Paraesophageal surgery this week. Help.

Hello all. I've been lurking this site for the past month when I was told that I needed surgery for PEH with entire stomach above diaphragm and upside down. My surgeon said it needs to be an open surgery because of the complexity. In reading many of the postings, I have not come across any that mention how to assure that normal medications are continued while in the hospital. My primary advised taking meds with me, specifically Effexor, and making sure that I don't miss a dose.

This site has been helpful but I can tell you that I am really beginning to get nervous. My surgery is this Thursday 9/27 and my anxiety has set off a severe fibro flare including low grade fever. Discontinuing NSAIDS before surgery, although necessary, sure causes a spiral of pain.

Thanks Joy. Did your fibro give you trouble during recovery? Was your PEH surgery successful?

Thanks Mahaffs,

My breathing has been diminished for a while. Lungs appear clear but the crowding in my chest doesn't help. I am doing yoga breathing exercises which helps. The temp from the fibro/arthritis flare is gone this morning so I can get my "pre-surgery" things done.

I've read a lot of threads about nasogastric tubes. Does everyone have this? Sounds freaky...

Hi Deb,
I've had a hiatal hernia for probably 20 years complete with reflux. A few years ago my diaphragm started making weird noises when I would breathe, especially after drinking liquids. My doctors couldn't figure it out. I also started having left side pain. Dr ordered ct scans of abdomen and again said nothing wrong. about 8 months ago I started having attacks after eating; severe chest pain, left shoulder pain, etc. a recent endoscopy show the hernia was bigger and my gastro felt the hernia had perhaps escalated. I've had recurrent anemia for several years also.

I was sent to a specialist in Miami at UM and he pretty much figured it out by listening to the symptoms. A barium swallow showed the entire stomach in my chest, upside down, slightly twisted and lying behind my heart. I'm a circus freak :)

I was very distressed that the surgery was to be done open and not lap... I pitched a vanity fit but he wouldn't budge.

I'm 56 and pretty freaked about this. I knew something was wrong and I've learned that we really have to advocate for ourselves.

I had a GPEH due to a wreck and mine was done lap. I had to go through 4 months of testing before finally being allowed to have the op. I felt like I was having a heart attack the whole time.

Being older than many on this forum, I was in the hospital 4 days. I wasn't able to do anything but get the liquids I had prepared in advance for a couple of weeks. I don't have the addresses of my old posts, but they can be searched if you put in some keywords in the search box at the top of the page.

Paraesophageals need to be carefully let down through the mediastinum. The esophagus has to be dissected down long enough for the surgeon to do the wrap.

The shoulder pain is not a big deal. It may be gone before you even know you had it because you'll get pain meds in the hospital. Some of the newer docs are decompressing the abdomen better and using different gases that absorb faster.

Moonflower56-

Welcome to Healing Well.

Yes I did find my open Nissen much easier to recover from. Min was a very difficult redo as I had 2 previous Nissens an an esophageal perforation repaired just 6 months prior. My nissen was torn apart and I had massive amounts of scar tissue from all the surgeries.
I do want to say my sternum was sore for about 2 months or so after the surgery because they have to lift up quite hard on it to get in there. If it lingers ay longer talk to your surgeon as they ca prescribe a strong anti inflamatory to ease this.

I did not have PEH, but with my esophagus still healing it was a touchy surgery for me. I believe you will feel much better after this, but remember it is a long recovery for most people.Things should return to pretty much normal with a few quirks, but it is well worth it. Trust your surgeon's opinion it should be done open as they usually have a very good reason to do it so.

My surgeon had a wrap that went around my abdomin and it help a lot with holding the muscles tight when I got u from bed or a chair. My scar from this has faded as well as my lap nissen scars did. If I need another redo I am going to request it be done open.

about the NG tube....I had it with my first Nissen and my esophagus repair, but not with the redoes. So it is the surgeons preference. It is to help relieve pressure on the stomach early on and help with bloating.

Take care,
Bill

Moonflower56-

That was funny and I agree that laughter is the best medicine.

Take care,
Bill