Before you get a wrap

Before you undergo this surgery, do your research and find the expert in your area. This is a very delicate surgery and if the surgeon hasn't done a lot and doesn't have a lot of experience, you could suffer as a result. Besure to ask "How many of these procedures do you do a month". I drove 2 1/2 hours to go to the surgeon in FL that fixes the wraps done by "local" surgeons. It was worth all the trips for presurgery tests and follow-up visits. After reading the many posts of this forum, many wraps are done by surgeons without a lot of experience.

I am doing great! Went right off of Nexium and Tums after the surgery. Took out the wooden blocks under my bed. Right now (nearly 4 months after my wrap) I am eating nearly all foods. I haven't tried steak or pork chops yet, but have eaten slow cooked beef and pork, plus chicken and fish. The only things that really bother me are drinks that fizz, have caffeine or alcohol. I do have pressure under my wrap after eating, but have found that if I drink a cup of camomile tea with my meal or right after that helps a lot.
My surgeon is Dr. Alexander Rosemurgy in Tampa. His office is right behind the hospital where the surgery is done. He requires a certain BMI, and several tests before he does the surgery, but has a 90+ success rate. You can find his information by Googling him. I am very satisfied with my results.

I had one incision in my belly button. Today I can't even tell. I had to wait a couple of weeks for my first visit. I had to loose some weight first, but had my surgery about ten days after my visit when the tests were done. He was very easy to talk to and answered all of my questions - even some I didn't know to ask. I stayed in the hospital the day of the surgery and most of the next day. We also stayed in a hotel the night I was released, just to make sure all was well, before heading home. The hospital has a deal with a hotel about 3 miles away for a good rate. One of his fellows visited me in the hospital as well as the doctor. The doctor gave the final OK for me to leave. We didn't discuss the TIF. I made my decision to have the surgery because I was not getting relief from meds, live style changes, and was uncomfortable all the time. It has made a big difference in my quality of life and would do it again in a minute.

Hi SEW LADY,

That's great advice! I agree that choosing an experienced and skilled Nissen surgeon is critical to a good outcome. Glad you've joined the forum!

Happy healing!
Denise

Sew Lady
I'm sorry they deleted your email address.
Thanks for your reply.
I called and talked with their office. Asked some questions. They are going to have someone call me back-- an associate.
I reviewed the test requirements on the web page. Endoscopy, mannometry, barium. And one other that I didn't understand. It talked about a bagel and marshmallow and 15 degree head down. Did you have these tests and what's with the bagel test? Do I need to be scared. I've had the others but not the bagel one.

Are you doing better each day? Eating okay? Nausea or pain? Back to work? Are you physically active like prior to surgery. Thanks for listening to me. Pat

Hi Sew Lady and Pat,
I removed the email address to protect Sew Lady from receiving spam email at her home email address.

You have two options. Either both of you email me (Pat, I know you have already emailed me, so you know how) and I will share your email addresses with both of you, or you can go to your profiles and place your email address in the spot where it asks for that information.

Then your email address will only be available for members of healing well, and not to any spammers who just are happen to be trolling for addresses.

I didn't do it to make life difficult for you, but rather to protect you. I think it's wonderful that you want to help each other, but it has a forum moderator, it's my job to protect members as well as the forum itself.

Best wishes,
Denise

SEW LADY said...
Before you undergo this surgery, do your research and find the expert in your area. This is a very delicate surgery and if the surgeon hasn't done a lot and doesn't have a lot of experience, you could suffer as a result. Besure to ask "How many of these procedures do you do a month". I drove 2 1/2 hours to go to the surgeon in FL that fixes the wraps done by "local" surgeons. It was worth all the trips for presurgery tests and follow-up visits. After reading the many posts of this forum, many wraps are done by surgeons without a lot of experience.

I agree with this 100%. Probably a few 1000%.

I think upper gastro and laparoscopic (key hole) surgery are cash cows that lots of surgeons want to get into. If you don't get an experienced surgeon then you're a training exercise.

And make sure the surgery is performed by the expert, and the expert isn't merely supervising one or more trainees. Having your surgery done at a "teaching hospital" sounds all nice and grey's anatomy but in reality it means a student is poking around your insides.

I'm six months in and my whole torso from the chest to the groin still feels like it was hit by a train.

Sorry you are still having trouble. Some on the forum have told me that it takes time. Hopefully you will feel a bit better every day.

FlaCracker said...
I went three times to the surgeon and asked multiple questions but never thought about asking who was assisting him during the procedure. I found out later he used a physician's assistant plus a student was watching. At least I hope the student was watching.

Michelle

I was completely suckered. The "surgeon" I saw before the operation had great people skills, was very confident and was talking about how many times he had performed this operation.

Turns out he was a trainee....

I am 4 months post-wrap and the only discomfort I have is pressure after eating. I found that drinking camomile tea with my meal helps.The pressure is usually gone in 15-20 min. I had my surgery in Tampa Florida. My doctor is the one people in the area who had a bad wrap go to for repairs.

Sew Lady,

I am originally from Tampa and I didn't realize there was a doctor that handles the redos. I might need their name. General surgeon or Thoracic? Does the doctor use another physician in the surgery?

ldRunner,

I am at 9 months post op and my asthma has come back. I still take Nexium. Small meals too. Hang in there.

Michelle