My experience with hiatal hernia fundoplication surgery

hang in there, its slow. in regards to swallowing, coffee, was a life saver for me, even dipping my bread in it. cold fluids and eating, not so good, in the begging. but 4 months out, getting much better. gas, after i eat, comes on quick, but i don't mind the pressure release, i know its coming so i disappear for awhile. the recovery, is a very interesting, frustrating, and sometimes painful. but if its in the spirit of recovery, so be it. good luck

Thanks for the feedback. I'm taking omeprazole 40mg and was told to ween of after couple of months.
I'm seeing gradual improvements week by week. Hope your recovery goes well.

Hi sandeep... Where u get the surgery.... I m planning to have it... how u r feeling after surgery?

Hi, am now hopefully recovering from hiatal hernia surgery, had it July 18th. I'm 72, and am is reasonable condition for my age. Had GERD for over ten years, along with a third of my stomach in my chest. Finally had enough, and decided the surgery had to happen. Can't sleep sitting up, and I tried everything, meds, diet, exercise, nothing helped as the symptoms started to get worse as time went on.

Had all the usual stuff after surgery, left shoulder and neck soooo sore!! That was due to the gases they pump you up with. They have to go somewhere. Also back pain around my ribs. Doctor had to tighten up the diaphragm area where the esophagus comes through. Can't do a good yawn even now.

Strange but I didn't have much nausea at the first. But now since I've been trying to eat regular food, the nausea comes on in the morning as I wake up. I eat small soft meals, and try to drink a lot of water. I don't drink my much missed coffee, just hot tea. I saw the doctor a week after the surgery, he said every thing went well during surgery and that I would have some symptoms for at least three to six weeks. He also wanted me to walk as much as I could.

When I eat I try hard to chew my food extremely well. If I swallow anything that hasn't been chewed enough I can feel it stopping at the bottom of the esophagus. This is painful, it feels like a very large rock is started to grow in my stomach. I end up sitting or standing and letting the food past through to the stomach. The first time it happened I almost panicked, but once the food matter pasted I realized I hadn't chewed it enough, it was bread, my favorite stuff. Once I start eating I revert back to my old ways of eat too fast. One good thing, at least now the food I eat doesn't come back to visit me.

I did take pain meds for a while, but only to help me sleep, now I have stopped them this week. If I take Advil I also have something to eat with the meds, since the doctor advised it. I take supplements along with my regular meds to help with digestion. The probiotics helped when I suffered from GERD, before I got the surgery, so I keep taking those.

Hopefully this nausea will subside, I only have it in the morning. Once I've eaten my morning meal it gets better. But if I have to I'll get a prescription for something. Hate waking up feel terrible.

Good luck all.

Minfosk87:

You are responding to someone who hasn't been active on the Forum in over 5 years. You might want to start your own topic, although I must warn you that the Boards are very slow.

Sharon