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2 weeks post nissen fundiplication....

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Posted 6/11/2014 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I'm looking for advice to be honest.
I had a wrap 2 weeks ago tomorrow. I'm not eating, apart from liquids and of course soups etc. I'm able to take liquids easily, even carbonated drinks as long as I sip. I feel generally well, and am burping with no problems. I'm not hungry, ever... I've dropped 4.5kg since the operation and am feeling ok, if a little weary at times.

At night, I have a strange feeling like there is something going into my chest.. not the burn from acid, but something... I'm wondering if this is just my imagination. I worry that the thing has slipped, is that possible? I tried some very light noodles yesterday (a teaspoon full in reality)... I chewed, but they still stuck and I was left with a bout of tremendously painful hiccoughs. Could hiccoughs have undone it?? I'm so worried about this....

Also, I'm intending to dive in 2 weeks time. From what I've read on dive health boards, as long as I can burp, there should be no problem... any thoughts?
Posted 6/11/2014 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi grumpysox,

Welcome to the Healing Well yeah yeah yeahWrapped Club! yeah yeah yeah Glad you've joined us! Did your surgeon warn you of the swelling you'd be experiencing? During the first two or so weeks post-op, your wrap becomes increasingly more swollen, causing pain, discomfort, and difficulty swallowing. Once peak swelling is reached, it begins to gradually subside over the next weeks, and you're in business...things will begin to heal and improve.

I would suspect the sensation you're experiencing is caused by that swelling. Lack of appetite and becoming full on a very small amount of food is totally normal during the early recovery period. Your stomach has been through a lot, and the fundus (where the swelling is occurring) is where fullness is communicated to the brain. Your brain is interpreting swelling as fullness. This will pass as healing progresses.

I would stay away from carbonated beverages at this point in your recovery. Even if you can burp, it's still better to abstain at this early stage. I don't know if you've run across my early recovery journal, but just in case you haven't, here's the link:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

I can't help you with the diving issue. I would recommend that you check with your surgeon on this question.

Happy healing,
Denise
Posted 6/11/2014 1:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise,

Like everyone who you have given such insightful advice to, thank you! The surgeon didn't say too much about the swelling, but I did expect it.. its just fear of it slipping I think... Today I went and had some fruit... deliberately didn't chew it too well and yep... it got stuck, hurts like blazes! So, from that, I guess it's still sticking!!! haha... How do people know if it's slipped? Is there pain? Sensation?

I will stick away from carbonated drinks, as of now!! hahaha.. Like you, I'm a teacher and today was my 'leaving' party... sad to say.. (love my school... time for a change) and I had a beer with friends.. slowly, very slowly.. but no problems. But, that'll be the last carb'd drink for a while, I think I'll switch to tea and apple juice. Funny thing, since the wrap, I had my first coffee in 6 months, fantastic, but... will stick with tea!!

I'm hoping that fullness lasts a bit longer, I'd like to chop out another couple of KG's!! When is a good time to start exercising? I'm walking now, but of course tire easily. Would you advise getting onto the treadmill at this stage? Fast walking or stick to 2-3kmph as in your blog? Thanks so much for your advice, its really appreciated...
Posted 6/11/2014 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hello grumpysox. Welcome to our forum. Denise is the BEST. WE APPRECIATE her and the other moderators too. (Clap, clap). I've not yet had your surgery but have been in contact with surgeons asking questions. The following might be helpful as this is what we were told--the biggest problem is that patients don't follow the eating plan strictly as written for the period as specified. They try to rush it when they have a good day. He said they keep accurate research figures on all patients and have learned what works the best. The first question was how tall are you and what do you weigh. ( this was over the phone). When we answered he said good as he asks some patients to lose weight before surgery. He also said that for success he didn't want weight gain after surgery as that puts extra pressure on the wrap.

Don't know if this is helpful,but Denise has always been correct. Chew,chew till liquid or pull out that blender. Wish you well and get better quick. Pat
Posted 6/11/2014 8:39 PM (GMT 0)

grumpysox said...
Hi all,

I'm looking for advice to be honest.
I had a wrap 2 weeks ago tomorrow. I'm not eating, apart from liquids and of course soups etc. I'm able to take liquids easily, even carbonated drinks as long as I sip. I feel generally well, and am burping with no problems. I'm not hungry, ever... I've dropped 4.5kg since the operation and am feeling ok, if a little weary at times.

At night, I have a strange feeling like there is something going into my chest.. not the burn from acid, but something... I'm wondering if this is just my imagination. I worry that the thing has slipped, is that possible? I tried some very light noodles yesterday (a teaspoon full in reality)... I chewed, but they still stuck and I was left with a bout of tremendously painful hiccoughs. Could hiccoughs have undone it?? I'm so worried about this....

Also, I'm intending to dive in 2 weeks time. From what I've read on dive health boards, as long as I can burp, there should be no problem... any thoughts?

Hey mate, congratulations, it sounds like you're doing really well!

Regarding the diving: I have zero medical knowledge but personally I would speak to the surgeon and tell them the pressures involved and the effect of that pressure on air in your stomach. Really spell it out to them how the air will compress.

Remember, with our wraps we pass wind a lot more as air can't escape upwards (or has much more difficulty escaping upwards).

It would be a shame to damage a surgery just for a dive. My recovery is pretty bad, but it has been 6 months and I still feel a bit too delicate to dive.

Whatever you decide though, congrats again!

LD
Posted 6/14/2014 2:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi grumpysox,

I have a treadmill, and started walking on it after a week or so post-op. It was February, so outside walking wasn't really an option. I started with no incline, and maybe 2 or 2.5 mph, listening to my body all the time. I gradually increased speed and mileage as healing continued.

As long as you let the way you feel be your guide, you will do fine. I had a lot of referred shoulder pain, and walking was the one thing that worked to alleviate the pain, so I walk, walk, walked. In the beginning I did short walks many times a day.

Happy walking!
Denise
Posted 6/14/2014 9:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I have exactly the same sensation and have had since day one. I'm four weeks post op. It feels like something is coming back up and I notice it more when I lie down. It does feel very similar to the sensation of reflux coming back up. I keep having lots of air and gas in my oesophagus and think my wrap must be letting bits of air out on its own which concerns me. My throat keeps making bubbly, gurgle type noises too. I had terrible heartburn this morning too whilst lying on my back. I'm trying to stay calm and wait until my follow up appt! Sorry I've not been much help but just wanted to let you know I know exactly the feeling you are on about gingers crossed it's all normal and part of the healing process.
Posted 6/16/2014 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Grumpysox

I was quite into diving when I had my op nearly 11 years ago (PADI OWSI). I was worried I wouldn't be able to dive again, so I checked with the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Medical Director and he suggested that as long as it's not a closed system it would be fine (i.e. there is at least 1 way for the gas to escape skull skull skull ).

I had a tight wrap so can't burp and have dived since my op with no problems (not done mixed gas, as that's a bit too extreme for me now I'm older) - it was a good few months before I dived again though, so you might want to consider staying <10m this early in your healing process if you do plan to dive to see how things go.

Hang in there.

Les.
Posted 6/21/2014 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Grumpysox, if you read this, did you go ahead with your dive?

Hope it was a good one :)

Cheers,

LD.
Posted 6/23/2014 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
TROTTERS did u have your follow up .....what was the result ? Hope all is going well.....wish more people would post their email address...sometimes it's hard to find where u have been before ...new to this site since one 5 days ago.....my email is listed
Posted 7/7/2014 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Andrea, so sorry I've only just seen your reply, so sorry!
Yes I've been back to see the surgeon and to be honest I can out very disheartened. My main reason for surgery was to try and ease the asthma that I have only just developed due to lpr. My surgeon basically told me there was no way I would be refluxing as his ops very rarely fail! That my symptoms almost certainly be due to ENT problems and allergies despite me having a negative IGE test previously. Surgeon has very very reluctantly agreed to re- do ph test but said bd prepared to not see me again! I'm absolutely petrified that the test is going to come back negative and I'm left feeling the way I do. I feel desperate. I know that all my problems started at the same time as the gerd. How are you? What's your story?
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