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Scheduled for Nissen Fundoplication 11-4-14 with Questions

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 11/1/2014 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new and not sure if I'm posting in the right place... On 11/4 I'm going to have the Nissen Fundoplication surgery (not via laparoscopy). I've read a lot on the community page, thank you all.

What I was unable to determine was, did most of you have the big incision or laparoscopy? I assume the recovery is longer with the big cut as I call it! Ha ha

I am a 39 year old female. 5'8" and about 190 lbs. I was diagnosed with a 6CM hiatal hernia and GERD. I didn't have symptoms until about six months ago. I rarely have an acid issue. I may chew on TUMS on occasion. My issue has been the chest and shoulder crushing pain I experience at random times when I eat. It hurts to breathe, talk, drink water, stand, sit, etc... It's gotten worse as of late so I am having the surgery.

Does anyone else pretty much ONLY have pain while eating? Much of what I've read talks primarily about acid, etc. I feel like I will have a heart attack at random times after eating and then after a half hour or an hour, one big dry burp an I am good-to-go!

Any advice is welcome ❤️. Thanks ya'll! E

Added a title to thread

Post Edited By Moderator (dencha) : 10/31/2014 6:47:52 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/1/2014 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi metoo32,

Welcome to Healing Well! Glad you've joined the forum. Most people here have had the laproscopic version of the surgery, but Bill, a moderator here, had a laproscopic version, then an open version with a surgical redo. He found the open version as easy to heal from, so I wouldn't worry a bit.

I have a question for you. What pre-op testing have you had done, and what were the results? These tests are important in determining whether or not your symptoms are likely to resolve post-Nissen.

Again, glad you've joined us!
Best wishes,
Denise
Posted 11/1/2014 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Denise,

I found out about my Hiatal H when I asked my OB to listen to my chest when I had a cold (didn't have a primary care Dr.). She recommended a chest x-ray after which the tech practically ran out screaming OMG!

A radiologist read it and told me I had a Hiatal H. I looked into it but later understood many ppl have them and are therefore asymptomatic. I had few symptoms other than occasional heartburn when I wouldn't eat healthy. But as the months passed I would have the occasional painful symptoms that I mentioned.

I found a primary care physician who ordered an EGD which confirmed the 6CM hernia + GERD. Sliding/paraesophageal. I also have had a manometry which confirmed I am a candidate for the NF surgery. 😄
Posted 11/2/2014 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
You know that if you have a hiatal H you can resolve the majority of your acid reflux if you raise the head of your bed 6-8 inches. I was diagnosed with a hiatal H years ago and have had to have my GI Specialist open up the herniated area damaged by repeated acid reflux. As it turns out, if you don't lay flat (sleep flat) and if you're basically standing/sitting all day the acid can't flow uphill into your esophagus. The majority of damage to my esophagus was being done during sleep (like most people). I used to work on cars and have to lay under the car to make repairs, I don't do that anymore because it burns my throat!! Since I raised the head of my bed I have all but stopped the reflux completely. If you can stop the reflux you can greatly decrease the frequency of having to get the esophagus reopened. I used to have to get the procedure every couple of years, after I raised the head of my bed it's now been 6-7 years and I have had no issues with my esophagus. I only wish someone had told me all this many, many years ago.

treblig
Posted 11/2/2014 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
Ah, my thing is I have little to no heartburn or acid tho they tell me I have GERD. I began to have debilitating pain and pressure/throbbing at random times when I eat. Lately it is one to two times a day lasting for a half hour to an hour. It hurts to breathe, talk and the pain goes from my chest up thru my shoulders. Once I give a good "dry" burp, I feel 100% other than a little tenderness breathing deeply.

My physician said 1/2 my stomach is pushing up into my diaphragm and lungs causing the pressure due to the large hiatal hernia. I don't know much but what I am certain of, is that I need relief from this. It's been gradually worsening for the past nine months.
Posted 11/2/2014 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, your situation is totally different!! I was posting my solutions to folks with a Hiatal Hernia so that they might benefit from my experience. It was so interesting that my gastroenterologist never recommended raising the head of my bed. I guess he knew that if I did that he wouldn't be able to do the procedure on me as often...LOL!! Why else would he not tell me? It's really great not having to go back and get my esophagus opened up every two years!! Even better....if you religiously don't bend over and don't lay flat when you sleep there isn't much need for all the proton pump inhibiters!!! In my case, as long as I don't lay flat and don't get under cars I get no symptoms EVER. When I was first diagnosed I couldn't hardly swallow anything without it getting stuck then I'd have to excuse myself, go to the bathroom and stick my finger down my throat to puke up the piece of meat or whatever was lodged in there. Haven't had to do that in over 10 years!!

treblig
Posted 11/2/2014 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi meetoo.

I just posted a long reply to Kayda, so maybe that would help you. I had a large hernia - a GPEH (Giant ParaEsophagela Hernia). It was done laparoscopically.

I'm an old grandma and it was after a bad wreck, so it was tougher for me, but I'm glad I had it fixed!

Your stomach is sitting right up beside your heart and needs to be pulled back down under the diaphragm. All the time if it's stuck there. No wonder you have pain.

If you aren't having trouble with reflux/acid getting into your esophagus, you might not need the "wrap." I had reflux before the wreck, so I got that.

Don't worry about it. You need the surgery.

You can look up a bunch of older posts by putting some of the words into the search box at the top of the page.
Posted 11/4/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
meetoo-

I have had an open nissen after 2 lap ones. I actually found the open surgery easier to recover from. Didn't have all the quirks like shoulder pain and such with the open surgery.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 12/4/2014 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I did think about writing a few times prior to this but the time wasn't right. I had the Nissen Fundoplication 11/04/14. I had the open procedure in Michigan. Apparently 2/3 of my stomach was in my chest. After two nights in the hospital, I was released feeling well. I was provided a epidural for several days with a catheter.
My pain wasn't horrid during that time except when I was taken off the epidural.

I was admitted on a Tues, discharged in Thurs aft. I was told to do two weeks of a soft food diet after liquid diet in the hosp.

That didn't last as long as the Dr recommended though my body let me know what I could do.

Anyway, I am feeling well! I was out of work a month and in a pinch I prob could have gone back after 3. I have a scar fri. Sternum to belly button. I was able to eat soft food after about five days.

I am thankful that diagnosis of this hernia actually started the ball rolling to an early stage breast cancer diagnosis.
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