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11 weeks post op should I have healed by now?

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Posted 2/7/2012 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi guys. Been away for a while trying to suck it up and recover but find myself in need of some advice from people who have been where I am now! So please help if you can!

Had my nissen 11 weeks ago and am a bit concerned about the symptoms i'm still having. My diet is back to normal but still get symptoms. I am getting chest pain when I exercise, hoarse voice, slightly sore throat in the morning when I wake up. Sometimes waking up at night with a churning in my stomach

The thing that is concerning is that the guidance I was given before the operation was that it takes 6-8 weeks to fully recover...well i'm at 11 wks so does that mean this is as good as it will ever get? I can cope with the symptoms as long as I know it will improve. Anyone remember what it felt like at my stage...
Posted 2/7/2012 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Will,

It's great to hear from you!  Like many (or most), your surgeon led you down the garden path when telling you that your healing will be complete at 6-8 weeks.  Maybe the sutures have healed, but your wrap is far from healed.

Rather than 6-8 weeks, your recovery will take a full 6 months for the majority of the healing and a full year for the rest.  I found that I countinued to improve into the second year, as my GI tract fine tuned its adjustment to the changes that were made.

I would suggest that you might be less careful with your eating, and may be taking larger meals with less careful chewing.  These things can create problems when you're at your stage of healing.  It is very possible that food is being held back at the wrap site and is fermenting to create the feeling of irritation/pain, and even reflux.

You will definitely continue to improve, Will, so don't worry a moment about that.  You've still got lots of healing ahead of you.  Please take it easy with eating, continue to take small bites and chew your food competely, and don't overfill your stomach.

Best wishes!

Denise

Posted 2/7/2012 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
Will,

I am sorry you are feeling like your not on track with the healing process.  Denise has hit the nail on the head as I read over and over how Drs. tell their patients that they will be " all better" in 6-8 weeks.

Do keep on moving forward and believe that things will get better with each passing week.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 2/7/2012 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi -

I had the same problems Will. You have to be patient. Ask Kitt and all the others - I had the same concerns as you. I know you aren't oing to like this, but I left the excercise till 4 months after the op!!! I also tried a few times earlier, but I felt very uncomfortable. There was once whenre I thought I'd actually "torn" my wrap. I am now 5 months in and loving it. I am back to running, swimming and cycling. I really think the taking it easy and taking my time got me through it and would recommend the safety first option. but I am no Doc.
I honestly felt that my surgery had failed. If you can read my earlier posts you may believe you wrote them!

TAKE IT EASY - relax, and as all the wiser ones here say, trust in the healing process.

Darryl
Posted 2/7/2012 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Will,
I am week 14 now and still not much improvement on the LPR symptoms. When I try to lower the amount of PPI's I immediately get hoarse and feel stronger LPR symptoms.
Now on a positive note.... I actually think that during the past 2 weeks my throat clearing and nasal drip has gotten better and even disareared for a day or two at a time, so maybe I am actually starting to see the first small improvements!?

Anyway I am having my check up on the 16th of feb, and hope they will test me to see if everything is right. I still believe that with a bit of patience it will be better. Overall I am good and have recovered well. I even went on skiing holiday 3 weeks ago.
Posted 2/8/2012 1:36 PM (GMT 0)
Denise, kitt, darryl jesper thanks so much for your advice. I think i'm going to take it easy a while and see where I am as each month passes by. Darryl I have also had those thoughts at the gym that i've damaged the surgery but i've just said to myself if I had done that I would be in more pain.
Jesper keep in touch I think we're at almost exactly the same stage..just need to trust in these good people that it wil get better.
Posted 2/8/2012 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Will and Jasper,

yeah, it's almost impossible to believe that you could be free from all the horrible past. But it is possible. I really doubted it at your stage. In fact, I was almost in this kind of depression stage thinking I'd gone through all of that for absolutly nothing. But then I too heeded the advise of the regulars here, and truley, I took it easy. And now I can eat pizza, have a couple of beers, and go lie down when tired and pass out. That simple. So good luck dudes. I know it's hard to believe. Also hard not to take part in excercise. I don't know if it was because of, but like I said, I left mine till I felt everything in me telling me I was ready again.
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