Posted 11/28/2013 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
Firstly, thanks to all of you who generously have taken the time to report your symptoms, experiences and results on this forum. Although I have never posted, I spent hours reading post here before I decided to do the 'Wrap'.
Some History:
Ulcer at age 11
Extreme Heartburn ages 11-22 (now called GERD)
Extreme Erosive Esophagitis age 22
Elevated head of bed age 22-53, problems went away and I had a normal, productive life
Heartburn returned slowly from age 53 to 61, increased use of PPIs, two/week then more and more
Age 58, Took some mobic for join pain then pain like my previous ulcer returned
EDG showed pre-Barretts tissue, but not Barrett's E., no H-Pylori
Most Ulcer type symptoms went away, but not GERD
Age 58-60 GERD gets worse, moved to another state, 2 new doctors, more PPIs
EGD showed gastritis, actually the gastritis was the worst at this point
Age 60-61, lost 30 pounds due to eating problems
Read your site and found the best surgeon around
Testing EGD, motility, PH test which came back negative...I failed here, I had to take a PPI due to the pain of trying to be off it for 4 days, so I wrecked the PH test. Fortunatly, the DR. was not mad and believed my pain story. Motility was good. EGD showed gastritis.
Liver reduction/weight loss, liquid diet a week prior to surgery.
Surgery Nov 19, 2003
Day 1 - 2 hour surgery, woke up, felt cold, shivered a lot. They said I had been doing that a lot. They thought I was having a seisuire....nope just cold (where are the blankets?) Pain started about 2 hours after being taken to my room. Pushed the button a few times, no pain now. Had a good sleep that night with catheter inserted.
Day 2 - Need to urinate, wait, I have a catheter, hmmm, wife checks, nothing in bag, called tech,, hmm he says. Between the two of us we figured it drained by bladder only when laying flat on the floor and not hanging on the hook. Problem solved. They took my pain button away and wanted me to walk. Ha. Made it 20 ft, grabbed the railing, doubled over from the incredible shoulder pain. They gave me oxycodone which worked for about 2 hours out of the 4 hour interval. So I took my walks 30 minutes after taking the oxycodone. Laying almost flat reduced the shoulder pain. Why did my shoulders hurt. Its the CO2 gas they blow you up with so they can see bettter. They don't get all of it out and it causes phrenic nerve pain to your shoulders. Stayed another night as my drive home was not short. Barium swallow test to insure my wrap did not leak. Clear liquids started.
Day 3 - Mostly like Day 2, shoulder pain 8 out of 10, more oxycodone please, thank you. Do you sell it by the gallon? No? Walking painful in shoulders. Hmm. still no abdominal pain. My lovely wife drove me home. Jello, Isopure, and popsicles for dinner. No problems swallowing at all. Yum. Wife watching food prep shows on TV. Oxycodone then off to bed. Slept well.
Day 4,5 - Clear liquid diet continues, pain in shoulders is less but very painful. Reorganized my basement workshop. Mild loose stools in morning. Took some Imodium, worked. No problems swallowing. Food is going down well. Some gas and feeling of pressure, but I am able to burp a little, but not much. The pressure feeling goes away by itself.
Day 6 - no oxycodone needed, but shoulders still hurt. Starting to mix some Adkins Advantage with the Isopure, added custard.
Day 7 - shoulder pain is finally gone. Now I can feel my stomach a little. Incisions (5) are a little sore but not bad at all. In fact they never hurt much. Cream of chicken soup, mashed potatoes and gravy, smushed cottage cheese.
Day 8 - Had trouble sleeping last night. Did not feel well all day. Mashed potatoes, gravy, cream of chicken soup. Gastritis pain is coming back with the addition of more foods. They gave me Prevacid dissolving tabs to take for 30 days until my post-op appointment. Took some H2 blockers also to kill the burning pain. Also bought some B12 tabs as I have been reading chronic gastritis can be caused by B12 deficiency due to extended PPI use. Can't hurt I guess.
Day 9 - tomorrow...watch everyone eat turkey, stuffing, but eat mashed potatoes & gravy with popsicles.
More to come.
Jerry