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My Nissen Fundoplication experience

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Posted 8/26/2014 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
I have had Gerd since I was 15. I am now 60 and my GERD is unbearable. I wake up during the night choking and gasping with wheezing in my chest. My gastroenterologist suggested i see a surgeon.
I saw a well known surgeon of GERD and after going through tests he told me my hiatal hernia is 5 cm in size. I am planning to have a TIFF procedure in a couple of weeks and i'm so nervous and scared. I have lost my appetite because i don't want to have reflux and heartburn.
I am worried about not being able to burp after the surgery.
I hope i survive thiis procedure.
Harry
Posted 8/27/2014 2:57 PM (GMT 0)
Two week surgical follow up

I saw my surgeon today and got some good news! I'm free to start adding new things to my diet, as I feel comfortable. The rule is to go slow, try to stick to things that are soft and moist or liquid as opposed to dry. Last on the list to add will be things like crunchy breads, but I'm free to work up to that at my own pace!

He removed one of the steri-strips that was about to fall off, and the incision looks great! Just a small pink line, raised a little. The internal stitches will dissolve and heal at the same rate as the outside, so I should be able to see the progress.

I'm going to tentatively explore some new foods today, but not until I get home from work!

------------------------------------

Ury, welcome to this forum! I'm sorry you're having such a hard time right now. I had similar symptoms, I would wake up choking and gasping. I also had a hiatal hernia that was fixed during the surgery.

I wish you good luck on your procedure! Please stick around and keep us updated on your progress!
Posted 8/29/2014 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for sharing your story Brianala, I now know to expect the swelling to reach its peak in week two, if I didn't read that on here I'm sure I would be quite anxious that something was wrong!
Posted 9/2/2014 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Three weeks

Today officially marks three weeks since surgery, and I couldn't be happier! I think it's safe to consider it a success at this point.

My energy levels are getting back to normal, and I'm almost able to eat normally. Breads and anything too thick are still tricky, and I still need to eat pretty slowly until things get "warmed up" so to speak, but otherwise I am feeling fantastic.

I had an enchilada and soft taco for dinner last night, and I only get issues if I try to eat too quickly. I've had absolutely zero regurgitation or reflux since the surgery, and I'm sleeping so much better at night! I've stopped taking all of my reflux meds completely and it's so wonderful to not have to think about it.

My incision scars are healing nicely, most of them are already barely noticeable little scratches, the only one that may take a bit to heal is the one right above my belly button. It's still a little tender.

Every single day is just a little bit better than the one before, and I have a feeling I'll be enjoying a nice big fat slice of pizza here pretty soon :)
Posted 9/4/2014 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Great news! I had my one week f/u today, she took the steri strips right off! Said everything looked great and she is happy with my recovery thus far. She said by next visit (in two weeks) I should get the green light to eat my normal diet again but to try and stick with eating 6 small meals a day and not to overeat. I told her I'm dying for an Iced Coffee from Dunkin Donuts!!!! She said that in a couple weeks I should be able to have decaf coffee. At this point I don't feel like I need the caffeine, it never really did anything for me anyways but I just like the taste! Are you a coffee drinker? I wanted to ask her when I could try having a drink too but figured I would wait until my next check up. I'm just looking forward to the day I can go out to dinner with the hubby and have a drink and eat normal! I don't plan on going overboard by any means because I know its not good for reflux. The pizza sounds delish!! I would love a cheeseburger, or chinese - LOL!! and I'm only a week post op! The incision above my belly button is the most tender as well. Thanks for sharing your story!
Posted 9/7/2014 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
Day twenty seven

Just a quick update, it's been almost a month and I finally achieved my first big goal! I had pizza over the weekend and it was amaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing!

I'm still being cautiously optimistic, but I am so much closer to normal than I thought I would be at this point. I'm still trying to take things slow (which is very difficult for me) but eating is much, much easier now. I still have issues if I eat too fast, but at a good pace, with plenty of water and time, I feel I could eat just about anything at this point.

I also managed to get back to the gym today and put in a mile on the treadmill. My energy is still lower than normal, and my lungs are still a little weak but I am able to start working on increasing my cardio endurance without worrying about being so weak I pass out, so that's a plus! I always feel better if I can at least walk or jog, so I am hoping my recovery speeds up from here.

How is everyone else doing?
Posted 9/7/2014 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Brianala,
I am 6 days Post-op and having severe chest, shoulder and back pain almost as bad as when I first came out of surgery. I am walking on my treadmill everyday and have been swallowing clear liquids just fine until today which I suspect is the beginning of my swelling, but this pain in my chest/back is almost unbearable and Tylenol isn't helping.
Posted 9/7/2014 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Debbie!

That's great that you are walking on the treadmill already! The shoulder and back pain is such a headache! I promise it goes away, probably pretty soon for you since you're moving around a lot.

I had a few days where I felt like I was taking steps backward in regard to swallowing. The second week was the worst - everything else got better but the swallowing got worse as the swelling progressed.

Somewhere around the beginning of week three it seemed to even back out though.
Posted 9/17/2014 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
It's been over a month, and I just had my final follow up with my surgeon: I am officially cleared to eat and drink anything I like!

I'm still taking small bites and taking my time, but I've managed to work back up to everything I was eating before.

I've had absolutely zero reflux or regurgitation since the surgery, and I have been sleeping so much better!
Posted 9/19/2014 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Brianala,
I'm so glad you have had so much success in such a short time! Good for YOU! I'm praying I will be a good candidate for this surgery. Appt. with NEW gastro doctor Sept. 29th.

I am following your diary, as well as others and now have HOPE that I too, can get my life back. I've learned so much from you and others regarding recovery and what to expect; what to do and what NOT to do, etc.

Please keep posting ... I need to hear good news about LNF surgery.

Best to all,
Linda Sue
Posted 9/19/2014 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Linda Sue
Take a visit to this topic for much good news about LNF.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=3132073


It is sooooo encouraging. My best to y'all. Pat
Posted 7/15/2015 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! It has been almost a year since my surgery and I wanted to post a follow up!

My progress over the last year has been fairly steady upward, and I'm back to eating just about anything I want to with little to no difficulty!

I do have the occasional bout of heartburn, but it seems to be within the realm of normal (e.g., I just ate something with raw red onions in it, and I have a small bout of heartburn that is easily relieved by pepto or tums).

I am eating things like bread and pasta, drinking carbonated drinks and alcohol, and generally I have no issues. I do have to sometimes chew and eat a little more slowly, but it's not an inconvenience that greatly effects me. I am able to burp with no problems, but I have not had the opportunity to find out what it would be like to throw up (and I'm happy not having to find out!). My surgery scars are much, much, much less visible, although some of them are still fairly raised.

Overall I am still incredibly happy I had the procedure done, and if I had the choice to make again I would do it in a heartbeat!
Posted 7/15/2015 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, needed some insight here from snybody ! I had a partial fundo wrap approximately 5 weeks ago and I'm still have some pretty bad dysphagia when eating certain foods (chicken, jello, ground meat , etc. the water and liquids seem to go down pretty good . I have to go in like 3 weeks for a endoscope to go back in there n check everything out. Is it normal to still be choking on foods after 5 weeks out. I did have a bad case of retching/dry heaving about 3 weeks ago and I'm worried about the wrap Beong destroyed . Please help !! Thank you , paul
Posted 7/17/2015 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi PaulS,
Sorry to hear your having issues but at 5 weeks post-op, it seems a bit early for any kind of meat which is difficult to digest anyway. If liquids don't give you problems, perhaps go back to very mushy diet (without meat) and liquids for a few days and see if that doesn't help. You may have induced some irritation and swelling with aggressive eating. Just my opinion.

I'm 19 days post-op and still on liquids until my follow-up visit on July 20th. The only swallowing problems I've had is with the pills I am still taking. I lubricate my throat with a little flax oil before swallowing a pill and it goes down much easier. Perhaps you might try using flax oil before a meal and see if that might help, too.
Posted 7/18/2015 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
Brianala,
I've been following your journal for a long time and I'm real happy for you with your recovery. You've done amazingly well - congratulations! Yours is one of many recovery journals (printed out and in my notebook) I've been following for a year or more and I am 19 days post LNF surgery.

I am 68 and unfortunately, my healing journey will probably take longer. I'm coming up on 3 weeks and I don't feel anything close to 'amazing' like I was hoping and praying for.

My biggest issue is a deep, throbbing chest pain that pain meds don't touch. It is the worst when I lie down for a nap or to go to sleep at night. It dwarfs all other pain. I had this to some degree before the surgery and I thought it was just my 'sliding hiatal hernia' moving with gravity. NOW, my hiatal hernia was repaired so it can't move.

This came on about 10 days post-surgery and seems to be getting steadily worse. I am stressed and anxious which doesn't help with healing. Brianala, do you recall ever having anything like this? Thanks!
Posted 7/23/2015 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys! Anywhere from 3-8 weeks is still going to be pretty rough, so don't get dismayed just yet! I think I just barely started introducing more solid foods around week 3, but even for a couple months after surgery I would still feel things sticking and have to carefully pace my eating.

Even now, every now and again if I eat something too dense too quickly, I will get a reminder to slow down in the form of an uncomfortable feeling of pressure on my wrap site.

That said, I do remember how frustrating it was not to be able to eat as much, or as quickly as I wanted!

I also remember asking my surgeon about the stability of the wrap, since I do a lot of physical activities and weightlifting. He assured me that nothing short of being in a car crash with a direct hit to my stomach/chest would be likely to damage the wrap. So, I think even some dry heaving or stomach issues are unlikely to cause damage, but if you are concerned please check in with your doctor!

Good luck to you all, you're just about through the worst of it!
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