Update TIF/laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery 8th week post-op

Hi All -

I am now on my 8th week post-op from TIF/laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery. Things are much better with no pain in chest or acid back-up. I do still burp here and there but it is not as bad since it no longer comes with chest pain.

Had the follow-up endoscopy last Thursday and the results were good - the surgical site is healing nicely and everything is normal with no visible sign of hernia.

The nurse practitioner, however, did tell me that even though am allowed to introduce meat, fresh fruits, fresh vegetable, alcohol, and other items per guidelines from Endogastric Solutions, she still told me not to drink any carbonated beverages. This means that I still can't drink my favorite - beer! I will call her back and 9am this morning to find out if this is permanent deal. In any case, I will keep you posted. I wanted to share the information with you as you have been very good with sharing yours to keep the karma going. For those contemplating upon TIF/laparo hernia surgery, my vote is "yes" and I highly recommend it even though there were some minor glitches like spasm in the shoulder and mucous build up in the throat during the first few weeks of surgery. It's so worth it to not have any heartburn and be off PPIs.

Sorry to hear that. For what it's worth, I have seen restrictions on carbonated beverages for fundoplication patients, sometimes 6 weeks, sometimes 6 months. Maybe some people are also told "for life". I don't know what it's based on. If I were you I'd google it extensively if you haven't already, there can be a wide range of advice.

I had a few beers at 2.5 months post fundo and didn't notice any discomfort.

I just had my 2nd surgery for TIF esophyx and hiatal hernia repair.

after the first surgery the doc told me no carbonation for life....never mentioned it prior to surgery and I think they all do that on purpose b/c it would have been taken into consideration much more had I known I could never drink beer again.

I have had a hiatal hernia since I was a child, never had a valve, was on prilosec for 13 years daily before my first surgery in 2011. Doc never told me that weight lifting should be avoided as it's a known cause of hiatal hernia so after the first surgery in 2011 I started doing crossfit and the hernia came back about 1 year post op

since the recovery and 6 week dietary change was so annoying the first time I sat on it for a year before deciding it was bad enough to warrant another surgery.

He went in and redid the hernia repair with double the amount of sutures as the first surgery and un-did and re-did the TIF.

that was 3 weeks ago and all is well...it's much easier to swallow liquids this time around.

Anyways back to the question at hand....he said the reason they say no carbonation is several idiotic patients went home and drank a 2 liter of cola post surgery and ruined it, so this is a dummy warning. I pressed him for more information and it's simply cautionary as every one is different you make your own judgement....so my response was, how about 1 beer can it really do that much damage...he said, do whatever you want, but if it causes pain, it may have already done damage, you won't be able to stop and fix it.

so really that's the answer, proceed with caution, but, if you do drink carbonated beverages, an start feeling pain, you've probably just ruined your surgery.

apparently my sutures were still in tact but loose, my hernia was over 3cm, caused by weightlifting.