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nissen fundoplication

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Posted 10/13/2011 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
 This is my first post. I am a 46 year old male. On 9-30-2011 i had a nissen fundoplication for a large hiatal hernia(16 cm) that 2/3 of my stomach had went through.  I had difficulty breathing prior to the surgery because my stomach had compressed my lung.  I am now 12 days post surgery and still having difficulty breathing.  Is this normal?  My surgeon said it would take a few days after surgery to return.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Could it be inflamation?
Posted 10/13/2011 3:27 AM (GMT 0)
fundo-
Hello and welcome to Healing Well.
When I had my esophagus tear repaired March first I had diminished lung function for a couple months due to them having to deflate the lung for surgery. Not sure if it applies though since yours is from your stomach taking up room in your chest.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 10/13/2011 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill I was wondering if the breathing would ever be better, so it is good to know it is still possible to recover fully
Posted 10/13/2011 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I hate the way Drs. downplay this surgery, either that or they don't know much about the healing part. Your insides are swollen for weeks.

I have to have mine redone next month, and I am convinced it was because they told me to eat as tolerated...How was I to know what was tolerated? I didn't eat much at first as I didn't have an appetite, but a little later I just started eating like normal. I threw up a few times, and I am sure this is what undid my wrap..they never mentioned throwing up or anti nauses meds.. I had to come here and learn everything too late.

All my dr. said was it will take a little while to get to normal, and the nurse said I would only have pain for about a week. The anesthesiologist said the surgery would take 45 minutes, in reality, it took over two hours.

They act like it is a day surgery and nothing to it...My whole stomach was in my chest and was starting to have trouble eating and breathing, then a cough. Never had heartburn. Now I have Gerd and I burp food alot..the nissen has slipped.

I pray this surgery is the last.

Your insides are still swollen, so don't expect instant relief. some on here have said 6 to 12 months.
Posted 10/13/2011 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Leniijane, I totally agree with you. My surgeon told me that I would be back to normal in 2-4 weeks. That's a joke. I am into my 9th month and I am still getting better day by day. I still have some issues with burping and was wondering if anyone can validate that burping gets back to normal eventually. I am about 90% there, however, that's somehow not good enough for me considering I had silent reflux. Imagine coming out of surgery and not being able to burp for a while but never knew this was one of the possible side effects and all the other issues that came along with it. I have sent a few people to my surgeon, however, now he tells them that it takes anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to feel completely normal again. I told him on one of my visits that he shouldn't say that the surgery takes 2-4 weeks. It does not.

I am very grateful for this forum....it carried me through. Thank you everyone.

Cindy
Posted 10/13/2011 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone else experienced the breathing issues before and after surgery like I did. If so how long did it last. I am so ready to breathe normal again.
Posted 10/13/2011 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Fundo,

Welcome to Healing Well!  I did have very bad breathing problems, however they were from reflux, rather than pressure.  Still, I think that there are similarities in that both of us had problems for a long time, and it takes a long time to undo what was done prior to our surgeries.  It took me two and a half months to begin to see improvements in my lungs...at that point, I was able to stop daily nebulizer treatments, and I knew that the reflux had been the cause of my severe issues.

I think you will find improvements as you heal.  It's not an immediate change...it didn't get that way overnight, and it won't go away overnight.

Hang in there...it'll get better.

let us know how it goes!

By the way...Welcome to the yeah yeah yeah yeah Wrapped Club! yeah yeah yeah yeah

Take care,

Denise

Posted 10/13/2011 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks denise for the encouraging words. I was beginning to wonder if it would ever return to normal. Everything else seems to be healing very well
Posted 10/13/2011 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Cindy-
Not everyone can burp after this surgery. Some can right away and others eventually can, but it all depends on how your surgeon did the nissen. If it is tight there is less of a chance to be able to burp. My redos were both "loose" wraps. I could burp right away, but never able to vomit. A "loose" wrap is something a surgeon learns as they do more of these surgeries. It's a feel they develop over time. That is one reason to have a surgeon who has done many of these successfully.
I was told to eat whatever I could tolerate also, but was also told to add foods very slowly and to take small bites and chew very well. I also think they believe this is an easy recovery since they do most lap. now. The outside does heal very quickly, but it doesn't matter if it is done lap or open, the insides take the same time to heal. That is way longer than the outside. I had an open redo in August and it wasn't much worse than the lap as far as outside is concerned.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 10/14/2011 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I am so glad I found this forum, had my fundo done 10 months ago and it's been sooo hard to do all the right things. I had a large H/Hernia as well. The Doc made out it was an easy recovery, what a crock. I;m still having problems with eating and the feeling of acid again. Hope this is temp.I read that healing can take up to 2yrs;hope not but at least a light at the end of tunnel.

julix- I stated you your own thread. Bill

Post Edited By Moderator (opnwhl4) : 10/13/2011 10:57:12 PM (GMT-6)

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