Nissen Surgery 5 months Later...Few Questions

Okay. So I had the surgery June 1, 2012. The first few weeks I was cursing myself for going through this. I had pains and felt weird.

I must say 5 months removed and all of my symptoms are gone. No more pains in my stomach. No more acid reflux. I used to eat 3 slices of pizza and be up all night with heartburn.

So i went to the doctor for a checkup and asked - when can i start drinking soda again ? drinking beer ?

his answers scared me. He said never. he said that if i drink beer the carbonation will cause air and it will give me pain. For me to have a little discomfort after drinking is nothing new... my main concern is will i damage the wrap with drinking soda, coffee, and beer?

I understand that I got this surgery to change my lifestyle. And going 4-6 months without soda, I really dont have a need for it. But its nice sometimes to have a coke with a meal... or I work weird hours at work and sometimes it is nice to have a redbull or a monster drink.

I get chronic headaches and caffeine does heal them.

Main question is  - If I started drinking a soda a day will i hurt the wrap?  my main concern is not getting a bloated stomach... I can deal with a little bloating.. But I do not want to hurt the wrap and have to be getting another touch up surgery every few years to "fix" the wrap.

Does the wrap eventually get to a point where you can not harm it?

Hi 49ersfan,

It's great to hear you're doing well!  I wrote a response earlier today and it disappeared when I was ready to submit it, so here I am again, giving it a try. 

Your doctor is only assuming that you won't be able to drink beer or soda.  Since he/she hasn't been through the recovery, it's a theoretical response, rather than one based on real experience.  Around here you'll find real live Nissen veterans who can share our experiences.  While everyone is different, it's more likely than not that you will find a similar response to introducing these beverages into your diet.

I've been drinking beer since probably 4 months post-op, and have never had any problem with it.  Soda is a little trickier because the carbonation is more aggressive than beer.  Still, I don't see any problem with drinking a soda a day.  Just listen to your body.  If you get uncomfortable bloating, let the soda sit a while and go a bit flat before drinking it.  I went out for dinner a couple nights ago and drank two Cokes without any problem at all. 

The only thing I've really had a problem with was champagne.  My son recently got engaged and we celebrated it with a couple glasses of champagne.  I got painfully bloated.  The thing about a wrap is that if the bloat gets ahead of the wrap's ability to burp itself, the gas starts pushing against the flap and doesn't allow the gas to escape.  That's when you have to deal with some bloating until it makes it out the back door.

Just listen to your body and follow its lead.  I'd be very surprised if beer or soda (in moderation) cause you trouble.  If you start with bloat, adjust your amounts for a while.  Try to increase it again after some time and healing has passed.

As Bill said, even if you get bloat, it won't harm your wrap at all.  Don't worry for a moment.

Let us know how it goes!

Cheers!

Denise

Hey opnwhl4,

THanks for the response!!

What is that on your profile? you had 3 nissen surgeries? Why 3 ? when you say nissen do you mean the wrap? did they have to go in and do a re-do?

That was my fear is to be getting these constant re-dos... it looks you had a nissen every 1.5 years...that seems like alot and I was just wondering why, and what made you keep getting them?

I feel like I just wont know if my wrap is giving me issues and that is my biggest fear/

My wrap is fine with any kind of fizzies. Sometimes I get quite full but waiting for a bit relieves it. Also, I suspect your headaches are caffeine withdrawals!

opnwhl4 said...
I have drank sodas, beer, and moonshine without any real issues. Yes you may have some gas from the carbonation, but it won't damage the wrap once it's healed.

Lol, cracks me up every time you mention moonshine, especially as nonchalantly as including it in a list with sodas and beer!

48ersfan-

Denise has it correct. Both redoes weren't from the wrap failing, but from either not being done correctly another doctor putting a hole in me.

Marcello-
Yeah I am a Hillbilly through and through. Right now I am stuck up North, but still manage to get my moonshine. whenever I get back home I bring some with. Since they have made it avaiable legallt now it's easier to get, but not quite the same as what I grew up on. Got 2 quarts right now, well they aren't full quarts
Got straight shine on the end table next to the bed and some apple pie in the kitchen. I figure no sense in beatin around the bush. If you have ever watched the show Moonshiners, that's exactly how my family is. Can't wait to get back home.

Denise, yep you got it correct. You are good!


Oh, one other thing about beer, stay away from on tap if you can. It has more carbonation in it. Every time I drink it I get bloated and can't burp well enough to get it out.

Take care,
Bill

I don't like beer but have soda. If you can't burp, I wouldn't recommend it. Honestly I think the burping helps me feel better nausea wise. I can't drink anything non-carbonated for I feel awful. Figure that one out! LOL I do have one cup of coffee in the morning. I've had to do a trial and error since most brands give me gut rot. If I have more than one cup it usually ends in disaster.

Start slow and see what you can handle. You'll definitely know if you over do it! Good luck!