1st day post op

1st day after surgery went well. Got to leave the hospital around 5pm. Was sent home w/breathing apparatus, liquid loratab & liquid colace. A little sore but not bad & having a little difficult swallowing,but I know that will get better.. Did let myself get a little too tired - wont let that happen again. Best part - no heart urn, no burning throat, & no PPI'S. yea!

Sorry to hear your surgery was delayed. I postponed mine for a month because I wasn't "mentally ready". Wished I would've just had it done when it was first scheduled. I am actually feeling good. Sore from the incisions but not bad. Started eating soft foods yesterday (day 2 post op) had some rice pudding. This morning I had part of a poached egg. I feel so much better than before surgery. Good luck with your surgery!

Life is Good to me,

Yehaa,  no heartburn, no burning throat and no PPIs for you.  Life is truly good.

Kindly,

Kitt

Teeth cleaner,

The first thing I remember when I woke completely up was immediately noticing that I had no burning in my throat or chest & no heartburn pain under my sternum & no nausea at all. My throat was a little sore from the tube down it during surgery. The pain from surgery wasn't near as bad as I had thought it might be. I slept most of the day of surgery & was up walking around the hospital the 2nd day. Went home the evening of the 2nd day. I am now 19 days post op & went back to my teaching job today. Everyone remarked about how much better I looked than before surgery. Before surgery I was in constant pain & now I feel so much better it is hard to believe. I am so glad that I had this surgery done - it has been wonderful for me & no big issues after surgery.

I wish you the best & hopefully you will experience as great of a result as I have had.

T c

If you are having a lot nausea now from the GERD the wrap should help with that. Do you have heartburn also?

Take care,
Bill

Thanks Josie! I pray for your continued healing! BTW can you burp
now and are you having any swallowing problems at all now? Before your surgery did you do a lot of research to find a good Surgeon!
Do you know how many Nissens he has done? I read so many
post that say that most of these surgeries turn out ok as long as your
your surgeon has performed many!! Wendy

Thanks Jose for all the helpful information! I wish I could be less anxious about all this but it is major surgery to the stomach that should be taken seriously. You have been so helpful! I have an appointment with a surgeon in Macon Georgia on Tuesday to discuss all this. He will also do an EGD. Hopefully my mind will be put at ease when all that is over with and I consult with him. I have to travel 4 hours to see him from Alabama but it's worth it because he does this surgery all the time. Actually I think his specialty is the Hill procedure for reflux.

Hi guys!! I am new to the site and in preparation for the Nissen.

Teeth Cleaner- I saw where you are coming to see a doctor in Macon Ga. Ironic because I currently live in Macon and my doctor is referring me to a GI in Florida. Who are seeing?

Hi Tired of Suffering,

Welcome to Healing Well!  Glad you've joined us.  Like you, I found this forum shortly before I'd made the decision to go forward with my surgery.  Here's a link to my recovery journal, in case you haven't seen it.  It might provide some information you could use as you consider surgery yourself:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

Good luck with your search for answers!  We're here to answer any questions you might have.  If you haven't started your own thread on the main page, please do.  Just introduce yourself and ask any questions that come to mind.  It'll be easier for other members to find you and provide support and information.

Hi Teeth cleaner,

Good luck with your appointment!  Joy (couchtater) always speaks very highly of Dr. Bagnato, and he did a great job for her.

Best wishes to you both,

Denise

Hi Wendy,

Good luck figuring it all out.  I found it difficult to get my GI doc onboard with surgery, even though my PCP and asthma docs were tearing their hair out, trying to keep me breathing.  My reflux levels were never high, and the GI doc, I'm sure, thought that the lung issues were unrelated. 

My asthma doc, on the other hand, said that GI docs don't understand that a very small amount of reflux can create havoc with the lungs.  He said the GI docs are more concerned with reflux amounts that are large enough to create problems for the esophagus.  It takes a lot more reflux to do that.

Finally, after about 5 or 6 years of going around and around on the topic, accompanied by multiple notes from my asthma doc and PCP, (as well as testing done by a surgeon my PCP sent me to because he gave up on my GI doc) my GI doc said that "probably a couple good reflux episodes in a day could be enough to cause problems with my lungs..."  Really?  No kidding.

Anyway, back to you.  Good luck finding out what is going on with your lungs and reflux. 

Best wishes!

Denise

I am 15 days post op and my symptoms were very similar to yours. I had acid reflux off and on for 40+ years and a diagnosed hiatal hernia. A little over two years ago, I had a stricture of the esophagus and it was dilated. At the same time I went on Nexium. The acid stopped but the reflux continued. A few months later I had an abcess of the lung which took several months of strong antibiotics to whip. The doctor said that an abcess of the lungs is normally associated with alcoholics because they aspirate vomit in their sleep. However I don't drink. The gastroenterologists have attributed the lung problems to aspiration of reflux. The hernia increased in size until I developed swallowing difficulties. I had constant non-acid reflux and was always on the verge of regurgitating. Finally on the 13th of march 2013 I had the hernia repair and NF. I call mine a geriatric wrap--floppy and loose. The Surgery was 3 hours with a two day hospital stay and so far recovery has far surpassed my expectations. I have had almost no pain and so far physical healing has been routine. I have had no bloating and have been able to occasionally burp.

Thanks Denise!

Hi Retired Seabee,

Absolutely no offense taken! I was just pointing out that with some of us (you included) it's not a clear-cut decision.  GI docs often drag their feet on this surgery unless somebody has severe, severe GERD with very high DeMeester (pH monitor) scores.  People who are having lung involvement often have lower scores but dangerous conditions that don't fit the mold.

I'm really glad that you had doctors who understood the necessity of the surgery.  I wish mine had, as I have some permanent damage as a result of waiting too long for the surgery.  Another member who no longer posts here, actually developed COPD as doctors muddled around, dragging their feet.

Glad you've joined the forum, RS!

Happy healing,

Denise