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Nissen Surgery Scheduled April 17th

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Posted 3/3/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hello
I am preparing for the Nissen surgery in 6 weeks. It took that long to get a date with the surgeon my family doctor wanted to do my surgery. I think I am realistically prepared for the recovery. If I know what is ahead, I can usually just let it happen. We will have to see if this experience will test that!
Posted 3/3/2014 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
Are you sure your family doctor is qualified enough to do a nissan. Ideally the surgeon should have done at least minimum 300 if not a 1,000 nissans ?
Posted 3/3/2014 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Barb-

Welcome to Healing Well.

I'm the one Denise told you that says the recovery is a marathon not a sprint.

I too am hugely impressed with the amount of information your surgeon has given you. That is really not the norm and I'd say you are in great hands. No wonder your PCP wanted you to wait for this surgeon.

I'm very interested what they have in the booklet. Just to see how it compares to the patients actual experiences.

jamosca- Her PCP wanted her to see only a certain surgeon and she had to wait a month to see him. I see how that could have read weird, LOL! I'm with you though, Ain't no GP cuttin' me open! I'd rather do it myself!

Take care,
Bill
Posted 3/3/2014 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Best wishes Grandma Barb!
Keep us updated, I am going for my Nissen redo on March 13.
Posted 3/23/2014 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
How did your redo surgery go, Mechelle? Is it any different than the first time? I am wondering if it helps knowing what to expect. Blessings on your recovery.
Barb
Posted 3/24/2014 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Grandma Barb!

I had my Nissen procedure just about a year ago, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The recovery isn't easy, so it helps to be very prepared in advance.

If you have your diet plan worked out, and someone to help you out the first couple weeks, you should to just fine. Keep a pillow or two handy while you sit up in case you sneeze or cough. Giving the pillow(s) a big hug will help the sneeze/cough not hurt as bad. Sleeping will be a little challenging for a few days. I found sleeping on my right side was easier than on my left. Getting up and going for walks, even short ones, will help speed your recovery along and help with the swelling.

What you eat and how hydrated you keep yourself will be key, though. Take it slow and don't rush it!

Be well and take care,
-TonyG-
Posted 3/26/2014 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the encouraging words and the advice too, Tony. I appreciate any hints that will help the recovery. I am also glad you are doing great now. Thanks to all the support from people like you, I feel I am going into with realistic expectations for the recovery and with hope for the final outcome.

Barb
Posted 3/26/2014 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
Grandma Barb. Some info on the internet--not necessarily HealingWell--will say that NF is for younger people. I had mine one-year ago at age 73 and I have never felt better in my life. My advice: sift through the archive of HealingWell and find all of the messages that pertain to your particular symptoms. And, join a Facebook group called Nissen Fundoplication. That group has active, positive support by real people--in many cases in real time.

Both of these organizations contain positive information to prepare you for surgery and recovery by people who actually went through the proceedure.

Reading TonyG's comment....on Sleeping......Like you, I had at least 6 weeks of waiting so I had plenty of time to plan ahead. I am a devout coward when it comes to pain and I expected a lot of post surgical pain/aching from where the surgery penetates the abdominal muscles. So I prepared to move as seldom as possible except for walking. I didn't want to jump up and down to get this or that. So I bought an electric recliner and built a "nest" around it with everything I would need--reading material, lamp, snacks, medicine, TV remote, covered trash can, etc. I planned to vegetate in it and sleep there to avoid the pain of getting in and out of bed. (I even bought a bundle of "Depends" in case of accidents. I didn't need them either). Believe it or not, in my case there was no abdominal pain. I don't know why but I didn't need any pain killers and after discovering that I could move around pretty well, I began sleeping in bed after the third day home.

Some of the things I bought in advance:

A case of Chicken broth
A case of Beef Broth
Individual containers of Apple sauce
Individual containers of puddings and pre-made Jello
Liquid Tylonol--(didn't use it)
Liquid Vitamins.....in my case I couldn't find adult liquid vitamins so I bought Polyvisol infant vitamins
Liquid B-12
Bottled water
Lots of small bottles of apple and grape juice
A pill crusher

I would be happy to answer and specific questions. My E-mail is in my profile.
Posted 3/30/2014 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, retired Seabee, for your encouragement and advice. It has been good to read a variety of experiences to know that there is a wide range in "normal" recovery with this surgery. I have had several major surgeries and working with whatever my recovery process brings, is the only way to go. I liked your shopping list.
I will check out the FB group. One can't have too much positive support. I will keep you in mind if I have specific questions. Thank you, again.
Barb
Posted 3/30/2014 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
Barb-

I have had 3 of these surgeries and the redoes were much easier for me than the 1st. I do believe it was because I knew what to expect already. I already knew about all the weird issues that can happen with this recovery and didn't jump to any bad conclusions.

My best advice is to read all you can here and on FB and remember there is no real normal for this recovery. Some people have little to no issues and some of us have a lot of issues, but in the end the vast majority are very happy to have done it.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 4/10/2014 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
A little bump in my journey. I had my pre-op visit today and a slight abnormality in my
EKG means I need a stress test. I will have that on the 15th. lol Don't they know that the waiting for surgery is a stress test itself? smhair
Posted 4/15/2014 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
Nurse from surgery called today and spent over 20 minutes asking her questions, then asking for my questions and concerns- kept asking if I had more. Nice visit. I felt good, that my concerns/feelings were valued. Tomorrow I have my stress test. I hope I pass! :-)
Posted 4/16/2014 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Grandma Barb I am Grandma Bev and I too will be having the Nissen soon. Mine is on the 21st. We will have to become forum buddies so we can compare notes. I have read about the surgeon doing 300 plus surgeries, I asked my surgeon how many he had done and he said "12."
Please readers don't comment on this, I am comfortable with him and he has come highly recommended by two other doctors. My hospital is a small one, but I didn't want to go elsewhere. He will also have another older surgeon in ther with him.
AnywayBarb, I think I am ready, I have cleaned my house and done my laundry. I stocked up on flavored waters, tea, jello, pudding, cream of wheat, soft crackers, vanilla wafers, grape juice, broth, ice dream, Popsicles, eggs and liquid medicines as well as prune juice. I am suspending my gym membership for two weeks and I purchased a body blade to exercise low intensity at home. I am so ready to be coming out the other side. Good luck with your surgery and I look forward to staying in touch.
Posted 4/16/2014 4:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bev - I would love to be your "wrap buddy." It sounds as if you are well-prepared. I too, have purchased the food, done two weeks of preparations so my sub will have an easier time, found subs for my volunteer work for two months, gone to the library for a stack of books.... I am so ready to be on the healing side. I will be eager to compare notes and share encouragement.
Blessings, Barb
Posted 4/16/2014 4:25 AM (GMT 0)
Bev- Does MNlady perhaps mean you are from Minnesota?

LOL I think I "passed" the stress test. I find out the results tomorrow, but the nurse sent me home without needing to see the doctor.
Posted 4/16/2014 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Barb I am from MN and the Ladyslipper is our state flower. I am glad the stress test is done. What time is your surgery scheduled for tomorrow? I am also a reader, but read on my IPad. Today is my last day of volunteering for awhile. I am a retired teacher and volunteer at school one morning a week as well as going in for testing a few times a year. Do you have someone at home to help you? Thinking of you ... Talk to you soon.
Posted 4/16/2014 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,

Best of luck tomorrow! It sounds like you are in good hands.

I am almost six months out from my nissen and have no regrets. Recovery wasn't fun, and by week two I think I would have done just about anything for a slice of pizza, but it was all worth it. Before my surgery, I thought about my reflux all the time and it caused so much anxiety. Now I never think about it. I can count on one hand the number of times I have had reflux since my surgery, so for me that's a huge success. (I used to reflux everything, even water).

I hope your surgery is a success and wish you well as you recover!

Stefanie
Posted 4/16/2014 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your good wishes, Stephanie. It is encouraging to hear your success. It makes it easier to expect the same for myself.

Bev - I am also a Minnesotan. Getting buried in snow right now. 9" so far and 12 inches is expected here. The snow is supposed to stop just as I am getting ready to leave for the hospital. I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband to clear the driveway and drive me there. Thinking of you, too. Barb
Posted 4/17/2014 9:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am ready to head to the hospital. Snow has stopped. I am at peace.

I welcome any prayers. :) :-)
Posted 4/17/2014 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Surgery wet great! I am feeling terrific!!!! I have been awake since waking in Recovery with just low level discomfort in back of shoulders. I feel like a fraud taking up bed space at the moment. Lots of water going down easily. My husband said the surgeon said two night stay. The way I am feeling, I could go home right now. We will see what the rest of the day brings.

Post Edited (grandma barb) : 4/18/2014 10:23:07 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/18/2014 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
Barb - that is great news! I am the rest of your day has gone well too. Where did you have your surgery done? I am from Albert Lea.
Posted 4/18/2014 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
Surgery at St. Cloud Hospital. I am home already. I am feeling terrific. Taking Percoset to stay ahead of pain. I can move easily, walk at a very brisk pace, get up and down, in and out of bed easily. I really feel normal. I was swallowing water so easily, they started me on full liquids last night and said I can go to the soft, mushy diet today. I have no problems swallowing even large capsules. I will keep updating as I progress.

Blessings
Posted 4/18/2014 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
That is great you can already swallow capsules! I used applesauce to help me get my broken up pills down. Some of the liquid alternatives (like potassium) were so nasty I gagged on them.

There is a lot of food you can turn into soft and mushy, too. Good luck! My recovery went well, too. I was told that it might get worse before it got better, that never happened. At the height of swelling, I was fine. I sure hope you are too! You can get out and finally enjoy the possibility of spring in the air.
Posted 4/19/2014 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Barb, wonderful news! I hope your recovery continues like this the whole way. Have a great Easter! Maybe you can have ham flavored soup?
Posted 4/19/2014 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Barb,

Welcome to the yeah yeah yeahWrapped Club!yeah yeah yeah It's great to hear that you're doing so well! Please be sure to ask any questions you have as you continue to recover. We're here to support you throughout your recovery! HAPPY HEALING! :-)

Best wishes,
Denise
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