Swollen stomach after Nissen Fundoplication

Hello Joanne
I am 5 weeks post surgery and Please listen to your self when it comes to eating.. I have just no begun to eat some meat and veggies.. everything I eat I have plenty of broth, gravy or liquid to follow the food with. I have had no problems since my surgery. I was on full liquids (doctors orders) until week 3. I was able to eat cream of wheat, grits, soft boiled eggs (after 2nd week) everything smashed and chewed chewed chewed..
I am only able to eat small amounts (4-5 ounces) and I feel very full and uncomfortable if I go over that. I too cannot burp and would like to but, the benefits I have gotten from the surgery outweigh the urge/need to burp...
my incisions were uncomfortable until the past week or 10 days.. 1 still is uncomfortable if I stretch the wrong way. I cannot bend over for any length of time yet, it hurts still. From what I have read here on the forum, it can be up to a year before our insides are completely healed.. so don't overdo.. my surgeon told me to let my body tell me what I was capable of doing. But, he stressed the diet issue.. he said that I can eat what I want except bread and steak(until 6 months post surgery) but that I must be careful and CHEW CHEW CHEW. I am assuming that if you eat something and swallow too large a piece it could somehow damage the wrap or get stuck. I don't take chances.. I listen to the people here who have experienced it and to my doctor.
You are only 10 days post op and I was 18 days before I went back to work.. I couldn't do hardly anything until around the 12-14th day. I still have twinges of pain depending on how I exert my self. You only have those little slits, but as I have been told here many times.. a lot went on inside you, take your time recuperating. Are your problems gone that gave you reason to have the surgery? Mine are... Thank goodness...
I hope this has helped in some small way.
Sandi

Hi Joanne,
Welcome to our Wrapped Club at Healing Well! Joy is right...the bloating is totally normal. Your stomach will get back to normal as time goes on. (I had the surgery in February 2009.)

Keep in mind that your wrap is becoming increasingly swollen, so don't be surprised if your swallowing gets worse before it gets better. Peak swelling is at Day 14, and then it begins to go down. It's normal to have a little more trouble until the swelling resolves, so don't be concerned. Just be sure to listen to your body, as Sandi said. If your swallowing gets a little more spasmy, just back off and eat some easier things.

Like yours, my doctor said I could eat anything I want to, but added a caveat that it must be able to be chewed to a liquid (when you chew, chew, chew completely (as Joy recommended), you could, indeed spit what you've chewed into a strainer, and it would go through.) It is very important to take tiny bites and chew completely.

Stay away from ice water for a while, as it can cause spasms. No straws, as they introduce air into your stomach as you drink. Also, avoid carbonated beverages, because the CO2 that is pumped into them bloats you further.

In my case, the incision at the left rib area was the place where my surgeon did the most manipulation, so it was the one that hurt a lot and the longest. Ice applied to the area that hurt was really helpful.

If you can get out and walk (slowly at first) it can also help move that gas out. I found that my comfort increased the more I walked.

Again, glad you've joined us! We'll do our best to help and support you through your recuperation. If you can surrender to your recovery, and follow where it takes you (without struggling against it) it will go much more smoothly.

Hang in there! Things will get better!
Denise

Hi Joanne,
This forum is THE BEST. I found it just before I had the surgery. Actually, people here helped me gather up the courage to actually go forward with it.

Did your doc tell you that you shouldn't have any steak or un-toasted bread until around 8 weeks. I remember thinking that I would never again eat a bagel. The very thought of it was very daunting. Lo and behold...I can eat a bagel! Things will get back to normal...it just takes time. You'll always want to take smaller bites and chew more carefully than you did before surgery, but nothing like your early recovery eating.

If you're like me, there may always be a few things that you can eat, but will irritate your wrap. I can eat a small salad, but a big one can cause irritation that lasts about a day. It's no big deal. A big hamburger can do that, too--it's probably the grizzle. Whatever bothers me a bit is well worth the improvement I experienced post surgery. I have a very reactive stomach, so since the wrap is created from stomach, it just makes sense that it will be more sensitive.

Goodness...surgeons have no idea what the recovery is like for this procedure. This seems to be pretty constant among all experiences reported here. That's the beauty of being able to ask questions of others who've been through the recovery.

Best wishes!
Denise

Hi Joanne,
You don't have to be worried about the salad thing...it's very individual. Others can eat it freely. As far as bread goes, I suggest you don't eat it without a good toasting. It's the kind of thing that can get clumpy, and is not worth taking a chance on. I used to nibble at the crusty outsides of good breads, and that was fine. If you just stick it in to toast, you'll be safe. Crackers are just fine, too. It seems that crispy things chew to a liquid really well.

There will always be "horror stories" on the internet, as people who had botched jobs by surgeons who aren't experienced enough suffer, and try to find answers on the internet. I don't blame them at all. If I had that experience, I'd be the first one to get on and vent. I would also warn others not to have the surgery.

There will always be a certain number of people who have failed wraps, but it is not the majority. At times it is simply because the surgeon did not do the prerequisite tests, and thus do surgeries on people who may have problems that won't be solved by the procedure. Many, many have the surgery without ever posting...they happily go on with their lives, if everything is just fine.

Again, I'm glad you joined us.
Have a great day!
Denise

Yep, everything was quite sore for a while. Are you still on the painkillers? I was on co-codamol for the first couple of weeks. Try and stick to liquids and jelly (jello if you're from USA). It sucks but your gut will thank you for it.

Hi gritty i am heading for surgery with Dr Li, how are you feeling now, do you have nay idea how many surgery Dr li did. please this is my email do email me.

Post Edited (shaeyne) : 5/10/2011 9:13:12 AM (GMT-6)

mawmaly, Remember your stomach and insides have had a "blender" inside. Everything's been pushed and shoved around in there, so you're going to feel very sore the first week.
Try to keep to liquids until the swelling goes down (14 days). Limit your movements during this time. Just rest...
Use a pillow to cushion your stomach when you cough. Try to keep your lungs clear by doing some deep breathing exercises. If you get too shallow with the breathing you'll risk having pneumonia like I had.

Hi shaeyne,

Please edit your post and take off your email address. You can place it in your profile so only members can view it. Apparently emails are taken off forums like these by spammers.

Just click on the pencil in the top corner, then delete your email and re-submit the post. Revisit your profile and add your email. Then only members can view it.

Thanks Dencha - they should employ you as a consultant - you tell us more than any surgeon ever did!!

Glad to help out!

Muttlee-

This person hasn't posted since 5/2011. Please start a new post and you will get much better responses. Also, we don;t have a PM on this site.

Take care,
Bill