Post Nissen Fundoplication query

Hiya Kathf, I find im the same as yourself ,after a bug ie cold or virus I get some problems with swallowing .It must be swelling in the esophagus or sumthing like that but the good thing is it clears up again once your over the illness.
Things should settle down again for you soon.
All the Best! Barry

Hi Kath,

Welcome to the Healing Well Wrapped Club! At two months you're still in the early stages of healing, so it makes sense that a serious bout of the flu would set your recovery back significantly. As Baza said, don't panic. This will all work itself out gradually, as you begin to recover from the effects of your illness.

Get a refill for your anti-nausea pills if you're still having that problem, as you won't want to retch or vomit, as it can damage your wrap badly. I always keep anti-nausea medications on hand, and even carry them with me, just in case. I use Zofran for mild nausea issues, and when I get a knock-down drag-out stomach bug with vomiting, I use a Compazine suppository, as once I've vomited, I can't keep anything down. The suppository works like a charm, though.

This recovery takes 6 months for most of the healing, and a year for the rest. I found improvements even into the second year.

Listen to your body, and baby your esophagus and stomach with whatever foods seem to comfort it. Be sure to always take small bites and chew, chew, chew your food until it is a complete liquid. You will always need to eat more slowly and chew more carefully now that you've been wrapped. You've had a barrier created between your esophagus and stomach, and thoroughly chewed food is important. Everyone, wrapped or not, should be slowing down and chewing their food completely...it's good for digestion!

Hang in there. You will heal, and your swallowing will improve! Get lots of rest, and allow your body to recover. Be patient with the swallowing issue. It takes time to heal, and you've had major surgery, even though the laproscopic procedure makes it hard to remember that. Your insides have been traumatized, and will take time to heal and get back to normal--hence the six months to a year time frame.

Glad you've joined the forum!
Happy healing,
Denise

Hi smooth,

I had intermittent dumping syndrome that decreased as I approached the one year mark, and I figured that I'd always have to deal with it from time to time. Still, I felt that inconvenience/discomfort was worth the improvement I received from my surgery.

Sometime during the second year, I realized that I was no longer having any dumping syndrome issues at all. I can't tell you exactly when that was, but it was a pleasant surprise!

Also, some foods bothered me past a year, but sometime after the two year mark they no longer give me any problems at all. For example, I couldn't eat an entree salad without having an irritated wrap that was uncomfortable for a week or more. I wasn't able to drink carbonated drinks well into the first/second year, and now I have no problem with it. There are other things as well, but those are a couple that come to mind.

Yes, I was also surprised that I could vomit. At the one year post-op mark, I had my first stomach bug. The need to vomit hit me without warning. I could actually feel the resistance as my stomach pushed on the wrap, but the wrap moved enough to allow normal vomiting.

I've had this happen three times since I had my Nissen surgery, and each time I vomited suddenly, without warning. Otherwise I would have taken steps to stop the nausea before I vomited. Thankfully, the Compazine suppositories always kept me from repeated vomiting, which would have been damaging.

Take care,
Denise

Smooth,

Yes, the discomfort would begin pretty soon after the offending food. Again, I figured I would never be able to eat a large salad again, and though I loved salads, I still felt the improvements were worth the loss.

No, I have never felt hopeless. If you read the quotes at the bottom of my signature, you will get an idea of my philosophy, and it helps me a lot. Sure, everyone had their moments, but honestly, I truly believe that attitude is everything. It really helps me cope with challenges.

I wish you weren't struggling, and I hope that you find an answer that helps you.

Best wishes,
Denise

Thanks for your replies! I keep forgetting that its early days, some many people are rolling their eyes at me like I'm making a fuss over nothing that its easy to believe it wasn't major surgery! My husband caught this flu the same time as me and is completely better now, I still feel run down and energy-less along side everything else. I suppose its normal to take longer to recover, my body's been through a heck of a lot!

Hi
Can someone help me I have many problems since my fundaplaction and hiatus hernia repair which is just over 5 weeks and still only having liquid and a bit of rice pud even jelly to much. Barium swallow says the bottom of wrap to take but my problem since last night is total feeling of stitch in my waist and up my left hand side into my breast has anyone else had this? My bowls are not good and at times it had been 4days between opening my Bowals last week (so to talk about this) i am off on hols to Thailand in 2.5 weeks. I am seeing my surgeon on Thursday but am worried about this pain as food got stuck and I vomited and it came up. I thought I was going to chock to death it was so painful. I am still taking nexium 40mg and occasional gaviscon which is the reason I had the op to stop taking tablets which I have been doing for 20 years! I wish I had never gone down this road it is so hard and its just one problem after another. Any body suffered like this