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Nissen Fundoplication Recovery

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/24/2011 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I just got back from the surgeon's appointment, he said I am doing well, he said I can eat a little bit of more solid things except nuts, raw vegetables, everything that is related to bread and cakes and all those things. He said my recovery is going very well, I will venture to try some chicken today I will let everybody know about it, I am just praying for all this to work out good, and this surgery give good results
Posted 3/24/2011 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I had my wrap with hiatal hernia repair 8 days ago and I am so glad I got this done. The internet can be a great source of information, but can also scare the crap out of you to the point of possibly changing your mind. The first 3 days following the surgery were pretty bad with the bloating. Since day 4, I have been feeling great. The bloating is almost gone and energy levels are pretty close to normal. I am positive drinking the Ensure supplements have really helped in the healing process. I guess my only current side effect could be the dull burning in the stomach. I believe this is due to the discontinuance of PPI medication which I have been taking for 5 years.

One quick thing i learned about this procedure and where you live. The doctor who did the surgery was originally from the west coast. He was telling me how on the east coast most doctors medicate their patients with PPI medication but on the west coast most people get the Nissen Fundoplication done. To me, this surgery now was a no brainer. I am 37 and would have been on the PPI meds for many more years. It was nothing but a pain to make sure I had the proper supply of PPI medication prior to vacations, holidays, etc.

All I can say is I hope this wrap lasts and I am finally done with the heartburn.

Regards,

Karl
Posted 3/24/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karl

it is so nice that you are having so nice recovery, I am in the same boat as you, I am 29 years old, and my life was misery. Before GERD, I was so full of life, I would go dancing the whole night, I have a very mentally demanding job, but I was able to do it. After GERD I was in every PPI that you can imagine, they help somehow, but I was always walking on eggshells, I couldn't go out to eat, my life was hell, I couldn't even have intimacy with my fiance because I had heartburn 24/7, and horrible pain in my chest, belching, it was horrible. I only thank God for my wonderful fiance that have never complain about those issues, because he knows that I was sick. Now I am 6 days post op, and yes the recovery can be bad, in my opinion it wasn't, but consider that I am a person that have had hip surgeries while being a child, so the nissen recovery is a piece of cake compare to that one, for that one I couldn't walk in almost a year, and now I can almost do everything, we have to be very careful with bending over, that is something we shouldn't do. Right now, heartburn based, I have had an improve of a 80%, I still have some weird sensation in my chest, but my doctor said it is too early to even feel good or bad, it is too early in the recovery, however, if I have to be like this forever I will take it.

As an update I just ate some broiled chicken with potatoes, obviously small quantities, it was challenging at some point, but everything went down well, I was so happy to eat some solid food.
Posted 3/25/2011 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
ok guys now I need support, I don't know what happened today, but today I start having pain under my ribs a couple of inches away from the left incision, it is in the part where the stomach and back join together. Have someone have experience that? Today have been the first time that I haven't had diarrhea, which is good.
Posted 3/25/2011 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Laura,
I'm not in your body, so I can't feel exactly what you are experiencing, but I can say that the left rib area incision was the one that hurt the most and the longest after my surgery. I was told that that was the incision where the tools were manipulated the most during surgery.

I found ice to be the best way to treat the pain.

Keep in mind that you're just about a week or so post op, and your insides have been through a lot. They've been pulled, pushed aside, stretched, and stitched.
Also, there was gas pumped into you so that it would be easier for the surgeon to see what he/she was doing. Until that gas is completely gone, it can also cause pains.

Obviously, you're the only one who knows how you feel, so if you have concerns, by all means, call your surgeon.

Glad to hear your surgeon is turning you loose on food. Many here were kept on liquids and soft food for weeks. If you take small bites and chew completely to a liquid, you won't have a moment's trouble. Just remember that your wrap will continue to swell until about 2 weeks post op, then the swelling begins to subside.
Sounds like you're doing great! I'm with you...I expected the recovery from this surgery to be much worse than it was.

Take care, and I hope your side pain subsides soon!
Denise
Posted 3/25/2011 2:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Karl,
Welcome to Healing Well! Glad you've joined us. It sounds as if your recovery is going very well. I know what you mean about the internet and how it can scare you away from this surgery. I had the same experience. Finally, I got to the point when I didn't really have a choice. Luckily, about that time I found this great site with lots of supportive and experienced members. It was a godsend.
You might want to start your own thread to introduce yourself and start a conversation of your own!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 3/25/2011 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise,

I know sometimes I can be a pain, i am so sorry to bore all you guys with my problems, i just get very nervous, I have high hopes with this surgery, and even the smallest thought that something goes wrong makes my life miserable. I am trying to be positive, I just get scare sometimes.
Posted 3/25/2011 1:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Laura,

You do not need to apologize! That's what we're here for! Everyone here who had the surgery has "been there, done that". It's completely natural to worry about every little twinge. Those of us who have chosen to have this surgery know that it will change our GI tract forever. Of course we want it to work out the way we hope!

I remember worrying in the early days of twinges and pains, that I'd had the surgery for nothing--that I was having reflux, and that I was one of the failures.

In the beginning of your recovery you may get reflux sensations, you'll have some pain, you'll have difficulty swallowing, and can have spasms afterward. It takes a good 6 months for most of the healing, and a year for the rest. It's not a perfect surgery. Some have absolutely no reflux afterward, while others find they still need a much smaller amount of medication to keep them comfortable. All of our bodies are different, our surgeons are different, and the results will vary. Different people have varying tolerance for the recovery, and the changes that are created by the surgery.

You should never apologize for venting here, and seeking reassurance. That's the whole point of this forum! Try to relax and follow the path your recovery takes. You're one of the lucky ones, whose surgeon trusts you to make good food choices and chew things to a complete liquid. If whatever you're eating (small bites and chew, chew, chew) doesn't chew to a liquid, just deposit it in a nearby napkin and try something else. I, also, had a a surgeon who recommended that eating protocol. In my opinion, it makes the recovery much easier. As long as you are careful, you won't have any trouble at all. Why not use your own mouth and teeth as a blender, and thus enjoy the chewing and flavor!

Ask those questions. Share those worries. We've all done that. It's the beauty of being a part of this forum!
Take care, and have a great day!
Denise
Posted 3/25/2011 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Denise thank you so much, you guys in this forum have been so good, my family is great, but they haven't gone through the same thing, today my mother came back to Canada(where she lives) because I was better, so we took her to the airport, today I am eating more solid foods today I had chicken mushrooms, asparagus and potatoes, obviously the vegetables were steamed and very steam, I myself made this food, and in normal circumstances I would have hate that food, because I am a disaster in the kitchen, but today it taste like glory.
Posted 3/25/2011 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Laura,

Sounds like things are going well for you and like others have said it's normal to feel these kinds of symptoms at the stage you are at. I remember also having similar at this stage. I've been back to work for the three days on phased return and things have gone well. Although I've been tired, everything has gone well. So I'm sure your future will be bright for you too, just allow your body to go where your healing takes you.
Posted 3/26/2011 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys thank you for all your words, today, it is day 8 post op, I still somewhat tired, but still have a lot of energy, last time I took the PPI was Wednesday, last Thursday the surgeon told me I cold discontinue them, so far so good, still have some discomfort in my chest, and some gasses but nothing unbearable, I can tell right not that I feel so much positive than before the surgery, which I was extremely depress, I have even been researching places where me and my boyfriend can have our honeymoon in the summer once we married. If you guys remember i was having diarrhea well now, I am constipated for the last 2 days. So I guess if i don't go today to the bathroom I will go to the pharmacy to get stool softener, I have benefiber here at home, but that is a no no in this circumstances, can someone recommend me a good stool softener? Another question for you guys when have you guys been able to bend over? I am still asking my boyfriend to pick up the things from the floor, the abdominal are still feels very fragile.
Posted 3/26/2011 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
hehe just right after I finish with this message I had my first solid bowel movement after the surgery.
Posted 3/26/2011 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
That's the computer for you...works better than a laxative! turn
Posted 3/26/2011 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
ah Denisse that was funny, lets hope It keep being that way.
Posted 3/27/2011 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
well people yesterday I made the mistake of over eat, MISTAKE, I was bloated, full and belching the whole day, I still have some burning in my chest, lets hope this is not heartburn, still swallow things like chicken and potatoes is a little challenging, I will try today some fish today, lets see how it goes.
Posted 3/27/2011 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
How long has it been since your surgery?

Thanks Pat
Posted 3/27/2011 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
I am scheduled for surgery Tuesday. My surgeon told me he keeps his patients over night and he will be putting a tube in my stomach to help with the post op bloating....
Posted 3/27/2011 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi drgrc I am 9 days post op, my surgery was on march 18th, to be honest the worst part of the surgery, was not the surgery itself, it was that I had to spend the first 24 hours without eat because at the other day they have to do a barium swallow to make sure that the wrap is in the right place and there is no linkage, they will be feeding you IV, you won't be hungry, but your lips, mouth and throat will be extremely dry, so tell the nurses to moisture your mouth and lips with cotton and water every once in a while, the surgery is not that bad itself, right now I am 90% pain free, I only use pain medication for the first 3 days, and it was only before sleep. Unfortunately I am still experimenting some burning in my chest, obviously less than before the surgery, but still is too early to tell. Sometimes my lack of patience play a lot with me, because I want to know RIGHT NOW if this surgery was worth it, but it is not possible, we have to give it time. So don't be scare, if your surgeon is good, and you had the proper testing you will totally be fine.
Posted 3/27/2011 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
I asked for ice chips for my dry mouth.
Not all doctors required a barium swallow afterwards.

Laura, be careful of the overeating. You're still in the swelling stage and it will get worse over the next few days. It usually peaks around day 14.
Posted 3/27/2011 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy I asked for the ice chips also, sorry, there are still some expressions in English that I don't know, haha, too little time in the states. You are right not all doctors require the barium swallow afterward, my surgeon say it was more for precaution than anything else. To be honest I am a little bit worried since day 3 post op I have been having this tightness in my chest, I had it before the surgery, I know I am at the early stages of the recovery, but if this surgery fail, I don't know what I am going to do, ppi's were not working for me before the surgery, and the surgery was really my last resort, the barium swallow I had after the surgery was perfect according to the doctors. I know it is too early to tell, but I am just terrified
Posted 3/27/2011 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Laura,
You're just 9 days post op, and you've still got a lot of swelling going on in there. Keep in mind that the swelling is increasing over the next few days, to peak at two weeks. Just be sure to take tiny bites and chew everything you eat to a liquid. As you have discovered, overeating is a big no-no! Don't worry that you've done something to harm the surgery. Just try to avoid doing it, as you'll suffer greatly. You're in the early healing stages, and you need to take it easy.

The symptoms you're feeling that have remained after surgery are perfectly normal. The damage that was done to tissue by being doused with acid, will take time to heal. My lungs remained in bad shape for over two months after my surgery. Just because the symptoms haven't disappeared, doesn't mean they won't. Patience!

Have a great week, and take it easy with the eating!
Denise
Posted 3/28/2011 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys well 10 days post op, things looks well, some of my incisions are almost not noticeable, and overall I feel good, some uneasiness in my stomach, but that is part of the whole thing, today I came back to work, I have a desk job and I have the possibility to work from home so my job, even when it is very mentally demanding, it is not at all physically demanding, so I can do it now. Today, I had a "food getting stock in my wrap" incident, it wasn't with food, it was with my PPI pill, it took forever to go down, it was pretty scary and painful, but it eventually passed. You guys are right I feel that I have gotten more swallowed this last couple of days. Still some chest tightness and burning, which I suspect is not gastric reflux, i think is coming from food getting stock in the wrap due to its swallowing, and it doesn't go away with antacids.
Posted 3/28/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Denisse thank you one more time for your invaluable support
Posted 3/28/2011 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
hi everyone have just had this done on 17th of this month and seemed to be going great have been able to eat some chicken fish etc etc until yesterday when I ate a couple of chips and the pain was unbearable I then later that day tried again to eat and vomited so have ate nothing again today then tried a omelette and the same thing vomited should I go back to the doctor or give it some time as didn't know that it got worse befor better so think this may be the case any advice would be great thanks
Posted 3/28/2011 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kj200sx you had your surgery a day before mine, to be honest with you I think you should call your doctor, I remember that I was told that under any circumstance I can throw up, because it puts a lot of stress in your wrap, and it can damage the outcome of the surgery. Tell your doctor to gives you some anti nausea medication, I have been using zofran, but you have to be very careful the way you eat, you just had surgery, and these are crucial stages in the healing process. To be honest I haven't adventure myself to eat omelets, i find it too heavy, I am still in a hibrid between soups and creams and on the other side some chicken, potatoes and VERY steam vegetables.
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