Problems after " Laprascopic Nissen Fundoplication "

theade

Hello and welcome to HealingWell.  I am glad you found us.  You will find the members wise and caring.  If you read through the threads of other members who have had the surgery you will find tons of information.

I know one of our great members will be along to visit with you about your issues.

With it being a holiday weekend you may find the boards are a little quieter so do bare with us.

Again a warm welcome.

Kitt

HI Theade,
Theade, are you able get a second opinion and checkup and see what happen to the wrap? I am hoping you will find a resolution soon from the dr.
Please take care of yourself.

Marie

Hi Threade,
I'm so sorry to hear that you're having lots of troubles post surgery. That isn't typical. I assume that you've discussed these problems with your GI doc and surgeon?

I had my surgery four months ago, and am getting back to normal eating. I do continue to chew my food carefully and eat more slowly, but can eat anything. In fact, I'm gaining back the weight I lost initially (which I don't want to do).

Some people have difficulty with the surgery--usually due to a surgeon who makes the wrap too tight--thus making swallowing difficult. Are you being very careful to take small bites and chew your food thoroughly? Gurgling in the stomach/intestine is something that can happen occasionally, when the wrap is irritated, or I overdo and eat too much or the wrong things. When that happens, I usually have a day or two of loose stools or diarrhea. It's not a big deal, though, and doesn't always happen when I overdo it eating.

Please be sure to follow up with your doctors. Some people find it necessary to have their wraps dilated/enlarged, if they're wrapped too tightly.
I wish you the best of luck! Please continue to post your questions here, and we'll try to do our best to support you through this difficult time.
Denise

Hi Ade,
I think you definitely need to eat smaller bites, slower, and only eat things that can be chewed to a liquid at this point in your recovery--especially since you're having some back-up at the wrap. Chances are, you've had a little residual food stopping at the wrap, and sitting at the bottom of your esophagus. Then you cough up the saliva/glue and you're good to go.

Be sure to drink liquids with your meals. Most people find hot tea to be really helpful in relaxing the esophagus and facilitating swallowing.

I agree that it is hard to change years of eating habits, and it's natural to revert back to the way we've eaten our entire lives. I'm 57 and just had the surgery this past February...I've always been a pretty slow eater, but even at that I've had to slow down a lot. If my 27 year old son had this surgery, he'd have a real problem, since he eats unbelievably fast. So...you'll have to change your habits of a lifetime--at least for the time being.

It has been said that the first 80%-90% or so of your healing takes place in the first 6 or so months, and the rest takes about a year. From what I hear, you'll always have to be a bit more careful chewing (I have an acquaintance who is 2 years post surgery, and still can have a problem if she (for example) swallows a piece of bagel without chewing it properly--she's thrilled with the results of the surgery, though).

See what happens if you slow down and drink water/tea (hot/warm liquid seems the most helpful) when you eat. Of course you can still contact your surgeon/GI doc for his/her opinion. At this point in your recovery, you might want to continue to sleep with an elevated bed or a wedge. That will alleviate the pressure on the wrap at night. Even though you now have a working wrap, it probably would be best not to eat just before going to bed, since your stomach seems to be reacting at night.

Let us know how things go. There are lots of people on this forum who have had the surgery, and if you ask questions, they can help you out. It's unfortunate that your surgeon didn't prepare you properly for the post-surgical recovery period. I was fortunate to have thoroughly researched it, and asked my surgeon a million questions. I was ready for anything!

Good luck, Ade.
Be sure to keep posting on the forum!
Denise

Hi Denise ...Bill ..
Thank you so much for your replies.."Much appreciated "
Well i have done as you said and Had my food at a slower pace with smaller bites and am chewing the hell out of everything and so far it is making one huge difference as i find it easier to swallow now . I am still getting pains in my chest area what seems to be where the repair was done " around that area i guess" it is a funny pain and it comes sometimes after i have eaten and had a large drink . I got in touch with my surgeons secretary and the upper GI nurse and they are sending me an appointment out in the post for a ( BARIUM MEAL & XRAY ) now will someone please explain to me what this is for ??

Kind regards and thank you again
Adrian

Hi Ade,
I checked online and got this info about a barium meal. The Barium Meal info is below the Barium Swallow info. Hope you find it helpful. I've had a barium swallow, and it's no big deal at all. Actually, the barium drink was much better than I expected. Good luck!
Denise

Types of barium test

Depending on what part of your gut is being looked at, you may have one or more of the tests listed below. In each test, the barium coats the lining of the gut being tested. Therefore, abnormalities in the lining or structure of the gut can be seen on the x-ray pictures.

In each of the following tests, several x-ray pictures are taken using low dose x-rays. The total amount of radiation for each test is quite small and thought to be safe. The x-ray machine is usually linked to a TV monitor. Still pictures, or a video recording of x-ray pictures taken in quick succession, can be taken if necessary.

Barium Swallow
In this test you drink some barium liquid. The barium liquid is often fruit flavoured so it is OK to drink. You stand in front of an x-ray machine whilst x-ray pictures are taken as you swallow. This test aims to look for problems in the oesophagus (gullet) such as a stricture (narrowing), hiatus hernias, tumours, reflux from the stomach, disorders of swallowing, etc. You will usually be asked not to eat or drink for a few hours before this test. A barium swallow test takes about 10 minutes.

Barium Meal
This is similar to a barium swallow (above) but aims to look for problems in the stomach and duodenum such as ulcers, polyps, tumours, etc. You drink some barium liquid, but you then lie on a couch whilst x-ray pictures are taken over your abdomen. It may take a little longer to do than a barium swallow.

So that the barium coats all around the lining of the stomach, the doctor doing the test (radiologist) may do one or more of the following:

* Ask you to swallow some bicarbonate powder and citric acid before swallowing the barium. These 'fizz up' when they mix in the stomach and make some gas. (You may have to resist the urge to burp.) The gas expands the stomach and duodenum and also pushes the barium to coat the lining of the stomach and duodenum. This makes the x-ray pictures much clearer as it is the shape and contours of the lining of the stomach and duodenum which needs to be seen most clearly on the pictures.
* Ask you to turn over onto your stomach on the couch. Various x-ray pictures may be taken whilst you are in different positions.
* Give you an injection of a drug that makes the muscles in the stomach and gut relax.

You will usually be asked not to eat anything for several hours before this test. (Food particles in the gut can make it difficult to interpret the x-rays.) However, you may be allowed sips of water up to two hours before the test.

Adrian -
In my experience with the "crystals" is they make you start to burp even as they are in your esophagus. I am not sure if they ever make it in my stomach or not. I have had this yest done with and without them. It's really not a big deal, just feels like I drank warm soda really fast and it causes a small burp feeling. I hope that makes sense to you.
Denise and Kitt are they information Gurus! I have learned a ton from those two. I think I am gonna start using them instead of my search engines. Much easier for me ! LOL.

Take care,
Bill

Wow, Brenda, something is so wrong. I would go back to the Dr.

I had my nissan fund.. on Nov 3rd. Still not normal. No pain, but loud belching, and a few throwing up sessions,but mostly regurgiating a small amout of food that I ate hours ago. I think it gets stuck above the valve. I may be eating to much and too fast yet.

I would not recomment this surgery to anyone that doesn't need it very badly. I had it because my whole stomach was up in my chest and worried it would twist and die. I only had symtoms then when I ate like others, i.e..a big meal and dessert. I had no symtoms if I ate small amounts at a time and often. I didn't have heartburn, but now I do. Have to take Prilosec now.

My Dr didn't explain much to me either. I did well right away,but it got worse. Wish I would have started out on liquids,ect. I was told to eat as tolerated?????

Now when I bend over, I have reguritation. As so many on here say give it time, maybe even 6 months, I haven't been back to the Dr, since two week checkup when I was doing well.

Brenda and jane,
Both of you are suffering from something wrong with your wrap. I suggest you both go back to your surgeon or gastroenterologist and tell them what's happening.
Brenda,
First, the pain should not be that bad. I was off pain meds in three days.
Second, there should be no bleeding going on.
Third, if he's dismissing you, find a different doctor to talk to.

Jane,
If you're throwing up alot you need to slow down you're eating and chew small bites very well. If you're already doing this and still throwing up then go back and tell the doctor about it. You're wrap maybe too tight.

I wish you both good luck and I hope you stick around and let us know how you're doing.

Try vienna sausages they're bologna tasting. You have to nibble and chew very well to get it down.

Could be?

I am still having alot of pains in my throat and chest area. it sucks, cause i am up all night, in rocking pain like a child. it feels like someone just punched me as hard as they could in the throat... it feels like someone is slowly squeezing and tightening my throat with a pair of vice-grips...
i sure wish i could have bounced back from this the way my friend did. i guess everyone heals differently. i just have so many complications., when does it get better?