Some thoughts at the six month mark

Hi guys, I had a full nissen wrap at the start of this year, and am currently approaching the six month mark.

My issue is sometimes I'm still having issues getting food, mostly bread down with ease. I know bread is the hardest food and every case is different but at six months should I be further?

When I say struggle, Ill have a small bit or two of lets say a burger, give it a few minutes to go down, then I continue again, last night though every bite was a struggle and when food struggles I produce all this flem which makes it harder again.

Thanks for your help in advance.

I'm only 7 weeks post OP and when I had my 1 month check up my surgeon told me that I might have problems swallowing bread for about 6 months. Based on that your experience is probably within normal range. I had pasta for the first time today and it went down ok!! Life is good:)

Hi peaandham,

Just remember that at six months MOST of the healing has occurred, but it takes a full year for the rest of it. I even had improvements into the second year.

Untoasted bread is rough. Just toast it well, and it should go down much better. If you can request toasted buns at a restaurant, you might try that.

I had trouble with rice noodles, actually.

Whatever you do, take small bites and chew, chew, chew until whatever you are eating becomes a liquid consistency. Everyone (even the unwrapped) should be doing that. Chewing is part of the digestive process. Those of us who are wrapped need to slow down our eating, take smaller bites, and chew food to a liquid.

If you're still having some food sticking, you need to persist in the small bite, slow eating, chew, chew, chew protocol with consistency. Don't swallow anything that doesn't chew to a liquid. The problem with untoasted bread is that it creates a bolus...it doesn't completely chew.

With time your wrap will relax, and your swallowing will get easier. I had my surgery 6+ years ago, and still have to eat/chew more carefully. I definitely have many fewer problems with foods (for example, dinner salads would irritate my wrap for the first couple of years, and I can now eat them with abandon), but if I were to swallow chunks like it did pre-Nissen, I'd get food stuck.

Hey, chewing is the best part of eating! Take your time and enjoy it!

Happy healing,
Denise

Hi Cariad,

Sorry to hear you've had so many problems eating post-Nissen. Did you get a manometry to check for motility issues prior to your surgery?

I want to make clear that your problems eating so many foods is the exception, not the rule. Yes, I do chew my food thoroughly, but I can eat anything. Apples, raw carrots, untoasted bread, sandwiches, rice, fish, steaks...absolutely anything.

I assume you had a full wrap that was done too tightly (unless you've got motility issues and the swallowing action of your esophageal muscles aren't doing the job). Is your surgeon going to do a partial wrap when he/she takes down the full Nissen? I would think that if you had reflux issues that were bad enough to send you for surgery, going to no wrap will take you back to that place.

Are you going to a different surgeon this time?

I hope all goes well for you. It sounds as if you've really struggled.
Good luck!

Best wishes!
Denise

I found my solution, I have always been a big fan of Iced Coffee's the week I was struggling to eat I started my mornings on one each morning, for four days.

Cut them out, dinner has been alot easier to eat.

Thanks again guys.

Hi, P&H - I cued on what you mentioned about bread difficulties. And then Denise posted what I was thinking! Toasting bread lightly seems to make it less 'sticky' and therefore easier to swallow. If you are eating 'light bread', that is really sticky. (Sticks to the roof of my mouth if not toasted; I try to avoid that stuff!)

A thought: some hamburger places offer pretzel buns, or sourdough rounds as an alternative to the conventional white bun. They might be easier to handle? Also, have you tried eating a burger or other 'fast food' sandwich with a knife and fork, forgoing the bread altogether? When we were doing Atkins, no bread but all the other stuff in a burger was allowed.

Six months mark, Wow! I'm looking forward to that, myself!

I am still troubled with consuming drinks full of ice, or very cold water. Tepid is better, hot is ok. Ice makes me hiccup, and what comes after that; I dare not try to eat!

Best with your continued healing! Fresh Greens