Nissen fundoplication Surgery recovery one week later

I'm having surgery on June 5th and I'm sorry eliramon that you are having this issue. If I was you i would seek another doctor to get another's opinion. So are you able to eat now? And what should I expect after the surgery?

Eliramon:

I'm not sure if your surgeon discussed what your recovery would be like, but I was not able to go back to normal eating for quite a while. I also found that dairy products were an issue after surgery, you might want to avoid them for a while. You just had major surgery, and you should expect a number of different symptoms. If by burgling you mean gas, it is also quite common. You might want to read some of the recovery journals on this Forum, so you can get an idea what to expect and what other members experienced during their recovery. You can do a search on Google for UPMC Post Nissen diet, it is the one that I followed and is quite helpful. In my experience, I did not start to feel much better until around 6 months, and more like my "new" self until around one year post surgery.

Sharon

Ok yesterday made two weeks post surgery having a lot of belching still so I went back on the 40 mg Nexium until I see some improvement based on the post here I will not feel any better until 6 months to a year would love to workout but can not do that until 6 weeks after surgery ... never had a problem with swallowing but not able go back to normal diet yet still seeing what work for me so far not a lot has made me feel good after eating ... for sure spicy food is out for now and dairy been eating a lot of oatmeal and grits seem to not make be feel so bad after eating will try to keep you up to date on my process

I had my surgery last thursday and had all the usual insufflation pains, gurgly swallowing, general weakness and discomfort but overall I've been feeling good day by day. Hospital were clear I should be on a soft wet diet as per swallowing ability and even on day 2 in hosp they were happy with me having porridge etc.
However, nearly a week on i started to suffer some really severe heartburn -
yesterday and today, with it going on for near enough 5 hrs. I'm wondering if this is linked to the swelling I've read about interfering with the new seal, or if I've been too active/eaten wrong foods or somehow managed to damage my wrap (had to help disabled pet with walking)?
As I feel generally good (albeit managing trapped wind) and have been avoiding using stomach muscles I'd hope it's normal and there is hope this won't last... back on my PPI's for now and back on just liquids. Any similar situations/advice?

wasn't for sure if I was going to share this post but here we go this morning I tried eating Grits for some who do not know what grits is like cream of wheat... I stated eating a bowl after halfway through I started having heartburn and belching it feel like the grits got stuck in my throat which make be started to cough before I know it I was in the bathroom throwing up not sure if this is a sign of symptoms I will be three weeks next Wednesday I had grits last week with no problem not sure what made me sick this morning I going to be trying pizza ans a salad tomorrow will keep you posted

thanks maggie but I was told by my surgeon a week later I could go back to normal eating I was not told to stay away from recent foods I am trying to find my way through my recovery. When I had my surgery I was back home 24 hours later I also notice Maggie is a little older then me am only 52 years old. So my progress report I had two slice of pizza along with the salad did not have any problem just the normal thing of still belching while I eat. This was the reason I had the surgery because of heartburn and belching I thought I would see immediate results with me having the surgery but after reading some of the posting on GERD and the surgery it my take up to six months too a year before I will feel normal again. My stool was soft due to the salad being reintroduce back into my system other then that I doing pretty good after the meal today will keep you posted

Post Edited (eliramon) : 5/29/2017 7:24:56 PM (GMT-6)

Eliramon, the pain you describe is quite literally food getting stuck at the wrap site. The new valve structure has to learn what to do and will get tired with use and tire more quickly too if you are not rested, so be gentle with it. Frequent belching is just gas from your mouthfulls getting dragged down - maybe smaller, wetter bites would slip through more easily? I tend to find mornings are good but later on it gets sore and the trapped air pain is more acute (i have a little dance to ease this) but to be effective the new wrap has to be tight. Otherwise it would be letting the acid etc back up. Over a couple of months it will naturally settle and allow larger or more solid food to pass OK (unless it needs a stretch out) so don't rush it else you may find it becomes looser than wanted.
I was advised liquids/soft diet for 6 weeks and was making progress towards soft food day 7, but then bad pain. Now, as Im mid swelling stage i have had to back track to just fluids. Better to be safe than sorry at least. Occasional air pain, little gurgles but no regurge or sticking at min.
Hope you are ok going forward x

eliramon:

It's great that your recovery is going well, but a lot of people are given different diets to follow, and it does not necessarily mean that their recovery is taking longer. I was the same age as you when I had surgery, and was given a stricter diet to follow. I also took no PPIs after surgery, wasn't necessary - everyone is different.

Sharon

I feel like Qprah I love bread its my new best friend.. I had my favorite bagel jalapeno with cheese and salmon cream cheese had no problem after eating it today and yesterday.... then for dinner yesterday I had barbecue beef ribs with a bake potato with sour cream and chives and Mexican corn very little bit of belching... I did get a call from my provider kaiser on Friday checking on me since my surgery, I advice them I was still experiencing belching so I should be hearing from my surgeon tomorrow morning.. I am still scared to try eating cereal with milk It was not good for me in my second week of recovery, but I can see some improvement with thing I can eat now will keep you posted

So today makes 4 weeks since my surgery yesterday and today I was finally able to eat cereal with milk. I'm having normal bowel movements which is great. I did hear from the GI dept yesterday I go in on June 15 to followup with them why am still experiencing belching. But so far my recovery is going great still taking my time on what I can eat for dinner and breakfast

Post Edited (eliramon) : 6/7/2017 11:20:10 AM (GMT-6)

I hear you rainybow I am taking it slow reintroducing food back in 4 weeks after my surgery. I made girts yesterday and today with no problems compared to what happen to me on my post on May 28. I made the girts looser then thick this time and was able to eat it, I Also made dinner last night homemade lasagna with ricotta cheese, spinach and meat sauce and a side of salad my normal portion I was not able to eat all the food on the plate... still checking my weigh so far so good lost 6 lbs. I do have an appointment with the Gastroenterologist dept for next Thursday to see why am still belching . The Belching is my main concern that is why I had the surgery.

So yesterday after learning more about BACLOFEN I decided not to use it to many side effects baclofen a narcotic 10mg I had to take three times a day I would be high all day not able to drive other side effects is Hallucinations and seizures have occurred on abrupt withdrawal of baclofen, headache (4 to 8%), insomnia (2 to 7%); and, rarely, euphoria, excitement, depression, hallucinations, paresthesia, muscle pain, tinnitus, slurred speech, This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages. this was a bad call from the Gastroenterologist. I already take ambien for sleep apnea mixing the two seem dangers so I am opting out to take this pill. I will just have to deal with the belching until I have the xrays to see how am healing from the surgery. will keep you posted