Finally having my Nissens Fundoplication surgery.......have many questions

Hello!
I am a 46 year old female. I have gone thru all of the testing to determine that I am, in fact, a DEFINITE candidate for this surgery. I am also a teacher and have had significant LPR problems (horrible coughing spells and total loss of voice and hoarseness) since I began this new second career three years ago. I have suffered with chronic clearing of the throat every night since I was a small child. Some nights, it kept me up most of the night. I have searched and searched for so many years (and through many doctors) until I stumbled upon my own diagnosis of acid reflux and brought it up to my ENT. We then began researching together and got me the help I needed. I also had reconstructive sinus surgery last summer in an effort to address the upper respiratory problems from all angles, in case sinus problems were the cause. My coughing and LPR continued after that surgery, so we knew we had to continue to see what was going on. Finally, after seeing specialists at a Cancer Center, and two GIs and a surgeon, I am finally having my surgery. I have been trying to get in for surgery since January this year (2012), but they continued to want to do more and more studies before they would consider it. The Bravo study finally convinced them when it showed that during one 7 hour period, I had 85 episodes of reflux, lasting almost 5 minutes per episode, which meant that I was refluxing acid for a solid seven hours. Actually, this was at night, while I was sleeping in an UPRIGHT position. And, in the other 17 hours of the day, I had about 78 episodes of reflux lasting 5 - 12 minutes each. So, my quality of life, needless to say, has been pretty bad. Anyway, I have been on Omeprazole 40mg twice daily and Effexir (for anxiety and depression that has accompanied this stress). In the last four months, I have gained 20 lbs. And, in the last five years, I have gained 50 lbs. I am attributing this to my GERD. I am normally a slender person, but I now have serious painful abdominal bloating and swelling all over. My doctors have not really seemed concerned by this which is shocking since I sometimes look at my ankles and they are three times larger than normal size. I guess my questions are these:

1) After surgery, will this swelling go away, especially since I will no longer need my Omeprazole?
2) Will it be easy to shed this weight after surgery so I can get back to my normal weight?
3) I will only have three weeks before I return to work. Will this be long enough for me to recover and be able to return to work?
Especially a restricted environment like teaching in a classroom, where I will not be able to run to the bathroom when necessary?
4) How long before you feel "normal" again?

I would appreciate any answers from anyone who experienced any of these issues. I am especially concerned with the bloating and how the surgery will affect it. Are you bloated and swollen even more after the surgery? How long does it take that swelling to go down????

Thanks so much!

PJess

Thanks, Sheila,
You answered even more under another post. Thanks for taking the time to answer! Wish me luck!

PJess

pjess,

I am also a teacher and had the surgery 17 months ago. I think 3 weeks will be cutting it close because you will probably experience stamina issues. The beginning of the school year seems to take an inordinate amount of energy anyway. I teach kindergarten and realize this may not be the case in other grade levels. I would advise lots of walking and careful attention to your diet. If setting up your classroom will involve lots of lifting, make sure you have plenty of help. Bending should also be avoided. You will probably need to have snacks every couple of hours at first, so think ahead and plan to bring things that are easily consumed during teaching time. Good luck!

Peggy