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Post-wrap eating woes

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Posted 4/13/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

So it's now been almost a month since I had my 270 wrap, and I wanted to ask if the eating problems I have are common.

I don't have any pain swallowing when eating any food.

However, when it comes to main meals (dinner time), I find that 80% of the time I bring the food back up. It's very odd - things like garlic bread, mash, yoghurts, etc are fine, but if I have soft pasta, or sometimes rice, things take a turn for the worse.

What I've noticed (and apologies for the warts and all detail) is that what I regurgitate is mostly clear mucus, often with bits of what I've swallowed in, partially pulped. It must be coming from the oesophagus rather than the stomach I think.

I haven't even tried meatier things like beefburgers yet. Mince is fine, as is small pieces of chicken in a curry.

But I'm concerned that foods I thought would be OK aren't, and worried about whether this is going to improve to the point where I can actually eat whatever I want.

I know it's only been a month; is this something that is going to improve or should I be able to eat pasta at this stage?

Any help appreciated :) 

Posted 4/13/2011 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
You might still be swollen and certain things can get hung up at the wrap. I still have problems with that but nothing in particular, some foods just randomly have a hard time going down. Have you tried sipping water after you take bites?
Posted 4/13/2011 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
I had the exact problem after my first Nissen. Things are probably still a bit swollen and the foods that you stated are known for "piling" up at the wrap and then basically regurged to clear it. I had this for a couple months and actually could feel it happening and got very good at relieving the issue so to say. LOL!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/13/2011 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks both - so does this ever go away? babygirl it sounds like you've had this ongoing for a while, but Bill, has this cleared up for you completely?
Posted 4/13/2011 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rob,
A month into recovery is very early, indeed. Please try to be patient. At this point, while you can eat a variety of things, you need to remember to take tiny bites, and chew whatever you eat until it's a complete liquid. If you're getting bits, you're not chewing enough.

Also, some soft foods don't chew to liquid as well as some crispy things. You need to slow down, and take smaller bites...also chew more thoroughly. As babygirl said, try some room temperature water, or warm tea when you eat to help wash things down.

Yes, this too, will pass, and you'll be able to eat more normally (although I'll tell you that it's good to always eat more slowly and chew more thoroughly than you did pre surgery)

Hang in there, my friend across the big pond! Things will get better.
Take care,
Denise
Posted 4/14/2011 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, this has cleared up completely for me. I believe after my redo I no longer had issues after about 3 or 4 months. It wasn't constant that whole time, but gradually got better.

Bill
Posted 4/14/2011 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am almost 6 months after surgery and am still having this problem. Never know what will stick and what won't. Can regurgitate it back up, but hope this isn't hurting the wrap!! anyone know?
Posted 4/14/2011 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lenijane,
Have you discussed this situation with your GI doctor? Sometimes the wrap is too tight and needs to be stretched a bit. It's not a decision to take lightly, as you don't want it to stretch enough to create reflux, but if you can't eat comfortably, you should follow up with your doctor.
Sorry to hear you're having that problem! Hope it gets better soon.
Denise
PS--Are you taking small bites and chewing slowly and carefully? I don't think we can ever eat chunks of food the way we did when our LES was wide open! Just a thought.
Posted 6/24/2011 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
14 weeks in now, and this is still an issue for me. For me it seems to be variable on what causes it. Sometimes I can eat 4 evening meals in a row and be fine. Other times I'm regurgitating every night. I find that once I've got to the stage when I've brought everything up, there's no further issue with that meal.

It's incredibly frustrating - it feels like I have to regurgitate at every meal in order to actually eat. A lot of the time, it's mainly water/saliva - it's like I'm swallowing too much. Or perhaps the water I drink is just sitting on top of the food.

The doctor said the healing process for anything stops after 18 months. I'm going travelling in October so if I'm still the same when I get back the following July/August then I may have to consider further surgery in order to loosen it. I'm just glad I had a 270 and not a 360 wrap!

Would be good to hear from anyone else who was in my situation who either still had the problem, or had it and it then improved.
Posted 6/24/2011 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Rob,

I do think that sometimes surgeons/GI docs don't prepare patients for the recovery that will be required after these surgeries. Everyone is different, and we all heal at our own pace.

14 weeks is a good bit out from surgery, but still in the early stages. At that point, I was still being very careful with what and how I ate (I had a 360).

The extra saliva sounds like a response to esophageal irritation/spasms, which can be common in the early months.

It sounds like you're pushing your wrap with too much, too fast, too soon. In addition to the fact that you're less than four months out, once you irritate your wrap, it can increase swelling, which would explain the inconsistency of your experience.

I know it's difficult, but if you can slow down, eat smaller bites, stick with things that can be chewed completely, and chew, chew, chew, you'll be more likely to avoid problems. You'll still be able to eat and enjoy your food, but it'll just take longer. You may have to beat the waitress away when she comes to get your plate when you're still eating after everyone else is done, but you'll do better.

Wraps, being made out of stomach, take time to get used to their new role. It will take at least 6 months for most of the healing, and a full year for the rest. I agree with your surgeon that some healing will continue past the year mark. (I'm 2 years post op.)

Try slowing down and choosing your foods more carefully. Patience. Give your wrap more healing time before pushing it to accept foods only partly chewed. Realistically, you will likely need to eat more carefully always...at least that's my experience. It's just not as extremely carefully as you do in the early months.

Yes, I do remember feeling like things were "stuck", and getting spasms at those times. I never tried to "regurge" them, but rather took the advice of someone who had helped me here, and went the route of drinking water or preferably tea, to help relax the esophagus and push whatever it was through.

If you're eating and drinking too fast, things can definitely back up. Try slowing down, chewing carefully, and giving one swallow a chance to clear the wrap before throwing in the next.

Things do get better!
Hang in there and try to be patient.
Best wishes!
Denise
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