Nissen Fundoplication Surgery and Hiatial Hernia Repair and Breathing

Hi profjulie,

Welcome to our Wrapped Club at Healing Well! Glad to hear that you are already feeling relief post surgery! Often it takes a lot longer to get reflux-caused problems to calm down. How wonderful it is that you can already enjoy improvements!

The pain in your shoulder is caused by the gas that was pumped inside your gut to create a better field of vision, as well as irritation to the diaphragm. I found that walking helped to relieve it a lot. The more I walked the less pain I had, and it would increase when I didn't walk. It's worth a try!

Again, glad to hear things are looking up! I had the Nissen surgery to try to improve my very involved asthmatic lungs. Fortunately, the surgery made a big difference, and my lungs improved tremendously. I've also wondered if I had reflux as a child, although I have documented severe allergies.

Again, welcome to the forum!
Take care,
Denise

glad you made it through surgery OK. Looking foreward to getting my problem fixed too.

It is so great hearing all these positive stories! I'll keep reading until my surgery!

Hi profjulie,

Would you be so kind to share who your surgeon is...I am located in Ventura California and to no success have found a doctor skilled enough to handle my problems....I have a hiatal hernia, Gallbladder removed years ago. I have been in pain for the past 7 years and all that seems to be is running to the Emergency Room to put the burning fire out of my throat and chest....I've been on a host of meds over the years. I am currently on Protonix 40 mg and Ranitidine 2x a day....which assist to a minimum...without the meds things are worse. :(
I'm so glad your outcome is beautiful...

Is everyone on here from America . I am having gerd symptoms .I have been on medication for over ten years and it has stedily got worse. I am looking at having the wrap done . I am 55 years old and soooo scared.

We have a mixed group here.

justasitis, I had no trouble with the surgery. I had it 18 months ago and am very happy with the outcome.
I was scared too at first because the GI told me only worse case senarios from the surgery. But I became my own advocate and began researching for myself. In the process I found HW and the wonderful people here helped me see both sides of the surgery and I became less scared.

Hi nursemal,

Welcome to Healing Well! You are in the right place, that's for sure!

I also had severe lung issues due to reflux, and had a Nissen 2 years ago, which allowed my lungs to recover. I still have allergic asthma, but I can handle that.

In answer to your question regarding heartburn post-op, the answer is yes.

In the early weeks the wrap is very swollen, and has not settled into place. It's very possible that some acid may escape until things heal.

In addition, you had a redo surgery, so things are even more difficult. Think about the procedure you described! You've put your upper GI tract through another major revision, and it's complaining loudly! Your esophagus is a "dumb organ" and can't discriminate between different types of pain. They're all perceived as heartburn.

I don't think there are many post-op Nissen patients who don't panic when they experience a heartburn feeling. It's a big surgery to go through, and we want to know that it was worth the effort/pain/recovery. Don't worry...it's a natural part of the healing process.

Remember that the swelling continues to get worse for the first two weeks, so don't be surprised if your swallowing gets worse before it gets better. Just take it easy and listen to your body.

Again, welcome!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Denise

Hi Texas rt,

 

Welcome to Healing Well!  The fears you're experiencing are typical of the fears we all had while recovering from our Nissen surgeries.  I remember fearing that the "heartburn" sensations I had were an indication that my surgery was a failure.  My worries were a waste of time and energy, as my surgery was successful and two and a half years later, I'm very happy I had it.

The esophagus is a dumb organ...it registers all pain as heartburn.  Your esophagus has been through a lot, and there is a lot of healing to come.  In addition, it takes time for things to settle into place.  My surgeon told me that while reflux was a highly unlikely cause of my post-op "heartburn" pain, during the early stages of recovery things haven't settled into place yet, and some reflux is certainly possible.

Keep in mind that your hernia repair and wrap will become increasingly swollen over the first two weeks, to peak at Day 14.  Don't be surprised if your swallowing gets worse before it gets better again.

I suggest that you start a new thread on the main page to introduce yourself and ask questions.  There are lots of experienced members who can offer support and information.  Just click on this link:  GERD - Heartburn, and click on the "Post New Topic" button at the top of the main page.

Again, glad you've joined us!

Take care,

Denise

I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia when I was 15 years of age. I was taking reflux medications from that time on and as soon as PPI's became available, I began taking them. I had regular endoscopes because of gastric flare ups and for the purposes of just keeping a general eye on things, as should happen when you are a long term user of PPI"S. I was having additional problems with pain in my RUQ in 09, which escalated to bloating and general pain in my sternum,in my back and right around my diaphragm, coupled with these weird breathing problems. Ultrasound found dilated common bile duct( never investigated ) and a fraction test showed my gallbladder at 44%. Gp said nothing to worry about.  I had already been considering a nissen fundoplication anyway, as it was discovered in 2002 that my small hiatus was now large. I went to a surgeon who said he was happy to do the procedure, but wanted to see an endoscopy of the said hernia. As I was already booked in to see a guy who had done the last 3 scopes, he said it was fine to have it done by him, who is in fact a well respected Professor. Imagine my supprise then, when I find out that I have NO hiatus hernia and just Halicobacter and gastritis. In fact, the 2 scopes before that only showed gastritis. So on the very day, I am laying in pre-op and told I have no hiatus but he will do the fundoplication because of gastritis history. So in Dec 09 I go into surgery thinking that nobody believes that I am sick and simply have some reflux. 4 hours later I wake up in the ward and am visited by the surgeon who tells me that he perfomed a procedure on a large complex hiatus hernia, and to the Professors credit, it would have been difficult to spot because of the size of the tear in my diaphragm. My gallbladder also had some quite a few adhesions, as he also had a look at that. It took a while for alot of the symptoms to subside and I no longer suffered from reflux but had a couple of gastritis flare ups. The op was a success and I was able to function normally again. However, after quite a bit of weight gain and 2 days of heavy lifting on my hobby farm, bang. In Nov 11 I had a terrible feeling of pressure and pain and over a period of time, the same symptoms and a few days later, I was having bouts of reflux again. I managed to get in for a scope with the same surgeon who told me that everything is normal except for there being an increase in my LES of approx 4mm. The reflux has gone but the other symptoms persist, and a ultrasound shows that my common bile duct has dilated some more. I gather when my surgeon gets back from holiday, he may investergate this(as ultrasound was ordered by my GP and viewed by surgeons colleague)but my other concern is, that I felt something when lfting, and as a hiatus was missed by an endoscope and a Professor, what's to say it hasn't been missed again. I have a gnawing pain below my sternum, breathing problems and bloating still and it is difficult to where a bra. Has anyone here ever had a wrap herniation, or problems with a hernia being spotted with an endoscope? My surgeon appoint is on the 12/3 which is an long wait again, as this has been going on since November. I ask my GP for a barium swallow meal, but she bluntly refused.