Is lower chest pain after nissen normal?

Hi all, I posted another thread with some more post-op questions but nobody has answered them yet. So I will ask the one that's troubling me most: is it normal to have pain at the bottom of my chest three weeks after nissen fundoplication (partial wrap)? It's basically dead centre at the bottom of my breastbone and is a sensation of tightness that seems to increase when I'm moving around (no problems breathing or swallowing though). The surgery has definitely stopped reflux coming up into my throat, and also stopped the feeling of heartburn in the upper chest, but I'm starting to worry that maybe there is still some heartburn going on that's getting stuck at (what I assume to be) the wrap site. Is this possible? The pain and tightness is constant and of varying degrees. Sometimes it feels burny, but instead of rising up my esophagus like normal heartburn it just sits there in the same spot. I'm unsure if the burning sensation is heartburn or just the normal pain that comes with recovery. Is this something to worry about? If anybody could help me that would be much appreciated, thank you

Only 3 weeks after a major surgery, I would assume theres still swelling and your still adjusting to your new insides. I'm not wrapped but theres some others here who are, I'm sure they'll be along soon.

Hi Jinx,

At three weeks you still have swelling and surgical pain at the wrap site.  The esophagus is a dumb organ, and it interprets all pain as reflux.  Most likely the "reflux"/heartburn pain that you're experiencing is just plain surgical pain. 

Food and medication can get held up at the wrap site and create irritation that can mimic reflux.  Be sure to take sips of water or tea after eating to ensure that the food makes it through the wrap, and drink plenty of water with medication.

Since it takes 6 months for most of the healing and a year for the rest, you can see you're in the infancy of your recovery, and it's normal to experience the pain you're describing.  You've had major surgery, even though you can't tell because it was done laproscopically and all you have to show for it are a few little slits.  Your upper GI tract has undergone a major revision, and your insides have been through a lot.

Hang in there!  It gets better.

Happy healing,

Denise

Thanks everyone, it is a relief to read that this pain is normal and part of the surgery rather than a sign of any reflux returning!