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Had my surgery yesterday - Raphael - Part 2 of 3 - Closed

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 9/29/2009 10:03 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael

 

Good Morning !  If your going to over do it a bit, celebrating our Mother's Birthday with your family is the best place to do it, IMHO.  turn

Now you slow down a bit for a few days and you will be right on track again.

Lots of healing hugs,

Kitt

Posted 10/2/2009 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Good news from you Rafael, nice celebrations too with the family...family time is quality time..!!! Thank you for staying here... Sorry about the sore ....is it better? Best wishes!!!
Posted 10/3/2009 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Jules and Kitt.

Yes, the soreness is still here but usually it fades in a week. It should be a week this weekend.

I met with my Surgeon yesterday for my 45 day post op and he said I was doing fine and reminded me of how "bad" it was inside. He said I shouldnt be lifting over 15 pounds and I carried my son who is 26 pounds. O ver did it last weekend and I'm still feeling it. He said it will pass with time as I heal and reminded me that my esophogus had open sores too due to the Erosive Esopogitis. Good thing I still have 6 weeks of disability to get better.

I asked him how permanent the wrap was and he told me it should be with me for the rest of my life. I asked about slippage and he told me that in 20 years he has only had 3 of his slip because they used their diaphram excesively, but has fixed more than a handfull of people who had thiers done else where. This made me feel a hole lot better.

I hope every one is doing well.
Rafael
Posted 10/4/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
how is Mariee doing by the way?? I hope it was NOT too llooooseee?:(
Posted 10/4/2009 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Over all I'm doing much better. The soreness caused by last weekends outing is going away more and more every day. Slowly but surely.

We went to the pak yesterday and I got to wow the crowd with my large scale remote controll monster truck. Its a huge stress reliever for me to be able to beat up one of my trucks. I took a plastic skate ramp with me and was throwing it 10 feet in the air and doing back flips with it.....untill the park ranger came over and told me to shut it down because it runs on fuel. Peole started to boo her...it was funny.

I had frozen yougurt yeserday for the firsttime since th esurgery. It was sooooooo good! I love the non flavord, original, "Tart" flavord. We went to the place where you serve your self and put on your own toppings. I loaded mine up with strawberries and rasberries. Everything was tart and the fruit was acidic and I was scared......BUT NO REFLUX OR UPSET STOMACH!!!!! I was so excited that I can start, slowly, eating the stuff that I used to enjoy.

We also had lunch at Soupplantation, an all you can eat soup and salad restaurant. I didnt pay for myself because I picked at my wifes salad 8 times and was done!! I feel bad now that my wife and I will more than likely have to share food when we go out to eat but it makes no sense to pay for a full meal for myself when I cant even put a dent in the huge servings they give you at restaurants now days.

For breakfast I can eat 1 whole egg, and 2 egg whites with a serving spoon full of beans. Thats my biggest meal of the day and during teh day I'm lucky if I can eat 1/2 of that. But I feel great. I feel very energetic and I'm looking forward to going back to work, though its going to be hard to get used to not being around my family all day. But we need the extra money.

Today were juststaying home and resting. Well I am at leats. My wife is making curtains for our house.

Have a blesses day.
Rafael
Posted 10/5/2009 2:19 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
I sense a change in your posts my friend. Sounds like you are smiling again to me! Glad you had a great day. Sounds like fun with the truck. I also don't get my own meal when we do go out anymore. I usually just split something with my daughter or we just get an appetizer with my wife's meal and we split it. I remember when I would always eat 2 sandwiches for lunch and now I may eat 1, but usually only about 3/4 of it is all I eat. If I have some chips I can only eat half of the sandwich. Just the other night we went to Applebees and my daughter and I just split a appetizer sampler. We even had to take some of it home. I think we only ate about 3/4 of it.
Breakfast now is one small packet of instant oatmeal and 1 piece of toast. That makes me stuffed now.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 10/5/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi Jules12345,

How are you?

I am doing well - thank you.

Well - I went back to check up with my dr last week. I told him about my reflux, burn throat, sour taste, etc. He told me that it is normal after surgery; he told me that my reflux symptom was in the early stage - 3 weeks post surgery- those things are to be expected. He say there will be swell inside, things are different, etc. He say the healing process takes 3 months to be better.

He say that I am experience the reflux early in the morning because of the swell. I told him that I get sour taste, etc., he told me that because when I eat - sometime food stay at the esophaguz area and we don't feel it, and it just sit there, so sometime feel like reflux and heartburn, etc. He told me it will take 3 months. I ask my dr. about my wrap. He say my wrap seem to look fine. He did mention that he fix my hernia while he was working on the wrap.

He mentioned that I have to be patient.

hmmm speaking about heartburn, lately this week, I am experiencing heartburn at my esophaguz area. I guess probably it is just the swell thing.

I do notice that my reflux burn throat doesn't seem to be as sever as  before surgery. I am still taking PPI everyday to help keep the acid away. I am hoping it will eventually pass.

Hopefully - someday! :) I just am crossing my finger.

The burn lately seem like it doesn't stay around all day (knock on wood :P )- so that is a good thing, I think.  I have to be careful and try not to eat anything that is too acidic - such as orange, tomatoe, etc. My poor throat needs to heal :) I try to be conservative - eat only lean soft chicken+fish (small portion), a lot of green veg and good fruite - like watermelon. I am trying to see if I can stay on the alkali side than acide. I am trying to do a little research -which food, fruite, etc., that are very alkali base so that I can consume more to stay reflux-free.

Thanks.

Take care.

Marie

 

Posted 10/5/2009 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Rafael, Glad about NO reflux after those tart:= Gosh I love tart!!!! yummm!!! But you and Bill say we cannot eat "huge quantities" after surgery...I assume it's not for a long time right? my doctor thinks I am already only 120 Pounds so he does not know how small my stomach will be IF i do nissen fundoplication...he thinks I should not go for it...and wait for Linx, because I am too slim...:S

Marieee....I am praying alllll the symptoms VANISH in time....xxx cross fingers xxx but hey, i am also glad you still take the meds for the current reflux....

For the alkaline and acidic diet, let me know what you want exactly... I have done minor in nutriton...so I can help

I'll post something in the message below for you:

The more alkaline ash-base food is , the more your body-cells can get rid of toxins. By eating 80% of alkaline diet and 20% acidic diet, your body ph can balance. With an alkaline residue , your body can absorb more nutrients, minerals and vitamines, and get rid of toxins more.

The acidity of fruits and vegetables is different from the alkaline/acidity ph. for example a tomato is acidic in nature and taste, but the ash base of it (the effect on the body after you eat it) is alkaline. We want more alkaline residue fruits and veggies because these help our body to get rid of toxins more. Less toxins means less diseases.

It is better to heal an esophagus- with alkaline-residue veggies that are also non-acidic in nature, as zucchini

Tomatoes are alkaline residue but acidic in nature/taste
Apples are alkaline residue but acidic in nature/taste
Watermelon is said to be acidic-residue or at least slightly but in nature/taste, it is not acidic

The trick would be to choose alkaline residue veggies/fruits most of the time (of course, not all theee time) that are also in taste and nature non-acidic so these do not irritate the esophagus and stomach while going down...


TC!!!
Posted 10/5/2009 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Bill, I have been smiling and laughing more lately. Life is defenitly back on track. I know that last week was my fault and now I will take better care of myself though I feel that I can move a bit more freely. I promised my wife and my mom that even though I feel better I will still treat my self as I did 4 weeks ago so that I can keep progressing. Besides, there is a huge off road RC race that I want to be able to make which is 3 days long for Thanksgiving weekend yeah

Yesterday I experienced a bit of tunnel vission and I allmost blacked out. This has never in my life happend to me before. My wife said it might be malnurishment so I ook 2 childrens chewable vitamins and with in 30 minutes the tunnel vision was gone. I was just thinking earlier yesterday that I have been having fewer meals through the day and some have not been a nutritious as I would like. I tend to drink and eat a lot of yogurt and though it fills me up its not a complete meal. I need o get back to eating rice, chicken, and steamed vegetables. I just get so tired  and nausious of eating the same things. I'm scared to eat meat othe rthan ground beef and even that I sytay away from. i'm scared of fisch since th etome it got stick above my wrap and when I drank it felt like I swallowed a base ball. I know I need to start eating more solid, noutritious food but its hard because I get full so quick that sometimes I rather not eat. skull

Marie, you still seem to have a lot of worry though your doctor has told you that you are progressing normal. I think the worry is normal too but you need to find a distraction to get you remind off worrying so much. I know first hadn thet its easier said than done but , trust me, it will help your progression.

Jules, Its true that after the sirgery your stomach is not the same size any more. It goes from looking like a kidney bean to looking like this(click the link below).

VIEW IMAGE

 

 

Jules, my problem right now is that some times I eather drink a 12 ounce serving of Vitamin Water or I eat somehting. I cant do both yet. mad . But by what my surgeon told me, in a few months when the swelling is completely gone I should be able to eat a bit more than I do now.

In 7 weeks I have lost 32 pounds, though I fluctuate from 185-190 depending on how much and what I eat every day. When I weigh myself in the morning I weigh 185. At night I weigh 190 which I hear is normal due to daily consumption.

Posted 10/6/2009 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
raf,

glad ot hear ur doin well.. im going to have to start drinking half a milk shake a day cause im down to like 115:( ah!!! i used to be healthy at 160... funny part is i've always been flat chested and never had a 6 pac and even with the weight loss i still dont.. heh!
12 oz vitamin water that's the normal size huh? I MISS THOSE!! wat have u been eating??
griff
Posted 10/6/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Griff, I've been eating verry little. My appetite hasnt been what it used to. I think thats why I have started to feel so weak. I have started to get some pain where the wrap is when I get full and these days I have been getting full with very little amounts of food or liquid. I go from taking a spoon full to feeling like my wrap is going to come un done. I have no feeling of getting full. I just get full. Thats why some times I rather not eat. Something I have to work out on my own I guess.

I pretty much can eat anything now, griff. There are very few things that I feel get stuck. Mostly mashed potatoes or anything esle with that consistancy, when its chewed. Water helps get it down but it hurts when it bunches up at the wrap. Still no fired foods though or full cuts of meat. I stay away from those because I'm a big chicken. I'm dying for an In-N-Out burger though!!!...LOL!

Rafael
Posted 10/7/2009 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
raf,
i feel ya reading wat eeveryone is eating and what everyone keeps bringin over to visit me is killing me lol
lol for now im stuck wit the shakes lol
howd today go??
griff
Posted 10/15/2009 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Rafael, hope you are feeling better?

What is this feeling of undone??? I hope it's normal at that phase??? did you ask the surgeon....

===> Rafael, please I would like to tell you something...whenever I drink water continuously like drinking half a cup at once, i feel the water  like it bumps back up to my throat...I have done alot of research and I am starting to think I have some type of mild achalasia...along with Gerd. also i feel like my esophagus is not cleaning itself from the acid, like weak peristalsis....Now, this means if i do the nissen fundoplication, i dont know if it's gona be successful if i have this specific problem of esophagus not cleaning itself from the food inside it or the acids...What do you suggest? My manometry was normal, but doctor said he did realise that water bumps back up, before eventually going down to my stomach...but he did not see serious muscle weakness or incredibly wrong Les pressure

===> Marie, how is it going,,, let us know please, hope it is a gradual but good recovery...

takecare and heal well, everyone

Jules

 

Posted 10/16/2009 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
I'm still strugelling with the pain and inflimation of my esophogus. If I eat anything thick or mildly fatty I t gets worse. I think I'll be going back on a liquid diet. I have been eating a lot or rice and beans because it goes down very well and fills me up for hours. I have an appt with my G.I specialist this coming monday to ask him some questions and see if I can get another upper GI done to see how the healing process is going. I want to believe that the discomfort I still feel is going to eventually fade but I'm affraid that the DR will tell me I have barretts. It didnt come up on my last scope pre op though so I dont know why it would come up now.:(

Jules, do you ahve a Hiatal Hernia? If you go through the surgery you shouldnt have to worry about the acid creeping back up your esophogus again. I dont. But I still have to wash down all my food with water and even some thick juices have a hard time making in to my stomach. But thats manageable compared to acid coming back up and eating my esophogus. I couldnt tell you a definite asnwer on wether to have the surgery or not. Its a hard thing to go trhough and now I'm believeing that it will might be a year before I get to see the full benefits of the surgery buecause of the damage I had pre op. I have a very understanding wife and have huge support from my family. This makes the surgery a lot easier to go through. I'm glad I did it. I just hope the issues with my esophogus now are just part of the healing process.


My little one turns a year old this coming Monday. Since he is about to walk I put together a fence in the back yard to safeguard him from getting near the pool. We bought this house in April and I went on disability shortly after and then had the surgery and the danger or the unguared pool has been in the back of our minds. It felt good to grab the welder again after allmost a year. I got tired quickly and though it took me only 4 hours of work to install the fence, I spent most of the afternoon doing that amount of work. I dont think I'm ready to go back to work full time yet. Any time I excert myself, by making streangth, I can feel my esophogus throbb and I get major discomfort.
Posted 10/17/2009 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
hey raf,
about 2 1/2 weeks ago i had nissen fundoplication, a classic wrap. tonight im getting similar symptoms to how i used to... burping tons (not swallowing of air, least i dont think), my left hand feels like it's not getting enough blood into it (which i was told is numbness/tingling but it doesn't feel like that), and my chest feeling tight. I was told it was GERD related etc, and that it was in relation to my low potassium count (this all told in ER before). Should i go back to eating yogurt and banana every dang day again? The same feeling came back about a week after i ended up in er that one time and went away, i was eating a banana and yogurt everyday...
So my question is.. will this pass and is part of healing or what? do i need a redo even though the only thing i can think of that would have caused the wrap to undo is my deplug but i dont think thats rite because that same night a pill got stuck in my throat.
i dont understand:( any help? is it just the wrap swelling? think i should go back on my ppi?
griff
Posted 10/18/2009 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi all,

How is everyone doing?

Hope everyone doing well.

Griffdawg,

I saw your post - recent surgery. I hope you are doing well and fast recovery :)

Jules,

How are you doing?

As for me, I am stil the same.

I am going to make an appointment perhaps close to the end of this month to follow up with my surgeon. I am preparing and trying to get myself back in gear -getting myself back to work soon. My family leave is almost up *Don* Busy again *Bummer* - Laff

Rafael,

How are you doing?

Do you still feel the tight or soreness after you eat food - right after swallow?

Does it help to take a spoon of manuka honey - to help heal the inflamation...

I used to feel the tightness doing my first week after surgery, but now I don't.

Hey guys, do you guys have gas traped in the stomach and feel bloated?

Can you guys burp easily? I can burp so easily and don't have any degree of gas

as all in my stomach. I hope that is not a bad sign.

Hope you guys have a good one.

Take care - all.

Marie

 

Posted 10/18/2009 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
marie:

last day or 2 has been rough'
since the surgery i burp like no tomrorow .. today ive been burping.. but last nite bad heartburn came with it like the old times:( im hoping its not a bad sign im callin surgeon monday
Posted 10/18/2009 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
 

HI Griff,

I recall after my surgery, I burp quite a bit too. Now, my burping calm down quite a bit. But the strange thing is, I burp more at night time than day time.

Don't know why!

Griff, do you take any PPI at the moment?

Does your doctor suggest you to take them right after surgery?

After surgery, my surgeon suggest me to take them for some time, and slowly wean them off. He told me that I will experience heartburn and reflux during the early phase of the surgery. I am six week post, and I am still experiencing it. I am gonna make an appointment the end of this month to see the dr.

Hey Griff, do you get any gas in the stomach?

Do you get bloating feeling?

Hope your burp calm down and feel better soon.

Thanks

Take care :)

Marie

Posted 10/19/2009 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Griff, sorry to hear that you are having issues with GERD symptoms. Personally I think you moved to quick in to eating steak and very solid foods. I have still stayed away from heavy food because I have allways been afraid of stretching the wrap. i'm not sure that you streatched your with food but by what you explian I dont see why else you would be having symptoms again and be burping. I can burp at all. I get this hick-up feeling and it hurts. I till have to take Gas-X after every meal and can only burp the air trapped in my esophogus after I drink or eat. But in your case since your only a few weeks out it may just be the swelling that makes it seem like th wrap is loose and stuff might be getting by easier both ways. I had the worst swelling at around the 2 week mark and didnt notice a big decrease in swelling unitll about week 6 or so. If your not on a PPI I would say to start taking it.

Marie, I'm progressing very slowly. I still feel inflamed and I want to believe that thats why my esophogus still feels the way it does. Its still discomforting to take a full reath, still tender between teh 2 center cuts on my abdomin, and I still can stand even light pressure over my stomach. So i figure I'm still healing from the severe inflimation and erosion that I had before the surgery. I have an appointment with my GI specialist tomorrow and I will ask if there is reason for concern and if he thinks that an upper GI is a good idea or a watse of time.

I still cat lift any thing heavier that a gallon of milk. Any thing heavier and my esophogus starts throbbing like when you smash a finger and try and curl it. If I take it easy I canget by with little to no discomfort. So I'm mostly taking it easy and not carrying my little boy which is killing both him and I.

I do get bloated and the only way to pass gas is the way that makes my 8 year old son laugh and cover his nose..LOL!

How are you doing over all Marie?

I hope every one else is doing well and taking care!!
Rafael
Posted 10/19/2009 6:15 AM (GMT 0)
 

HI Rafael,

I doing ok so far.

I am 6 weeks post-surgery, but am still getting all the pre-symptoms.

I can swallow a lot easier -actually, I can eat pretty much anything, except I haven't try steak/pizza or hot buffolo rings. I will try steak/pizza/burger if all

my symptoms vanish. I am too scare to try anything acidic at the moment.

I am sticking with very plain oatmeal and brown rice and some chicken soup and a lot of green veg and fruites. I like white rice, but I read that it is acidic, so I am staying away from that for now. 

I can burp very easy, and sometime I get this really powerful burp that it hurt. I never experience getting this kind of powerful burp before surgery. I don't get any gas at all. Gee, I hope this doesn't indicate any bad sign. I recall my surgeon told me that I suppose to get some type of gas and bloating, etc, but I don't. I got ton of burning though. I even brought a few box of gas-x before surgery - just in case. But I end up not using them at all! It still sitting on my desk.

I am trying meditation and work on other work related projects and play with my son and daughter. Reading books to my boys and playing with my baby daughter just to keep my mind off from it.

Hey - Rafael, try to be careful & not lift anything heavy. You can cause problem with the wrap. If I am going shoping, I try to make multiple trips - in and out and in and out. Not like before *Bummer*

My work schedule is coming up fast and family leave is almost over.

Hey I check out your dr at USC - Dr. Namir Katkhouda - wow - he seems pretty impressive. I looked up some of his information -wow he has a lot of impressive inform -a lot of puslished books regarding to laparoscopic, etc., and ton of other stuff. Awesome Dr!

Hey Rafael, do you know how many of nissen -gerd surgery your dr perform?

My dr told me that he did around 500 of this.

Hope everything turn out smoothly for ya tomorrow.

Anyhow - take care of yourself -

My dr. told me to see him in 3 weeks. So, I am gonna make an appointment to see him end of this month...

Marie

 

Posted 10/19/2009 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Marie, I dont know how many Dr.K has done but I do know that he has played a huge part in perfecting it. He is also one of the most humble doctors you will ever have the pleasure of meeting. Down to earth and when he talks you can tell that his motivation for perfecting his skill is to help people like you and me. As far as my wrap I have no issues with it at all. Still tender to teh tough but my issues are others. I waited 2 months in pain waiting for him to do my surgery and knowing now how good he is I would have waited a year if necessary.

Marie, dont loose hope in the wrap. It may just still be the swelling letting gass out and thats why you can burp like that. I'm trying to accept that this will be a long journey to recovery. In my case it might be a year before I get releaf and my esophogus feels better.

I'm dreading work. I have to carry a 40 pound tool belt around my waites while performing heavy work. My family doctors knows what i'm dealing with so If I'm still having issues i know he'll leave me on disability as long as I have the funds saved to do so.

I too stay away from anything acidic. I'm just fine eating the limited diet that I'm on. I do have cravings for unhealthy yummy food but the thought of possible pain and the fat and grease keeps me away from it. I feel good eating how I do though. i do feel weak at times but over all I feel better.

Take care,
Rafael
Posted 10/20/2009 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi Rafael,

It seem like you are improving everyday.

That is a very good thing.

Wow - 40lb tool belt - that is pretty heavy stuff.

I am a pretty small frame person, I probably get crush with the belt itself *Laff*

Hey - try to take an easy and heal -

Recently, I am trying to do some meditation just to calm my mind.

Actually, I was reading "meditation for dummies"  *Laff*

Ton of good stuff from that dummies bible *Smile*

I wish I know this stuff when I was younger *Bummer*

I saw something like Tai-Tse exercise on amazon when I purchase some  naturnal supplement: calcium, Manuka honey, etc., from amazon.

Once, all my symtom vanish, I am going to learn Tai-Chi. I heard a lot of good things about it. It seem a lot of people who pratice Tai-Chi exercise- seem to live a stress_free/harmony life. It seem very realax and slow motion exercise compare to heavy jogging or other form of exercise.

I read that it help strenghten the muscle and help strenthten the inner core organ - not like lift weight or heavy jogging, etc. I don't think I can do any of those heavy jogging, or heavy biking, etc. But - I long for those days. If this surgery put me back to feeling better,  those are 2 things on my get well list *Laff*

I did read a little survey from Dr. Katkhouda writing regarding to the laparoscopic, it seem to me that he is  very experienced. He described the way or the step that it was to be done - so that it can last for a long time to come.

Your doctor seems like a very caring person - your dr rocks :)

Hopefully, it is just a little bump here and there, and hopefully, in 1more months I can see the light down the tunnel. Crossing my finger. *giggle*

Take Care, Rafael.

Marie

 

Posted 10/20/2009 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
 

Hi Griff,

How are you doing?

Are you getting better with the burp?

Is your heartburn slowly diminish?

Did you get a chance to see your dr?

Anyhow, hope you are doing well.

Take care of yourself.

Marie

 

Posted 10/20/2009 1:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Jule,

This is Marie,

Haven't hear from you for a while.

Let us know how you are doing ok

Hope everything are going ok with ya...

Take care.

Marie

Posted 10/20/2009 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Marie. I allways enjoy reading your posts. I too and dying to get on a bike, or run, or play ball sports or something other than sitting in front of this computer.

I met with my GI specialits today and he was happy to see that my surgery went so well and he was even happier that I have no GERD symptoms. I did how wver talk to him about the discomfort in my esophogus and he said to continue taking the Prilosec, since I have only been taking it for 3 days now, and hopefully it will help me heal faster. I talked to him about the throbbing I get when I excert myself by carrying anything heavier than a gallon of milk and he told me that because the affected area is so close to the heart that it may be swollen enough to actually be agrivating my heart. I told him I get palpitations with the discomfort and he said that nore than likely its just the inflimation still causing me all my ailments and that if the PPI doesnt work in 2 weeks that he will do an upper GI and see whats going on inside.

I'm really happy with my network of doctors that I have found this time around in my life. For the first time thay have asnwers and do what ever thay can to help me isntead of just trying to care everything with meds.

For every one else out there following our threads on this forum, remember that finding the rite doctors is key. They work for you and if they dont give you results then move on untill you find one that will help.
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