Nissan laproscopic fundoplication

Hi Terri,
Congrats on joining those of us in the "wrapped club"! I'm sure your surgeon gave you an eating protocol to follow. Keep in mind that your new wrap becomes progressively swollen over the first two weeks. Because of that, your swallowing will get worse before it gets better again. "This too will pass" is a good saying to remember. If you can surrender to the recovery, and it let it lead you, everything will go more smoothly. The more you fight it, the harder it will be for you.

My surgeon said that during the healing process, pretty much anything can happen. He said that whenever he thinks he's heard all the symptoms there could be post-surgery, he hears a new one!

Above all, know that (once that initial swelling recedes) each day will move you closer and closer to normal. It takes time, but you'll get there before you know it. Four months post surgery we went on vacation, and I was eating anything i wanted to eat--very normally.
Hang in there, girl!
Heal well...
Denise

@ Joy, I imagine you wrote about your decision to do the Hill rather than Nissen, but I don't know where to find that. What led you to consider and then have the Hill? Sounds like it worked for you.

My 7
The Hill operation is called a Hill gastropexy or Hill repair. It is not a fundoplication since it doesn't use the fundus part of the stomach for a wrap. It's merely a bunch of sutures doing the tightening and attaching the esophagus to the ligaments in the abdominal wall. There is a terrific explanation of the types that was printed in Nature magazine, if you google hill gastropexy and then click on the second picture of a stomach.
I had a Toupet fundoplication, which is a partial wrap. They use the fundus as in the full Nissen, but don't wrap all the way around. This was chosen by my doc because I have a weak swallow reflex.

For others-
It should not be the patient who decides the procedure. The surgeon should make the decision based on the patient's symptoms and the test results. If your surgeon only does one kind of procedure, I would get a second opinion. Get a copy of all test results and take them with you. Here in Pittsburgh I know of three reputable surgeons. Every big center probably has more than one. Ask your gastroenterologist.

OK, it is four weeks post surgery and I am still eating mainly full liquid diet, I can get some potatoes down, any ideas on what to try?

Potatoes aren't always the easiest to get down. Have you tried small bites of things that can be chewed to a liquid? Are you saying that you can't swallow anything but liquid? Four weeks isn't that long, Terri. The recovery is slow. If you can let your body's recovery lead the way and try not to struggle against it, it'll be easier to tolerate. You WILL be able to eat normally again.

Does your surgeon think that your eating problems are out of the norm? I suggest you try a variety of foods and see which can be chewed to a liquid. The chewing is very satisfying, and much better than staying on a liquid diet. I remember eating some nice crepe manicotti when I was in the early stages of recovery.

Do you have a slow cooker? You could cook some carrots, potatoes, onion, and some beef for hours until it's really soft. It'll be tasty and delicious.

Just experiment and try not to get too anxious. Unless your surgeon thinks you should be swallowing more easily at this point, I suggest you try to relax and go with the recovery. As I said, four weeks is very early in the process.
Hang in there. You'll be eating like you used to before you know it!
Take care and have a happy Easter!
Denise

The heavy liquid diet can cause stomach upset after awhile. You need to get some solids to thicken you. If you make the potatoes very soupy it would be okay.

Joy