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OK, Got the wrap yesterday! Ouch!

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 2/13/2013 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
After 3 years of taking meds that don't work (80mg Nexium and 300mg Zantac) I made up my mind to get it done. Had it yesterday, stayed overnight, and got home 3 hours ago. Man am I sore. Just breathing deeply hurts. The morning after the surgery, I had to get a barium swallow. Doc does this to ensure there are no leaks in the wrap. Got some anti neasua meds and Tylenol 3 with Codiene.

My biggest complaint is the air or gas they fill you with to perform the wrap. My neck, my shoulder, my whole upper torso.

After the barium, I was able to eat something. I had some chicken broth, jello, and a little yogert. All went down fine. Docs instructions: Full liquid and clear. Either or. Then after 4-5 days I can start on a soft diet. No lifting, no heavy recreation. Walk as much as possible, that should get rid of the gas. I hope so. I do have a higher toleration for pain, but this rough. I seem to think someone else mention this. Any suggestions, anyone else experience this? Please inform me.
Posted 2/13/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi renegade,

Welcome to the Healing Well yeah yeah yeah Wrapped Club! yeah yeah yeah Glad to hear you're home and healing.  It's the best place to be.  When I first started hanging around this forum, it always seemed strange that you can get shoulder pain from stomach surgery!  I was told by my night nurse in the hospital to get up and walk whenever I got up to go to the bathroom.  You should have seen me at the hospital, doing laps around the nurse's station, dragging along my IV pole!

At home I walked all around my house for the first few days, then moved to the treadmill, where I walked a 0 incline and slow at the beginning, then gradually increasing speed and incline over the next days and weeks.  I found that the more I walked, the less shoulder pain I had.

I'm not sure if your surgeon told you, but during the first two weeks or so, your wrap will become increasingly swollen, peaking on or about day 14 for most people.  Don't be surprised if your swallowing gets worse before it gets better.  Also, remember that the esophagus is a "dumb organ" that interprets all pain as reflux.  The first two weeks is the toughest part of recovery...hang in there.  It gets better! 

If you can surrender to your recovery and follow it where it leads, you'l find recovery easier.  Those who struggle against what "is" have a much rougher time.  You can't rush this recovery.  It is as it is.  You'll gradually improve over the next weeks and months. It takes a full 6 months for most of the healing and a year for the rest (which is mostly adjustment to the changes in the upper GI tract).

Happy healing!

Denise

Posted 2/13/2013 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
What helped me the most was getting up in the middle of my meal and walking around to get the gas to move around. Right after I got home, I got the worst pain in the middle of sipping on soup. I got up, went outside, and walked around for 10 minutes, and was finally able to eat a little. I know that during my switch to soft food was the most painful part of the process. Everything came back up as soon as I swallowed it, accompanied by a massive amount of saliva. I was spitting it up for 5 or so minutes, and the gas pain seemed to last for hours. My advice would be to SLOWLY graduate to the soft food diet (I was on full liquids for two weeks). The nurse told me just to slowly try things to see how they feel, and that three weeks out seems to be the turning point for most patients. She also said not to get discouraged if it takes longer to get to soft foods, as there is still a lot of swelling. That may have been the best advice I received.

I have also been taking a lot of simethicone (Gas X), which works wonders, and was especially helpful in the earlier days of recovery (I'm at about 7 weeks right now). Hope that helps!
Posted 2/13/2013 6:14 AM (GMT 0)
Remember no straws and take small bites. Chew,chew,chew
Ice packs help with the tenderness (keep wounds dry though)
Take it easy and rest...don't rush the food....1/2cup of food a meal... can eat every 2 hours if hungry.
Posted 2/14/2013 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. Three days after surgery, getting better, but still having the gas or air pains from the surgery. The incision points not too sore. Full liquid diet shows no real trouble as of yet. Will go to soft foods tomorrow or the next day. I get hiccups now and then, and that is a bit painful. Seems I can get a small burp out as well; so far. I walk plenty, as I believe that helps with the pain. My pain meds are Tylenal 3 with codeine. I only take it now and then, as needed. Feel free to post advice, this is gonna be some sort of journey for me. Can't wait to get back to the gym. At least two months before I can go back to the weights. A good trade off if this surgery works.
Posted 2/20/2013 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
Walking a lot is going to help with those gas pains. Congrats on taking steps to fix the GERD!!! Heal up quickly :)
Posted 2/21/2013 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the kind words. Well, 10 days into the recovery and all is well. Had my follow-up yesterday. I started on soft food the past Friday, mashed potato, fish, chicken, oatmeal, ice cream, graham crackers and peanut butter, scrambled eggs etc. Have not yet tried pancakes, is that too much like bread, or is it do-able at this stage? The doc said I could go back to exercising at 4 weeks, light jogging, no sit-ups, but no weights until around weeks 6-8, and start small. As I increase, if it hurts, back down. He also said to start experimenting in about a week, advancing from soft foods. only no beef or bread for awhile. I think he means steak, as I have read that some people have started on ground beef at this point. Yes or no? I am really glad to say that so far all has been fine. My apatite has increased and so far all is swallowed well. So far. I lost 10 lbs since my surgery, on the 11th Feb. But I have been drinking protein drinks at least every other day. I hope to keep the loss to 15 or less. I'll keep you posted. Really would like some input on the pancakes and ground beef......
Posted 2/21/2013 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi renegade

Pleased to hear you are doing well.

At your stage of healing, you really need to avoid anything that can congeal on the way down after you have swallowed it. My guess (I don't think there is a glob scale to compare?) is that ground beef and pancakes would fall into this category.

If you do try it, make sure you chew thorougly to a liquid consistency and you are drinking regularly too to prevent it from becoming sticky and globulous.

Tell you what though, if you do manage to hold off a while until later in your healing that first beef and pancakes is going to taste like the best you have ever had!

Hang in there.

Les.
Posted 2/22/2013 4:44 AM (GMT 0)
Ground meat is ok, just not solid meats for a few weeks. also toasted bread works, but soft breads are bad. Pancakes with plenty of syrup should be ok as long as you go slow.

Take care,
Bill
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