Had GERD Nissen Fundoplication Done Recently

Welcome to the Healing Well Wrapped Club! What you're experiencing is absolutely normal, and you don't need to worry that your surgery is a failure.  We've been there, and know how you feel.  As it was explained to me, the esophagus is a "dumb organ" and interprets all pain as reflux.  Therefore, normal surgical/healing pain feel like heartburn to us. 

At your stage of recovery, it's likely you're still experiencing swelling at the wrap site.  While I'm sure it is going down gradually, your experience with bloating, etc. indicates that your wrap is pretty tight--much of which I'd bet is related to the healing process, and will resolve as your healing continues.

I don't know if your surgeon told you, but this recovery takes a full 6 months for most of the healing, and a year for the rest.  I even found improvements into my second year as my GI tract continued to adjust.

It's very likely that some food is being held back at the wrap site.  While it sits there it can ferment, and become irritating and cause the "reflux" symptoms you're experiencing.  Try to remember to take very small bites and chew, chew, chew, chew.  Sip some water or warm beverage to help move things through.  Once there's irritation, it may take a little time to feel better, but it will.

Again, glad you've joined us!  I'm sure others will be by to welcome you and weigh in on your questions.

Best wishes!

Denise

Bill has said it very well.  It's totally common to have pain on swallowing in the early days/weeks of recovery.  I remember dreading swallowing as I was recovering, so I know what you're feeling.

My surgeon told me (when I saw him on Day 6 post-op) that my wrap would become increasingly swollen over the "next two weeks" to peak somewhere around the 14 day mark.  After peak swelling has occurred, your wrap swelling will gradually go down.  As my surgeon told me, your swallowing will get worse before it gets better again.

Don't worry.  It's normal.

Happy Healing!

Denise

My surgeon explained it like this--

1.  The esophagus is a dumb organ.  That means it interprets all pain the same--as reflux.  So if you're getting (understandable) post-surgical pain (remember, your upper GI has experienced a major revision--on the outside it doesn't look like much, but on the inside it's another story) you'll feel like you're having reflux.

2.  At the early stages of recovery "pretty much anything's possible".  He said that when the wrap is swollen, it is often misshappen, and could let a little reflux through.

Many surgeons keep their patients on PPIs for a while after surgery, so they can protect the healing wrap and don't subject their patients to rebound effects while they're healing (see #2 above).

Hang in there...you're at the beginning of healing, and have a long road ahead.  You'll gradually improve over time, but it is true what they say--6 months for the majority of healing and a full year for the rest. 

Denise