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nissen fundoplication

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Posted 2/2/2010 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
Joy,
Glad to hear you've gone out for dinner! That's the way I handled it as well...making the meal last several meals as leftovers. Sounds yummy! It is great to get back to real food.

Stormie,
It sounds like you're still having some post-surgical pain. Four weeks post-op isn't all that long. Could you call your doctor and try to get in earlier if you're worried? It makes sense that you may be having some pain in the middle of your chest, since that's where the work was done on your wrap, but you might as well see your doctor earlier if you're concerned.

I was told here and at my surgeon's office that although (because of the laproscopic surgery) I recovered quickly on the outside, I had an egg-beater rearranging my internal organs, and to remember that it would take longer to heal on the inside.

Storimie, try to relax and surrender to the path your recovery takes. If you can accept and follow that path, your recovery will be much more relaxed and comfortable. When you struggle against your body and stress over the time your recovery is taking, it just seems longer and more difficult. Your recovery will progress, whether you fight it or not.

Try to stop worrying and start looking at your surgery as a positive step towards a better quality of life. I know you're second guessing your decision to have this surgery. The unvarnished truth is that you DID have the surgery, and if you can be patient, you might just find out that was a very good decision after all.

Yes, there will be quirks in our GI systems due to the changes that the surgery creates. I for one, am so happy to have my lungs back to normal that I'll gladly deal with some extra gas or an occasional spasm. My GI tract was not working for me pre-surgery, and I can put up with a few inconveniences if it means that I'm not coughing constantly, and am breathing easier!

Try to keep a positive attitude, and the whole healing process will go easier. I'm glad you've joined us here at the forum. This is the place where I received the critical support and encouragement I needed to get through those early weeks.
Hang in there! Things will get better gradually, and suddenly you'll find your self eating normally again.

Take care, Stormie!
Best wishes for speedy healing.
Denise
Posted 2/2/2010 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
That sounds soooo exciting Joy, can't wait for my turn! LOLOL I'm sure it will come soon enough, i've made it this far, guess a couple more weeks wont hurt. My biggest thing i want to try is a soft taco and of course a diet soda. LOL Sounds silly, but its what i'm craving. LOL I won't though till i have made it to the 6 week mark, just making extra sure i'm not rushing anything, so there won't be any problems hopefully. You're right about the pain, maybe it is a spasm, it doesn't feel like one, but don't know what else it could be, so maybe it doesn't feel like one because there is still swelling and that is making it feel different than a normal one. As long as it stays the same and not get any worse i won't worry too much, it is just so uncomfortable.. Thanks Joy for emailing and letting me know how you are doing it gives me such hope.... Take care
Posted 2/2/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
Denise, thanks also for the support. I did not realize the middle of the chest is where the surgery was done???? I was assuming it was at the rib cage area just above the abdomin? If that is where the surgery was done, that probably explains the pain due to swelling then. Guess i'm confused on where and how this surgery was done. LOLOL Thanks for clearing that up, i had no idea and that would explain where the pain is coming from. Thats why i'm so glad when i hear from you all, you put things in perspective for me and that calms my fears. I guess i still need reassurance since i'm still healing ever so slowly. It is so appreciated i just cant say thank you enough for the encouragement.
Posted 2/12/2010 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
Stormie

Just wondered how you got on at your doctors appointment? Hope you got some answers to the things that have been bothering you. Also wanted to say that your symptoms now seem quite similar to mine at the moment.

My op was 3.5 weeks ago now and I am still suffering with post-surgery pain.

I went to see my general practitioner a week ago and I got some good advice from him.

I was like you and doing very little indeed and suffering badly with one of the wounds in particular.

He basically said that although your scars looks good from the surface you are kidding yourself if you think its anything like as good inside. Someone else also said this in a post. He said my wound pain was due to two things:

1. They had cut through muscle which will take at least another month to heal.

2. It felt as if I have a bit of a haematoma in the wound. This wound was a bleeder I was told in hospital. He said it could take several months for the body to get rid of solidified blood.

Last week I was back at work on half days and things were getting better. This week I'm back to full days and I'm suffering more again. It isn't the same level of pain as before though but I still find its very tiring and mentally draining.

I also get the pain behind the bottom of my ribs and stomach.

His advice to me was:

1. The problem with the scars is they are very painful when you move. Mainly because they are tightening up while you are sitting doing nothing. He said that I have to keep moving around gently all the time so they are constantly being stretched. It will be painful but it will get better. Last week I was moving around well, this week I'm sitting at a desk for longer hours and it gets worse as the day progresses.

2. The pain behind my ribs is again due to internal scarring and stretching of it. Its also down to bloating which is a symptoms we all seem to have been suffering from for some length of time. The pain can also affect me lower down in my stomach and this is due to air making its way out the opposite end. (Normally it silently seeps back out your mouth).

In both cases these are known issues post surgery with the bloating being more specific for people having GI surgery like the Nissen Fundoplication.

The scar pain will get better over time. How long and how bad the pain is depends on how careful your surgeon was, how well your body heals and how regularly you gently stretch the scars. There is also the fact that we all have different pain thresholds.

The bloating issue will take longer to resolve itself as the body has to adjust to the sudden changes you have forced upon it by surgery. Just because we have had a wrap doesn't mean that certain foods won't upset us more than others. Liquid diets are actually not great for us as we aren't giving the acid anything to digest and gas can form more easily as the acid is only breaking up liquids rather than solids. I know you didn't have reflux yourself but the diet might be causing more acid than before.

In my case the over production of acid is still going on. Now I'm off my PPIs i'm probably producing more than ever. He said the surgeon wants me off them to ensure the wrap has done its job. There is a strong likelihood that I'll have to go back on a lower dose of the tablets just to ensure the acid doesn't end up giving me an stomach ulcer. All that extra upset to the stomach is going to make things more tender and make any pain worse.

I find that some days I can burp and if that's happening, although somewhat embaressing at work, the bloating isn't as bad. Days when I can't burp cause my stomach to feel swollen and I get more pain. I also get a quick fit of the hiccups which seem to be caused by being unable to burp. When this happen the chest pain is really bad. I also find it harder to swallow any food on these days. Makes sense really as I'm not only trying to force food down a swollen tube that has been deliberately narrowed at one end but I have a large build up of gas the other side trying to escape at the same time forcing itself against it.

My diet is still not great. I'm living on spaghetti bolognaise, white fish, crisps (chips) made from wheat (they melt in the mouth) and strawberry jelly. I even find mashed potatoes too much despite it being on my diet sheet. I've steered away from soup as it bloats me out very quickly and I end up feeling sick. I also drink very little water while I'm eating. I drink an hour either side of meals. This bit of advice was hidden away in my diet book. Which incidently also says I should be on soft food after 3 weeks.

Despite my best attempts sometimes I'm just not interested in eating, mainly when I'm bloated, so I'm taking chewable multi-vitamin tablets. I've lost 10 pounds since the surgery and the weight loss has slowed over the last week so I know I'm eating better now.

I don't get to see my consultant until 9th March but I'll post any other advice or information he gives me.

Hope things get better for you and you get some answers.

I've booked a Cruise holiday in March to cheers myself up and make things up to my wife for having to listen to my constant complaining over the last week weeks. Figured if I'm going to feel lousy I should at least have the sun shining around me.

 

Posted 2/12/2010 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
These websites are the best I've found that describe exactly what they do in the nissen fundoplication operation:

http://www.ctsnet.org/sections/clinicalresources/thoracic/freeman.html

http://www.laparoscopy.net/reflux/reflux8.htm

Posted 2/12/2010 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
I caught a cold and am coughing alot right now. It's causing spasms in my chest like I've overate. I took some Loratab and am going to sleep in a little bit. I feel rotten. :(

Joy
Posted 2/12/2010 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
Feel better Joy!

Gerri, I found your information helpful. I hope that you are feeling a little better. I am also 3.5 weeks out - will be 4 on Monday. There seem to be good days and bad. I guess it is all normal.

Stacey.
Posted 2/25/2010 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I had this operation on the 23rd November 2008 and despite the pain after the op and the usual not being able to eat after and no burping or being sick I was over the moon not to have the constant heartburn,acid reflux which had become so bad I could not keep any food down at all.

I had a full360 degree wrap.

The bloating after meals did subside after a few months and although I could only eat tiny meals and lost a lot of weight I felt great.

Sadly a month ago I was taken into hospital with severe pain under my ribs which was diagnosed as gall stones.I was heaving constantly with the nausea but was confident Icouldn't be sick however 4th day of this I was violently sick.This was very distressing.

I had the same surgeon who had done the previous op andhesaid the danger of being sick and heaving is that the stitches used for the wrap would cheesewire through the stomach wall and undo everything.I was sent down for emergency gall bladder removal after which the nauseaand sickness stopped.

Sadly though since that I have had all the acid reflux and heartburn back.I can now also burp which I obviously couldn't before. You don't realise how amazing the operationwasuntil the symptoms return and to say I am devastated is an understatement.

I am now in the process of being referred back to the surgeon to discuss my options.

I would have a repeat operation done without any hesitation.All the affects of the op are worth the outcome without a doubt.

I would be happy to answer any question regarding recovery from the operation.

I would also  be interested to hear how many people have had this operation and then later went on to have their gall bladder removed as there does seem to be soem connection from what research I have done. 

Post Edited (todd1074) : 2/25/2010 4:04:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/7/2010 9:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I had the lap nissen done five years ago due to my stomach and esophagus being lined with ulcers. Needless to say my operation FAILED....I was barely back in my room after the procedure and I started vomiting horrifically and vomiting blood as well...it lasted for about 7 hours before the nurse gave me anti nausea medication that is used for cancer patients. I am having a re-scope done to see if the wrap had slipped witch I am pretty sure it slipped or the stitches came undone that night because I was throwing up so violently, so now five years later I may be having to re-do the procedure.....I have had 3 lower back surgeries and the lap nissen beat them all in regards to the recovering process...it was awful and all for nothing. I know its not just "In my head"....because if it was then my head would be telling me not to pay out of the behind for the nexium which by the way I can take up to 6 per day plus go through and entire bottle of tums in less than a week. So with that being said if you can avoid the operation....I WOULD!!!!
Before my operation at least once a week in the middle of the night I would get up to vomit, now its really only when I am sick or when I try to take meds......
Just thought I'd share my story...if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask...
H
Posted 3/7/2010 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW,
How horrible that you had such complication with your surgery.
That was a sorry hospital to let you go through that ordeal. I hoped you sued!
My doctor loaded me down with antinausea meds so I wouldn't throw up after surgery and tear things.
I've healed very nicely and have had no troubles.
Our own Bill here has had to have a re-do because of an improperly done procedure. You can talk to him about what it involves in a re-do.

Joy
Posted 3/8/2010 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Joy,
Thank you for your welcome and reply. I am glad your operation went well. I didnt sue however after my operation I found out the surgeon that did my lap was involved in litigation already.....and its been five years so I doubt now that I even have a case. He had a "god" complex I should have known better but I would have done anything for the acid reflux to go away. I really really DO NOT want a re-do. I go in on the 19th for another EGD and if all looks good I will get a PH test and some other kind of test to see what the problem is.
I also have fatty infiltration of the liver and I am not overweight....heck how can I can I be when I throw up almost everything and can only eat crackers...LOL.....I have to laugh or I'll just cry.
I was reading about other poor people that have had to do the laps for the second time and they had to go open since the first was a lap...I really dont want that....I had to stay in the hospital 3 days as it was so I hope they can just use the five incisions the first idiot provided me with for the rest of my life.
Well wish me luck on the 19th and thank you again for your reply....its nice to talk to someone who knows how it feels...


"I'm only 31 and feel like I am 85 LOL"
Posted 3/8/2010 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
MiddleRae-
Well unfortunately they usually don;t use the same incisions again. I asked them to, but I now have 10. I just think of them as connect the dots. LOL! I had troubles for just about 3 years before they figured out what was wrong with my wrap. I really do understand where you are coming from. You said you have to laugh or you'll just cry...... I am the same way. I have been told many times here to keep my great attitude towards all I've been through and I do believe it and the people here are about all that kept me sane through the three weeks in the hospital.
As far as redos being done open.... it's done a lot more lap now than before. My surgeon said he has only done a few open. Find a surgeon who has done many successful redos, at a teaching hospital if possible.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/8/2010 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
The other test is probably the dreaded motility test. I don't ever want to go through that again. :(

I'm three months post-op and my scars are still red.

Joy
Posted 3/9/2010 5:55 AM (GMT 0)
Bill / Joy
Thank you!

Bill - WOW! You have been through it all. After my lap nissen I said I still had reflux and he insisted it was residual and we did another scope and he said it looked almost 100% better! I didnt beileve him and dont beilieve him. I know what I feel and nexium and tums ease the pain. I am almost 100% the wrap slipped or came undone when I was vomitng post op for nearly 8 hours. The doctor doing the scope is a general surgeon and the closest teaching hospital is about 2.5 hours away in Oklahoma City....if the hospital stay is only a few days I'll go but you said you were in there 3 weeks? wow!! I just wish it would have taken the first go round....its hard to keep a positive attitude when you know the OR better than some nurses and doctors.

My scars are short in length but wide and they are purple, have been...but I think its because I tan, I dont think I can take another five!!! Maybe they can make it into one big circle!

This sucks so bad! I am getting depressed just thinking about it!!

Joy - a motility test doest sound familiar but it does start with an "m" for sure.......maybe it was...do they usually do that in conjunction with the PH test?? I hope your scars lose the color, unlike mine I still have them but they are a pretty purple *sarcastic*

Thanks guys....it means a lot!!

Hollie
Posted 3/9/2010 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
The official name is manometry test. Some doctors do them together. My doctor did them several months apart.

Joy
Posted 3/10/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
You can watch a surgery video and listen to Dr's comments via the University of Maryland.

If you have to have surgery, get a surgeon who has done lots and lots of the proceedures.

Posted 3/10/2010 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I saw that video. It was very informative and a little disconcerning because I saw it just a week before my surgery. rolleyes


I don't remember much of the OR. As soon as they rolled me in they put me on the table, stretched my arms out and I woke up a little in recovery. I remember I kept waking up asking for water and saying I was hurting. They would repeat "we can't give you anything until you wake up" and I'd fall back asleep again. mad

The next time I woke up they were rolling me down a hallway. I fell asleep again and they woke me up to put me in the bed in my room. I had to grab a trapeze bar and help lift myself into the bed. mad I woke up sometime later complaining of pain and a nurse gave me a shot and my parents rubbed ice chips on my lips. turn I finally became alert around 2 and they brought me a popcicle. That was heaven! tongue



That pain shot was the last pain med I needed in the hospital. I only took 4 more doses of Loratab over the next four days and that was mainly to sleep.





Joy
Posted 3/10/2010 9:01 AM (GMT 0)
Joy,

I read about the manometry test and it sounds like its almost like the PH test so why not do them together...the only difference I can see is the PH test is 24 hours. Do you have to stay up 24 hours so you can hit the button every time you have reflux? If that is the case I can just tape my finger to the button and hold it down because if I have to come off my PPI's then my reflux will be constant......so at least I can sleep if I just keep my finger on the button....LOL.

I half way hope that the wrap has slipped so I can just go ahead and get the stupid surgery again........but if it is still tight and that is not the problem I will feel like I am back at the drawing board and I dont want ONE more stupid doctor telling me its in my head.....I know what it feels like and its been enough years for the healing and residual anything to be gone.....

I am rather pessimistic today eh???  eyes

Thanks for reading me rant......tongue

Posted 3/10/2010 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry i havn't written in awhile. I am 2 months post op and everyone was right. I am much better. Guess i was trying to hurry things up too much. Now i feel almost normal again, and can eat a fair amount, so i am happy with that. I truly thought i was doomed to eating only a couple bites a day for the rest of my life. LOLOL  Not so! I can still burp, which i am pleased with, cuz not being able to at first after the surgery was scarey, cuz i was so used to being able to, so i'm glad that didn't change for me. Things still get stuck alittle when i eat, but i just take a drink of my beloved soda that i can have now and things move right along. I just wanted everyone to know that i am doing ok and thanks again to helping me get through such a horrible time.  I didn't think i was going to make it mentally or physically but as you can see i hung in there and with time things got much better. Thanks for putting up with me asking so many questions on a daily basis. 
Posted 3/11/2010 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
(((((((((((((((((Stormie)))))))))))))))))))))))

I missed you! :))

I was just thinking the other day how did everything go for you. I'm so glad everything is good.


Rae, you can sleep with the ph testing going on. Going off the PPIs for the testing is rough for many people. My doctor didn't make me go off them for the bravo test.
I think I've heard someone here mention that they had both tests done at the same time.


Joy
Posted 3/11/2010 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
   Thanks Joy, for thinking of me! glad you are doing well also. Hard to believe it was just a few short weeks ago that i thought my life was completely over the way i knew it. but you kept reassuring me as did others, that it would get better and better as time goes. I had so many problems at first with my bowels shutting down and having to go back in the hospital for a week and then not eating , then choking, and the constant pain, I was so depressed and angry at myself for having the surgery. But here i am today and i really am grateful for the worst being over and i am truly on the road to complete recovery. My advice to anyone going through this surgery, would be give it time, it really will get better, don't over do it and just wait it out. Im so happy these days now i can't believe it myself that i am the same person, considering how upset and sick i was not so long ago. As a matter of fact, i'm so much better and so much back to my normal self, i'm almost afraid that maybe it came undone, LOLOLOL  How else could i possible be this good. LOLOLOL  As a matter of fact while i was so sick, i prayed that it would come undone or slip and i would not do anything to fix it, i would just leave it alone, and i would be normal again. LOLOL  but all i know is i feel great and whatever the reason is, i don't care. hahahaha  Take care my friend, and keep doing well also. Much thanks again to everyone and their wonderful advice and support. I couldn't have survived without you all, I was really on the brink, and you all helped me pull through.
Posted 3/11/2010 8:47 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Joy!
If my wrap has slipped or come totally undone I wonder if I should let my general surgeon re-do it. Maybe I should go to a gastro doc? I suppose I'll find out next friday if I even need to go that route.
Thx again,
Hollie
Posted 3/12/2010 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
I'd go to a bariactric (sp?) surgeon, one who is experienced in the gastric area.

Joy
Posted 3/12/2010 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Joy! Hopefully I wont have to even think about that.......one week from today I will find out :)
Thx
Posted 4/8/2010 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
It did me wonders to read all these posts especially Stormie's.

I have been getting depressed and down in the dumps which is not myself lately. Every day I wake up and I am nauseated and I have to take the medicine, my body tries to throw up but I can't. I can burp which is a God sent. But I recently got constipated and had to take something for it, thank the Lord I went yesterday with a lot of pain and a lot of straining and pushing which I know wasn't good for my insides since surgery was 3/1/10.

I am just so tired of the eating problem, the drinking problem and the gas and just not feeling well at all.

I rambled on yesterday how I wished I never had this done as this recovery sucks!!!!

Half the time I am not hungry at all but my stomach hurts for food, I can eat small amounts and that is it. I am sick of crackers, yogurts and most of all I am tired of being so thirsty but I can't take large gulps as that is when the pain comes from the throat locking up or a nasty spasm.

PHEW!! Thanks for letting me vent!!!! I pray there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
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