Floppy Nissen scheduled for 12/20/16

11 hours until I have to be at the hospital. Feeling a bit nervous. Trying not to get a cold because no way I can sneeze and cough tomorrow. That's all I've been doing today is sneezing and coughing.

Hi, I am now 3 days post surgery. Here's what happened or what I was told happened. My surgeon was not able to do the Floppy Nissen and said my operation was a bit more complicated than what he's used to. He does this surgery regularly.

1st off my stomach and esophagus were really stuck together in my chest cavity so it took a little more effort to get them apart. 2nd my rib cage was on the small side and he was unable to maneuver in order to wrap the esophagus. He also said I had lots of scarring of esophagus and stomach from years of reflux and regurgitation.

He put my stomach back in place, stitched it down with mesh and sewed it to my abdominal wall. He also said my liver was enlarged but would shrink if I lose weight and possibly genetics could make it larger.

I'm on full liquid diet for now. 1st day was clear liquids and began full liquids on 2nd day. The surgery was robotic with 5 incisions about an inch long each. He used the medical glue to close my incisions.

My throat was horribly painful and dry from the breathing tube. The inside of my lower gums are scraped up and hurting from the tube I guess. My operation was 2 hours I think then I spent 5 hours in recovery because there wasn't a room ready for me.

I still had oxygen tube for the day of surgery and day after because my oxygen was a little low but they wanted me weaned off in order to release me. I also have to do breathing exercises with the breathing device they gave me.

I didn't have a catheter, used bed pan 3x in recovery and restroom when I got my room. I still haven't had a BM yet. Gas was bugging me and I made sure to get up to help alleviate the gas pain. Doctor also recommended Gasx which I'm taking as needed. They gave me Miralax Tuesday night I think but I still haven't moved any solid wastes.

I read on my FMLA forms recovery is 4 to 6 weeks opposed for the 2 weeks with the Fundoplication.

Since I've been home I made thinned mashed potatoes to eat. I added extra water and chicken broth. Doc said that I could have ice cream so I've had that as well along with water and juice.

My blood pressure was a little elevated before surgery but after it was perfect. I never suffered from high BP unless I hear migraine or extreme pain. The day after surgery up until I was released my BP was back to usual numbers. I think my stomach being so neat my heart was causing my BP to increase.

My nurse, aides and lpn were all very nice and accommodating. My doctor did really well.

Hi Mike,

I already suffer from shoulder injury and received a deep joint injection 2 weeks before surgery so that I wouldn't be in horrific pain. They explained the gas used to expand the abdomen makes its way to the left shoulder. So far my shoulder head been aching at the top of trap muscles and tip of shoulder bone. I don't lay on my left side at all and if I lean or my weight is shifted towards the left my surgery area all ache and pain. It feels like a solid block of pain or tenderness from my rib to my navel area. If I get up and down a lot I feel it.

I don't want to stretch my stomach out before it had gone to heal. I can tell when I eat more. My follow up is next week so I can ask more questions. I should be released back to work.