Post Nissen Experiences and Questions

Gas is a very normal and painful after effect from the surgery. It tends to get trapped and the only way to get rid of it is to walk it off. The pain I know can be very bad and make youeven feel breathless. Are you able to burp well yet? Sorry to say but this will take time to get through, but eventually it will get better and better. You will probably always have gas a i do, but as long as you can let it out you will be fine. best fo luck and be patient. it has only been a few days.

For the first 4-5 weeks, if you don't chew your food well enough, food will feel like it gets stuck. The swelling around the wrap site will be at its greatest in this timeframe. You absolutely need to take small bites and chew everything until it's almost liquid. Drinking warm liquids will help your food go down.

Walking will definitely help. So will keeping hydrated. Gas is going to be your worst enemy. With your wrap as fresh as it is, and the swelling you've got going on inside, there is only one way for gas to get out. You'll feel bloated after you eat for a few months, unfortunately. I'm at just about a year post-surgery and I'm just barely starting to be able to burp once in awhile. Us folks with GERD tend to swallow lots of air when we eat. It's an involuntary process at this point so it will take some work to help get past it. As you chew, exhale through your nose before you swallow so that you get as much air out of your throat as possible. You're still bound to get bloated and gassy, so keep GasX or Gaviscon or something similar handy to help with that.

Every day gets a little better. Having the Nissen procedure was one of the best decisions I ever made, despite the recovery time...and I'd do it again and again. Anything to get rid of that awful reflux I was having!

Be well and take care,
-TonyG-

I'm back again! Things have been going relatively smoothly with no real problems. A little more gas above the wrap than before but nothing serious. I am three weeks post wrap as of yesterday. Then, out of the blue this morning food is stuck in my throat, will not go down! Even with water, trying additional bites of food to get it to move, there is a sensation that this swallow was not complete. Not stuck at the wrap, but in my throat. I will admit I was not eating mindfully; was reading something at the same time I was eating (scrambled egg and sweet potato) and probably was "shoveling it in" rather than taking smaller bites and making sure things were swallowed properly. I know better than this! But I have never had a problem with scrambled egg. This was the first time I have tried sweet potato. Didn't seem like it should be a problem, but most likely the fact that I wasn't giving things a chance to be swallowed contributed to this. I am not sure what to do now. I am not choking or in any pain.

Prior to having the surgery my I had a motility study done, and my swallowing was not great. I had a long discussion with the surgeon and ultimately we decided to go for the full wrap with the understanding that it may have to be redone to a partial wrap. He said that by three weeks we should know if the full wrap was successful. Things have been going very well and I was encouraged to think that the full wrap was going to work. Actually, I don't think this has anything to do with the type of wrap, since the food seems to be stuck in my throat. Anybody have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

I'm glad to hear things continue to go well for you! If something feels like it gets stuck, try sitting up as straight as you can and pushing your shoulders back into the chair. That helps open up your chest and loosen up the muscles around your esophagus, giving it room to expand. Keep working on warm liquids to help it down.

I want to thank Bill, TonyG and amo for taking the time to respond and for their comments and suggestions. It is very reassuring to have this forum. The day passed with no further problems and I have to conclude once again that this recovery is not a linear process! I have had two "normal" days since I posted with nothing unusual happening. I have decided to leave sweet potatoes alone for a while! I will be having my first post op check-up on Tuesday. I will let you know how it goes.

Amo, good luck with your redo. I hope it can be laproscopic!

Hi Again,

Now I am 5 1/2 weeks post NF. things are progressing reasonably well with the exception of a couple of things that have become slightly more consistent lately and a couple of things that I have questions about.

First of all, I am not sure if I really know what it feels like if something is stuck in or above the wrap. I know this sounds dumb, but how do you tell? I have a sense that I would know it if I felt it, but maybe not. I have for the last few days had intermittent stomach pain in the upper left part of my stomach, near where I assume part of the stomach was used for the wrap. A burning kind of pain like I used to have prior to the surgery. I haven't felt any reflux, but it makes me want to take Tums or something. This isn't constant pain, but it happens after eating sometimes, and mostly at night. I am wondering if I am trying to eat foods that I am not ready for yet? Too spicy? Or does this mean something is stuck? I am quite careful to chew and chew and chew and take small bites and eat slowly, and my diet is still pretty bland, but I have had spicier things that might be related.

Another thing that happens is in the mornings I often feel congested, like a eustachian tube is plugged for a time, and then this goes away. (Could be post-nasal drip related.) Also nose running a bit after eating. This happens not just in the morning and not all the time, but there is a sensation of my swallow backing up or something. Reflux above the wrap? I am confused about this.

Third thing--I occasionally have pain in my larynx. Almost like a spasm that is strong and painful but only for a few seconds, then it goes away. I have no trouble breathing, and can still swallow and talk, but it is weird. Sometimes this also occurs in my esophagus as well, but more often in my larynx.

All of this being said, most of the time I am feeling quite well. I just am not sure if these things are part of the normal healing process, or if I should be contacting my doctor. I was told to stop the omeprazole about 2 weeks ago.

I would really appreciate it if anyone can offer some insight into these things. I would like to hope they are all part of the healing process and will eventually pass, but I am just not quite sure.

Thanks for any insight.

ocean girl252

Hello,

Sorry Sleepyb that it is now April and I have just now replied to your post. I hope you are doing well. The stomach pain that I had been feeling has basically subsided, so maybe it was just part of the healing process. How are things with you?

I am still having some issues with swallowing that include the feeling of hoarseness after eating. Not like something is stuck in the wrap, but that maybe something didn't quite go down and has backed up without going through the wrap? Also sometimes pain in my esophagus and throat that feels like a spasm--like something is being squeezed. Don't know if this is normal. Anyone else experienced this?

Again, other than that things seem to be going well.