Post Nissen - what to expect?

Hello Healingwell! It's my first post so I hope I've posted this in the right place! I had a nissen fundoplication just over two weeks ago on 30th October. I was just wondering what others had experienced after the op and how long it takes to averagely fully healthy from the surgery?

I'm also a bit confused about whether I should be having any reflux at any point as I think I have experienced what I think others have called acid rebound. My throat can burn at times but there's been a recent cold going about that effects the throat quite badly. I feel I have to clear my throat after eating as I did before surgery but I'm hoping this is a cold too lol fingers crossed the surgery has worked! I'm not sure what are signs of a successful op but I'm taking things slowly and softly with food and not lifting heavy things etc. I stopped my omeprazole the day of the op but no one medically mentioned whether I should or not I just thought it was an obvious thing to do after the op. I read that some people use zantac to deal with acid while the rebound settles down. I'm a singer songwriter and I've had a hoarse voice on and off since the op, is this normal? as I'd love to know as it can get me down thinking that my voice shouldnt be like this after such an operation. Any singers on here had this op?

Sorry for the big first post but if anyone can help with any advice, info or expectations of what to expect after a successful op then It'd be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, John

Hi John,

There are heaps of posts on the main page of people who have been going through recovery from a nissen, theres a few who are about a month out. The burning pain could actually be esophageal pain from the surgery, sometimes this can feel like the burning pain reflux causes. I've just seen my surgeon about getting a wrap done in the next month or so, and he said to expect it to take 3 months before I can objectively say that it has helped. He said by then I should be back to eating normally, and any damage previously caused by the reflux should be healing, if not completely healed.

Its a hard recovery and at 2 weeks you are probably either just past the worst part, or just starting to go through it because its at about this point that the swelling peaks. Have a look through some of the other posts, usually titled something like "Nissen fundoplication recovery journal" or something similar, people are usually updating how they feel every couple of days.

Hi John, welcome. I am into my 7th week post op and actually at my first day of work

I don't know if you had a hernia repai as well? I did and I still find it hard to gather the air and lung capacity to sing. When I asked my surgeon about it at week 4 he said to give it another 4-6 weeks before I tried "really singing", as I would continue to experience the tightness and pain in my diaphragm.

I never experienced the throat clearing as everyone details, however I have always attributed it to post nasal drip.

Secondly, my surgeon took me off nexium but put me onto pantolock for the first 4 weeks twice a day, and at my 4 wk post op he lowered it to once a day. When I asked if I would ever be able to go off completely, he said we would review at my 6 mo post op in April.

It's also important to know that I only had a partial wrap.

Let us know how you are feeling

Hi crane and jenagade, I'm feeling better thanks. The throat clearing could 've a bit of post nasal drip from the cold but does seem to follow any food so I associated it with eating. I did have a hiatus hernia too so that was repaired but the surgeon told me that it wasnt too big so was tooled near my gullet in place, so all sounds good there.

My surgeon didn't mention anything regarding medications as far as I remember, neither did the nurses when I discharged so I presumed they could 've stopped. I've read that ppi's are best stopped as they allow the stomach I adjust and maintain its correct level of acids and gastrin hormone etc.

I've recorded a 10 song album before the surgery as I knew I'd better get my vocals done beforehand lol then I can mix and master them while I recover from surgery. Interesting you mention the diaphragm craine as I tend to feel tender there as still healing so I won't push things regarding singing at the moment. I hope to be back to "real singing" like yourself in good time :)

Jenegade I never had any pills as such, I was given liquid paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine and used them as required for the first few days after surgery but weaned my way away from them when not needed, especially the codeine, it does a great job as a painkiller but I've friends that have become addicted to it over time so I'm very aware of how to use that stuff lol.

I avoid eating too late and eating too much as my surgery soon reminds me that I'm still in the healing process lol all in good time I guess.

Jenagade:

I didn't take any PPIs after my NF, I guess it depends on your surgeon. I had the full wrap, repair of a large HH, and I only needed painkillers for the first few days post surgery. I was very fortunate, I never suffered from the horrible gas pains that most people have - it may be because my surgery was via robotics. I was concerned about swallowing pills, but I never had any problems.

Sharon

Yeah I didn't either until I saw my surgeon, he was an over-sharer thats for sure!

Great that the acid rebound is coming right. You're lucky you've been able to keep your calories up with dairy, I'm taking my cue from what caused dumping syndrome after my gallbladder removal in May, and dairy was the number one culprit so I will be avoiding it like the plague!

Wow thats quite a bit of weight for a week, though my stepdad lost 20kg/44ish pounds after his mesh hernia repair (same diet restrictions as a fundo) while he was healing.

My surgeon is very confident in his abilities, he straight up said coming off my PPI's cold turkey would cause acid rebound, but followed it by saying it wont matter because you'll be wrapped. As glad as I am that his is confident in his skills, I know what my guts are like off PPI's and I don't wanna make that any worse than it has to be while trying to recover, so I'm starting to wean myself off them so if I can't swallow them after the surgery at least its not coming down from such a big dose.

I am feeling nervous mostly! Less than a week to go now so of course every possible scenario is running through my head, but I'm just focusing on getting all my soft foods ready to go.

Hope the rest of your recovery goes well and good luck with getting back to singing and the gym.

Thanks, I'm gonna put up a recovery journal of it so whoever wants to can see how its going.

It sure is :) I am disturbingly calm right now, I suspect I'm in denial that its already here and no doubt will freak out soon.