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Nissen/Hiatal Hernia post surgery

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Posted 10/2/2013 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
I am a 48 year old guy who despite being in pretty good shape and fairly active, has suffered from heartburn and slight reflux for 20+ years. My last endoscopy revealed that Barrets Esophogus was occurring and my lower GI was in bad shape. I have been on PPI type meds for 15 years. The meds helped keep me comfortable but I was diagnosed with a severe Hiatal Hernia and the meds were simply masking a permanent physical problem that needed to be fixed.
I ma de the decision to fix this and 5 /days ago underwent a robotic surgery to repair the Hiatal Hernia and perform a Nissen wrap on my stomach. I recieved 4 stitches to the diaphram along with mesh. I also had the wrap performed on the stomach. I am interested in hearing from post op folks like me to help me understand REAL recovery issues and facts regarding food intake and pain.
Most posts here are very old (pre-2008)
Has anyone recently been through this surgery? Would love to share info.
Posted 10/2/2013 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
I just had hh repair and a nissen. I have a journal on here but I'd also love to help you with any questions I can answer. This is a great place to heal and recover. My surgery was august 9th so I'm almost two months out and doing really well and happy I got my nissen
Posted 10/2/2013 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I seem to be doing remarkably well. I am on day 6 since surgery and feel great. I just drank a 16oz protien shake with banana and canned peaches blended in skim milk. Everything seems to be loosening up when i swallow these types of foods. I burp pretty well, mostly right after i swallow.
I have a concern though. I sleep in an upright position and have refluxed a small amount the last 2 nights. I hope my repair isnt too LOOSE. Did you have any of this reflux early on? May just be healing and the body trying to get rid of fluid building up in the esophogus at night while i sleep.
Posted 10/2/2013 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
You will feel like you are refluxing, but you are not. Your wrap swells unevenly and might allow a bit of reflux to come through, but chances are, you are just feeling the swelling. You might also have stuff stuck at the wrap site causing irritation. Make sure you try to drink water, or even better, warm tea after you eat to help things go down. Sometimes that food ferments there and feels like reflux just because it isn't going down.
I still get a weird burning reflux sensation at times, and its just swelling and your wrap working to keep things down. Your esophagus can really only feel burning sensations I think. Anything and everything is interpreted that way. I freaked out last week thinking my wrap was too loose and called my surgeon and everything. He had to calm me down and reassured me that the loose floppy nissens (is that what you had>?) were designed for people with great esophageal motility and dont need to be very tight to be effective.

You might, if your wrap is loose like mine, feel like its not tight enough because you are able to heal and eat faster than some of the other people who have had the nissen. I know I was eating bread before I was even a month out. Just remember that your healing is unique to you, and it doesnt mean that your surgery is a failure if you experience things differently from me or anyone else on here. I know I have to tell myself that all the time!

I am glad you are feeling well! That is exciting. It only gets better from here!
Posted 10/2/2013 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Did you have your surgery via the ROBOT ? That's how mine was done.

The surgeon cut my small intestine when he was cutting the access ports

in my abdomen. This caused some other issues but wont be a problem down the road.

I am assuming that the robot procedure has most likely taken the HH Repair

and Nissen surgery to a whole new level in terms of recovery.

Posted 10/2/2013 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly I don't know.
It was obviously laproscopic, and before passing out with anesthesia there were a TON of people in my room, but I guess I was too drugged up to remember or ask how they did it.
I know the nurses were impressed I was walking around and changing my clothes as soon as I got into my room after surgery.

Glad to know that your intestine wont cause you trouble. The most incision pain I had was the one right below your ribs on the left. That nagged at me for a month then one day decided to feel lots better. I am pretty active so I was adamant about stretching and walking and trying to move after surgery as much as possible. I really over did it a few times thinking I was super woman, so just keep that in mind.

the biggest problem you will likely have is the bloat. I know I had lots of trouble with dairy and vegetables and still do now. :) fun stuff right?
Posted 10/2/2013 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds as though you and I are a lot alike in terms of activity and persistence. I too was up and moving pretty quickly. Made many many laps around the hospital at all hours. I am glad to talk with someone who can relate to my situation and has walked the walk. I am looking forward to eating and not feeling like I got socked in the chest, sleeping without waking up choking, and I know my wife is looking forward to sweeter breath for a change. No more sour taste in the mouth...!
I am really praying that this resolves my problems because I have severe Barretts Asophagus and my physician is growing concerned about other new potentially life threatening complications down the road.
Posted 10/2/2013 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
It should fix you right up then! They will still monitor your barretts and most likely want to do another upper GI down the road. My surgeon says that he likes to have one done again about 6 months after surgery. That will also give you more reassurance that your wrap is functioning the way that they intended.

I am really glad that I can talk to you too. Its always nice to speak with people that are in the same boat. Personally for me, I am so glad I had the surgery because I am not even 30 yet and the thought of having to take PPIs my whole life and all the problems that go along with that really scared me.
Also, even though my acid levels were reduced by the PPIs, something like half of my episodes were non acidic and all that junk coming up was affecting my lungs. I can not believe how well I can breathe now. I didnt even expect that as an outcome. Its incredible. I cant wait to start running again and be able to hike without being out of breath. Im glad I wasnt just getting out of shape getting older and that a lot of my lung problems were reflux related.

It also explained my cavities! After going to the dentist after surgery he seemed relieved to know that I had the surgery because he could never really figure out why I was getting cavities so much. I am crazy about my dental hygiene too!

Laying flat on my back now at night is great. really has helped with the back problems and i think I sleep more soundly.
Posted 10/2/2013 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
I will stay in touch and let you know how things are going. I am drinking hot coffee this morning

in hopes it might get "OTHER" things moving that haven't been for 6 days... Take Care

Posted 10/2/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the wrapped club!

You will find my journal, Laurie's Nissen Journey begins 9/10/2013

I did very well, too. I'm 3 weeks post-op, and continue to improve.

I needed help with the 'going' problem, more than coffee could provide. A combination of senna a colace helps me. I have not needed it for several days, finally. Like I said, it's been 3 weeks, though.

Take a look at some of the other journals, journeys on this board. You'll find everyone's recovery is different, but then again - our symptoms were different, too.

Don't push yourself, listen to your body. Get rest when you start to feel uncomfortable and some pain.
Posted 10/2/2013 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the WELCOME. I guess I didn't realize I would be joining a fraternity of

WRAP recipients. It is very cool to know that there are so many of you out there

and that I can reach out to you for info. and support. I will take the time to read

a few more journals and see if my recovery falls in-line with those who are way ahead

of me in days post-op. Thanks again... (Coffee didn't help by the way)

Posted 10/2/2013 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
i used smooth move tea. that really helped.
I ended up having to use milk of magnesia too.
ugh, being stopped up sucks.
Posted 10/3/2013 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Well, Finally on day 7 (1 week after surgery) I had a very comfortable Bowel movement.

I was dreading this but everything was fine. I had 2 occurrences of reflux last night while sleeping in an upright position. These were both enough to wake me and cause me to choke a bit. I hope this is just healing taking place and fluids that have settled low in the esophagus are merely the contents. I think I am going to start staying away from apple juice. Seems very acidic for this type of healing. I feel wonderful otherwise. I burp nicely, have  very little trauma pain and just slight discomfort when swallowing. I even ate macaroni and cheese twice yesterday! I think this mornings coffee and having had 2 Senna-Lax in 24hrs helped the bowels get in gear. At this point I am very satisfied with the progress. The only worrisome part is the nighttime reflux thing. Will consult with Doc this afternoon.

Posted 10/3/2013 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Its probably wise to call the doctor about the night time reflux. Even before surgery I was not refluxing at night, it was all during the day so I would hate to reassure you that its normal...It seems like that night time reflux shouldnt be happening, but so soon after surgery, its hard to explain what is normal and what isnt.

Macaroni and cheese was one of the first things I cooked myself too! Another really yummy thing I had was couscous. You can usually get those little boxes at the store already seasoned and you just add a bit of oil and water. Those went down really well and were nice and filling after I found dairy made me sick.
Posted 10/3/2013 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Will be talking to the doc this afternoon.

Not sure what to think at this point.

Hopefully we didn't pop something loose or have

a wrap that isn't tight enough.... confused

Posted 10/3/2013 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
Finally fixed-- I also am a 48 year old male. I had my surgery a little over 5 weeks ago. What I can tell you is that you're going to have various types of discomfort, but each day those symptoms will lessen. I had post surgery pain for a good 10 plus day. I also struggled with swallowing, painful bloating and gas etc. Each day gets better. Sounds like you're progressing through the healing process. Good luck to you.

Ian
Posted 10/3/2013 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I feel like I'm doing TOO well and that worries me a bit. I feel as though it may be too easy to swallow, burp, and so forth. Those things combined with the fact that I keep refluxing at night enough to wake me and effect breathing, causes concern that my wrap may be too loose. Stay tuned, I will be talking to the surgeon this afternoon... I had a large Hiatal Hernia repair with mesh as well as the Fundo Wrap all done using the robot. Similar to you?
Posted 10/3/2013 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I hope your conversation with the surgeon can put your mind at ease. I am looking forward to what he has to say.
Posted 10/3/2013 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
Finally fixed-- I had laporascopy. I don't think any robots were used. The surgeon manipulated the instruments manually in order to perform the surgery. My reflux has ended. I am no longer on PPIs. I was able to burp by day 2. But the burps are tiny releases of air-- nothing loud or big like my pre-surgery belching. I'm slowing adding different foods to my diet. Next week my surgeon will probably lift most of my dietary restrictions. I now eat slowly and chew more thoroughly.
Posted 10/5/2013 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
9 days since surgery. I feel great but am still being awakened by acid or some form of material surging up into my esophagus. Not large quantities but enough to awaken me and cause loss of breath, much like typical reflux would. My surgeon did not call back on Thursday after i called his assistant and asked for a consultation with him via phone. Little pissed about that but i am not a complainer with these things. Overall I assume I am progressing quickly. I need an adult beverage though. Can a person at day 9 post op. have a wine or something?
Posted 10/5/2013 9:26 PM (GMT 0)
Could it be more mucus or phlegm than reflux? I had a lot of mucus created in my throat overnight. I'd have to hack it up every morning and clear my throat a lot throughout the day before surgery, as well as most days since. I finally have noticed it starting to decrease the last 2 days. I'm well into my 4th week post-op, so it took awhile.

I have had some regurgitation if I eat too fast or swallow a liquid to soon after food, but have not had anything like it at night. My stomach is empty by then. We were told to not lay down for at least 2 hours after eating anything.
Posted 10/6/2013 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure what the reflux thing is. I guess it could be a number of things, stuff being generated by healing, excess food that didn't get through the gate, etc.
I won't panic just yet. I am on day 9 so i am still pretty FRESH.
I found many surgical videos on YouTube for the Nissen and Hiatal Hernia procedures. No wonder we hurt and are uncomfortable swallowing....Yikes !
I am feeling really good generally. I ate at 7pm this evening (chicken noodle soup) and had an ENSURE protien drink at 6. Will stay up till 10 or later and see what happens as i sleep. (Slept flat last night for first time in 8 nights)
Take care....
Posted 10/6/2013 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Had a good night. No reflux symptoms, very comfortable in terms of discomfort.
Slept in many positions and was comfortable in all of them. I think the key for me will be to not eat or drink within about 3 to 4 hours before bed time at least for now. 10 days post op and healing well. Time for my morning protien shake with banana, rasberry, skim milk, (baby spinach for the first time today). Take Care all...
Posted 10/6/2013 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon said adult beverages were fine at my 2 week post-op. Other doctors are more strict. I held off until 3 weeks and enjoyed a little wine. I'm a beer drinker, so really hope to be able to drink that again some day, hopefully by our vacation planned in mid-January.

Your breakfast sounds good!
Posted 10/6/2013 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Laurie i pretty much figured 2 weeks woud be minimum for a coctail.
Tough to not have beer on football Sunday though. I had a good sized bowl of macaroni and cheese with tuna in it for lunch. Washed down with V8 juice. Followed with jello pudding an water. Feeling full.
Walked 1/4 mile or so. 3 days since pain meds.
How you doing...?
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