 hour impedance manometry showed signs of dysphagia but no regurgitation, no acid, no anything else.

What they finally determined was a couple of things, when I got sick I irritated or damaged the phrenic nerve or the vagus nerve; that protonix, which was my best friend for so long, was actually causing a lot of the abdominal pain and esophageal burning and that I am one of the chosen few who are actually taking a full year to heal from the surgery.

Now, (no offense Bill), I'd rather be doing this than what Bill endured, but saying that it is frustrating and irritating, but I am getting better! They just put me on Bentyl, it is really helping the spasms in my stomach and intestinal tract too, so we'll just sit back and see what happens..or in your case, you'll just climb a mountain and see what happens!!!

Have fun on your trip! I'll enjoy hearing about it, but you won't find me doing something like that! (Terrified of falling...seriously..even from a couple of feet!..you know when the dentist puts you back in the chair..or worse, when they tilt the x-ray table back when they're doing the barium swallow? I flip OUT! Heights I can deal with, falling..no way!)

Have fun!
Janice

Well I made it to the top of the mountain- rain and all. What a view from the top of Mount Washington the next day. We had a great 4 day holiday with the last 2 days in a cushy spot with good food. I'm sleeping much better lately and things are easier. Keeping my fingers crossed.  I'm going for the barium xray on Thursday and CT scan early August- hopefully some answers are to be found. Maybe- it's just healing time. 

Bill- how are you? Tell me some good news... and Bea, Denise, Janice and Teala- are you enjoying the summer ? Are we all getting to forget about pain for a while ? Summer's here and we're all healing I hope. And Kitt is watching- hi Kitt!

Take care all- Rick

Rick -
Glad to hear the climb went well and you had a great time. I am doing quite a bit better. Still some slight issues, but nothing that won't go away with time. I went back to work last night and am quite sore this morning.

Take care,
Bill

Hey Rick, I thought you sky dived of the empire state and decided to go cross country while in flight.LOL Glad to hear your doin ok. I am still doin ok.I lost 37 pounds. I still have a slight distaste in mouth. Other then that I am fine. I am addicted to the pepsi though!

oh keep us updated

bea

Rick! Hello, I'm with the others in saying welcome back!!
Janice