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Post Nissen Surgery

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Posted 5/3/2017 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Mike,
Sounds like your making progress which is good. It's hard to be patient. The first 5 weeks were hour to hour regarding how I felt. Eating was a burden, I was hungry but always concerned about how I would feel afterwards. It's emotionally draining and lack of sleep doesn't help. It seemed I turned a corner at week 7. I felt better most days and the bloating discomfort started to ease up. Now at 10 weeks I'm out walking, playing a little basketball with my teenage boys, eating a bit more and with a lot less discomfort. And my insides are well on their way to healing from years of acid damage.

Stay tuned to your body but try to remind yourself it's normal to have rough time recovering from major internal surgery. Better days to come.

Mark
Posted 5/3/2017 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mark,
I truly appreciate the feed back. It helps a lot!
Mike
Posted 5/7/2017 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Into my 5th week post nissen surgery. Struggling with anxiety. I have been keeping a positive attitude but it is hard. I tire easily and I feel terrible. My chest feels like it has pressure on it. Where the stitches for my nissen surgery has an discomfort for me. I am hoping, as time goes by, that my fatigue and anxiety go away. I have been out in the yard doing small tasks. I am hoping that I turn the corner in a couple of weeks. Maybe I expect too much.
Mike.
Posted 5/8/2017 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Encouraging to read some of the posts here. . . I am 6 week post op and so far so good, no heart burn and I am back to eating anything. Only issue I have had is some diarrhea which seemed to go on forever, but I have changed my diet and it has improved. Then a few days ago I started with this right shoulder pain which has not gone away, it has been incredibly painful, feels like a trapped wind.

Good luck to you all! smile
Posted 5/8/2017 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mike and Grim,
Your well on your way to feeling better. I'm a few weeks ahead of you both, a total of 11 since surgery, and I feel great now. Gas pains are almost a non-issue. It's tough while your right in the midst of early recovery. The first month was horrendous, the second was a marathon because I just wanted to feel better, and now at 11 weeks I'm ready to get back to life without pills and reflux. Looking back from this point I'm glad I did it. But anxiety crept in a lot during the first couple months.

Up until this surgery I never realized how much gas and bloating could hurt. Internal swelling still comes on once in a while. Yesterday was not that great but by the end of the day I felt better and today I seem fine.

I can relate to the anxiety and frustration. It does get better. Take it easy and avoid straining. There's a lot of healing yet to happen.

Sincerely,
Mark
Posted 5/8/2017 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Mark! It does help to hear from others who are in the same boat.
Mike
Posted 5/10/2017 9:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks celerity-dad.

I am still battling with this shoulder pain and last night I woke up nausea's and ended up heaving a few times but was unable to vomit, I see now what they mean by "you can't vomit anymore".
Posted 5/10/2017 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Grim,

With my degree of shoulder pain my primary care doctor recommended it be examined. He spoke with my surgeon and scheduled a CT scan to take a look. If your shoulder pain is unrelenting and doesn't seem to be linked to some circumstance, such as after you eat, then I'd call. The heaving and nausea are concerning as well. I took some anti-nausea medication a few times just to avoid heaving when I felt it coming on. I was taking a lot of pain medications for the first 7 weeks and it slowed my digestive system down. I had to compensate with more medications to keep my insides moving. I'm really pill averse now.

Mark

P.S. My CT scan was clear. No signs of infection and the wrap looked good. They saw something on one of my kidneys and I then had an MRI. MRI showed it was benign fatty tissue and nothing to be concerned about. Talk about not needing anything extra to be anxious about.
Posted 5/10/2017 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Grim:

I'm three years out and still carry a prescription of anti-nausea medication (Zofran), with me at all times. I still have the occasional wave of nausea for no reason. You can always try some anti-gas medication, anything with simethicone will work for the gas/bloating. Also, if it is still trapped gas in your shoulder, walking is one of the best remedies. Fatigue was a huge issue for me, and took a while to subside - don't expect too much so soon as you had major surgery. If the shoulder pain still continues you might want to follow-up with your surgeon.
Posted 5/12/2017 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
5 weeks, 3 days since my surgery. Still light headed, ringing in my ears, small or light headaches, but.........getting better. I still have a knot, or dull pain in the middle of my stomach. I have to be careful what I eat. My anxiety is more controlled. Not really sure why, but it still makes me happy. Anxiety is the tool of the devil.

I worked a full 40 hours this week. It was tough, but I did make it through the highs and lows of the days.

My Doctor told me I could start to jog again. I told him it was to early to start running. Maybe in another month. We'll see. I need to be healed more than I am. I was surprised by that.

I will admit that the first 2-3 weeks were very tough for me. I did keep a positive attitude and kept saying.......it will get better.

My Nurses at the hospital were 5 star. I made it a point to tell the head nurse how professional they were.

I realize that I have a ways to go but it is coming full circle. Thanks for listening.

Mike
Posted 5/15/2017 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Mike,

Good to hear you're feeling better and got through a full week of work. Recovery is like a marathon that's much harder at first and gets better towards the end.

Mark
Posted 5/23/2017 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
7 weeks since my nissen surgery. Working 40 hours a week now. It is still tough. I was very tired, all day. Fatigue, slight vision issues and mild head aches are still with me. I have been eating more of what I want to. But maybe to much, to soon. I might cut back. More soups, pudding, yogurts ect.

My stomach is still sore. Not from the incisions, but right where my stomach meets the esophagus. Hopefully that will subside. I feel full most of the time.

I guess I have to accept the fact that I am going to still have some bad days. I know I am getting better but seems to be some what of a roller coaster right now.
Mike
Posted 5/24/2017 11:29 AM (GMT 0)
Mike:

You are correct, if you are experiencing some discomfort you should go back to the soft food diet temporarily. It was very difficult for me to return to work. I missed 2 months, then went back the first week as 1/2 days. I was exhausted for quite a while after my surgery.

Sharon
Posted 5/24/2017 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery on May 3rd to fix my paraesophageal hiatal hernia, and then the Nissen fundoplication. At day 22, I'm still having trouble getting pills down. And when I eat (soft diet), it seems like everything I swallow takes FOREVER to trickle into my stomach. Even plain water takes a long time to go down. It hurts when the food is stuck right at the lower esophageal sphincter. A barium swallow at day 8 after my surgery showed that it is really tight. My surgeon considered stretching it at that time, but for now we are waiting to see how I'm doing on my next visit on May 31. I'm afraid the wrap is too tight, but I'm afraid to have it stretched. I worry what that would do to the stitches. I miss eating real food, I'm sick of soft and soupy food. I wonder if I'll ever be able to eat a steak or taco again. Or a salad!
Posted 5/24/2017 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hang in there. I am finding that this is a long journey. My middle stomach is still sore. I still watch what I eat but have gained ground. I understand the frustration about the soft foods. Tonight I am very tired and weak. I struggled all day at work. There are many times that I ask myself if there is something else wrong. All the posts, or most of them, say it takes time. Good luck! Try to be positive.
Mike
Posted 5/25/2017 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Mike. Are you still not able to eat meat and salad at 7 weeks?
Posted 5/25/2017 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
Maggie A, just a thought if you are having trouble getting pills down, put them in some apple sauce or anything soft you can take a bite of.

Don't beat yourself up just allow yourself time to heal. Remember everyone heals differently.
Posted 5/25/2017 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
Maggie A,
I do eat some sandwiches, toast, I do eat some meat. I am taking it slow. Right now I don't sleep but 4-5 hours a night. I think I am stressed out and don't realize it. Tired today. Light headed and I am not hungry. I did work all day but it was tough.

Mike

I did have a piece of pizza last week. Went OK.
Posted 5/25/2017 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, straydog, I will try the applesauce tomorrow.

Mike, have you tried melatonin to help you sleep? I am not having problems with sleep, fortunately. For the first 12 or so days I didn't have an appetite at all, then one day I woke up absolutely ravenous! And all I could swallow was the ensure😒. I'm feeling better today than any other day since my surgery. If I could eat normal food I'd be even better.
Posted 5/29/2017 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
8th week post surgery.
I am having some bad days. My stomach is sensitive right where the stitches are. But, I think it is a slow healing process. My biggest problem is struggling with Anxiety, being light headed, ringing in my ears and fatigue. I am going to see an Anxiety counselor. I have always struggled with Anxiety. It has been a lot worse since my Surgery. I am 57 years old. I don't drink alcohol, smoke, drink caffeine and no/minimal fried foods. Boring, right? Even with the Anxiety, I do get out and do things.
Work is a challenge. By the end of my 8 hours I am beat.

I am wondering has anyone else been struggling with the Anxiety after Surgery?

One other thing, my left arm feels cold from time to time. I never had that before. It all maybe from the Anxiety.
Mike
Posted 5/29/2017 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Mike, how are you doing now?

I just wanted to say, the last few days I've been doing great! No more issues with swallowing my pills, I'm eating more things every day. Still afraid to try salads, and meats.

I actually got brave and ate some pretzels and a cheese stick for a snack yesterday! Nothing got stuck 😊

Post Edited (Maggie A) : 5/29/2017 3:29:26 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/17/2017 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
11 weeks post nissen surgery.
Getting better. But it is a slow process. I have to learn to slow down. I have found that the more "normal" things that I try to do, cause me chest pains, numbness, cold feelings on my upper left side of my chest. My blood pressure (120 over 78) and pulse (58) are right on.

My biggest problem is fatigue and anxiety. I have a bad case of anxiety. I struggle everyday with it. I am seeing a Therapist and I am going to an Acupuncturist. Just getting started with these two possible fixes.

This is a long recovery for me. I am not loosing any more weight, but I am not gaining any either.

I have to have patience and slow down. More small meals and rest.
Mike
Posted 8/12/2017 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
An update: I had nissen surgery April 3rd 2017. I am a 57 year old male.
It was and still is a struggle to feeling normal. Not sure what normal is anymore. But, things have gotten better. I thought I would never be able to go back to work and be productive. Anxiety, weird feelings, tired and worries were happening everyday. I had pains in my chest and still do. Just not as bad. As I said, things are getting better. I realize now that it takes months to get to a level of normal. I still have my daily struggles. Fatigue, tingling in my chest, dizziness and things that I can't explain, still happen. Some of the things that I am doing to help myself:
When you don't feel well, find something to do. Even if it is small. You will find out that you will make it through the lows. Stay positive.
Stop drinking caffeine. After awhile you will not miss it at all.
No alcohol.
Control your diet.
Stay positive.
Exercise. Keep it simple.
Acupuncture? I did it.........seemed to help.
I also am seeing a Therapist. It also, seems to help.

My stomach? It is much better. The surgery worked for me. No more heart burn. All the issues I had with the stomach are gone. Still a little sore but, healing just fine. There was a point where I thought it would never improve. But it did.

I guess I left out one of the most important things: Prayer!
Posted 9/4/2017 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mike,

Thanks for your posts. I just finished a weekend getaway with my family. Had a great weekend but feeling down because I couldn't do much still. I am almost 9 weeks post op and still have fatigue with food getting "stuck" in my esophagus. Then I have hiccups. I also have what I think is esophageal spasms if I over do it.

Your posts and all the replies reminded me it is a marathon, not a race and to remember all the progress I have made. So far the surgery is a success. No reflux!! My throat is no longer red, or hoarse. I sleep better knowing I am not going to aspirate in my sleep. I am optimistic about my future and one day feeling 100%!!

Jennifer
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