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Nissan Fundoplication Next Tuesday

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 1/3/2017 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
I found this forum and it's good reading all the different stories from those that have had this surgery.

I'm 65 and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia over 10 yrs ago, have horrible GERD and have been on Zegarid for most of the 10 years. Last endoscopy, my gastro said he wanted me to see a specialist who deals with fundoplication for a consult, as he found my hernia to be quite nasty.

I saw the specialist last spring, had the mannometry and PH test done (both were awful and the 24 hour tube had me sick as a dog) and I'm off the charts for acid reflux etc. I could have had the surgery in late Oct. but chose to wait til after all the holidays. I'm scheduled for next Tuesday. I'm going to a renowned surgeon and good hospital, about an hour from our home. I even had to go see a gastro doc that the surgeon sent me to for the tests as no one close does these.

I'm on a 10 day Protein Drink only diet (they do offer another diet if you must, but I'm trying to do right and do the drink only). I need to lose weight anyway! My biggest thing has been to not just pick up something and want to put it in my mouth, a hard habit to break!

I'm glad to have it done, after it was explained to me what could eventually happen, but none the less a little apprehensive. I had an emergency gall bladder removal last February (it was gangrene for heaven's sake) so I'm somewhat familiar with laparoscopy type surgery. I didn't get over that as quickly as some, but eventually felt normal again.

I'm hoping for the best and going to follow all the dietary post surgical instructions so hopefully I heal quickly and well. I have complete faith in the surgeon, again, he is a pioneer in laparoscopic surgeries and definitely knows his stuff and I think that is a big hurdle, to really trust your doctor! I also trust my gastro doc who referred me, as he is pretty darn good himself!

So next week this time, it will be on!!
Posted 1/3/2017 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
JUST MAKE SURE THE SURGEON IS EXPERIANCED
Posted 1/3/2017 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
He is well renowned and has excellent credentials as I said in my post.
Posted 1/4/2017 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
M4E. Welcome. Let us know how you are doing. We all learn from others. I am bumping up another topic for you to glance through. "For successful fundoplication members". Look forward to you adding your comments on it. Kind wishes. Pat
Posted 1/4/2017 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Pat!
Posted 1/13/2017 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery on Tuesday morning. I went into the OR around 9:30 and was in a room by Noon. Surgeon said it went well. I stayed overnight at the hospital and was released later the day after surgery. I was hooked up to a morphine drip that I controlled, and didn't rely too much on using it. They had me up in a chair the evening of surgery and out for a walk around the floor later. I had the desire to sleep that night, but of course they are in and out of the room so much checking vitals etc that sleep was only a couple hours at a time then be woke up again, plus 6 a.m. coming to take blood samples. Day after, saw surgeon, did the swallow test that was fine, talked to the dietician and was ready for discharge, which became a 3 hr. wait to finalize. UGH. Gave me time to walk several times and after the swallow test, able to have some liquid eats!

So only small blips...first RN didn't get the IV in correctly, so I posses a lovely bruise on that arm. Second nurse got the line in fine, but by the next morning it was getting red and swelling a bit, so was glad to have it removed. I've also developed Thrush in my mouth, which I believe can be from the antibiotic given during surgery. Called surgeon who said call PC doc who said call surgeon (don't you love that). I do also have the sore throat from the airway and did have horrible pain the shoulder/neck area, but that has subsided. This is a hospital that is a distance away, so knew nothing about it, other then hearing it was good hospital. Everyone I encountered or that cared for me was competent and nice and gave good care.

I have five surgical 'slits'. Of course they are tender and will heal accordingly. They gave me scripts for oxy for pain and anti nausea medicines, but I don't usually have nausea after anesthesia, so passed on that. The nurses all seemed surprised I had no nausea, but I call it being lucky! I also don't like taking heavy pain meds unless absolutely in horrible pain. Doc said children's liquid Motrin was fine and that has been what I've taken since home. Except for the discomfort across the abdominal area from the surgery, like getting up and in and out of bed, I've progressed well only after 2 days. Time will tell how it all works out, but this is what is going on so far. I'm so wanting to eat, but will follow my diet restrictions so all heals as it should. I went straight protein drinks for 10 days prior, so I'll make the 8 post surgery weeks.

Will see how the next few days pan out. Thanks for listening!

Post Edited (M4E) : 1/12/2017 5:13:48 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/30/2017 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
M4E. How are you doing. Been thinking about you and know you are progressing toward healing. Write and let us know of your progress.
Posted 1/30/2017 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
M4E

Congratulations. I strongly suggest that you get the anti-nausea medication, it's not necessarily for the anesthesia - but for during the healing process. It's quite possible that you will experience waves of nausea, I still do at almost 3 years post-surgery. It's better to keep it on hand, just in case. I use Zofran.

Sharon
Posted 1/30/2017 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning Pat & Sharon....thanks for thinking of me.

I'm 3 weeks out now and feeling pretty good. I'm tired of the post surgical diet, but that is to be expected and I've lost about 18 lbs since 1/1/17, which is really a good thing!

No nausea, no pain, although my incisions are still a bit tender...but seem to be healing well. I go next week for my first post surgical appointment.

The couple things that I can comment on, when I do eat, I have 'rumblings' or almost gas like feelings in my lower abdomen, but they pass. I also can't overdo with eating... as I was instructed by the surgeon, learn to eat smaller, more frequent meals, chew well and pace myself. I'm doing that as well as I can. Can't overeat too much anyway on this restricted diet tongue I'm able to have cold cereal that gets soft in milk, scrambled eggs, ice cream, mashed potatoes, tuna, fish (not a fan of that but like tuna) still pureed soups, sherbet, nutritional drinks and some other things that are soft etc but I just don't care for, so hence, don't eat. I'm on this stage for 3 weeks. I've become a little inventive with pureeing soups and using that as a gravy on mashed potatoes smilewinkgrin

I'm completely off my stomach meds and my blood pressure meds. I am seeing a specialist though about my BP tomorrow...as I had high BP prior to surgery, but I think the lower BP is due to the dieting, and that is also a good thing! I was taking my BP meds, ground up (no pills, tablets etc for 8 wks) and it went so low one day that I felt terrible and so dizzy etc. I will see what the doctor says tomorrow. I monitor my BP here at home and it is in a good range now. That day it was so low I was miserable!!

I'm hoping I continue to heal well and things work out. At this point, I'm not regretting the surgery...and to not have reflux after anything I put in my mouth is a wonder!

Thanks again for checking in, I truly appreciate the kind words blush
Posted 2/4/2017 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
M4e, congrats on the successful NF surgery. Take it easy with the food, chew well, and you will do fine. Watch for any signs of gastric dumping or reactive hypoglycemia which is a common side effect but many doctors/surgeons forget to mention. You can tell by the many folks here with post surgery side effects. However with that said, I hope you are SE free and go on with a no ppi life. I haven't used any since and it is great with no burning pain or acid in my mouth at night. Take care. -JR
Posted 2/5/2017 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks!! I'll post after my visit with the surgeon later this coming week!
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