What to expect following Nissen Fundoplication?

I have just come back from the doctor today and he has agreed to do the Nissen surgery!

I am absolutely thrilled because this has had such an effect on me my whole life!

So, now I am wondering what to expect once I get it done?
I want to know any complication you may have had, any benefits, weightloss, appetite changes, pain? everything!

Btw, I am 19 and have really bad GERD for as long as I can remember.

I honestly dont know anything about paraesophageal hernia surgery, mine is just a regular old hernia! but i really want to no what to expect with surgery

I had the Nissen Fundo surgery December of last year. At that time someone reposted a very helpful diary of their experience for weeks and months following their surgery. I wish I could remember who.

I can tell you a bit about my experience. I had mine at University of Cincinnati Med Center. I was up walking around that same night. Was in the hospital for 3 days, but that is only because I had an hour drive to get home and the surgeon wanted to make sure I was ok before I left.

The first several days were ok. I could eat all the soft foods on the list. However, by about day 6 I could not keep even the soft food down. They would not get past the wrap, so it was like throwing up, but a bit different because the food never makes it to the stomach. Not trying to scare you, but this part of it freaked me out because it went on for about 5 days. I scanned through this forum and found that others experienced this as well and were told the wrapped area sometimes has delayed swelling, which tightens things up more until the swelling goes down.

You need to just take things slow and be patient. Over the first few months it is about getting used to what you can eat, and slowly add to your diet. Since then, the rest of this year has been working on tweaking my diet to reduce side effects; bloat, increased gas due to the inability to burp, some discomfort from that pressure and the desire to belch, but cannot.

I also experienced a return of relux 5 weeks later, but it improved within a week. Not sure why that happened and why it improved? I have what I consider an 80% success rate in the reduction of reflux. Experiencing some as of late and I think it is due to a drug my doctor put me on recently for something unrelated. Also, I do have a bit of gastritis, which I think can feel like reflux.

I do think the Nissen is far better than living with daily, chronic reflux. What I wish I would have done differently however, is research less invasive procedures like the LINX or Endo Cinch and go with them first. You would have to make sure that if those less invasive procedures do not work, that Nissen would still be an option. Everyone says a wrap can be un-done, but the surgeon said it would not be advised. They build additional scar tissue around the wrapped area in order to keep it in place, so it is so hard to perform surgery around that area after the fact. Again, not trying to scare you, just giving you some things to think of as you proceed. Ultimately I completely agree with anything, including the Nissen, that will stop your suffering. I've been there and I know it is no way to live. I would rather live with the side effects of the Nissen, then to have reflux as intense as I once did. I have Barrett's Esophagus, so I felt I had to do something to stop the damage.

Go to the top of the this GERD home page forum, you may be able to find the posted diary there, or reach out to the moderator to see if they know who posted their diary of recovery over the first year. Best of luck to you, and keep turning to this forum as you go through things, it is a great help!
Anita - Virgo

I'm on day 8 post Nissan fundo & can tell u what I have been going thru. Granted, I'm still very early in the recovery process, but the most memorable things to date are:
● Doc didn't tell me I'd wake up from surgery with an NG tube. I panicked when I woke up & tried to pull it out because I was scared. Had it in for about 24 hours. Not the most comfortable thing to deal with but it helps to decompress the stomach and keep the acid & blood from being aspirated. Ask your surgeon if you'll have one of these so u won't be surprised.
● You may end up getting heparin shots in the belly the 1st night after surgery to prevent blood clots. Again, not real fun, but better than getting blood clots. They also had me in these weird stockings that inflate like a blood pressure cuff to prevent clots in the legs. This was actually sort of nice; it was like getting constant calf massages.
● I'm a chronic pain patient also, so pain management was a challenge the 1st day after surgery. From what I've read, most folks do ok. You just have to stay ahead of the pain & not let it get out of control. The gas that they inject into your belly will cause referred pain into the shoulder. Walking helps to move it around and out. Nausea is also an issue, so just ask for the anti-nausea meds. They're a savior.
● They did a swallow scan the day after to make sure nothing leaked. Once that's done they started me on liquids. Your stomach and bowels may rebel at 1st, but take it slow & you'll be fine.
● Each day you'll feel better. My stomach was halfway in my chest cavity before, so now I can breathe better and the reflux is gone!
● I just weighed in today after 8 days & have lost 7 lbs. You'll get full really fast due to the swelling and shrunken stomach (I think).
● My belly is still swollen so getting into jeans can be a challenge. Low cut jeans are easier to wear. Sweat pants are the most comfortable now. I have to get back to work next Monday in a job that requires me to wear jeans to do inspections, so we'll see how that goes lol
● I am glad that I did it. The rewards far outweigh the negative aspects, although I would really love to eat a burrito right now!
This forum has been a wealth of information & comfort. If I can help anyone with sharing my experience, I'll continue to post. Just let me know. It's scary when you don't know what to expect or have questions that come up in the middle of the night. I hope I haven't taken up too much space.

Hi, am new to the site but have been helped by so many who have shared their experiences.
I had nissan with hiatal hernia repair 7 months ago. My nissan was secured with a bio-mesh. It truly solved my reflux problems and at 7 months I can now pretty much eat and drink anything. But I still know I am healing as I can overdo it real easily by wightlifting too hard and then find myself swelling and hurting in the wrap area. I have no doubt this is going to take a year as most say to completely heal and do the things you did physically before the surgery. I went through all the post op issues with peak swelling, weight loss, painful eating, and especially doubts that this was not a good decision. Those are all gone and I guess I could advise anyone that you just have to have faith and press on through the ealy weeks and months.

Thanks for reposting Denise's log Bill. Though I was going through a bit different symptoms here and there, I found it quite helpful!

Hiatal Surgery Newbie; boy you brought back the surgery memories to me.  I forgot about the heprin shots and the circulation boots.  I also do not do well on pain meds, but really did not need to hit the pump. They kept asking me to because I felt "discomfort", but I rejected.  They put an older pain med in and I hit it a couple times.  For some reason I had a terrible headache after that and into the next day, so they allowed me to just take extra strength, liquid Advil and it helped.  For me, I just knew I felt better moving, just walking the floor.  I know not everyone can do that, but I did it soon after and just kept it up.  One of the surgeons the 2nd day said, "we hear you have been walking a lot, we want you to, but you also need to take it easy a bit as well." 

I was very worried ahead of time about the tube being left in my throat after surgery, based on discussions with the 3 people I knew that had the Nissen.  So during the first couple visits, and the day of the surgery, I reminded my surgeon that if there was any way to get that out before I came to, that I would appreciate it.  She said they can't make no promises, but she will do so if able.  She was able to take it out and I never woke to that.

I've had bronchitis for over a week now.  Even though it has been almost a year since my surgery, I worry the hard, consistent coughing may hurt the wrap a bit.  I am having a bit of reflux.  I am also taking a number of meds to get rid of this viral infection, so it could just be irritating my stomach in general.  At least I hope that is the issue. 

Take care,

Anita

 

If anybody else could reply with more information that would be great too, the more info the more prepared ill feel :)