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Fundoplication right before Wedding?

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Posted 3/15/2011 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
I have suffered reflux from a small hiatal hernia

for over 12 years now.  The meds stopped working

and my doctors are encouraging me to

get the Fundoplication.

I have had some really bad choking/vomiting problems

and my fiance thinks I should have this done

before our wedding/honeymoon.

After talking with the staff, they may only have room to

do the surgery 7 weeks pre-wedding.

Is that cutting it too close? 

Is that enough time to heal?

Will I have major food

and bloating issues during my wedding and honeymoon?


Do you think I should wait?  My main concern is giving

myself more time to heal before we start a family...

and wanting a honeymoon free of acid. 

Posted 3/15/2011 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
7 weeks?!
You will still be on the restricted diet- no wedding cake!
You'll also still be restricted some on how much you "exercise" and lifting things.
I think it's too close.
Posted 3/15/2011 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
How long until you are on a normal diet? My doctor said after 2-3 weeks I can eat anything, as long as I take smaller bites and eat slowly.
Posted 3/15/2011 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi fundobride,

If you want to really enjoy your reception and honeymoon, I would go for closer to 4 months post op. It's cutting it close, unless you don't mind not being able to eat normally--which I doubt.

At 7 weeks your recovery would be well on its way, but you would not be eating normal amounts yet, and your swallowing would be more dicey. Depending on your surgeon, your eating protocol would vary...some keep their patients on liquid then soft foods for quite a while. (mine didn't, but many do)

It sounds like the surgery is a great idea, and would improve your quality of life, but not that close to your wedding day.

Congratulations! Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 3/15/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
It really depends on you. I am 7 weeks out and i am pretty much back to normal. I have been on normal foods for a couple of weeks with no issues. a couple of things to consider:
1. you will lose on average of 15-20lbs. if you already have your dress you might be in trouble with size.
2. you will not be able to eat very much even at 7 weeks.
3. your scars are still pretty ugly at this point and stand out. so honeymoon = no bikini........
4. if it works it is totally worth it.

but like i said each person handles it differently. Negative would be if you have a bad reaction it could ruin your wedding day. so really it is up to you.
Posted 3/15/2011 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
I think that is too close too. I made the mistake of getting my Nissen Fundoplication on the day BEFORE Thanksgiving in 2004. It took me a couple of months before I did not struggle with food. It was to fix my GERD and a large HH. I just had the FIT done last Tuesday and I am having some difficulty. If I were to do it over, not within 6 months of anything important!!!!

Good Luck!
Joan
Posted 3/15/2011 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
As much as I would love to get it down, it sounds like 7 weeks may be too close. My surgeon seemed so confident, that I wasn't as worried.

My dress can easily be taken in, so the weight thing doesn't bother me. I have no desire to wear a bikini...but I would love to swim and have some amount of activity level and eating options for the honeymoon.
Posted 3/15/2011 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi fundobride,

I had the surgery a little over two years ago. I was ready for anything...expecting an unbearable recovery. I was pleasantly surprised, and and quick to tell others that the recovery was much easier than I could have ever hoped for.

That said, I have found (reading posts here) that surgeons have no idea what the recovery is really like. They really don't prepare their patients for what they will be experiencing. These surgeons have never had to deal with a recovery like this, and are thinking of it in purely healing/medical terms. They are quick to make light of the recovery experience.

It doesn't surprise me that your surgeon would think it would be easy to have the surgery and a wedding seven weeks later.

Look, you could do it. You would be fine. It might be better than the alternative--reflux and discomfort.

That said, I would worry that you might not be able to enjoy the fullness of your wedding and honeymoon in the midst of early recovery. We vacationed at 16 weeks, and I was able to thoroughly enjoy eating out at fine restaurants.

You know yourself best. Which is more important?
Good luck with your decision, and have a wonderful wedding!
Denise
Posted 3/16/2011 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I really appreciate all the advice and well wishes.  I will tell the surgery department that they either have to get me in over the next two weeks or wait until after the wedding.  I hate to prolong it, but I also want to be able to eat more than soft food and liquids on my honeymoon. 
Posted 3/16/2011 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Fundobride - Every one is not the same - we all heal different depending on the type of surgery being done. In my case, i had a large hiatal hernia and a 270 degree stomach wrap done on 9/01/10. It has been well over 6 months and i am still having major problems with food rejection, bloating, gas, vomiting and all types of stomach noises. All of this in my case, was because of them not doing enough testing before the surgery and errors were made. The only advice i can give you is that REALLY KNOW your doctors before you have the surgery done and let them tell you about your recovery time. One is on a liquid diet for 30 days after surgery, soft food 60 to 90 days, then other foods usually after that depending on ones healing powers. I wish you luck in your up coming wedding and the best of luck to you if you have the surgery done before the wedding. Take care bob
Posted 3/16/2011 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Fundobride-
It sounds like you have a very minor case. Surgery is a LAST resort. So make sure you really need it before getting it. A small hiatal hernia is nothing. Half the people get one sometime and most of them have no problem based just on that.

I agree with the majority posters - have it at least 4 months prior to wedding if at all possible. At 7 weeks you SHOULD still be eating soft diet. People who push it often regret it. We see the posts!

You will be VERY active in the weeks before and after the wedding. No way should you be doing all the stuff brides-to-be do right after major surgery!
Posted 3/16/2011 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
How do you know if I have a mild case?

Yes, my hernia is small, but one shouldn't assume that means my reflux is minor.

Let me tell you...it isn't.

I have been on medications for this over the last 12 years.  I have tried nexium, protonix, prilosec...etc.  and they have me on very high doses that are simply not working anymore.

I can't count the number of times over the last year I have woken up choking on my vomit from the reflux and acid.  It is disgusting and miserable.  I have tried everything, diet changes...no spicy food, never eating late, sleeping on a slanted pillow.  I have also tried homeopathic methods.   My regular doctor, GI specialist, and surgeon have all convinced me this is the best thing for me to do, since my the scoping showed irritation of the esophogus and the barium swallow showed that the hernia still is causing reflux. 

I would never take surgery lightly.  In fact, I really had to be convinced this was the last resort by all my doctors. 

I appreciate all the advice and will try and delay the procedure until after the wedding. 

Posted 3/16/2011 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Fundobride,

It's too bad that your docs didn't get to this place earlier, and you could have had the surgery in time. You and your doctors are the only ones to make the decision regarding the surgery.

I had an even less likely reason to have the surgery--I had a small hiatal hernia, and I never got the regurge that you and others suffer with. I had a small amount of reflux that caused terrible problems with my lungs.

It took YEARS before my GI doc was convinced that I needed the surgery. During that time I suffered greatly with my asthma, and took high doses of steroids, which have had a lasting negative effect on my health.

Even a seemingly "very small problem" can cause lots of trouble to your health and well being. It doesn't sound like yours is a small problem. The good news is that they type of reflux you have, is the type that is most likely helped by the surgery.

Be sure to stick around with us! When your surgery gets closer it would be good for you to start a thread asking for tips regarding what to have in your house when you have the surgery, and what to expect afterward.

Until then, have fun planning your wedding, enjoying your wedding, and having a great adventure on your honeymoon!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 3/19/2011 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
I had a small hernia; didn't even know I had one, but I had severe reflux; the size of the hernia really doesn't determine whether one had a minor or major case. Mine was major major; I had lung and vocal chord damage, esophageal damage, but a tiny hernia; the surgery was more than necessary.

I might look into variations on your regular meds to maybe help you through until the surgery; maybe an addition of some sort will help. I do know exactly how you feel though and I'm sorry you're faced with the decision.

I would wait until after the wedding; as much as you would like to have an acid free honeymoon, I would prefer to have a wonderful wedding, honeymoon, dealing with the acid. Everyone heals differently; Denise was up and running like right away; it took me 3 months! I rather be safe than sorry....just my opinion!

Janice
Posted 3/20/2011 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I had the surgery a year ago March 1st and I am finally back to normal for eating and side effects from the surgery, except for the farting/gas.

Knowing what I know now, I would wait until after your wedding to have the surgery. This is major surgery even though the actual surgery it's self isn't bad, the recovery was hard for me. You may not have a hard recovery but it's not something I would chance before my wedding if I were you.

I had nausea, horrific nausea for months after, I had to take medication from the doctor for it. I also had to take medication to keep my stomach moving and if I forgot to take one, I paid dearly. The pain, attacks when I started to eat normal foods, if I ate over my limited and sadly you don't know your limit until your first mistake caused me to lay in bed on my left side with an esophagus that was having a spasm which hurt like hell and made me feel like I was being choked to death.

My surgeon told me I came close to being cut open as I ended up with 6 lap scars. I am not a wimp and this recovery was pure hell the first 6 months.

The surgery was well worth it as I no longer need my 3 prescription pills a day but the recovery was hard.

Stick with this website as everyone here helped me tremendously and I am grateful to this day to all of them.

Also you will have NASTY gas!! If you can't fart in front of your husband to be, you are in trouble. LOL You can't hold this in either as you will pay dearly and they aren't quiet, well at least for me. shocked

Good luck to you and congrats on your marriage.
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