For successful fundoplication members.

I love reading these stories. I'm having my surgery next Tuesday. Will post post op journey.

Scopeland, What were your acid reflux symptoms? I have LPR (no heartburn), with moderate symptoms (PND, throat mucus, hoarseness, burping) but no real "pain" except an occasional sore throat. My Demeester score was super low, but my barium swallow was very positive for reflux. The barium swallow didn't show a hernia, but the surgeon actually thinks I have one anyway, a sliding one, that the test just didnt pick up. So the surgeon near me (Virginia) told me I was a candidate for NF but that it was my call. So now I really don't know what to do! He basically said I could do it if I want, or I could just deal with it.

I'm 9 weeks post surgery -- full Nissan fundoplication and mesh repair for a giant paraesophageal hernia. After a couple of weeks on a full liquid diet and a number of weeks on soft, mushy foods, I very slowly added solid foods back into my diet. I now eat much of what I want, including soft meats (mainly ground with some type of sauce), soft vegetables, etc. I'm comfortable enough to try anything I want, really. No painful swallowing at all.

The biggest change in my eating is bite size and portion size. If I forget and take too big of a bite or get overly hungry and try to eat a bit more than usual, by body lets me know it. It's uncomfortable for a while, but this soon passes. Honestly, I've realized that I don't need big portions anyway! I have the most difficulty drinking or ingesting liquid-ish foods (ice cream). I stick to small swallows or liquids feel as though they get stuck part of the way down -- like too much liquid in a funnel or a slow-moving drain. It doesn't hurt at all but it's an odd sensation until the liquid passes.

I still have pain on my left side, just below/under my ribs and moving toward my sternum. It's slightly uncomfortable much of the time, which I know is part of the healing process for only being about 2 months post surgery. It does become painful for a while when I eat -- not bad pain, just discomfort. It's as though the weight of the food pulls on the surgical site. I see the surgeon for a follow up in a few weeks and will definitely ask him about this. It's also uncomfortable when I lie flat on my back or try to lie on my side for very long. I really think it's just a part of the full healing process. It's not excruciating but does cause me to pause on occasion.

I have a TON of gas still and notice that my stomach and intestines are so incredibly LOUD -- it's really unlike anything I've experienced. I can burp a bit, but only small burps from the throat. I no longer can belch or burp from the gut. My boys are sad about this -- I used to be the Belching Queen :) It's a small price to pay for feeling healthy and eliminating years of health issues, though.

On the very positive side, after years of daily and nightly reflux and heartburn, I have not had a single instance of GERD issues since the surgery. I no longer require omeprazole, Pepcid or any of the other meds that I used to take. Gone are the days of chewing antacids like candy! Even when I've eaten trigger foods, like tomato sauce, I have no symptoms or difficulties. This is a GREAT thing! And since the hernia repair, with my stomach no longer residing in my chest next to my left lung, I'm starting to breathe better. I'm not as winded when I walk or exert myself, which is awesome. I need to wait a few more months to see if my severe anemia is now improving as a result of the surgery, but I'm hopeful and my surgeon is confident.

Also on the positive side, I've dropped about 30 pounds since surgery. Not an ideal way to lose it but it's nice to have this extra weight gone. Per the surgeon's orders, I'm not yet able to exercise yet. But for my 3 month follow-up, I'm hoping he'll clear me for exercise so that I can actively work on making my body even healthier. In the past couple of weeks, I've started to have more energy, so I'd like to take advantage of that with a bit of fitness. Soon, I hope!

Overall, it's been a slow process but very worth it. The results are mostly positive and I'm seeing improvements with each passing week. I have a several months to go before I can say that I've reached my new "normal" -- my surgeon says it's a good 6 months before his patients really feel 100% like themselves again. But I'm feeling pretty darn good at 9 weeks so that's something great.

Good luck to everyone out there, either considering surgery or recovering. Take things slowly and listen to your body. You will feel better! Visit the board here and seek support. Try not to get caught up in negative possibilities and listen to the many here who are enjoying a new, positive outlook with their previous health issues a thing of the past. And, above all, ask questions -- of your doctor and those of us here on the board who are happy to share advice. We've been where you are and benefitted from the wonderful people here who eased our fears, taught us much, and gave us hope.

Here's to happy, healthy, feel-good lives!

Post Edited (CaliGal) : 5/16/2016 6:11:18 PM (GMT-6)

Lurker here!!! Just wanted to let you all know this thread is AMAZING!! I'm a positive person, so seeing all these success stories has me in a better place for my near future surgery (June 15, 2016). I actually printed out every page to this thread, highlighted areas and am giving it to my husband to not only help him understand, but for him to remind me to allow my body to heal (I'm a very impatient Sicilian!!) I posted "my story" on a new thread... I'm a bit atypical for this surgery (refluxing bacteria into my lungs). Thank you ALL for contributing to this thread... it is not going unread!!

~~Linda~~

PS... I am letting others know about this wonderful thread on a Nissen FB group!!

Post Edited (Gypsymama) : 6/2/2016 1:55:20 PM (GMT-6)

Retired Seabee...wow, nice to know I'm not the only one with the lung issues. I have been DX with MAC lung disease about ten years ago while stationed in Korea (husband is retired Navy and I taught in the schools on base) my story is posted on this thread (https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=3644694). Since retiring stateside (6 years) I've been on constant heavy duty antibiotics for my lung disease. It's my infectious disease dr at National Jewish Health that had me get checked out for reflux. She would actually see streams of reflux in the CTs of my lungs. I am getting some rare and serious stomach bacteria in my lungs and causing all kinds of chaos. I am hoping and praying this Nissen "fixes" me for the better. I'm going to say it may even help and remove all the issues and findings in my lungs, too...without additional damaging drugs. Nissen surgery is in 9 days and counting....getting nervous.

Hey everyone!

I'm wondering if any of you who've had successful fundoplication experiences had esophageal motility issues before surgery?

My current GI seems to believe that you can't have a fundoplication if you do. I'm looking around for a more experienced specialist to get a second opinion but surely you can still have a fundoplication with motility issues, even if you can only have a partial one?

If anyone with motility issues pre-surgery would like to share their experience I would be very grateful!

That's very helpful, Linda Sue, thank you! My problem isn't jackhammer esophagus as far as I know, my issue according to the manometry is a "weak" swallow, very weak muscle activity in the lower half of the esophagus. I think the concern is that I'd have trouble swallowing post-surgery.

But since PPIs are just not working at all it's looking like I might have to go through with it anyway. In my country fundoplications are not performed often, and especially not in cases like mine where there are complicating factors. So they're very very hesitant to do it and make it sound like some nightmarish thing that won't work anyway. If I do end up needing it my goal is to find a very experienced surgeon to minimize the risks of it going badly.

I'd be fine "only" managing this with lifestyle changes and meds if it actually worked. But it doesn't. I haven't had a moment in over a year where I haven't felt sick some way.

Thank you Malcolm and welcome to our forum.
This helps so many make a decision. Please feel free to add your own success. Thanks. Pat

Bump bump!

Hi Sarah

Good Luck tomorrow! Gas can be a huge issue post-surgery, just try and walk as soon as you are able as that really seems to help. You also may need to take some sort of anti-gas medication as a lot of people are unable to belch after surgery and there is only one other way for that gas to escape. Some people do drop some weight initially after surgery, but most gain it back when they can return to a diet with solid food. I'm not sure how much information that you surgeon has given you, but this is a major surgery. Please don't expect to recover completely in a short period, take your time. You can expect that your recovery will have set-backs along the way and you might be really weak initially after surgery. As an example, I only started to feel significant improvement around the 6-month mark and felt like my "new" normal around 1 year. Some people are able to return to work in a few weeks, I took 2 months. If you didn't receive paperwork regarding diet, I highly recommend one that is posted on the internet from UPMC. One more thing, you might want to ask your surgeon for a script for anti-nausea medication. This is something that was really helpful for me and I keep it with me at all times.

Sharon

My surgery is scheduled for the 20th. I'm excited and apprehensive about my pain tolerance and eating after the surgery. I am trying to prepare for my recovery. Getting a nutribullet Stocking up on soups, broths, smoothie ingredients, yogurt & pudding.

Any other suggestions? My surgeon will be performing a floppy Nissen Fundoplication hernia repair.

Hi Mike:

Don't jump too far ahead, as you've never really had proper testing and you don't know exactly what you are trying to "fix." You need to be willing to, at least temporarily, try and adjust your diet and eating habits and that almost always includes no caffeine and alcohol. You might want to look at some of the GERD-friendly diets that are listed on this site or online. If you are indeed dealing with with GERD, it's very difficult to put a timetable on getting better. Wait and see what the gastro doctor says and the testing he feels necessary. Also, you might get more responses by starting your own topic as this one is mostly postings from people who are telling their success stories.

Good Luck and keep us posted.

Lot's of positive stories here thankyou. I am scheduled to have Nissen Fundo at the end of January 2017, about 6 weeks time. In all honesty, I am reluctant. I keep wondering if my case is serious enough... should I try more lifestyle modifications? I have been on Nexium for about 15 years. I used to take it irregularly, but water brashing and burning now and then (3 month for water crashing, burning twice a month), led me to an endoscopy about 3 years ago. The endoscopy showed hiatus hernia, esophagitis and oesophageal ulceration grade C. Since then, I take 20mg Nexium morning and night. Occasionally if it is severe, I will take another 20mgs but that is occasional. about 6 months ago, I had another endoscopy and it showed that I still have grade C ulcers in my oesophagus. This surgeon said that from what he saw, I may not have been born with LES, that there is just an opening there with no valve regulation. He said that this is a pure mechanical problem. On this and other sites, I read of a lot of people whose reflux symptoms are far worse than mine. My reflux is relatively well controlled with Nexium. However I guess that it wouldn't take much for a few years to pass and for the ulceration to go up a grade. I am doing this for 2 reasons. One is that I want more energy (got abnormally tired last year) and I figure that getting off Nexium will give me a normal acid in the stomach and therefore, better gut absorption/health. The other is to prevent further ulceration which could lead to cancer. I guess a third would be dropping any negative effects of the long term Nexium. I work full time for many years and need my health to support this.