Nissen on Monday 1/28, diet question

I followed this UPMC NF diet.

http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/diet-after-nissen-fundoplication-surgery.aspx

Dairy products really bothered me, but everyone is different. I made powdered protein drinks using ice, fresh fruit and water.

Truthfully, competing in a race on March 7th doesn't seem realistic to me. Why risk your recovery - if you are set on racing, why not push your surgery back a week?

Hi I was fine with milk after my op. But then you don't know how your stomach will react after surgery. You may be very gassy and gurgly and might not be able to tolerate things that normally you can fot a while.

I really think you need to keep an open mind re the race though. The surgery leaves you feeling drained without the reduced calories you will be consuming. Nearly 8 months since my op and I still have tenderness and some tender patches in my abdomen and you realise how much you use your stomach muscles without realising. I really wouldn't risk undoing it until your body has had time to heal.

All the best

I'm thinking about putting the surgery off for many years. I originally saw the doctor about the linx procedure. After the tests, it was determined that my 3cm hernia was too big for the linx, but the doctor said it may be possible with future advancements. After reading last night about people undoing the wrap from many different types of strenuous activity, I'm thinking I will eventually fall into that category too. I didn't realize that the stomach area can be stressed by lifting heavy things. I only assumed that stress on the digestive system would be caused by food you put in and what comes back up. I have an extremely active lifestyle that I'm not ready to give up.
Also, before I was diagnosed with GERD, I would only have symptoms when I ate certain things like Italian dishes with marinara sauce. I've been on Nexium for 7 years, and now when I forgot to take it, it’s automatic that I get heart burn. A few months ago my doctor mentioned surgery to get me off meds. It sounded like a great idea, but now, I'm not ready for the proper recovery following the Nissen surgery.
Thanks for the responses.

Well, I just spoke with the doctor, and it turns out that the hernia is actually 6cm. I don't know if that changes anything. I don't know what to do. I left a message with my first Gastro to see what size the hernia was in 2009.

Post Edited (btr08ex) : 1/29/2015 11:28:52 AM (GMT-7)

Earlier this afternoon my fiancee' and I decided to put it off until next summer or a time when she can help take care of me (she's a teacher). I left work early today but I couldn't focus. I had a very mild burning in the middle of my chest since around noon that hasn't that hasn't gone away. Sort of like when you run outside when the air is dry, but today it wasn't dry. I don't know if its the stress of deciding on the surgery or just general reflux. I rode my bike at the track today and noticed that the burning was more intense when I breathed in deep with my chest. If I breathed in using my stomach (diaphragm), I didn't notice it as much. I read somewhere that the hernia can affect breathing. Does this seem like a sign that I should get the surgery done?

Thanks Bill and they do still have a cruiser class. It's probably more popular these days because of how they re-structured the memberships.

I'm still deciding what to do. When I first woke up this morning, the burning was gone, but it was back before I left my house. It increases if I take a deep breath which worries me. I came across a video last night where a chiropractor was doing a pushing maneuver to push the hernia back down. I mentioned it to my chiropractor friend who said that he has performed this with great success on many people. Success meaning after 5-10 visits he has never seen them again. Has anyone tried this?

Hi

Hope you are recovering well.

Hi btr08ex,

Welcome to the Wrap Club!

During the first two weeks or so, your wrap becomes increasingly more swollen, which can cause discomfort, so that may be what you're experiencing.

Laproscopic surgery is deceiving. Those little slits heal quickly, and it's hard to remember that on the inside we've had full-fledged major surgery. Organs were moved and held back to allow tools free access to the surgical site, in addition to the general trauma caused by the surgical procedure. All of this takes time for adjustment and healing.

Have you tried walking? Even if you live in a cold climate, you can take laps around your house. It might help trapped gas move, if that's part of the problem.

There can also be referred pain from the diaphragm/wrap area to other parts of the body. Often people get excruciating shoulder pain as a result the work your surgeon did on the diaphragm (as well as residual trapped gas). Perhaps your pain when breathing/yawning is a reaction to stress on the diaphragm/hernia repair with the breathing/yawning motion, referring pain to your back. Just a thought.

Never hesitate to call your surgeon's office. My guess is that this is just a reaction to trauma/healing, and it will improve with time--especially once swelling decreases sometime after the two week mark. That said, your surgeon gets paid the big bucks to be there for you during recovery.

Happy healing!
Denise

Hi

Think Denise is probably right. Think we are all guilty of forgetting just how much goes on inside during laparoscopic surgery.

I had my surgery in May 2014 and it has only been the last couple of months I haven't had shoulder and collarbone pain which like you although in a different area, I would experience if I took a big breath or yawned think it was reffered pain due to the diaphragm moving when my lungs expanded deeply. That's my theory anyway.

Hope you continue healing well.