New year, New life! My Nissen Fundoplication experience

Mernzy:

I had my full wrap in April of 2014. Did you surgeon give you a diet to follow? I was told that initially no caeffine at all, no chocolate, no carbonated beverages, only bread that was well toasted and I started off with clear liquids and progressed to full liquids before soft foods. Be careful with potato soup, I couldn't even eat mashed potatoes in the beginning because they would stick at the wrap. Unfortunately, the diarrhea was the last of my symptoms to go away. One thing that did help was drinking liquids 1 hour before and 1 hour after meals. With my meals I would just sip water. That made things "stick with me" a little longer. You just had major surgery and your recovery will take some time.

Scrambled eggs are find as long as you really chew them. I found that I didn't have much appetite for the first couple of weeks. I lived on smoothies that I added protein powder to. I also liked the Italian ice cups that you buy at the grocery store. I would heat them for about 10 seconds in the microwave. If something sticks at the wrap, just back off of the new foods a little. This was a problem that I didn't have, but a lot of people posted that around the 2-week post-surgery mark you usually reach peak swelling with the wrap. So if you feel uncomfortable then, you will know what it is. I have to tell you that this surgery definitely changed my life for the better. I also took Gas-X, which helped. I also keep a prescription of Zofran around for the rare occasion when I feel nauseous. Also, I was able to swallow pills immediately after the surgery and only took pain medications for a few days and that was mostly at night.

Hi Mernzy.

I hope that you are doing well. I'm a 22 year old university student from northern Europe, and I had my surgery done wednesday 7, one day after you. The surgeon told me everything went really well, and after resting a couple of hours in post op room I was sent of to the hospitals own resting hotel. I spent the night there and got to go back home yesterday. I'm doing surprisingly well, the majority of my pain with meds. Apart from feeling very bloated, I've encountered no troubles when eating. Today I had my first batch of real food, which was thick soup. I'm now of all hearthburn meds, and I'm terrified that I will get hearthburn. I'm just trying to convince myself that what the surgeon said is true, and I'm hoping for the best.

I hope you are doing well, and I'm looking forward to reading your recovery journal. It feels really good to know that there are others out there going through the same recovery process.

I have blood in my urine. Do I need to call Dr or is this normal

Yesterday was day 4 and it went fairly well. A lot of the gas is going away. I had a few problems with pain at incision but nothing that worried me.

I think it is the medicine, but I was dreaming and was screaming at someone. I woke everybody in the house up screaming. So weird. Never did that before. Now we are all having a good laugh about it.

In had chicken soup, mashed potatoes, gravy, eggs, cream of wheat. Small amounts of everything. Didn't eat much today. Anyways hope all is feeling well and has a good sunday!

Hi sweetie!

The best advise I can give is not to push it. Even if you start to feel full after 2 bites. Stop eating. I hurt worse when I eat too much. I eat about 1/2 cup at a time. Sometime less.

Ice cream still not sitting well with me. But I have jello and pudding. Lots of broths. Veggie broth is good and healthy and I cook with chicken bullion so it has great flavor. I bought carnation instant breakfast but haven't used it yet. I pour some broths over mash potatoes to thin them out for easier swallow and it is good.

This is morning 5 and I had 1/2 scrambled egg with gravy poured over them and chopped really well. Grape juice.

I tried a tiny bite of sausage but I am definitely not ready for that. So we stick to what feels good.

I was down for the count as far as energy for the first 3 days. I had little yesterday and didn't sleep as much. This morning I feel good. If it wasn't so cold I would go outside for a walk. I will have to walk around in here for now. Brrrr.

My bruises are starting to look better. My veins are not easy and they blew a few trying for iv and my arms look rough.

I was only cut 4 times and they are healing nicely. The top one has some pain but I think I am ready for Tylenol instead of norco. We will see how that goes today.

I love to help so don't hesitate to ask questions!

Well, it is the end of day 5 and I am still kicking.

I had a little more.of an appetite, which caused some trial and error pain. I tried some Mac and cheese. Even though it was minced up really well and I chewed it very well, the cheese in it caused me a lot of discomfort.

I had more potato soup today. I am wanting something different, but I hate that feeling when your wrap gets mad at you. I also ate more egg for breakfast. Tomorrow I think I may try some instant breakfast.

I walked for a while today to try to ease some of the pain. I think it helped. I have some funny feelings in my throat that makes me want to cough. Coughing hurts :( I am off the heavy meds and only taking kflex, which is giving me yeast infection. Sorry ,tmi, just wanting to give the straight facts of my recovery.


That's all I can think of tonight. Nite nite all!

H all!
It has been 21 days since surgery and I feel really good. Havnt updated due to no internet.

I have been walking 3.5 miles a day and feel pretty good. I am still on strict lifting restrictions. I have been realeased to go back to work this coming monday.

I have progressed to more solid food. I have to chew really well and eat in small bites. I also can't drink until after I eat.

I still can't eat tough meats or bread. Too hard to get down. No sodas at all. Salads are small but as long as dressing on it goes down pretty good.

I have lost 12 lbs since surgery. I am not near as hungry as I used to be. I eat around 1200 cal and actually feel full all the time.

Hi All!!

     It has almost been a month since surgery and I am doing well.  Best decision I ever made . 

I am off all medications and have not suffered from heartburn at all since the surgery.

I have more energy and my stomach doesn't hurt all the time.  I am still losing weight slowly.  about 14 pounds.  I think a lot of that has to do with how much I have slowed my eating down.  I now have to chew really really well.  And I cant cheat or it will hurt.  Talk about accountability .  I feel like I get full fast. 

My incisions have healed nicely.  I am back at work with a 15 pound restriction.  I don't lift a lot so no worries. 

I am beginning to venture into pasta.  Nice and slow.  I can eat the little sandwich thins but bread doesn't like going down well.  I think the worst pain I have felt is when I tried a bite of biscuit.  Painful!!

I walk about 3 miles a day to keep the gas away.  If I eat something that causes gas it tends to get painful.  Walking does help.

A weird thing...I cant drink and eat at same time.  Makes it feel like it is floating in my esophagus.  lol  I have to save my drink till I finish my meal and then sip on it. 

Hope everyone is doing well!

Yes! Drinking is as hard as chewing to me. I almost feel dehydrated. but I just try to slowly keep sipping water all day. My lips are chapped and mouth gets dry in the night. I wake up parched. I also keep a bottle of water next to the bed.
I had some hamburger helper last night. Chewed really well and ate only a small amount. Went down well, but was a little uncomfortable. I think I will wait before I try more of that. I am ready for a steak, but I think that might be a while :).

mernzy

Oh yes it is normal. Remember you calorie intake has been lower and your body is healing from major surgery. I felt drained for a few months actually until I was able to get back to a normal calorie intake and things were about half way healed.

Take care,
Bill

Hello All,

I am 4 weeks post NF and the IBS issues are getting worse. Just spent 2 days in the hospital for severe intestinal pain & dehydration. Going to see my GI doc Monday...hope to get some answers & relief. I'm still on a soft food diet and not sure what triggers the sudden onset of major diarrhea and cramping. I'm scheduled to return to work also on Monday...hope I can survive 9 hrs away from the comforts of my home & bathroom! I must say though I've had NO reflux whatsoever & that's great. Just have to deal with these other issues now. Thanks for listening...take care.

Samantha