6 weeks post-op, lump in throat, mucus, sore throat - have you experienced this?

Hi!

Had Nissan 360 done six weeks ago, and my LPR symptoms are way worse then before surgery. Mucus, dry throat, lump in throat and so on. Big problems with my throat... My surgeon tells me everything went perfect and there shouldn´t be a problem, but i´m worried.

Still on PPIs 45-60 mg/day, not sure if the work out... Haven´t tried to get of them yet, scared of what might happen with my throat then.

Just want to say that this forum has helped me alot during this awful healing process, hope that someone can help on this matter.

Did also notice that there were some other scandinavians here, hello Jesper and Ashley , I´m from Sweden, Hej hej!

 

Hi Non,

Relax.  At six weeks you're still healing, and all kinds of symptoms can occur.  There is no reason to rush getting off PPIs during this stage of healing.  I agree that you might have some difficulties if you stopped the PPIs now.  Your insides went through a lot--I heard it described as an "egg beater"--and while your outsides are healed and you feel as you should be back to normal, the healing inside has a long way to go.

I was told that most of the healing takes six months, and the remainder a full year.  It's way too early for you to assume that your surgery was a failure.

I also had surgery for LPR symptoms--mainly asthma--and know it's a trickier fix.  Surgeons generally only expect to get their patients to a "normal" (>14.7 DeMeester) reflux level.  This is great for people with traditional GERD.  They've got DeMeesters that are ridiculously high, and a "normal" score fixes them right up.

Those of us with LPR can react negatively to a "normal" score, which is why surgeons are less anxious to recommend Nissens to us.  That said, many with LPR find improvement after surgery.  It does take time.  The healing needs to be complete, so that reflux control is maximized.  The wrap can leak if it is swollen or misshapen, and healing can take some time.

Also, there can be a reflux of food and liquid that doesn't make it through a tight, even slightly swollen wrap, that can cause irritation.

Try to think positively.  Give your body a chance to heal in its own time.  If you can surrender to the healing process, and let it lead you where it wants to go, you'll find it easier to tolerate.  Try not to get frustrated that it isn't improving more quickly.  Your frustration won't do anything to speed healing, and it will certainly make it more difficult to tolerate your wait!

I'm glad you've joined us at the forum.  We've got quite a contingent of Scandinavians, don't we!  Hang in there...things will get better.

Best wishes!

Denise

Hi again!
Thanks for your answers, it sure helps.
Guess I´ll just have to wait... I have spoken with my surgeon and he scheduled me for a barium swallow and a gastroscopy, this will probably take place after the weekends. After that, a PH-test. Probably around februari...
I have been on liquids for the last three days and my condition has improved at bit, will probably stick with this diet for a while. Let things heal.
I guess my wrap is tight, I do hear it "slurps" whenever i drink, so maybe my throat irritation is from food refluxing up? But can it really travel all the way up to my upper throat? I do not feel the actual food, but some liquid and (of course) mucus and phlegm.

I would love to here if there is someone who had been through this and, despite the setbacks, had a sucessfull surgery?

Thanks again for your answers, they do help!

Hi Dencha!

How did/do your surgery work out? Interesting with your barium swallow, how did they fix that? Are you ok now?

Thanks for your answers!
/N

I think i'm going through the same thing. Try to take your mind off thinking about whether it has or hasn't worked...this won't help and you need to let it heal before you'll get full results...good luck....ps dencha I hope you're right..if this all works i'll come back and treasure other newly wrapped!

Hi again!
And thanks for your answers, I´ll guess we are in the same boat on this one, some of us. Healing will take time.

My condition has improved a bit since I started with liquids, I´m on day six now and will probably stick with it for a while.
Taking my PPIs as usual, but I´m starting to wonder if they help...
Could it be that our throat problems (will Uk 2011, Jeper and so on) is related to the tube they put in during surgery? I´m wondering... Just thinking, cause it gets better while im on liquids....
Oh, and one other thing. Does anyone of you suffer from postal-nose drip? I got mine back after surgery, it has improved a bit, but still.

Argh! Just want to know that everything is okey with the surgery and that all of this symptoms will past...

Again, thanks for your answers.

Hi Non,
It may be due to the tube in the early stages where you are at, but I don't think it is the issue with myself now 42 days psot op.
I still have post nasal-drip too and even though it felt like it was beginning to get better 2 weeks ago I now feel exactly as pre op. Had a major "attack" yesterday where all the LPR symptoms flared up big time.

I am still confident that it is going to be alright though. Just need 2 more weeks and then some :)

Non, I haven't spoken to my surgeon yet.
I am scheduled for a follow up early February which is ordinary here. I think they assume that until the 3 month mark you can’t really tell whether the op has been successful or not.

I am still on PPI’s even though I tried to step out of them 3 weeks post op. I just kept having the same trouble as I had before and I thought why the hell not stick to pills until I have had the follow up or at least feel a lot better. I take Lansoprazole 30mg twice a day.

Only difference from before is I have a bit of a burning sensation in the esophagus. I only had that before I got on PPI’s which more than a year ago.
That fact together with my trouble with food getting stuck above the wrap is making me think it could be stuff caught on top of the wrap that is irritating the system. But hey, it is pure speculation and I drink a lot of water after meals and that does not seem to have much effect either.

So to sum it up :) I have a wrap that is tight enough to make food get stuck while still having LPR symptoms.
On the positive list I have no major complication from the op. I feel I can get air up, I have not been bloated and actually my IBS is behaving for the first time in 10 years!
A little afterthought. I seem to remember that Paddy83 said something about his IBS or stomach trouble was fine while having the wrap but as soon as it was taken down he had the old trouble again…. hmmm

Hi!
Some update on my condition, still having issues with my throat. A bit better now, now I have more of a constant (slight) pressure/bit of tightness in my throat. It´s like its always there, except for the mornings when I wake up. I often feel okey in the morning, and then it comes back whitin an hour or two. I try to clear my throat, but almost nothing comes up. Feels like the throat are kind of okey when I lay down. Still on my PPis, 60 mg/day
Does anyone else experience/experienced this after fundoplication? Can it be a part of the healing process? Can all this come from the stomach healing? Like the stomach healing reflects in my throat?
Oh, I just don´t know. .. Hope someone can help me on this matter!

Jesper, how are you doing? Still the same issues?

Merry christmas to you all! In Sweden we celebrate christmas tomorrow.

Hi Non,

Thanks for posting the link regarding the lump in throat sensation.  It's very helpful, and I'll save it to use should someone else come by with a similar issue.

According to the link you posted, your throat issues are likely related to bloating, which makes all kinds of sense.  Pressure on the wrap directly affects the esophagus, as the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus then stitched.

It makes sense that the gas would rise to the top of the stomach when standing, then put pressure on the esophagus.

Hang in there...this recovery takes 6 months for the majority of the healing, and a full year for the rest.  I even found some issues that were still there at one year resolved as I moved through the second year.  One day I realized I wasn't having them any more!

Merry Christmas!  Have a wonderful holiday!

Denise

Hi Jesper,

Glad to year your swallowing is improving.  While 46 days seems a long time, it's still at the beginning of your recovery.  Things will improve over the next months as your healing continues.

I'm glad you're sticking around to share your experience with others!

Have a great day,

Denise

Hi Non,
I am really glad to hear that you are feeling some small progress Non, good on you. I am now at day 51 post op.

To be honest I don’t really know how I am feeling. I think I am getting dizzy by constantly trying to measure how I am, what my status is, can I swallow, am I refluxing and is the refluxing only air?

The only thing I am sure about is that my healing from the op is going well. Yesterday I did my 3 km run (approx. 2m) without having to stop and without any discomfort. The small lumps under the stiches are slowly disappearing too and my swallowing has improved a lot. I still sometimes get the sensation that something is stuck, but only for a very short while and then it pass. During Christmas I have almost eaten everything (just not as much) and even had snaps, beer and wine with food. I have never had the “bloated-ness” that so many report and I have had no pain since day 3 post op.

So I guess when you sum it all up it is going great! 

The only prop is my throat is still felling very tight, I still have the phlegm building up during the day. Actually the only symptom that has subsided is my voice, cause I don’t think I am getting hoarse any more. I hope I am not grasping at straws here, but maybe that is a first sign of something improving. But as I said in the beginning, and even though I am keeping a small diary, it is hard for me now to feel if I it is better that yesterday or the week before. All I know is I still have symptoms, I am still on PPI’s twice a day and I really hope it will get better soon.

Yes, it seems it takes time and I am still counting on being cured 

My symptoms has at no point been worse than before, just more or less the same. Regarding the alcohol, I had no reaction. Not better not worse, just the same and I don’t know what to make of that. Before surgery I always had some worsening of symptoms, so maybe something is working.
And yes I guess the mimicking could be a fact. It is just hard to believe since the symptoms are so real. My day is exactly like yours. God, worse, worse, bad.

Interesting idea about the bloatedness. If you do try it out, let us know the results!