Heart Burns after Nissen Fundoplication

Hello! I got my nissen done on monday 03.12.2012. After operation i was doing well, no sign of heart burns or reflux at first 2 days. After that when i started eating i got this weird taste in my mouth. Now day 6 i am having heart burns. Before that i used to take Nexium 40mg and i was okay with that, i just wanted to get off pills so i decided to do surgery in hope that i get rid off the pills. Now i am afraid that surgery did not go well and my heart burns are back. Doctor said that surgery was done well and i did not had so bad defect no hitial hernie only needed to do wrap but i can burp for no problems and it's scary, i dont know should i get on Nexium back or wait until things settle up ? I know it's only week post-op but still i am afraid i need to get back on pills. I never had problems with food going back to my mouth, only heart burns and i could life with pills without no problem, sometimes i was nausea and pills were giving side effects, only for that reason i wanted to get this surgery done. Now i'm thinking it was bad choise.. :(

Post Edited (Žeka) : 12/9/2012 3:34:37 PM (GMT-7)

yesterday had a bad heart burns so today took nexium 40mg at the morning, lets see what happens..

Post Edited (Žeka) : 12/11/2012 3:05:28 AM (GMT-7)

Hey, I had my fundoplication done at around the same time as you too. I had it done during the 6th December 2012. Did you stop your nexium after the operation? My doctor told me not to stop the PPI immediately or the stomach will still produce lots of acid.

Also, like what couchtater had said earlier, as it is swollen and inflamed, the acid can still flow back up as 6 weeks post ops is still quite early.

Also, as the food takes longer to go down to the stomach, the esophageous has to work harder to push it down, so it will also get irritated and swollen. From what I read online, the burning sensation post ops might not be a heartburn. Rather, it is due to the esophageous being irritated.

Don't worry too much, I had heartburn for the 1st 4 weeks after the surgery. My doctor says that it's normal. Right now, I have almost no heartburn already. But may I ask what food are you taking right now? You might want to go back to a soft diet and remember not to eat too full and to chew the food till it is mashed up.

If you are still worried, you can go back to your doctor to get an endoscopy to check what is going on. All the best in your recovery :) I know exactly what you are going through.

Zeka,

You're still in the early stages of recovery.  Generally surgeons don't provide a realistic outlook into what the recovery will entail.  I'm not sure why...maybe they just don't know.  Maybe they don't want their patients to know!  Your guess is as good as mine.

However, what you're experiencing isn't at all out of the realm of normal at about one month post op.  It takes a full 6 months for most of the healing and a year for the rest (mainly adjusting to the upper GI changes). 

Your upper GI tract has undergone major surgery.  While your outsides don't show it because of the laproscopic surgery, your insides have been through a lot.  The nausea and pain are to be understood.

The esophagus is a dumb organ and interprets all pain as heartburn.  Your wrap is swollen and food can get stuck at the wrap site, thus irritating the esophagus and causing "heartburn" sensations. 

Your stomach is just plain irritated.  Part of it was wrapped around the esophagus and stitched, and your stomach isn't happy about that, as you can imagine.

Try to surrender to the recovery process and accept it as it is.  I know it's no fun, and nausea is hard to live with.  It will subside, though, but will take time.  In my experience, upper GI irritation takes a long time to heal.  It's worth it in the end.  Many people feel like recovery will never be over--that they will never feel well again.  This is the farthest thing from the truth. 

Give your body a chance to recovery.  Treat your upper GI tract very gently for a while.  Don't try to rush the recovery--even in your head.  If you are in a rush to get back to normal, it'll just create stress in you and make things worse. 

The recovery is as it is.  Accept it, relax into it, and allow it to happen at its own pace.  No matter how hard you will it to be over, it will not make a bit of difference.  It'll only make the experience harder to accept and deal with.  "Go with the flow"...relax into it.  It will take its own sweet time no matter how much we struggle against it and will it to move faster.

Stick around, ask questions, and receive support and encouragement!

Hang in there!

Denise

 

Hi Zeka

9 weeks after my op I was fine, and although it does take longer to heal it sounds like your symptoms are pretty severe for this stage of your healing process.

Have you had a follow up appointment with your surgeon yet, as you need to go through these symtoms with them and ask for some follow up tests.

What kind of Nissen did you have (was it full or partial)?

Today i meet the surgeon and he said i need to get gastroscopy. so next week im gonna having gastroscopy, very nervouse about it..

i think i will ask the surgeon to undo my nissen, because i dont see the point of it anymore, it doesent help me.. only makes new problems.. im devastated. That im only 21 and im healthy but my stomah its absurd what is doing to me.. i hope i find the way to stop my misery and enjoy my life one day. And i hope they do new surgery in this month.. because in the summer they dont do this and i cant be with that so long.. i need to finish my school and find job, but i cant do it with this constant suffering.

At the moment im in the ER and tommorrow will have endoscopy, cant stand this burning and food in my throut.. Nothing helps not nexium 40 not almagel, eating very very small portions.. NOTHING. God help me please !!

Okay. So today my surgeon did the gastroskopy to me and it showed that my wrap is totally fine but my stomach is inflamed (gastritis). I think its from my stress in life.. But still it didnt explain why i had some food and acidi in my throut :S so its still worries me.. But yeah he writed me anothe PPI's something same good as nexium, because nexium doesnt work for me anymore. So im happy that everything is fine with my wrap :) he showed me pictures before the surgery there was big hole in my esophagitis and now there is beautiful wrap and little hole. He said yes there is a little whole because they cant do wrap that closes everything otherwise i wont should to swallow or pass my food.. Im lucky i can burp :) but strange is when i was having gastroskopy i didnt had any of vomiting refluxes anymore..

Hi Zeka,glad to hear your wrap is ok,a ppi should help you with the gastritis,probably take a few weeks to settle down.Stress can play a bit part in gastro problems,when i get stressed my reflux definitely gets worse,so try and stay as relaxed as possible.Ive never had gastritis myself but there are plenty of members on here who can advise you on diet etc.good Luck! Barry

Hi zeka,seeing another surgeon to have a look at your problem is a good idea.Im doing the same myself after a nissen fundo which isnt working.Good luck and let us know how you get on.Barry

It can't be too tight wrap because i can burp after eating and i saw another surgeon and he did the barium test and it came back negative so he said everything is okay it.. so he said it can be stress or depression so he will prescribe me AD's when i come back to him. Still i dont believe that is from stress.