Scheduled Fundoplication surgery in 7 weeks

I've spent the last couple of hours reading posts and learning more from patients than I have studying all the medical info on the surgery. I have had heartburn since I was a teenager. Last fall, I had 2 other major surgeries. I got diverticulosis/itis since I took ibuprofen instead of narcotic pain meds. I don't do surgery well. I was denied by my insurance my Rx Prevacid I had been on for 7 years. I have spent the past 7 months trying new PPI meds and having out of control Gerd. I'm seeing a GI specialist surgeon now, went through tests, and need the surgery. I get headaches, joint pain, bloating from the heartburn meds: PPI, H2 blockers, Aluminum and calcium carbonate, aloe vera juice, not eating. I have erosive esophagitis, stomach aches and polyps, but am really relieved I don't have cancer! The medicine is barely controlling my symptoms. My 2 major concerns are that I am a little underweight, and fear the surgery after effects of not being able to eat, burp, throw up, and have bloating and gas. How can anyone live with that? What do you do, take Gas-X all the time? At this point, I'm really sick and guess I need the surgery, but I am overwhelmed and depressed about it. I saw the surgeon yesterday, and couldn't sleep last night and am feeling hopeless today. I barely am my ideal weight, and can't afford to lose more. Thanks for telling your stories, it really helps.

Thanks Peg, Im coming around and trying to be OK with surgery

Gerdie girl,
I was also very concerned about not burping or vomiting but when I was waking up after surgery, the first thing I recall happening through my haze was that a little burp slipped out. Just like Rabat. I smiled and those belches just kept coming. Three weeks later, they still come. Some people cannot belch afterward but many people can. Maybe you, too, will be one of the lucky ones. So far, I have no idea about vomiting and I hope to keep it that way. Before surgery, I told my surgeon that I wanted a medicine on hand just in case. I now carry it in my purse. I also told the anesthetist about my fears about that and he listened and assured me he would use a preventative. That was especially important since like you, I don't do surgery well and have had some very miserable times in recovery before this time. I can't handle many pain meds so in hospital they put me on a morphine pump that I used that night and next day. By the time I was sent home I didn't need anything but was given some tramadol to use just in case. I only needed it once and it worked like a charm.
My doctor gave me only sketchy information about the recovery and I know realize what he did say included worst case scenarios that didn't happen.

Dear JanPeg: i had the NF and hernia repair 1 week ago. What is the medicine to keep you from throwing up? I have zofran. I have been real sick with eating, taking any pills. I was pretty out of it and taking pain meds for 4 days. Then I quit all meds, even the PPI. Started taking it again. I got the urge to throw up 3-4 times so far, and it is the worst burning pain down to the bottom of your stomach/intestine area. It hurts so bad, and of course, you cannot throw up, so you just spit out and feel out of control like you're going to die. Horrible. I was happy that I can slightly burp, which relieves some pressure. I have lost 3 pounds so far, and can barely eat. Tonight I got a headache and tried to take a migraine pill and tylenol because I don't want to take the liquid narcotic any more for pain. I could barely swallow and I think it just sits in your esophagus and takes forever to dissolve. I kept choking. Sometimes I have coughing fits, which hurts the stomach, as does sneezing. I have taken some pepcid and tums, as this other discomfort is worse than heartburn. I hope it gets better. I get sick trying to eat anything, and almost choke. I try to walk and not sit down after eating, but am really so miserable for so long. I know it's only a week out, but I get depressed wondering when is this going to get better? At least it's not so painful getting up and down from the 6 abdominal punctures. I left the hospital after 1 day because it took 6 hrs. to get migraine medicine and loud Chaty Cathy in the next bed kept telling her kidney stone story over and over again to anyone during my severe migraine. I also was unable to pee, had to have a foley catheter a few days to go home, and now think I have a bad bladder infection. I've been waiting 3 days to get help-antibiotics. Any replies are greatly appreciated. Gerdie Girl is damaged goods.Please tell me this surgery is worth it, because I have serious doubts and need some hope. Wa, wa, waaah!

Post Edited (Gerdie girl) : 9/24/2015 5:22:18 AM (GMT-6)

Discouraging, I just spent time responding and commenting, and the post went bye-bye! Good to know others have cough, choking, air bubbles. But the 6 to 12 months recovery, is discouraging. Water, bananas, swallowing pills are a life threatening event. Day 9 and still very miserable. Can't imagine "being happy I did this!"

Hi Gerdie Girl,

Welcome to the Wrap Club! You've already gotten some great advice and support from our great forum members.

First of all...take a breath. You are in the first weeks of recovery, and there is no getting around it...they're challenging and uncomfortable. This too, will pass, but unfortunately you've got one more hurtle before you're on the other side, and that is peak swelling of the wrap. That occurs somewhere around the second/third week. it can create discomfort and more difficulty swallowing, so don't be surprised if that happens for you. Some people seems to glide by it all without a problem, but most don't. Once you reach peak swelling, it will begin to subside and resolve. That's when you'll begin to see the most improvements start to occur.

If you haven't read my early recovery journal, check it out here:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

My surgeon told me I wouldn't be able to burp or vomit, but like JanPeg, I had little burps pretty much right away, and they were helpful. Still, if you have bloating issues (and even those of us who can burp do from time to time) never fear--it won't be as bad as it is during recovery always. Your wrap is swollen, and tighter than it will be once healing resolves.

It will take time, but your problems with bloating and gas will become less frequent and severe as you recover. You may always have an occasional bout of excess gas (I did when celebrating my son's engagement with champagne--I don't recommend more than a few sips of that bubbly beverage!), but they will be fewer and farther between.

If you can get some burps out even occasionally, then Gas-X will often help. BEANO is a good thing to chew before eating things you know are gassy during your first year or so. I used to take that enzyme, and it helped a lot. I don't need it now (although I'm sure it would keep the gas at bay when I eat chili!).

If you haven't already checked out the Nissen diet that SharonZ recommended, here's a link to another one:
www.oregonsurgical.com/pdfs/Nissen_Fundoplication_Diet.pdf

Here is a link to the UPMC diet she recommended you check out:
www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/diet-after-nissen-fundoplication-surgery.aspx

You definitely need to avoid retching and/or throwing up whenever possible. Both are hard on your wrap. I find Zofran fine for mild nauesa, but when I've had full-blown stomach bugs, Compazine suppository is by far he best option. You should always have these anti-nausea medication with you, just in case.

Like you, I was told that I wouldn't be able to vomit. A year post op, I suddenly became extremely nauseous with no warning. I was able to vomit. I felt the wrap holding it back, but with enough pressure, it let go and I vomited. I immediately inserted a Compazine suppository and although the stomach bug lasted several days, never vomited again. It worked like a charm (of course the dose need to be repeated as the prescription allowed).

I have had 4 stomach bugs since my surgery six and a half years ago. Each time it caught me off-guard and I vomited once, but stopped the repeated vomiting with Compazine. If you just feel nauseous and aren't retching or vomiting, the Zofran is a good choice. If you can't stop retching, then try to get some Compazine to protect your wrap. It's definitely not good to stress it that way--especially so soon after your surgery. You should try always to avoid retching and vomiting, though. It's very hard on even a healed wrap.

You definitely want to crush whatever pills you take at this point. If you have meds that can't be crushed, see if you can get your doctor to provide you with a lower dose (take two instead of one big one) or even a different drug that comes in a smaller pill. You can put the crushed med into applesauce or yogurt. When a tablet gets stuck at the wrap site, it can be very irritating to the esophagus, and care reflux-like pain. The same thing can happen with some foods. Keep sipping room temperature or warm beverages to keep things moving through, and eventually whatever it is will make it past the wrap. If there has been irritation, it may feel like it is still there even when it isn't.

When eating, be sure to chew whatever you're eating until it is a liquid/creamy consistency. Stay away from un-toasted bread and any hard meats. My surgeon said that chewing foods thoroughly is the most important thing. He said that even mashed potato can cause a bolus that gets stuck. If you do eat mashed potato, make sure they're on the soupy side. The links to eating information will help you know what to do.

If something gets stuck, just sip, sip, sip and eventually it'll go through. Don't panic.

As far as losing weight...people who start out thinner don't lose as much as those who begin with more weight. Just do your best to eat very small amounts as often as you can. Your stomach will feel full on very little for a while. This is because of the swelling on the stomach fundus...that's where the message for fullness is transmitted to the brain, and the swelling is interpreted as fullness.

This surgery is DEFINITELY worth it! Try as hard as you can to surrender to your recovery. Don't fight it. Relax into it, and stop worrying that this is forever. This recovery takes six months for most of the healing and a year for the rest, but once you get past the first couple weeks things will start looking up. Go with the flow, relax, and give your body permission to heal in its own sweet time. You WILL recover and be better than ever!

This is a great forum with many very caring people, so when you need encouragement and answers, just say the word!
Hang in there...it gets better!!!

Happy healing,
Denise

Gerdie Girl,
Call your doctor about your bladder infection and get that under control as soon as you can. You need all your strength for your recovery and having to deal with this complication saps what you have left . Also get a prescription for Zofran or something stronger to control the retching. That can be damaging to the wrap. ( Dencha's advice can't be beat).

I crushed my pills and put them into apple sauce or pudding with fair results. However one med was so foul tasting that I had to fight off the urge to vomit whenever I took it. I called my GP and she advised me to stop taking it for a few weeks until I was able to swallow pills again and that worked out for me. I don't suggest you try that unless your doctor approves first. ( Mine reasoned that my diet was so restricted those first few weeks that it would not be harmful to skip this med. But as I say, check with your doctor).

I know most people want to stop taking pain meds as soon as possible and I agree that's a good idea but I also think you should take them if you need them and it sounds like you might still need them once in a while. You're only just out from a major surgery and they may help you get some rest and comfort.

You've got a lot going on right now and it would be surprising if you didn't wonder whether the surgery was a good idea. I think most people have a moment or two when they think that, too. It's normal. Don't worry about that right now. Just try to accept that your body needs to heal and trust that you WILL feel better soon.
Like Andy said, keep posting and letting us know how you're coming along. You have a cheering squad here and we're pulling for you.
Peg

Hope things get better for you soon, did they give you any pain meds to take to help? How about nausea medication? You can get suppositories if you can't swallow them.

The Dr may be right that your wraps too tight but its hard to tell at this stage due to the swelling, you don't want to loosen it only for it to result in reflux coming back.

Will be praying for a speedy recovery for you