Just had the Nissen done!

Hello,

My name is Nick. I just had the Nissen done yesterday, 2/7/12. I am 21 years old and had to get the surgery done because I already had Berret's, a hiatal hernia, and an ulcer on my esophagus. Not to mention that I had constant stomach content in my esophagus causing pressure, asthma, and many other problem I am sure many of you have experienced.

The day of my surgery I felt pretty awful but it was only because of the excess gas in my stomach. I have never felt so much pressure in my body. It caused my shoulders to hurt so bad that I would rather had a broken bone and feel that pain! Anyone else experience this? This morning, the second day after, the gas is not as bad but is still here. I start a clear liquid diet but I do feel pretty nauseous just drinking water due to having nothing in the stomach.

I plan on posting on this throughout my initial recovery. Any tips on a successful post op would be very helpful!

Thanks you !

Nick

Hello,

I had my Nissen just one week ago. I am 42 and for the past two years I had been taking medicines on a daily basis to prevent the acid reflux. Surgery was done with a scope and I stayed in the hospital for 2 days. During the first 4-5 days I had trouble swallowing even liquids. I had no pain from the surgical openings on my belly, but can hardly burb. Occasionally, I have pains in my chest, probably some air trying to get out from the esofagus. Five days after the surgery I caught the flu and needed to vomit during the night. This was a horrible experience. I could not vomit, though I felt I needed to, and therefore made several attempts. Thus, I put a lot of pressure during this few minute "vomit attempt" which highly worried me because I thought it affected my flap. I talked with my doctor the next day and he said that it is not desirable to make vomit attempts at this stage. He could not say for sure whether a damage was actually done, but - maybe it is my idea - since then I feel I can drink my liquids and porridges much easier. I hope no damage was done. Any comments on that or I am really getting psycho?

I am entering 2nd week now and I have just started eating massed food, which goes down relatively easily. I cannot burb though and this really makes me feel bad. It is too early to talk about the success of the surgery. I do not regret that I did it, since I could not accept that I would have to daily take medicines for the rest of my lift. I just wish that I did not have this "vomit incident" so soon after the operation. I have not tried any real solid food yet.

Dear Bill,

Thank you so much for your advice. I appreciate that. Truly, I still have a constant "weight" in my stomach and my "desire" to burb is not fulfilled. However, I do feel that I swallow liquids more easier compared to a few days ago. This is what worried me at the first place. I did actually bought anti-nausea meds.

My doctor mentioned that we anyway should go through a test in six-month time from now to check the efficiency of the wrap. I wonder what test is that? Is it a gastroscopy?

Thanks again,

DimKom

Nicke and Dimcom,

I join you in the recently wrapped club.

I had mine done on Monday, Feb. 6.

Overall, the post op is better than I expected.

I still have slight pains in my stomach from the incisions, chest from the wrap, and throat from the previous LPR damage. It's gotten better since day one.

I'm still on a clear liquid diet and I intend to stay on it for several more days. I don't want to force anything. The first day I tried full liquids and notice I has having a little congestion in my chest and hiccups which hurt a bit.

Since then, I've been sticking to clears and it's been better.

I took oxycondone for the first two days but today I don't feel like I need them. I stopped taking PPIs a long time ago before surgery so I'm currently not on any meds.

I had my first bowel movement today which was normal consistency.

I think patience and sticking to the diet is key in this recovery. I can see if you hurry and rush foods down there it can cause problems with wrap, gas, pain, etc.

Good luck on your recovery guys.

DK,

Sorry but what are massed foods? I hope you feel better and maybe you should inform your surgeon about the the flu incident and see if he wants you to run any tests. This might ease your mind. Good luck.

Max

Oh ok, thanks. Wow, potatoes and meat already.....that sounds good.

Hi Nickle,

The gas and shoulder pain is pretty much a problem for everyone post-op. I have heard it is a combination of vagus nerve irritation and the gas that they pump inside you so they can see what they're doing during the surgery.

I found walking to be very. very helpful when recovering from my Nissen. The more I walked, the less my shoulder hurt. If you haven't tried that, you should.

The bloating is another common problem--especially during the early weeks. Stay away from drinking with straws--they introduce more air into the stomach. No carbonated beverages, don't talk while you are eating because it introduces more air as well.

Get walking...it'll move and alleviate the gas that they pumped into you...it sounds like that's a big part of your problem.

Best wishes,
Denise

DK-

The pain while taking a deep breath is normal. Remember they most likely stitched the hernia in your diaphragm and along with the work right under it there is going to be soreness for a while.

Take care,
Bill