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Diet after TIF

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Posted 4/21/2012 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'm wondering how well everyone has stayed on the liquid diet after the TIF surgery.  I did pretty good but sometimes I just couldn't help needing to chew something so I took my favorite crackers into the bathroom and chewed away - then spit it out.  lol  It wasn't totally satisfying, but it felt pretty good.  I think I might have swallowed very small amounts of the chewed up crackers but I don't think that would have undone my surgery, would it?  I had my surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago - my doctor released me at 3 weeks and told me I could have "thimble sized" portions of just about anything I wanted and that I should note if something doesn't feel right after I eat it to make a note of it and just not eat it again for awhile.  My surgeon has done 160 TIF surgeries as of last week so he must be pretty good at it.  I talked to the nurse when I was being scheduled and my doctor had done her TIF surgery 4 months earlier and she as very happy with the outcome.  She no longer has reflux or heartburn so I thought that was a pretty good indication to have a referral by someone who actually had it done. Everything I've read shows a pretty good outcome but I'm wondering how many of you actually stuck to the liquid diet for the whole time.  And if not was your surgery a failure?  Thanks for any info.
Posted 4/21/2012 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
hopeitworks

Glad to hear you have had your surgery.  I think most people follow their diets well and often the ones that have problems will admit they may have rushed their progression of their diet.  I would not chew up crackers and spit them out as you may accidentally swallow a piece and choke on it causing you to aspirate.  Thats just my personal opinion. 

If you have questions re your diet do feel comfortable asking your Dr.

Be well,

Kitt

Posted 4/21/2012 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I had a TIF a year ago and I followed the diet for six weeks when my surgeon said that I could start to vary my diet some. I also had good results from my TIF.
Posted 4/21/2012 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
I understand your desire to chew, I am 12 post LNF and I would kill for some chips! But then I just remember, I really want this to work, and I have another protein shake! Hang in there, you'll be able to eat again soon!
Posted 4/22/2012 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm wondering what the reason is for the consistency of the diet after the TIF surgery.  Is it because of the risk of choking?  Or is it so it doesn't create acid?  Or some other reason.  I'm wondering because my doctor who has done 160 procedures told me that I could eat anything even right after surgery if it was blended to the consistency of liquid or very soft.  So is it because it might get stuck if it was bigger? 
Posted 4/22/2012 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hopeitworks -

I believe the liquid/soft diet is to make sure that the tissues around the suture area heal and the food going down does not reverse the effect.

How are you feeling after the surgery? Do you think your heartburn symptoms have been resolved? I've been looking to get this surgery as well and am quite curious about how it helps other patients.

Thanks
Posted 4/23/2012 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
My understanding is that larger pieces of food could tear out the fasteners letting the fold slip. After a few weeks the fold has attached together and the fasteners are not holding the TIF in place. Acid foods or acid producing foods could irritate the stomach and slow healing.
Posted 4/23/2012 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi PPI - Thanks for your response. I kind of thought that was the reason for the soft food but when someone said I might choke I started wondering. Then I thought about the fact that it's ok to take our medicines the day after the surgery and some of those pills are not small! I would think I would choke on those. lol Anyway, just as with others I have read after the procedure, I've been having some pain in the chest in the area of the procedure mostly after I eat, but I think that's because I'm not healed yet. Others have said this feeling which has been described as almost a heartburn type of feeling does go away after the 8 week healing process. So I'm feeling pretty normal as compared to others. I'm hopeful that it will go away -For the past year I have slept sitting up in bed so I would be less likely to wake up with the horror of reflux and so far I haven't had the courage to try to lie down at night yet. I don't want to take the chance that it could happen while I'm still healing so I am going to wait until I'm 6 - 8 weeks along before I even try laying down to sleep. So, sorry to say, I can't really answer your question yet - but I am hopeful and I do feel MUCH better than I did before the surgery. Tomorrow will be 4 weeks since the procedure and although the first week was pretty bad, it gradually got better and better I'd say after the 10 day mark. Most people I've read that are further along have said they're glad they did it and I've heard it has a very good success rate so I would tell you to find an experienced surgeon, get tested to see if you're a candidate and go for it! I'll think you'll be glad you did. If you do, I wish you the best.
Posted 4/23/2012 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hopeitworks -

I've been working with a GI and a surgeon for the past several months (and have had several tests during the last year). They think that an anatomical correction will help me. They think either Nissen or TIF would help me. I do want to try the TIF first. However, my insurance has denied the preauth for it. I am going through their appeal process right now.

Hope, you continue to feel better! Do stay here and keep us updated on your progress!
Posted 5/8/2012 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
the crackers wont hurt you, they'll probably just get stuck. im 4 weeks out after my tif procedure and hiatal hernia repair.
believe me, if it can't go down, it will hurt once it meets where the esophagus and stomach are...and you'll end up throwing it up. it's no fun.
i'm starting to wonder when i'll be able to eat somewhat normal again. even if i don't put at least 10 seconds in between bites, i end up spending a few moments not throwing up my food.
Posted 5/9/2012 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Amber - I also had hiatal hernia repaired during my TIF procedure. I hope you didn't throw up - that would be awful.  A few days ago I was nauseous when I woke up and I was so scared, but it went away.   I was told by my doctor's office that they are not as strict as some doctors with the diet.  As I said in a previous post, when I went for my 3 week follow up he released me and told me that as long as I ate small "thimble-size bites" and chewed to the consistency of pancake batter that I could have just about anything I wanted.  So I've been following that and so far so good - I'm still staying away from acidic and "chewy" foods but it's nice to be able to have more variety.  So far nothing has gotten stuck - yesterday was 6 week post surgery and I even tried laying down to sleep last night and am happy to say I slept all the way through - no problems.  I even took the phone books out that I had stacked between my mattress and box springs.  The pain in my chest after eating has also pretty much disappeared.  I am off all reflux/heartburn medications so I think it's safe to say my TIF procedure was a success and I'm ecstatic!  I'm still being careful about what I eat for another 2 - 4 weeks just to be on the safe side.  I hope you continue to do well!  Just make sure to take very small bites and chew really well and you should be ok.  Maybe you should get some anti-nausea medicine from your doctor?
Posted 6/1/2013 8:39 PM (GMT 0)

Amberlynn77 said...
the crackers wont hurt you, they'll probably just get stuck. im 4 weeks out after my tif procedure and hiatal hernia repair.
believe me, if it can't go down, it will hurt once it meets where the esophagus and stomach are...and you'll end up throwing it up. it's no fun.
i'm starting to wonder when i'll be able to eat somewhat normal again. even if i don't put at least 10 seconds in between bites, i end up spending a few moments not throwing up my food.

Hi Amber, I am scheduled to have TIF and hiatal hernia repair this Wednesday. I am kinda nervous though. Nobody told me it was not a day stay surgery and also I knew was brief diet change but had NO IDEA it is a 12 wk mostly liquid diet. I am going on vacation in 7 wks and DO NOT WANT to be on liquid for vacation. Do you think in 7 wks I will be able to eat somewhat normal ?????? I may cancel procedure and surgery. I am a basket of nerves. I hope you can give me some advice. Thanks
Posted 6/2/2013 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Well, here I am 1 year after my TIF surgery and it was NOT a success.  Somehow between the time I had the TIF surgery and hiatal hernia repair I have developed 2 ulcers in my esophagus, just above the juncture where it meets the stomach.  I have been getting terrible reflux and cannot lay down - I am back on medication twice a day which is keeping it somewhat in check.  I went back to Gastroentrologist and they did 3 tests , barium swallow, EGD and motility study. (Motility study was by far the worst and I would never ever get one done again.)  They stick a tube down your throat through the esophagus into the stomach and make you swallow sips of water.  It was horrific (at least for me) as I kept wretching, dry heaving at having something in my throat gagging me.  The barium swallow found I had considerable reflux, but no hiatal hernia.  So at least that got fixed.  But still so much reflux and don't know why.  The new Gastroenterologist said from the looks of the pictures I had that I should not have had the TIF surgery that my hiatal hernia was too high up for that.  He is suggesting I get the Nissan surgery but I am really reluctant to go through all that again.  I don't like the risks of "not ever being able to throw up" and if it's done too tight, I "could have a problem with swallowing."  Those things sound like it would be a nightmare not to be able to swallow???  And can't throw up?  What if you're sick and nauseous and the only thing that makes it better is vomiting!!?? 

I can't advise you on whether or not to have the surgery, but in hindsight I would not have had it knowing it didn't help me.  But you can't be sure it won't help you so you'll have to make that decision.  But I would think that by 7 weeks you should be able to eat what you want if you take small bites and chew well, at least that's what my doctor said.

Good luck on your decision. 

Posted 2/26/2014 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
What is the wait time on going back to work. I am thinking about the Tif surgery and have a job that requires heavy lifting and heavy machine work. How log did they recommend you to take off from work.
Posted 6/18/2019 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey how are you feeling now? Can you eat large meals? Burp etc?
Posted 6/19/2019 4:54 PM (GMT 0)
Today is my 2 wk mark in my recovery and I have been following the liquid or soft diet since I came home. In the past day I feel like I have an air bubble in my back and chest and it gets kinda painful. Anyone else experiencing this? Also I have gas seems like constantly and I can’t belch or burp, which I think might help my symptoms. After reading others reports of what they’re going through, I guess mine is the norm. I do think if I absolutely had not needed to have this done, I would not have. My stomach had started to flip, so I didn’t have any choice but to go through with it. On a good note, my horrible acid reflux seems to be gone!
Posted 12/3/2020 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
I think that the pre tests are critical. I go in for TIF in the morning and have had 5 tests to make sure I am right for it.under 2 com hiatel hernia,stomach emptying,ct,48hr ph test,etc.I will give weekly updates on here.My surgeon jails from John's Hopkins ,u of m and Yale.He does 120 tif surgeries per year.(I am betting that these statistics matter)
Posted 1/16/2021 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am 4 weeks out from TIF and have not had any issues swallowing...however..I notice I am burping a ton (not sure if this is different or I just notice)...Is that normal? I accidently lifted my dog last week and now I am concerned I "popped a stitch" I have mild but steady pain on left side right under rib cage...I wonder if I have hurt anything..??
Posted 1/19/2021 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
nebguest:

I'm not familiar with the TIF procedure (I had the Nissen), but I would suggest that you call you surgeon's office and speak to his nurse and let her know your concerns. It would probably ease your mind.

Sharon
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