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Six weeks post op

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Posted 1/2/2014 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
is the stomach spasms and runs normal also its really hard to not get depressed over it find i am scared to try to eat things as of the repacussions after. Its really hard to explain to other people who havent been through it isnt it. I have read on this forum it could take six months to year to get back to normal is that correct will that be how long it will take to be able to eat a normal diet again xxx Feel a bit lost with it all
Posted 1/2/2014 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm 4 weeks post op and I've had my worst day since the op.

I'm annoyed at my surgeon to be honest, I was told this op was a walk in the park and you're up and about straight away. In real life the recovery is horrendous.

Before the op I had very severe symptoms say 5 times a week. Now I have mild symptoms after every meal or if I leave it too long between meals.

I'm really hoping this will get better soon, it's affecting my home life, my work, everything.

LD
Posted 1/2/2014 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear you are having some rough days. I agree there are challenges with the recovery. The pain does come in waves...good days and bad days. Hang in there.

Michelle
Posted 1/3/2014 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi LD

I had my op on the 12th November 2013 so it's about 8 weeks. Like you I have had some terrible pains and in those early days / weeks I was convinced that it hadn't worked. I had horrendous heartburn and acidly mouth and throat. I get moments when I think I'm on the mend and then other times I seem to be back to square one.

I think the pain that you get after eating is the pain from your wrap site or maybe spasms.Four weeks is really early in your recovery and I know that there are lots of people who appear to get over this easily but there are some of us that it seems to take longer.
I think that for most of us the three month mark is more accurate.

Your so right that surgeons think it's a walk in the park.

Like Michelle says hang in there. Things do get better but it is a slow recovery.

Maria
Posted 1/3/2014 10:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joanne

I'm sorry that your suffering. You seem to be struggling with your food. If you can get porridge down have you thought of trying a watered down vegetable soup or some chicken or beef broth.

I didn't get the runs but others have said that they did.

I'm pleased that you've had a barium swallow and doctors are looking into your situation.

I do think that this surgery takes time to get over and yes I would say that for most the first few weeks are difficult and yes it can take a year to see results.

I hope you see an improvement real soon.

Maria
Posted 1/3/2014 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
You still struggling, Maria? My food isn't too much of a problem going down now, as long as I chewchewchew but my LPR symptoms are off the scale. Throat inflammation, weak vocals, "wet" sensation in larynx that makes me want to cough, wheezy, and incessant burps. Had heartburn on occasion but not what I would normally expect having come cold turkey off the PPI as instructed by the GI doc.

Still no improvement but as I understand it LPR takes a lot longer to resolve so I'm holding on.

Liz xx
Posted 1/3/2014 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Good to know that LPR takes a little longer to resolve. How is your pain level?

Michelle
Posted 1/4/2014 9:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz

Yes I'm still struggling. I've just had 2 pretty good days and I thought great I'm on the mend but obviously not cause I've had chest/heartburn pain all night. It also affects my throat and mouth.

I can't work out if it's food sticking at the wrap and it's that causing the problems. I don't have any trouble swallowing so I'm assuming that the food is going through the wrap ok.

I'm due to see my surgeon in 10 days so if there is no significant improvement by then I'll want tests. My surgeon mentioned an endoscopy. I think I'll want a ph test to see if acid is still coming up.
I'm not sure if it's too early for those tests. I'm still holding on to the fact that it may be swelling but then I think if it's swelling then surely I'd feel it when food passes through it .

Liz remind me again when you had your surgery? Mine was on the 12th November. When are you due to see your surgeon?

Let's hope things start to improve for us all real soon.

Maria
Posted 1/5/2014 9:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had the op on the 19th November, I have a date with the GI this Tuesday but he isn't the surgeon I have that follow up in a few weeks.

I'm in agony. My throat is burning constantly, I have the wheezy larynx feeling, chesty cough. So much pain I don't know where to put myself. I don't know what to think. As the eating gets easier, the throat problems increase. In fact, these are all things that happen to me whenever I come off the PPIs.

I am starting to wonder if the operation hasn't worked for me.

I am, needless to say, very, very depressed. Keep on crying all the time, and I am back to work tomorrow, I am a teaching assistant so I am not looking forward to using my voice. Hope you're doing better. Xx
Posted 1/5/2014 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz,

Don't be depressed. I think we all go through that phase. I was very depressed when I got sick at the 10/11 week mark. You are only at 6 to 7 weeks. Hang in there. You will feel different sensations and pains. I am eating okay but for some reason yogurt gets stuck in my throat? I can understand the food being stuck and it will happen for a while.

Michelle
Posted 1/5/2014 11:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Michelle, thanks for the encouragement. I do get depressed since becoming ill, this disease is such a debilitating one and I've been sick for nearly 7years...but 2013 things began to improve and by the time I was allowed the Nissen I was almost completely better...only on 20mg PPI and no symptoms, so this is pretty devastating, to go through the surgery and suddenly have my worst times revisited. It's almost worse than never having experienced any relief.

I don't know, but I feel it's the burping causing issues. After bad burp days my throat is at its worse. Wishing I was one of those who can't burp!

I do keep reading that LPR can take anything up to a year to fourteen months to resolve, which I am desperately clinging to right now.

I see the lovely Dr Jordan on Tuesday, I really hope he can shed some light on this for me. He's a really nice helpful and approachable guy, luckily, and is the associate specialist in the GI unit, so I'm hoping for some encouraging words there.

Liz x
Posted 1/6/2014 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz

I know exactly how you feel about the surgery not working I feel the same about mine. I'm at 7 weeks now.

My symptoms seem to change one day I'll have the burning throat and mouth and then other days it's just the throat burning. Then sometimes I get the chest pain - I'm not sure if it's heartburn or not.

I've been on and off my ppi's during this time but I've not taken them for the last 7 days at all. Have you thought of going back on your ppi's for a while until your wrap site heals more just to see if it helps.

We just have to believe that everyone is correct in what they say about the healing process being slow. I guess 6 or 7 weeks really isn't that long. From what I've read about other people healing times 12 weeks is when most notice a difference.

Let us know what your doctor says when you see him on Tuesday. I'm due to see my surgeon on the 14th so will let you all know what he says.

Maria
Posted 1/6/2014 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you guys feel better soon. I take comfort in comparing a broken bone to an organ healing, and how long that takes. I know that I can't know for sure everything that's going on with you, but it's just like you said, about having to have faith and look forward to seeing your surgeon to learn more. I see my surgeon Wednesday January 22nd, and another barium swallow test on the 17th. It will be nice to hear from your surgeon, I'll be reading up on what he has to say when you post about it.
Posted 1/6/2014 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Diaas2

I hope your recovery is still going well. Is your appointment with your surgeon just a check up or are you having problems ?

I will post what my surgeon says. I'm only seeing him for a check up I won't be having any tests on that day but maybe he will recommend tests.

Maria
Posted 1/6/2014 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon hardly communicates to me at all. I wish he would have a better bed side manner. It's like he comes in and out of the office in a matter of a few minutes and brushes off any concerns I have. He seems like he is in such a hurry it's like its an inconvenience for him to talk anything out. Issues I have are still swallowing foods and liquids in big gulps, but slowly getting better. Hope your visit with your surgeon goes well.
Posted 1/6/2014 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Liz and Maria,

I hope you ladies feel better. I understand the pain and heartburn sensations that both of you are having. What kind of foods are you eating? I am experiencing tingling sensations in the arms and neck. I realize it's nerves. Any of you having this too?

Michelle
Posted 1/7/2014 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle

I'm still eating soft sloppy food and small portions. I do eat bread occasionally. I really haven't had many problems swallowing food. I haven't tried to eat anything too challenging I don't want to push things.

I haven't experienced the tingling in the arms or neck. If I remember correctly you had a large opening in your diaphragm so did you have mesh to repair your hernia ? If you did it could well be the repair that's causing the tingling in the arms and neck.

Maria
Posted 1/7/2014 9:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Maria,

It sounds like your diet is good for the recovery period. You mentioned a burning sensation in the chest. Can you burp? For me it disappears when I burp. I am thinking gas. It doesn't feel like the traditional heartburn. Think of a foul odor that would irritate your nose. I am guessing the "gas" not liquid is probably rising from the stomach and irritating your wrap or esophagus.

You are probably right about the tingling sensations. The mesh used for the repair was large.

I hope the doctor gives you some answers.

Michelle
Posted 1/7/2014 10:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle

I can burp because I had a partial wrap. It's one of the reasons the surgeon likes to do this wrap so his patients can burp. It stops that bloat.

What sort of foods are you eating? Are you still on the sloppy diet or are you being more adventurous with foods ?

I remember you telling us that your still taking your ppi's. Do you still take them? I didn't take them after surgery but because I was having so much chest pain I started to take them again but I stopped taking them about 8 days ago and I haven't noticed any difference. I am beginning to think that when I get pains in the chest that it is due to the healing. I guess time will tell.

I'm not sure that I'll get any answers from my surgeon next week but he may suggest tests. I don't think I'm having as much pain as I was so hopefully things may be starting to workout - I dread saying that because when I do I normally have a relapse !

Let me know how your getting on.

Maria
Posted 1/7/2014 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
well on the 16th January will be at the 4 month mark post op Nissan Fundoplication and Hiatus Hernia repair As mentioned in previous post can only still manage porridge losing lots of weight under care of dietician constantly have runs and pain and stomach spasms. Went for barium swallow on 20th dec just got results sent and going to see consultant 29th January. In addition to this surgery which I thought would rectify or help my situation. However the results show that I have oesophageal dysmotility with intraoesophageal reflux and it is had been found that there was delayed transit time of the prone marshmallow bolus. Last night I tried to eat something simple like a half a cheese slice stacked up in my throat nearly choked and had severe chest pain for four hours afterwards with pain and tightening of the chest. Please Please can any one relate to this or give any advice as seems as doctors are not knowledgeable about this when I go
Posted 1/7/2014 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi jocog

I've read your reply but can't help- sorry. Can I suggest you start a new post as this will be seen by more people and so you may get more replies.

Just one question - did they not pick up on your motility problems when you had your Manometry test ?


Maria
Posted 1/7/2014 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maria,

I alternate between sloppy and more solid food. I can't eat bread. Toast was starting to bother me so I stopped. No sandwiches. I don't eat meat so can't tell you the sensation. Fish has not been a problem. I will say if I am having anxiety, stress, it becomes harder to eat. No stress no anxiety, normal eating. I just had cheese and crackers. Cheese puffies too.

I do take PPIs because the surgeon said I had Barrett's and he wants to make sure it doesn't occur again or get worse. He wants me on the PPIs for at least another year till I get the next endoscopy.

I had the full wrap and have always been able to burp from day one. Hiccups were bad at week 7 -13 but subsided. I am guessing as the diaphragm started healing, hiccups would lessen.

Take the PPIs, it might lessen the irritation for now. I had a terrible reflux attack when I was in the UK visiting my aunt a couple years ago. I took those Rennies and they helped.

It sounds like you might be feeling better.


Michelle
Posted 1/7/2014 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Michelle

You seem to be doing well with your foods. I don't have problems swallowing foods just occasionally something feels like it won't go down. Are you attempting to eat foods that used to trigger your reflux prior to your surgery? Are you eating smaller portion but more often ?

I'm getting all sorts of weird sensations going on. My throat feels irritated like the oesophagus is pulling on it so it feels sore. I keep getting salty saliva usually after I've eaten I'm not sure if that's food that's stuck at the wrap and it feels like it's refluxing. Although I can't feel food getting stuck maybe some of it is. I'm not getting the chest / heartburn pains anymore. I don't like saying I'm not getting the pains because it usually tempts fete and they come back.

Do you find that you get odd and weird things happening?

Looking back over the last few weeks I am a lot better than I was. I think that because the progress is slow I hardly notice it daily but I'm not in as much pain as I was.

Good old Rennies ! I'm guessing that you don't have them in the USA ?

Let's hope that we are on the road to a successful recovery.

Maria
Posted 1/7/2014 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm at 2 months and 3 weeks. I still get stuff reflux back to my throat after eating it. Seems like it will be a lot longer before stuff will go down smoothly. Like you said, it's a very slow progression. Hopefully, the results are there.
Posted 1/7/2014 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Maria,

I do get the pull on the esophagus but I never knew what it was. I get it when I overeat. I got sick with the stomach bug in November and lost more weight. I gained it back over the holidays. If you need to gain weight, just add butter:) I don't get the salty taste but I sometimes get the reflux in the throat like Sixness.

I do get the odd sensations but the surgeon says the stitches to tie down the stomach are dissolving. I guess that's scar tissue too. It sounds like you are healing if you are not feeling any reflux. That is a very good sign.

No Rennies in US, the equivalent is Tums. You should see the shelves in the pharmacy lined with the different brands of antacid. It's a cornucopia of various products.

Michelle
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