My Nissen Journey- Surgery Friday August 9th 2013

I hate those meds like Zoloft. As I understand, they haven't even proven that they work. I get these weird painful tingling sensations in my extremities when I take them. Not even kidding. What in the world kind of medication does that. They seem so pushy in giving those meds. I'd like to see what would happen if they actually took those meds themselves. I agree, the more natural the remedy the better!

I'm glad someone agrees with me.. they make it sound like, omg, you are the only one we've heard have this kind of reaction! I wonder if they just make that expression to every single person that walks into their office. Like, no one has ever told me that before! Let's try this OTHER med instead..

Yeah they wouldn't know the difference between a rain forest and a pop tart.

No pain at all! Just still on the liquids. I wish I could eat chipotle! Or a pizza! Ugh I miss normal food. Everyone seems to be in this sloppy diet and I'm still on liquids. Boo hoo

David- Gosh that is frustrating, at least you are able to stay hydrated now and your swelling is going down. I know it feels like forever, just hang in there.

Elle-Yeah, it made me more anxious. I didnt want to stick it out. and Bad heartburn on top of that, its like, yah, go ahead and give an anxious person with stomach problems even MORE OF BOTH!!!!!!!!!
great idea.

I will try it. I had a bad go with tofu last week. I thought my stomach was going to rupture from all the gas, it was horrible.
I am going to wait for my stomach to calm down from not taking any medications and then I am going to try eating some probiotics and then I will try salads. I just feel like somethings not quite ready to brave it again.
I am so glad you had success with salad. that makes me really happy.

I sure hope in time, that gas works it way through your system quicker. I do find I have considerably more gas escaping at the south end following meals.

I'm glad that rib pain has finally subsided! I've been worried about mine - I was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday - 3rd time just this year alone. I've been coughing so much! I wish my lungs would heal, it is so depressing.

Hi there! I thought I would check in one last time. This thread is really long and if you want me to start another one, I can totally do that too.

Its been about 6 months for me since my surgery! Crazy how time flies and also I never thought in the beginning stages of recovery that I would feel "normal" I am finally not constantly thinking about my surgery, or my stomach or eating.

The only thing I had trouble swallowing recently was a dayquil capsule. I can eat bagels, steak, cake...everything, except sometimes large pills will get stuck. YUCK. I can deal with it if that is the biggest inconvenience I have with eating.

I have been eating lots of salads! In the beginning I really missed my salads and veggies. Now, with the help of the occasional digestive enzyme capsule, I am eating salad, asparagus, beets all sorts of yummy healthy foods without too much issue.

I still struggle with bloating and gas though. I have tried every remedy and the only thing that works is not drinking carbonation, no straws and walking around when I feel bloated. Winter has been hard because the dry air bothers my throat and sinuses and I am swallowing too much air. I think this might be something I have to live with. I dont know if it has gotten better or I have gotten more used to it or a combination of the two.

I can burp! I cannot choose to burp, and It has only really been maybe at most 10 times since surgery I have, but my stomach burps itself when it needs to do so and some of them are doozies.
The first few times it really freaked me out, but now I welcome the air letting itself out. The burps are dry burps and no reflux is coming up with them for the first time in my life. When I first had my surgery and read Denises comments on what belching post nissen would be like it sounded kind of strange, but my experience has really been quite similar to hers so thank you Denise! You helped me realize that my belching was welcome and normal.

My wrap will occasionally be mad at me for eating something too fast, or not chewing well enough or eating something too spicy or hot. I rarely will take tums and zantac now, but they finally work when before the surgery they never did.

I did cut milk out of my diet completely, but I do enjoy cheese now without too much trouble. I am able to work out again and I am finally feeling strong and healthy once more.

It is so hard to really get it into your head when faced with this surgery that the recovery really does take a long time. I still think that in the next 6 months I will only feel better and happier with my choice to have the nissen.

Thank you all for the wonderful support you provided to me. My life is better because of all of you. xoxo

How are you doing Michelle?

I am still hanging out here, not going anywhere :) I just thought I would wrap up my super long thread because I do not have too much new to report anymore in my healing journey.

I am back after a few weeks, too. I am glad to hear things are going pretty good for you! I came to update my thread, too... But catching up on others, first.

Hi there! I had been wondering how you'd been holding up...so glad to hear you're back to being active again! I just "celebrated" a post-op one year and I feel fabulous. Although I still can't burp much...and how I wish I could!

Congratulations on making it this far...it only gets better!

-TonyG-

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for stopping by with the update! You still have a few months to get to the year mark, so there are likely to be some continued improvements. I still had a persistent/intermittent dumping issue at the year mark, and figured it would be a quirk I'd have to deal with always, but sometime in the second year it stopped. You are likely to continue to get improvements into the second year, so hang in there!

Happy healing!
Denise

Hi Melanie,

Welcome to the Wrapped Club! Would you please do me a favor? It will be very hard for members to read your post and respond to it, because it's hidden on the 9th page of this very long thread. If you would please copy and paste your message into a new thread on the main page, starting your own new Nissen recovery thread. Here's the link to the main page: www.healingwell.com/community?f=45

Glad to hear you're doing well! Being able to burp after surgery is definitely common, but not everyone is that lucky. My surgeon considered a real benefit, as it will keep you from suffering with painful bloating.

As far as medication...I always had trouble swallowing large pills post-op. It works well to open capsules and put the contents into applesauce or other similar soft food. You can crush tablets that aren't time release. Liquid calcium, fish oil, etc. are available. I can't take those "horse pills" any more. Some don't ever have trouble swallowing pills, but that's not me.

Food and liquid pooling at the wrap site is very common during recovery. As time goes on, swelling will subside, and the wrap will relax. Keep in mind that your wrap will become increasingly more swollen during the first two weeks, peaking sometime around 14 days or so--with some variation. My surgeon warned me that my swallowing would get worse before it got better.
Don't know if you saw my early recovery journal in the Resources section, but in case you didn't, here is the link: www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

As far as shoulder pain, I found the more I walked, the better my shoulder felt...give walking a try! I found ice packs helped my rib/incision pain, which definitely was the last area to be comfortable.

Don't worry for a moment! Everything you're describing is totally normal. If you can surrender to your recovery and go with the flow you'll do just fine. It sounds as if you've got a very positive attitude, which will help you tremendously as you recover! Best wishes!

Happy healing!
Denise