My Nissen Journey- Surgery Friday August 9th 2013

Hey there I don't think your being kind of nutty, my anxiety level since my surgery has been through the roof.

And I have much of the same concerns, I'm a month behind you (nissen 9-10-13) but wounder daily if I made the right choice, or maybe that a bad word to use, If my choice or the wrap was doing what I was told or was hoping it would do. Your no different then I in exspelling a lot of time, money, tests and well anxiety over this decision to have the surgery. And if your like I was the day of surgery I felt like finally things were going to get better and a normal life is just over the hill. So how could we not have questions about if or not it was working properly?

I'm right there with you and I can bet we have a lot of company. Keep us posted on your ups & downs. So many people leave when things are going great for them, and us new folk need our hand held.

day 29 for me, and hopeful for a improved me.

Hey Steph,

Sounds like you are on the right track down the healing path. I think you had your surgery one week before mine. I noticed that you mentioned exercising in an earlier post. My doc said to limit my exercise for at least 6 weeks post surgery and I am beyond that now. How has that gone for you?

I use to be an avid runner and have been off the track about 4 months. I really want to get back into it but I do not want to do anything to impair my healing. I hope all of us in recovery heal without any setbacks.

My surgeon says that I'll never be able to lift weights to work out again after my surgery. I guess you haven't been told the same thing? He says don't make a career out of weight lifting and don't be a body builder. I don't remember his exact words, I wish I could so I could ask this question better. He makes it sound like I can never lift weights again because the wrap is apparently not strong. I'm wondering what everyone has to say about this.

Diaas - I've never heard that about weights. I hope his information was wrong, sorry about that. I had a very large hiatal hernia, and no restrictions were set for me. But, I'm not a power lifter, either.

You might want to get the advice of another doctor before you just give up on not lifting ever again.
Something about that doesn't seem right to me. I wouldn't just accept that.

Hi All,

I'll join this conversation with a few thoughts.  I'll start with telling you that my younger son is an avid lifter...he is very muscular and lifts every day.  He has a very slim build, but big biceps, six pack, etc.  Lifting is extremely important to him, and I know that he would be very upset if he couldn't lift after a Nissen. 

When I asked my surgeon how much I could lift after my final visit with him, he said, "How much could you lift before the surgery?"...meaning that there were no longer any limits. 

There have been many lifting/question posts on this forum over the years.  Many people are anxious to get back to their lifting routines.  There are also posts of people who have had their wraps damaged by lifting heavy objects (moving a couch, for example).

I don't think there's a problem lifting small weights, but I actually agree with Diaas' surgeon about "not making a habit of being a body builder". Lifting hundreds of pounds repeatedly, which is what is required to build big muscles, stresses the hernia repair.  The hernia repair is what keeps the wrap in place.

I would think that someone with uncommon core strength. who has already been lifting a long time would be less likely to stress the area than someone who is just starting to lift seriously (perhaps that's where the comment from my surgeon came from). 

When I asked my surgeon about the effects of my constant coughing on the wrap (post-op I was still recovering from the effects of my lungs long exposure to reflux, as well as a serious lung infection).  He said that "even water can erode stone". He said that there is a cumulative effect of coughing, straining, etc., that will eventually weaken the repair. These things are unavoidable.

I've had conversations like this with others, and it's not something that lifters want to hear.  Believe me, I'm NO expert on the subject.  In my mind it's common sense that lifting very heavy weights will put pressure on the hernia repair.  (Again, unless you already have a rock solid core.)

This is definitely an individual decision.  As I said, my son wouldn't give up weight lifting.  I don't think it's necessary to give it up completely.  Just use common sense. Listen to your body and think about what you're doing.

Don't mean to rain on your parade!  I've heard here at the forum that many surgeons don't restrict lifting at all.  I suspect that if a surgeon sees a very muscled, obviously long-time weight-lifting patient, they are more confident in their core strength.  Also, I think surgeons truly want their patients to go back to their normal lifestyle after surgery.  If someone is already a body builder, then they know it's important for them to lift. 

So there's my two cents, for what it's worth, which probably isn't much!  Good luck with your surgery, Diaas!  We'll be here to support and encourage you through your recovery!  StephanieJean, hope things are going well, and you're relaxing into your recovery and letting your body do it's thing!  We're here for you, too!

Have a great day, one and all!

Denise

Hi StephanieJean,

Hope you kick that virus soon! Rooting for you!

 

Hang in there!

Denise

My cold turned into one of the worst sinus infections I think I have ever had.
Luckily I was able to get into the doctor yesterday, but even the little bits of coughing and sneezing, mostly sneezing, has given me diaphragm irritation and some chest pain. My incisions there are starting to ache and swell up a bit.
hopefully after today things will turn around a lot for me. Its crazy how irritated that got even after two months out from surgery. Just a warning to watch those seasonal colds if your post op!

Checking in again
wow that sinus infection really took a lot out of me. I am trying to baby myself, but I feel like I lost a month of progress. My wrap is angry with me, not in a way that makes me worry about it or want to call my surgeon, but I know that my rib incision is swollen and so is my wrap. I feel that irritation in my chest and I am getting the spasms a little big again.
I am almost done with my antibiotics though and am no longer coughing or sneezing and I plan on getting lots of rest this week to help me heal. I think I am going to start another ibuprofen regimen.

Its so crazy, I just have never had anything happen to me which has taken so long to heal. I just keep trying to act like I can do anything and I need to tone it down. I am not used to being so inactive. It is a constant reminder to care for my body better and more gently. It is a good lesson to learn though. My 30th birthday is 11/10 and will mark my 3 month anniversary in joining the wrapped club.

How long should I give the pain and inflammation to settle down before I consider calling my surgeon for advice?

Thanks Laurie
I feel really stupid now, but I just remembered that on saturday I slipped down the stairs a little. I bet the jarring from that is why I am so sore today.
The things you normally dont have to think about before surgey can really mess you up after I guess right?
I am going to hold off on calling. I just took some more ibuprofen.
I am going to ask my neurologist tomorrow for another Toridol shot. (anti-inflammatory) I really feel like when he did that before it helped a whole lot

To Diaas

You wrote:
Oh man, that would have been cool! If we had the same surgeon. Also since we both have/had a small hernia with a floppy nissan and three sutures, you have three, right? (Sorry Matt! Its just that that was a huge coincidence, I thought she might have had the same surgeon too)

I am also glad your recovery is going decently well. I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to it. Have you tried eating anything that you wish you didn't? Also, does it hurt to sleep on your side? I make it a point of reading everyone's journals, including yours. I'm glad you are writing about your experiences. Really puts things into perspective.

I think that you will be fine there, they were really good with my diet. I didnt have to tell them to not give me thinks. I know my food at TTH was pretty good also. I brought coconut water. It kept me hydrated and gave me energy in the hospital. I got up after surgery and changed my clothes and laughed with my dad. I only really remember positive things about the hospital. They will really keep you comfortable. Please try not to worry. I did not have robotic surgery and I have like five incisions, the one on my rib still aches a bit when I move too much, but really your first two weeks are the worst and every week after that you will feel better and better and better.

I slept in an electric recliner propped with pillows for the first three weeks. It didnt hurt to sleep on my side, but it was weird, it almost felt like my stomach wasnt connected to anything and it was just hanging there. It was more of an uncomfortable gross feeling. I wanted to stretch at week 3 and made the mistake of lying down on my back without anyone around and got stuck lol, so just be careful.

The only things that I have eaten that have been challenging to either swallow or digest was chewy bread like pizza crust and bagels and white bread, steak, undercooked broccoli, and dairy and lettuce bloat me now something awful.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I am here to help make this easier for you!!!

Its really not hard to do the stairs! I mean you will be weak and slow and moving in general is annoying, but stairs are cool. I spent all of my recovery in the basement (we have a projector down there and the couch is an electric recliner so i was in heaven) I did the stairs no problem. What was bad was getting in and out of the car and getting up from laying down. Really don't lay all the way on your back for at least a week. Its not comfortable and its terrible sitting up.

I LOVE your video. I should watch that movie again!

Bring your coconut water with you. I brought a liter or two with me. They brought me pureed soups which were warm and nice to eat, even the day of surgery. Stay away from the jello. its firmness gagged me a bit when it slipped down my throat before I could chew it enough.

Um, lets see what else, I did not like the morphine they gave me, I preferred the elixir, like liquid vicodin. I think my body went through the morphine too fast and the liquid stayed with me longer. My throat was pretty sore from the tubes, that bothered me the most. it was weird, but it only lasted a few days. Walk walk walk in the hospital as much as you are comfortable with, it will help get rid of air! My surgeon got most of it out so I was pretty comfortable after.

I was in the hospital friday saturday and went home sunday...
I had hiccups pretty bad, they can give you meds for that. I was on it for like a month and I still get spasms, but they dont hurt like they did the first week. Its normal and it will get better if you get that. Your left rib incision might hurt the worst, that is totally normal....Ice packs really help with that.
Zofran (anti nausea) is your friend, but it will constipate you. Make sure you buy some smooth move tea before surgery. It really does help!
I had great success early on by taking childrens liquid motrin and benadryl. It helped with the inflammation and pain, but the benadryl also helped with sleeping and anxiety.

Oh yeah, I had some TERRIBLE horrible shoulder pain in week 2 ish...it was just inflammation of the diaphram, it can refer pain to your back and shoulder. That is when I started the ibuprofen.

really-I dont remember much from the first week of my surgery, I had bad amnesia after mine, which is good now, who wants to remember all that, but I couldnt read either for like two weeks. It was weird. I took pictures in the hospital with my dad all smiling and goofy. I might have actually had a good time? :)

Anything else, let me know!