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Nissen re-do (open)

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Posted 11/27/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
I'm a 75 yr old woman, had an open nissen re-do abt 3 months ago, and am still having some recovery problems.  I haven"t been able to find anyone who experienced my type of surgery.   The docs went through my back on the left side, cut a rib in two, deflated my left lung, and did the needed repair.  Has anyone else had this type of surgery?
Posted 11/27/2010 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've never heard of it being done from the back. Because of his method you're probably going to have a long recovery.
Posted 11/27/2010 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Right. I'm finding that out. When I went to the university, the doc gave me no choice pre-surgery because I had had laporascopic the first time. I've been so depressed about my weakness and slow to recuperate. I can eat about anything, no heartburn or gerd, so I'm working hard as I can to get my weight and strength back up. Just a couple weeks prior to surgery I had a really bad case of diverticulitis and lost a lot of weight there, so I was probably a little run down going in. Still having pain on left side of ribs to waist. Feels like nerves were damaged, but skin still super sensitive. Does any of this make sense to anyone and hints about getting strength back would be appreciated.
Posted 11/27/2010 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Pain's probably from the ribs being broken. They might have messed up some nerves. I wonder if a TENS unit would help you? You could ask your doctor to prescribe you one.
Posted 11/27/2010 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
inka

I am so sorry to hear of your slow recovery and the pain.  Cutting 2 ribs is just like breaking two ribs and deflating your lung ~ wow.  I suspect your continuing, chronic pain is  due to the physical trauma of the surgery.

Please do talk with your Dr. re your recovery.  That sounds like a tough surgery for anyone.  Please know we are here for you.

Kindly,

Kitt


Posted 11/28/2010 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
It used to be quite common to do a thoracic approach about ten years ago, but I don't think it's done that often now. They must have needed to let the esophagus down quite a bit and didn't want to do a Collis. Spreading the ribs causes a lot of trauma. Actually the docs who do the best work are still thoracic surgeons. The top ones often do re-do surgery laproscopically, but they won't promiss to not change and do open or even thoracic once they get in there.
Posted 11/28/2010 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
I wasn't aware that it was an older approach. Yes, they had a lot of work to do lengthening my esophagus. At a university teaching hospital, I assumed it was the only way to go. After 50 years of gerd damage, it may well have been.

Joy:
Thank you for mentioning the tens- I actually do have one, but hadn't thought about. I'll give it a try.

Alice,
I hate to admit that I haven't seen a doctor since my surgery. I couldn't face the all day drive plus wait for the post-surgery, and my local gastroenterologist closed his office shortly after setting me up for the surgery.

I had records sent to a local g.i. for post-op but when I got there he didn't have the slightest idea why I was there, and hadn't taken the time to read the surgery records or my past g.i. history, and he wasn't the least bit interested.

I'm assuming that every thing went fine and I'm just having a hard recovery.

Thank you all for your support. It helps
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