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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 3/13/2016 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, well I'm now starting my 4th week post op. There have been some issues but for the most part I'm doing well.mostly fatigue due to RTW after only 2 weeks & 2 days off.
I do have a concern: half of my stomach was out & my biggest symptom was shortness of breath ~ I could only walk about 6 steps without having to stop to try & catch my breath. I also had the other symptoms (wheezing, extreme chest pain etc).
I am still somewhat SOB ~ nothing like it was pre op but it's still noticeable. I had a CT Scan of chest with contrast & an endoscopy pre op & everything was just fine. I'm thinking any cancer etc would have shown up all they saw was my 5" herniation.
I have had a cold which settled in my chest & causes me to have difficulty coughing up phlegm I'm guessing it was because my esophagus was still swollen. Cold is better.
Anyone else have this problem? Thanks in advance!
Posted 3/13/2016 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
I also had a very large hernia, causing shortness of breath. it took upwards of about 4 months, post surgery before the sensation abated, and for me, I had to cease and desist, the urge to try and capture a deep breath, so as not to turn it into a anxiety forming habit. at 7 months out, I still feel some tightness in my chest, surgeon calls it post surgical changes, so I take, a couple Tylenol 500s a couple times a day. I thought that after surgery it would all fall back to 100%, I see now it wont. but in light of that, I am still better than I was. and I can live with that.
Posted 3/13/2016 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much aero1. I too feel that I am so much better 3 weeks post op than I was pre op. This forum has been such I help to me pre and post op. I just keep walking like everyone says.
Posted 3/13/2016 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 3 days post op....... only able to eat a couple of bites of yogurt or soup. My hopes are to begin migrating off of the pain meds today. I am having problems with taking a deep breath as well. However, I haven't taken my Prilosec yet, probably don't need it due to what little I'm eating.

I'll stay in touch, I'd like to see if my recovery is close to yours. I've also developed a darn cough which is pretty touch..... hopefully it will subside. I do have some tenderness/pressure in the shoulders, after what I've ready, I realize it may increase.

thanks for all the advice

Marty
Posted 3/13/2016 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I have a question for those of you on this post... Did you have serious GERD symptoms before the surgery or was your surgery specifically for repair of your hernia?
Posted 3/13/2016 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Ringer4, I was diagnosed with the HH in 2015 after experiencing GERD, heartburn. I began taking Omeprazole which controlled it. Early last Fall, I began noticing SOB which progressively got worse. My heartburn also worsened ~ sometimes I would have to take another pill at night. Right before Christmas, I was at work when one day I was in such pain mostly chest I thought I was having a HA. The SOB & wheezing escalated to the point that I almost couldn't catch my breath. Went to Urgent Care & was diagnosed with Pneumonia. A week later I saw my PCP who didn't like something they saw in the blood work & sent me for a CT scan with contrast of my lungs which showed the 5" of my stomach out. I had an endoscopy then had surgery 2/15. They can't really tell what is going on until they do either a CT Scan, Barium Swollow or Endoscopy.
Posted 3/13/2016 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Lgse0211 So you didn't have all those tests that everyone else had before their surgeries other than the endoscopy and CT?
Posted 3/13/2016 7:00 PM (GMT 0)
No I lived with mine until it got so bad around Christmas. I'm just glad my PCP was diligent in wanting to see me within a week and seeing something in the blood work that pointed to a blood clot in the lung they did an EKG, blood work & X Ray at urgent care, saw the hernia & misdiagnosed it as pneumonia. I got in to see a surgeon within in a week, sent me for the endoscopy ( to my own GI) he wanted to know what he was dealing with b4 he went in- the endoscopy was clean & showed the huge hernia. If u Google how to diagnose several options come up I already knew I had the hernia it was just a matter of isolating the fact that the hernia was causing my symptoms. I was diagnosed in 2015 by X-ray. I have a fantastic network of providers hope that helps
Posted 3/13/2016 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have a great network as well. I also had shortness of breath before diagnosis. After the anemia diagnosis they did an endoscopy which is where they found the hernia. From diagnosis to surgery was 2 1/2 weeks. Now beginning my 5th week post-op. Hoping my GERD is gone.

Post Edited (Ringer4) : 3/13/2016 3:10:56 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/13/2016 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
I'm beginning my 4th week & I have no GERD & I'm off the Omeprazole of course I'm limited on what I can eat ~ I am able to eat toast & bread if I eat and chew very slowly. Im just not hungry for anything I shouldn't have & I've lost about 10 lbs which is not a bad thing. My esophagus is still swollen & at times food "gets caught" but it's either because I'm not ready to start eating it or I didn't eat or she's slowly enough. But so far, no GERD. My only real lingering symptom is the SOB but I'm sure it will get better & I am tired!
Posted 3/13/2016 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have one more week with Omeprazole then I can see if my reflux is gone. It will be nice not to have that anymore.
Posted 3/13/2016 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
In January I had endoscopy done because one night I got so dizzy and my chest was so tight I couldnt breath..doctor told me that it was the acid that pushed up and I had a small hernia...after the endo he put me on 3 different antibiotics..I finished the course but now I suffer from dry throat and breathing problem but not too severe its just scary....my chest is not the same anymore.I'm even scared to go to the gym..I try to eat healthy and avoid acidic stuff.
Posted 3/13/2016 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
Hi to all, both those {like me} who've just had the Nissen and those old stagers who already know the ins and outs after some time coping with the after effects of it. Reading these pages and your thoughts and experiences have given me much encouragingment, as well as plenty of food for thought. Like Marty I'm 3 days into Life After Fundoplication and have, so far, been surprised at how easy everything has been so far - once I can get this bloody neck to stop hurting and can get a good night's sleep I will. I promise, try to be a useful and regular contributor here. Right now, though, I need some shuteye. Thanks again, all, you've given me a good idea what to expect both in terms of procedure and outlook. I look forward to getting to know at least some of you a bit better soon! Hope your weekends all went well.
Al
Posted 3/13/2016 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
Before I hop off, a reply specifically to Ringer... my own surgery was performed to treat both HH and GORD {I'm in the UK, so it's an "O" rather than an "E"...}. HH repair was done first, followed by the wrap to address the reflux.
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