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Recovery from nissan hernia surgey

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Posted 9/14/2015 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my name is Tonya,

I'm 20 days out from my surgery now. I have been reading posts about shoulder and back pain after surgery and I have that too! I also cannot pass the gas but have diarrhea really bad! I can burp very little but it hurts. The surgeon told me last week to start trying different foods as long as it was not bread, rice or crunchy. My problem is, anything other than mashed potatoes, yogart, mac n cheese, or pudding I choke and throw up! I feel like I'm starving to death and I'm dehydrated! I really thought the surgery would make me feel better but I feel worse! My surgery took over 6 hours and I was in the hospital for a week. all he would tell me was he had a hard time getting to the hernia so I have 7 holes instead of 5! I would give anything for a Dt Pepsi and a pack of toastchee crackers right now......LOL I took gas x today but my back still hurts between my shoulder blades and I feel like I need to burp but can't! I am so looking forward to being further along with this so I can eat and feel better! Will I always have a problem storing gas? Lord I hope not! eyes
Posted 9/15/2015 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tonya

You are still in the early healing stages of a major operation, so please try not to be too worried just yet, as the 2-3 week mark can be the worst part of the recovery period due to swelling.

I didn't have much pain from gas after my operation, but posts from other members of this group suggest that its quite common and they have found that walking and staying mobile is helpful at reducing this.

You do need to stay hydrated and take in calories - have you tried protein shakes such as Ensure (Nourishment in the UK) to help give you the calories and fluid your body needs? The average weight lost seems to range between 15 and 20 pounds after the operation.

You also have to remember to REALLY chew your food now you have had this wrap, as you will get food stuck if you don't , or eat too fast.

I'm sure the swelling is why you are feeling more bloated and this will resolve itself, but there is a possibility that you may never be able to burp again - I can't, but it's really not as bad as it sounds and I don't even realise this - although I can't chug fizzy drinks (e.g. beer) quickly anymore without getting a bit bloated and Gas-X (Wind-Eze in the UK) helps with this.

Try backing off on the food you are eating and see if this helps - mac n cheese in particular can stick together into a sticky bolas after you swallow it and cause food to get stuck. I had only cream of soups and protein shakes for my first 6 weeks and was constantly craving a pizza!

I'm almost 12 years post-op and can eat and drink anything I like - as long as I remember the rules of not eating to fast, chewing properly and not drinking anything fizzy too fast.

Hang in there, it does get better.

Les.
Posted 9/16/2015 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Les, Thank you for the response. I was on insure but the surgeon told me to come off of it due to the dumping. I ate around 6 hours ago and I'm still in tears from the back pain. I've walked, laid down, cried, I just don't know what to do! The surgeon told me to try hamburger as long as it was crumbled up so today I ate mashed potatoes, hamburger, and green beans. Of course I only had like five bites before I was full and miserable but it just doesn't seem like the food will digest. I took gas x but I have a problem with not passing the air and I wish I could! I have the dumping but the air stays. I can burp but very tiny almost like a hiccup burp and it's uncomfortable. I am regretting having this surgery, the back pain alone is too much. I really hurts in between my shoulder blades and makes it hard to breath! He never told me any of this would happen. He just said that it would take about 3 months to eat normal again and I would have gas which I haven't had. I go back tomorrow to see him but I really don't know what he can do, the damage is already done!
Posted 9/16/2015 12:26 PM (GMT 0)
I am 16 days post surgery. I am not having a lot of the issues you are but wanted to comment for you. My nutritionist does not want me eating vegetables at this point because they cause a lot of issues. I noticed you ate green beans. That is one of the foods I am not supposed to eat for at least another 4 weeks. This list is not from my doctor, but it is pretty close to what my doctor gave me. I have been following it and have not had many issues.

http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/nutrition/pages/diet-after-nissen-fundoplication-surgery.aspx

Looking at this one, it says you could have green beans as long as they are well cooked.

So far, I cannot eat chicken, ice cream and cream.

I have had good success with mac and cheeses, hamburger and baked potatoes. Don't push your diet too fast. From everything I have read, that is the worst thing to do.

My nutritionist also recommended I get Syntrax Nector Protein powder to keep my protein up. I got the strawberry kiwi. It is pretty good.
Posted 9/16/2015 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Marthemar,

I went back to him this morning and he released me to eat what ever I want. I'm so thankful you gave me this information, I told him that I didn't think I was ready. He also said that the diarrhea was not dumping since I didn't have stomach surgery, said I was backed up and told me to take a laxative. I was hesitant and he said that since it's so watery that he feels that's what it is and my back pain will go away once I clean myself out! I just don't know!
Posted 9/16/2015 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
If you are not comfortable with his advice, is there another doctor you could possibly see to get a second opinion? I say eat what you can comfortably eat. You know your body better than anyone. It will not hurt to follow a soft food diet for a couple of weeks to give your body more time to heal. i can tell you sometimes I don't want to eat anything and everything I do eat tends to get stuck, but other times I can eat just fine (Small amounts, small bites, and lots of chewing).

What surgery did you have? I had the Nissen Fondoplication full wrap with a hernia repair.
Posted 9/16/2015 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
I also had the Nissan fundoplication wrap. I decided to listen to everyone here since you all have been through it. I am going to take it easy a couple of more weeks and listen to my body as you suggested. Better safe than sorry! :)
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