10 1/2 weeks post op Nissen Fundoplication

Someone said post "positive experiences", to help others decide for surgery. I'm sorry to say, mine has been far from that. People need to hear both sides. Of course, you always hope for the best, and hope you don't have those "other people's experiences." A guy posted on this site, "why would I want to have surgery when I could just take a pill?" I felt the same. I did that for 8 years after a general GI referred me to a general surgeon to have the NF surgery at a local small hospital. Then my PPI stopped working. They are not good for your bones either, and are intended for short term-6 weeks and caused me headaches. I read about long term post surgery complications, and I see them pretty regularly on this blog. I am thankful for those who are doing well after years who come back and tell you how they are doing. It does seem that there is always some complication down the road. I carefully chose the experienced surgeon, but I'm wondering because up until recently, he didn't bother to communicate and let his negative nurse handle me. Currently I am up in the air about what to do, if anything. 10 days ago, that nurse practitioner diagnosed failure without the surgeon's input, and wanted to schedule me for pre op surgery preparation to "take down" the wrap that I have been fighting so hard to eat, supplement, and recover. It has been a slow process, much slower than anyone else has let on. However, the last 2 weeks, I am finally able to eat small amounts of real food (not everything) without trying to gag and throw up and feel sick. SO, even though that nurse adamantly said, "No, it will not get any better, you will be this way forever, and if you want to eat, we should just take it out. Its hopeless. It is not inflammation after 9 weeks." Not what I wanted to hear. I became extremely agitated and depressed-who wouldn't? The radiologist did say the wrap was too tight after 2 weeks, but the surgery team doctors said it was fine. My question is, if the wrap does relax with time, and some people have posted they were fine until 6-9-18 months, why wouldn't it get any better? Plus, I understood these wraps will probably need to be redone in 10 years. Maybe it just took me longer to recover. I am 60 years old, my resistance is down because I can't keep weight on. A GP doctor said he had a friend who had the surgery with my same problem, and after a second surgery to loosen the wrap, did fine. Dysphagia is a common side effect from the surgery. I don't want to repeat the surgery, to remove or loosen the wrap at this time. I'm not ready to give up YET. Everyone has improved with time, and I seem to be. Can it get better, or should I accept the inevitable? Please help.

Yes yes there are studies that confirmed that endoscopic dilatation can help if fundoplivcation is too tight and causes dysphagia (painful or troublesome swallowing). So ask your surgeon for the possibility of dilatation. I am a physician and I will never alow my nurse to make decisions like that. It is ridiculous.

I wish you best....

For the swallowing problem:

This is pasted from the clinical study using endoscopic dilatation after Niessen with dysphagia:

"Dilation after fundoplication was required in 12.4% of patients and was successful in most with dysphagia. Dilation shortly after surgery was safe and only a single dilation was required for most patients."

Thank you everyone who posted. I do appreciate all input. Yes, I did have one EGD and dilation at the 5th week post op. They said initially they could do it another time or two, but the nurse said it was useless and didn't help enough the first time, so would not schedule another.
I went to another local GI doctor who scheduled another Barium swallow plus a barium tablet this week on video to see why the first radiologist said the wrap was too tight. That was not written in the first barium report, the radiologist told me at the procedure. I was hoping they would do the dilation local, but the new GI doctor said the original surgeon needs to see it. I'm afraid to do anything, so I keep trying to eat small amounts and get my strength back. Though not perfect, if I can eat more than 2 weeks ago, I think that is improvement. I need to hope it will continue without rushing to do something drastic.
Thanks Martin for the info about dilation.

Post Edited (Gerdie girl) : 11/30/2015 8:08:42 AM (GMT-7)

Hi, I've been reading these posts for almost a year. Not going to lie, first time Dr. Brought it up I went home researched and on my follow up I told him, NO WAY... 18 months later I am desperate for something that will work. I've been referred to a surgeon for the NF. Can anyone tell me about how long the recovery time is? I currently work 12 hour shifts and am curious how long I would be out of work?

Thanks Linda Sue, I hope it goes smoothly, I'm pretty nervous about it now that is tomorrow!

Sephonna, my surgeon said I could go back to work after 2 weeks though I don't do any physical stuff at work. He said that I should expect it to take up to 3 months to get back to normal, thats for eating and for doing anything physical.