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Still having HeartBurn after Nissen Fundoplication

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Posted 2/19/2013 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
vinylmaster,

I questioned the surgeon (from the same office) when he came to check and release me the first day. Like you, I was worried that being able to burp meant that acid could escape. He assured me that the ability of the stomach to burp itself was a very positive thing.

While my surgeon said that I wouldn't be able to burp, like Bill, he said that some could burp. Both he and my regular surgeon said that being able to burp was a real bonus, as it would help avoid bloating (which it did). I was assured that the stomach could allow a little air to escape without allowing acid to escape as well.

A too-tight wrap creates a world of problems. A few litle burps are a welcome relief. However those reading this who are struggling with bloating and no burps, don't give up hope. Often during the healing stage, there is enough swelling to keep the burps at bay, and they will begin to appear later in our recovery.

Happy healing!
Denise
Posted 2/20/2013 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting - again different from what I was told! I'm thinking I might go back to the surgeon and see if he can stretch it out somewhat, which is something he said they can do during a scope. Perhaps that would help? I'm already getting reflux, so that's not going to matter, but the bloating is just brutal :(
Posted 2/21/2013 8:53 AM (GMT 0)

Hi

I had my op back in 2003 and was told to eat only liquid meals for 6 weeks afterwards (I lived on soup and protein shakes - man did I enjoy the first pizza after this time was up).

I haven't been able to burp or vomit since my op.  This hasn't caused me any problems really, and I only get bloated if I chug something fizzy or eat a really large meal - pretty much like most other people in fact.

Nearly 10 years in I subconciously eat slower and I chew more, and this doesn't cause me any problem. 

The advice I would give to new wrapees in your first months after switching from a liquid/soft diet is to be careful when you are out for a meal with friends and family.  If you try to keep up with the pace everyone is eating, you are much more likely to get food stuck in your wrap.

This rarely happens to me now (over a year since this happened, but I know it could still happen even now) and isn't what I'd call painful, it's just a sort of un-natural, uncomfortable feeling which is hard to describe to someone who hasn't had it.

I stopped PPI's before the surgery and haven't had one since.  I also didn't get any reflux after my op either, but many others on this forum have had this and have posted that it has gone after a few months.

Hope this helps.

Les.

Posted 2/22/2013 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad I can burp because I think it helped me to have no stomach swelling, gas or anything in that respect. Just good old heartburn, but I'm hoping the heartburn will go away in time.

Summer
Posted 3/1/2013 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Saw the Surgeon today and received the results of my Barium Swallow – NO REFLUX. During my visit he said that a few people have a sensitive Esophagus which can cause some throat burning and heartburn and there is not much that can be done. He also said that a low percentage of some patients don’t feel the effect of the surgery for many months after the surgery. So for now I’m in the wait and see mode to see if the heartburn and burning throat will reside. I asked him if he believes in Rebound and he laughed and said we will wait and see. For now he won’t order any more tests and I’ll see him in six weeks. I'm not taking PPI's so if I can stay off them and just take the Zantac, I'll say the surgery was worth it.

Summer rolleyes idea yeah
Posted 3/1/2013 3:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SummerGal,

It's great to hear that your barium swallow showed no reflux!  I just finished responding on another thread before reading yours, and thought you might like to see the comments by drtinsac.  I expect you've been following his conversations anyway, but I thought of him when reading your surgeon's comments about sensitivitiy.  Here's he link:  https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2658908

Hang in there.  I'm confident that with time and healing you'll feel great improvements.  It's hard to be patient and trust, but unfortunately, it's a requirement for this recovery!

Happy healing!

Denise

 

Posted 3/1/2013 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi...I'm new here...
I'm 18 days post op....I just start having burning in my throat and nonstop burping.
I am relieved about the dumb organ misrepresenting everything as reflux but has anyone had the burping?
This scares me because it's like it was before surgery.

My surgeon is not concerned with it...but I am!

Post Edited (KathrineLoftis) : 3/1/2013 12:05:30 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/2/2013 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Denise,

Yes, I read it and I think during my next visit to the Dr. I'll ask him about the Elavil. I hate to take more meds, but if it helps, it may be worth it.

Thanks

Summer
Posted 3/4/2013 10:40 PM (GMT 0)
Have you considered going back on the ppis for a little bit until things settle down more. If your esophagus is sensitive it will probably help.
Posted 3/30/2017 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi summer!
I know it's been a few years since you posted here, but could you give us an update on your situation? I too recently had a lap nissen 9 weeks ago and I'm having terrible heartburn.have a follow up with my doc on Monday. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted 3/31/2017 12:01 PM (GMT 0)
Jennie:

Summer hasn't been active on this Forum in almost 4 years. You will probably get answers from other members if you start your own post.

Sharon
Posted 4/2/2017 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jennie,

Recovery from a Nissen takes six months for most of the healing and a year for the rest. 9 weeks seems like a long time, but in reality, you're still in the relatively early stages of recovery.

The esophagus is a dumb organ, and it interprets all pain as reflux. Therefore, it's likely that you've gotten some irritation that your esophagus is reading as reflux. Irritation can be caused by food or medication getting stuck at the wrap site. Medication is a likely culprit. If you take pills, they may not make it through the wrap to the stomach immediately, and as they sit in the esophagus they irritate the esophageal tissue.

Often at 9 weeks post op, we start eating more challenging foods and those might not make it through the wrap into the stomach immediately...thus the possibility of irritation.

I remember the fear and trepidation I felt when I was getting "reflux" symptoms during my recovery. None of us want to face the possibility that our surgery was a failure. Don't worry. The chances of that are slim to none. From my experience, it's common to have pain as you move toward three months post-op, simply because you're eating more challenging foods.

Baby your esophagus for a while...back off on your eating a bit, and eat softer, more easily chewed foods. Take it easy on the eating, and be sure to chew, chew, chew your food and only swallow things that can be chewed to a creamy consistency.

It's a long recovery, but well worth the effort!! Hang in there. If you can surrender to your recovery and go with the flow, you'll find it easier. You're getting there!

Happy healing,
Denise
Posted 7/22/2017 5:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone I am new to this site. I'm so happy i found this site with all this great information. I too just had the nissen fondoplication surgery 3 weeks ago. June 30th 2017, I've been so discouraged because after the surgery I still have pretty much all the symtoms I had before the surgery like reflux all the time regardless of what I eat, difficulty swallowing, lump in the throat feeling, sour taste in the mouth and always spitting excess of saliva or white mucus. The dificulty swallowing is getting better. However the reflux is there always. I had my post op yesterday and surgeon told me that he did a loose wrap because of the dismotility issues with my esophagus prior to surgery. Did anyone have motility issues prior to your surgery? I was very discouraged because I didn't get any answers as to why the reflux continues the sour taste and always spitting white saliva. The surgeon refer me to my gastro Dr. I'm concerned that because he did a loose wrap, my reflux won't get better. After reading all the threads in this site, I found hope again. I also had hiatial hernia repaired. I'm on ppi meds too. Any input will be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted 7/23/2017 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yea I agree with opnwh14. I had my nissen 3 weeks ago and still having reflux symtoms and at times I feel a sour taste in the mouth. My surgeon did a loose wrap he said, due to dismotility issues and I'm concerned about reflux not subsidized. Did anyone had motility issues with esophagus?
Posted 7/26/2017 8:35 PM (GMT 0)
I had the same problem at six week I was thing my wrap did not work also so my gastroenterologist schedule to do a FLUOROSCOPY xray swallow test on 6/27/2017 which is much easier then the force swallowing test with the tube down your throat... So the tech told me my surgery likes good but I still have some inflammation at the surgery site where thick liquid which I had to drink during the xray is not going all the way down to my stomach some stayed above my esophagus for at less 15 minute after my last swallow was still have some belching. at week eleventh im still have some belching not as bad as before the surgery I am still trying to figure what I can and can not eat and drink. Just be patience you will see some improvement over time like I have
Posted 7/27/2017 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
Eliramon,
Firstable, thank you so much for responding and giving me hope. The day after my surgery, i had a barrium swallow test and was told th at everything was going down petty normal, so im thinking im okay in that area. I do have an appt with gastro, in a cople of weeks. Another symtom I noticed is I could hear like a bubleing/sizzling sound in my throat and feel something coming up. Maybe gastric juices, who knows. Anyway I'm so glad your doing much better can't wait to feel better smilewinkgrin
Posted 11/13/2017 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
At 4 months post up, I'm feeling the reflux symtoms in the throat, has anyone had this, also at times I feel very bloated and alot of gas, when does all this gets better?
Posted 11/13/2017 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Estella630,
It was the 20 week mark before I felt notable improvement in how my throat felt post-surgery. The gas and bloating started to get under control at about 7 months. I still have some episodes of bloating but not nearly as bad as the first 6 months of my recovery. 02/21/2017 HH/NF with full wrap.

-Mark
Posted 11/14/2017 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you , for responding so quickly, there's hope. I have appt wit esaphogus specialists in December, I wonder if I should go or just give it time to heal, did you feel the same reflux in the throat 24 7?

Estella 630
Posted 11/14/2017 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
I had various symptoms over the first few months. Certain foods still affect my throat so I'm careful to introduce foods one at a time. I had one case of candida overgrowth when I was on a nasal steroid that scared me into thinking my wrap had failed. A visit with my surgeon, some medication and time cleared that up.

I had atypical symptoms, persistent cough and hoarseness, as a result of my hiatal hernia. Took PPIs for 12 years to control the cough. My voice still isn't completely clear but it has gotten better.

It can take a long time for your throat to heal. I can't advise you one way or another regarding a visit with your specialists. But I can say that I felt very good at 7 months and much more positive about the outcome of my surgery.

-Mark
Posted 11/14/2017 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, I appreciate it. I will see how I'm feeling before considering going to the Dr. I also had HH/NF full wrap. It will be 5 months the 30,. I will give it some time . Thank you so much for all the inf.

Estella630
Posted 11/15/2017 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
Estella:

I am unable to belch, and gas and bloating is something that I still deal with. I stay away from gas-producing foods and carbonation. I also take an anti-gas medication when needed.
Posted 11/16/2017 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Sharon, what's the name of medicine for anti gas was it prescribed? My worse symtoms currently are feeling the reflux in the throat and alot of gas and bloated at times I take gas x, but I fell like it doesn't help. Like Mark said the throat takes time to heal, just hope it happens soon 😁

Estella
Posted 11/16/2017 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I used any type of anti-gas medication over the counter which contained simethicone and I had to take a lot of it in the beginning. I had a full wrap, but even with a partial wrap, there is always the potential for acid reflux post-surgery. A lot of people still have the need to take PPIs post surgery. The healing process just takes time, and you have felt improvement.
Posted 11/30/2017 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,
At 5 months I'm still experiencing reflux symtoms in the throat, sour taste in the back of the throat, bloating and alot of gas. I'm loosing my mind, regardless of what I eat I feel bloated. The reflux feeling is there all the time. Has anyone experience all these symtoms at the same time? When will all this get better?

Estella
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