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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 9/13/2012 5:04 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new here. I've had GERD for 7 years due to a hiatus hernia. I've taken PPIs (esomeprazole) all this time but although they lessen the reflux it's still a problem. I'm currently in hospital to have nissen tomorrow and I'm SO scared. Please somebody tell me that it's worth it!
Posted 9/13/2012 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
It's worth it!
I've had mine for 2 years and I feel fine!
I was scared due to first time in the hospital. Just relax and go with the flow. You need to keep coming back to here for support, because worries always seem to pop up during recovery.

Don't fight the recovery. Stick with liquids during the first 14 days because of swelling inside. Keep meals to 1/2 cup or less. You can eat every 2 hours if needed.
No straws for a few months.
Posted 9/13/2012 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thank's Joy, I think it's just the thought of all the stuff that can happen afterwards that's scaring me and I've never had any kind of surgery before. I know it's mad bug I hate the idea of not being able to burp-I love a good burp! I'll check back tomorrow once it's all over and fingers crossed I'll be saying I'm fine...
Posted 9/13/2012 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Louf-

It's worth it!!!

If it wasn't I wouldn't have done it 3 times. My case is a very rare one to have had 3. Wasn't because the nissen wasn't working.

Good luck,
Bill
Posted 9/14/2012 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Just back from theatre. A bit sore and sleepy but doing ok. Got a bit of pain in my left shoulder but they said that would happen. Got a very dry throat too.
Posted 9/14/2012 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Woke up from surgery 4 hours ago. Slight discomfort but no real pain. The worst part is a REALLY dry throat! Been up twice to go to the toilet and that was fine. Been drinking some water and had a burp! I've never been so glad to burp - I was worried I wouldn't be able to so I'm well relieved!
Posted 9/14/2012 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
So glad to see that you are doing ok after surgery! Best of luck in recovering!
Posted 9/14/2012 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, the dry throat was an issue for me too.
The popsicles helped me.

Can you get some ice chips?
Posted 9/14/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Joy, I'll try that.
Posted 9/14/2012 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the "Wrapped Club"!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/15/2012 10:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks's Bill! I'm 24 hours post op now. I had some solpadol last night but today paracetamol's been enough. I'm a bit tender and I've got 5 bandages over my incisions which I haven't looked at yet and I'm not looking forward to that :-(
Good news is that if I can eat some soup I can go home later - yay!
Posted 9/15/2012 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
LouF

Hello and welcome to HealingWell and the Wrapped Club.  I am an honorary member of the wrapped club as I have not had the Nissen but I did just have major surgery so I understand post-op extremely well.  :-) During my surgery a small hiatal hernia was noted but nothing the surgeon was concerned about.

I truly hated the dry mouth and because I had respiratory failure after the surgery and was on a ventilator I could not get anyone to understand all I wanted was a wet sponge to clean out my mouth.  smhair

My best advice to anyone post op is to stay well hydrated as I did not do this as well as I should have and had some complications after discharge from hospital. 

Keep on making progress and give yourself plenty of time to heal.  I am 4 weeks post-op and doing well.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/16/2012 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone, you've all been so kind and you've helped make a procedure that I was really very scared about much easier. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined.
I got a bit of gas bloat yesterday but some Pilates moves helped shift some of it! I've also found out if anyone else is interested (I'm in the UK) that gas-x is sold here as Infacol and you can get it in almost any supermarket or pharmacy.
Day 3 is going well so far, I've stuck to soup and protein shakes and they're going down fine. The hoarse throat is getting better too.
My biggest problem now is stopping my 3 year old daughter hugging me too hard!
Posted 9/16/2012 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Louf,glad to hear your doing well after your surgery and you continue to heal and have no more reflux.I see your in the UK,would you mind telling me who your surgeon was as im looking for a surgeon in the UK who could possibly redo a nissen that i had 7 months ago which has caused a lot of problems for me. Hope you dont mind me asking.Thanks Barry
Posted 9/16/2012 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barry, my surgeon was Mr Anton Buter at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley but I believe he works at the Nuffield hospital in Glasgow too. So far I reckon he's done a pretty good job! Best of luck getting your problems sorted out.
Posted 9/16/2012 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Very Much Louf, i,l look him up. All The Best Barry
Posted 9/17/2012 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Day 4-I got brave today and had some watermelon. Not a good move, it got stuck then came back up. Oh dear! I guess there's a good reason that they tell you to stick to a liquid diet at the beginning! I'm back on the soup and I've learnt my lesson!
On a brighter note I haven't needed any painkillers at all since paracetamol yesterday evening so all in all it's going well.
Posted 9/17/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Louf,i would stick to the liquidy foods for a couple of weeks then move on to more mushy type ie mash n gravy,soft puddings,yogurts etc and you can supplement with high calorie drinks like ensure and the like.Ive had food stuck numerous times and it can be really uncomfortable,one thing not to do when food is stuck is take a drink to try and wash it down,it just makes things worse as it sits ontop of whatevers stuck.Take it easy. Barry.
Posted 9/20/2012 12:59 PM (GMT 0)
Day 7 and unfortunately I've had reflux last night and today. I'm gutted as I had really high hopes for the surgery working. Otherwise things are going well, sticking to the liquid diet is easy enough and the incisions are healing well.
Posted 9/20/2012 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
LouF,

I believe that the feeling of reflux or reflux is actually normal in the beginning after your surgery. I also have had a few bouts where I thought I was refluxing and it was actually just swelling in the esophagus..I was actually told it was quite normal for the first few weeks.

Your stomach and esophagus has been through a lot of trauma with the surgery and changes. You will continue to swell.. Give it some time and I think you will find the results are well worth it.

I am on day 23 and I thought I had refluxed last night when indeed, I was having the chest pains because of the gas build up. I seem to have it worse at night than during the day.

Step by Step, little by little, it will all get better and easier!

Take good care!
Wendy
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