First Surgery TIF Hiatus hernia

Hi Yolee,
My symptoms before surgery was chronic epigastric sternal burning. Also I had esophagus burning. I had a fullnes bulge feeling below my sternum where my hiatal hernia was pushing up. The burning was dull with taking Prilosec in the morning followed by Zantac 300 mg at night. When I trailed off Prilosec, my burning in my esophagus and sternum area would increase worse every day until I had to go back on prilosec for the burning to calm down. Normally after 4 days off of Prilosec otc I would end up going back on it. Hopes this helps you
Anne

Happy Halloween Gerdie Troopers. I hope you can have one piece if not 2 of your favorite halloween candy. I am feeling really good today. Big walk in back field followed by a trip with my Hubby to Oshkosh, WI Hughs Chocolates. Homemade chocolates made in a family street old wood house. We ordered all our Xmas gift list candy boxes. Turtles (crawlers), melt a ways, peppermint dark chocolate. That is just to name a few. My Grandfather told me to buy a good present for someone who has everything and you do not know what to get them, buy them an item they can use up. Chocolates fall in this catagory. Well my Hubby and I ate in a family restaurant that I could order off the menu. So I ordered tuna melt with chicken soup. It came with Potato skins I could not eat as I am on a soft ground diet. My Hubby traded his baked potato. So that worked out. I did not feel bad eating out for the first time. We came back home. Now I got to get myself in gear to go to work tomorrow afternoon after not being at my job since OCT 5th. I will pack my lunch with friendly easy GERDIE FOODS. Yogurt, pudding ,applesauce. Health drink. I may make a tuna sandwich too. I will just eat small amount at work so I do Ok. Always the first day back is the toughest . I will let you all know how I do friday morning as I will be too tired after working my first PM shift on thursday night.
Take care!! Have a great night.
Anne

Happy November 3rd Gerdie Troopers. I am post op day 26th, just finished last night 2 whole Pm shifts of my going back to work. I cannot believe I felt better and better each day going back to work, I had more energy the second day back than the first. Of course more relaxed and happy being a Dementia specialist nurse who cares for Residents who suffer with memory loss secondary of some chronic disease. Caring for others takes my mind off of myself by focusing on them. I shared my Knitted chocolate Lab Dog with them which brought a big smile to them. They could not believe I could have ever made such a wonderful dog. I shared some of my puff pop corn with some of my Residents on pureed diet and the LOVED it. Many said it tasted so good.Puff popcorn is something they could chew that would melt in their mouth. Going thur this TIF, Hernia repair operation has made me more empathetic compassionate nurse to my Residents.

Saturday Today, My across street neighbor and friend help me plant bulbs of daffodils and tulips. She planted lots of bulbs in her yard too so next early Spring we will have lots of Spring flower blooms.
My lunch was a big bowl of chili with melted cheese. I ate it normal. I mixed coleslaw with a cut up tomato and cottage cheese. It went down great. I have not had any Zantac or Prilosec since the Surgeon discontinued it for me on October 25th and I am still doing great. Like a baby with cooler nights I just love going to sleep with the warm heating pad against my chest or abdomen. No pain but just relaxes me. It turns off in 20 minutes automatic by that time I am fast asleep. Have a great weekend my Gerdie Troopers. I think next week or the week after that I may venture into my first piece of pizza!!
Anne

Sheldon,
Wonderful you had this surgery 1.5 years ago and are still doing well. Fill free to copy this tread for healing reference if you need it.I am post op day 27 today. My hubby Tom, cut up some crispy bacon in small pieces and place it in an egg cheese omelet. It tasted great and went down good. I always have a bowl of applesauce with each meal to take a bite after a food that I feel is too dry.
We are watching the Packers play the AZ Cardinals today in Green bay. My hubby is eating real butter popcorn while I am enjoying the puff melt in your mouth popcorn. All is well and I continue to take steps slow, scale back on my diet if I feel the food was too much for the next day. At work I will only eat safe bland foods as I cannot afford not feeling well while I work.
Have a great Sunday.
Anne

Sweet Potatoe said...

2. In the middle of the afternoon I drank 8 ounces of aloe vera Juice. Aloe Vera Juice can work as a laxative taken in greater amounts. In the end my bowls were cleaned out by 11 am the next morning when we left for the hospital. This was the best thing I did to prevent terrible gas pains in the hospital IT WORKED!!

3. On the morning of surgery I took a hot streamy shower using antibacteria soap. This will help get rid of germs and bacteria on your skin to help prevent abdominal incision infections during the healing process. I came through very fine.

These are great tips! Thanks :D

Good Evening Gerdie Troopers. Post op day 30 for me today and I am feeling great. I am able to drink a little red wine to enjoy election happy results local and national! I am now able to eat real potato chips with good chewing. My belching is almost non existent now.I have Just a little belch now and then. My last 2 days of work went great. I felt I was almost back to complete normal. When I over do on activities or spicy food, most surgical site pain is #1 at most on a scale 1 less pain, 10 worst pain. I am still not carrying my groceries out in bags in each hand yet as I use a cart and load one bag at a time in the car Trunk part. I have to wait 2 more weeks until I will begin gentle exercise with my stretch bands and bally ball. I have increased my morning walk with Rocky, German Shorthaired Pointer by 15 minutes each morning .
Now I want to share how you can exercise during your daily activities without going to the gym.

1. Take the steps instead of elevator when it is just you if able.
2. Walk in a path in your house you create for 45 minutes with your favorite CD Music playing. When the CD is finished it may be about 45 minutes when you cannot walk outside.
3. Park in the farthest car spot from the store you are about to enter. When in the store walk up and down each isle of the entire store.
4. If you have only 2 bags of stuff. Carry them out for strength training to your car.
5. If you are at home during a snow storm, go out and shovel your front walk every 2 to 3 inches of the white stuff.
6. If you have a push lawn mower chose the push lawn mower over rider.
7. Rake your leaves instead of using the blower or picking them up with the lawn mower bag.
8. Adopt a "in your face" house dog that lives with you. Develop a walking everyday pattern with this dog. The Dog will encourage you to walk everyday at least 2 times a day. The dog will not let you take a day off cause you are too tired or just don't feel well. By the time you are outside with your dog you will feel better and better as the walk goes on.
9. Fat rubber bands you find holding broccoli together in the super market can be place around your fingers . Then fan your fingers out creating tension. Natural exercise for your fingers and wrist.

Just a few Ideas. I welcome any others to post easy ways to go thur the day to increase our exercise without going to the gym.
Have a Great Evening .
Anne

Hi Yolee,
The long term studies have been done for only 5 years with good results. The down side of the Tif verses Nissen is the TIF has not been around that long. Dr. Horace P. Lo M.D, from general surgery did my surgery ( from the land of the Green and Gold, Green Bay Packers). I am very happy and greatful to have a surgeon in our area who does the TIF. Dr lo put on several seminars to introduce the TIF surgery to help Reflux suffers in our area. He explained well the difference of having the Tif vs the nissen. He said the TIF has a lot less recovery side effects during the recovery period compared to the nissen. He also calmed my fears of getting food stuck saying the TIF has less chance of getting food stuck compared to the nissen. Also, Dr Lo said 80 percent of GERDIE TROOPERS (acid reflux suffers) have Hiatal hernia. Only 20 percent can have the TIF by itself while 80 percent (like me) require both hiatal hernia repair along with the TIF. So far I have not had any food get stuck . Like I said before after this surgery my pain has been #3 at worst and #0 at best. Also while in the hospital the nurses did not want us TIF patients to go home until we could eat and hold down pudding and cream of wheat cereal. The nurses made it clear , "We are not sending you home on just clear liquids." I hope this helps. I hope all my GERDIE TROOPERS can find a surgeon who can do both the TIF or nissen in your area so you have an educated informed choice to make during your pre op discussion with your surgeon of choice like I experienced. Have a great Morning. Now off to walk my Rocky, GSP!!
Anne

Hi Gerdie Troopers. It is the weekend.It is post op day 33 for me. Last night we went out for Fish friday night dinner. I had salmon on top of wild rice with a side dish of apple sauce to help food slide down if needed. I just ate half and took half home. The spices on the fish did bother me some by the time I got home so I took a little antiacid mylanta type white stuff followed by walking circles in my house for about 15 minutes and that seemed to stop the gas funny feeling in my stomach. I did finish my second knitted Lab dog yesterday. Then I went down by my knitting instructor to learn the knit loopy stitch so I am now on the first leg of the Golden Retriever. Now next week my Hubby and I will be hosting Wisconsin Gun Deer HUnters which starts a week from today. So I will be busy getting the house ready. I do deep cleaning in my house as this will help for Xmas time too. I pace myself , make a list and do a little everyday until the BIG day. My Hubby is the head cook so he does the majority of the camp cooking. I will bake a few pies next week. My Minnesota Son is bring down a cherry pie from his work so I will especially enjoy a piece of that with some french vanilla ice cream. Our beloved Packers are on a bye this week, so I will not have any Green Bay Packer game stress to deal with this sunday.lol Have a great weekend!!
Anne

Another suggestion that works too. Take sock, fill up with raw uncooked rice, warm in microwave. Also good for around the neck. Also cut a leg off panty hose, fill with rice-- kinda depends on how long or flexible you need. Both helpful.

Good afternoon Gerdie Troopers. Today I am 35 days post op. Five weeks ago today I had my surgery. I am still doing well. Today I went for my 6 week Chiropractic care tune up. I go every 6 to 8 weeks to keep my skeletal system where it should be. I went to my Chiropractor a week before my surgery. I shared with him today that I was not in much pain after surgery. I Also shared with him, my surgeon on my first post op visit could not believe I did not have pain on my left abdominal quad or neck or shoulder pain. He said I was his first TIF, Hernia repair patient at this first post op visit who did not complain of pain these areas. My Chiropractor said today, he attributes my no pain to being adjusted before my surgery having my body in good alignment. That might be another good tip to do before surgery is to go to a chiropractor for a good tune up and alignment so you won't be in much pain after surgery. I am off today back to cleaning my house before my Gun Deer Hunters arrive this friday. Have a great day!!
Anne

Hi Gerdie Troopers, Last evening , my hubby charcoal a ham on the grill outside for a few hours. Boy did it smell nice cooking as I passed by. It was even better when I ate a whole slice of ham. I kept on eating little slivers of ham thur out the rest of the evening until my digestive system started to act up. Pain in my esophagus with gas pressure resulting in lots of belching. I sat in a chair and the pressure and pain got worse. Then I got up and began my walking. I drank a 30 cc med cup of the white anti acid stuff which relieved it some. The result, I am Back on the yogurt and applesauce today. I have lived and learn.This post op healing will take some time. Thanks giving I will just stick to the safe foods.(mash potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach, Chicken or turkey) No spicy sausage. Just cheese and crackers with no spicy sausage slice between. I am post op day 37 today. I go to work this evening which is good as I am moving while caring for others being their nurse. I am blessed with GERDIE friendly job.
Have a great day and Night.
Anne

Hi Gerdie Troopers!! Hope all had a wonderful Thanks Giving. I had my whole Family. Cooked the Turkey stuffing Gravy, Mash potato, Sweet Potato, pumpkin and Cherry Pie. All went down well for me. With a big meal I did taste a little acid . So I took a Zantac that soon solved it. Yesterday I swallowed my first whole big one a day Vitamin. It went down great. So now I can swallow pills whole again at Day 53 post op. This monday will be 8 weeks post op so I will be allowed to start lifting light weights at the work out place. I continue to walk 30 to 45 minutes outside with Rocky on leash as we have no snow yet out in the fields. We broke our pumpkins out in our back yard. The next morning they were gone eaten by the herd of White Tail deer that live behind us. I am still feeling good at work. I am off weight restrictions. I know that I am still in the recovery phase if I try more aggressive spicy type foods I just may take a Zantac before such a meal if alright?? I am still drinking Aloe Vera juice in ounces in the morning. My gas after eating has lighten up. But I will continue to walk 15 minutes around the house to help that. Now we are getting ready for Xmas. Just one season celebration after another. I am meeting with friends at a Mexican restaurant on December 10th. I think I will take a Zantac before I go to that.
Have a Great Weekend Gerdie Troopers
Anne

Merry Christmas and Happy New year Gerdie Trooper. I have been doing great , healing slowly nicely since my Oct 8th, 2012 Hiatal TIF surgery repair surgery. Holiday foods did not cause any reflux problems. I ate chocolates, cookies ect. back drinking an occasional coffee, but still drinking Tea with honey as a morning drink. Gas and belching is almost non existent now which is making me very happy. I did go out to a Mexican Restaurant with my Xmas friends and did Ok without any reflux problems. I am totally off of Zantac and Prilosec and did not take a Zantac before going to that . I still have my bed elevated on blocks. I am still drinking 2 ounces of Aloe Vera Juice every day. I hope all Gerdie Trooper have a great New year. Keep safe with all the celebrations.
Anne