Timeline

Welcome top the forum, Deaner.

I don't know how you could NOT have had a hernia, if your stomach was up behind your heart. Or did you mean you just didn't have symptoms? It belongs below the diaphragm. When you said your stomach was folded over, did you mean before or after the surgery? Of course it's folded/wrapped now.

I keep a food journal, on the advice of my allergist, because I have specific food intolerances. Having a written list of foods I don't tolerate has helped me and my doctors as well. I googled my list with "food allergies" to find what my foods had in common. Over the years since Nissen (Toupet) I have found I tolerate several things less and less. Hard meats, like beef, don't settle too well any more. I do better with things in soups and stews - lots off broths and liquids and cooked vegetables. I am also lactose intolerant and became sensitive to wheat, but not all gluten, a few years ago.

Instead of Tums and Zantac, maybe your doctor will want you back on PPIs. We are told there is no guarantee we don't need them after surgery. PPIs help with nausea.

Deaner,
Your pre-op situation was similar to mine. Only occasional GERD symptoms that I thought and may have been because I was on a high dose of Omneprozole and then, later, Nexium to control the acid. I believe it did or at least contributed to my few reflux events. I started to have the rare problem swallowing and thought I was only eating too fast. My last stress test showed "something" behind my heart that should not have been there. And that's when things started to click. Last week, I had hernia repair - most of my stomach was lodged in my chest and the surgeon believes it was there for quite some time. He repositioned it and did a lot of repair on my diaphragm. Right now I'm on a limited liquid diet but am having little pain. The surgeon told be that this was a major surgery and it will take several months before I start feeling well again.
How upsetting to be as far post-op as you are and develop new issues. I've been warned about vomiting and have a prescription on hand just in case the need arises. Has your Dr given you such an Rx? Alcie's experience keeping a food journal sounds like it's given precious information to her to know what to eat and what to avoid. I think there are some resources on this forum about how to start a food diary. I think you can use the search box at the top of the page but I don't really recall details. Perhaps someone else who does know more can respond.
I'm having trouble now swallowing my chrushed pills. The taste is really terrible and I can understand why you would feel nauseas trying to swallow yours. Maybe your Dr will have oral forms of your meds that won't taste too bad.
Good luck with your next doctor appointment. Come back and post what you find.
Take care.
Peg