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Posted 1/21/2012 4:07 PM (GMT 0)

I origingal posted the below in an existing thread without reading that it was best to create a new thread if I wanted members to see so that I might find someone who can relate - thanks!

Hi everyone.  I had my Nissen Fundo 6 weeks ago and I am looking for some encouraging words.  The first 3 weeks I choked up food often; the soft food diet given to me, but at least I was free from reflux for the first time in 13 years.  exactly at week 3 I started to feel the signs of slight reflux.  Since then, the more my diet had progressed, I no longer have choking, but I am getting worse reflux than I had before.  I tried to back off and keep liquid food only going and it still is happening.  I have been taking Nexium, 40 MG and burn right through it.  I take a pepcid a day and Gaviscon.  I am so upset and worried that I fit in the 10 to 15% of people in which this surgery does not work.

I see my surgeon in a couple weeks and have called ahead to tell them what is happening in case they want to schedule some tests the day I am there. I also scheduled a visit with my GI doc the following week.

I was so very hopeful this was my answer. I actually cried tonight thinking I mutilated my body (because it's basically irreversible) as a last resort for a better quality of life, and now I am feeling worse.

Don't want to worry others out there. I really did my homework. I talked to 4 people who had the surgery and said it was the best thing they ever did. My GI doc sent me to the University of Cincinnati to a surgeon he said was better than Cleveland Clinic or Mayo. She is very knowledgeable, so I believe it to be true. Anyone else have a similar issue during recovery?

Sorry so long, I'm just desperate for reassurance. Thanks!

Posted 1/21/2012 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Virgo-

Welcome to Healing Well. So glad you found us and posted a new thread for yourself. Sometimes the new members do get lost when posting to an existing thread.

At 6 weeks you are still actually very early in recovery. It's not uncommon to have reflux symptoms even after 2 to 4 months. Everyone heals a bit differently after this surgery.
Having food getting stuck is a very real issue early on with this surgery too. Some things that can help with that is to remember to chew food basically to a liquid and take your time between bites. If you feel something get stuck use water to push it through. It's hard to do, but if you can relax and let the food pass through the wrap.

Have you tried carafate? it coats the esophagus and stomach. Also the esophagus is considered a "dumb" organ and can sense normal amounts of reflux as an extreme amount. This usually gets better with time.

Please remember this recovery does take time and lots of patients. Realistically it takes more like 6 months to a year to be fully recovered. Please don't look at it as "mutilation", you had surgical intervention to repair what seems to be a non functioning valve. This surgery can be undone, but please give your body the time to heal before deciding it was a failure. Again you are very early in recovery.

Take care,
Bill

Ps. Please have a look at the sticky threads at the top of the page. Kitt just added a new post there that I feel is very good. Also Denise's recovery blog is there also, very good read.
Posted 1/21/2012 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much Bill. Ummm, what are sticky threads? I am a bit confused about the threads and how to tell when people reply directly to mine etc. I found yours, but not sure how to find others if they reply?

Your words were very encouraging and I will try hard not get discouraged. This is the best forum I have found thus far. I just have to learn how to navigate it.

Most of the forums I found prior to surgery were old posts, this seems more active and more supportive.

Thanks so much! Virgo
Posted 1/21/2012 7:52 PM (GMT 0)
Virgo-

At the top of the GERD page there are a couple threads. One is called GERD heartburn resources, this has some great info on it.

As for when someone replies, you can just look at the right side and see if someone has posted recently or when you are looking at a post there id a subscribe button at the top right. This will give you an email when someone posts to a subscribed to thread.

We have several members who have stuck around even after surgical success. This is what makes this site so wonderful. We don't have just negative posts here as many other sites do. My GI doctor told me I should do a blog or book or something after all the stuff I have been through the last 5 years or so with this reflux. I told him about this site and thought this was a wonderful idea to get support for us with this disease.

Take care,
Bill devil
Posted 1/22/2012 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

When was your op? I couldn't quite tell as you had - rightly - re posted. Bill is very wise, I had my wrap and hh repaired august last year, and everyone on this forum helped me through. Everyone recovers differently though, as I have learned, let us know your latest and in the meantime hang in there. Gerd is a silent and embarrassing unseen misunderstood disease, whether but here. We get it, sorry you are going through it. Have you told your surgeon how you are feeling?

Kevin
Posted 1/22/2012 7:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Keven,

I just reposted a day after I put my comments in an already started thread, so my surgery was 6 weeks ago.  I know I need to be patient.  I think I have read and spoke to so many people that said once they had the surgery they never had reflux even one day since. So it made me feel there was definitely an issue.  You are right, everyone heals different.  I was choking up a ton several days after surgery for about 5 days.  Then I think the swelling went down and I started to be able to eat most foods.  Surgeon told me at 4th week to slowly introduce bread, meats, and salads.  Had a little problem at first, but into the 5th week it was almost too easy to eat these foods, that's when the reflux got worse.  So I am scared that something is too loose now - like maybe I stressed the wrap by over doing it with eating more food and food that is too rough for my system.  So I am slowing down to see if it helps.  I told my surgeon's assistant and she will call me on Monday if they want to do tests.

You had a redo?  What do you mean by HH? Hiatal Hernia?  Why did you need a redo and how long from your first surgery did you have to be operated on again?  How are you feeling now? I had a hernia repair too.  They said there is a slight chance the wrap will slide back up into the chest cavity and the hernia would need repaired again.  I was an avid long time exerciser before surgery and I am so afraid to do the level of exercise I was doing - not sure when to return to that level?

Thanks so much for reaching out.  You are right, this is a great forum! Anita 

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