Posted 8/3/2017 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Karen. I had my fundo in May last year. Outcomes, both immediate and long-term are really down to how good your surgeon is. Mine appears to have been spectacularly good. I had very little pain after post-op {the surgery I had a couple of years previously to correct an inguinal hernia was, for instance, much more immediately painful}, and after a couple of weeks I was able to return to something like a normal diet. I thought I was doing really well {I remember thinking that this was like falling off a log...}, and my experience of a lap-fundo has probably been altogether positive. Having said that, it's only now - fifteen months later {wow, it doesn't seem that long!} that I can say I'm beginning to see something like full recovery. Recovery time is also dependent on many factors, like surgical skill and yur own mindset. I wouldn't neccessarily say that physical condition is prticularly critical, 'cos I'm in my late 50's am a smoker and, while not in bad shape, I'd never claim to be a paragon of physical fitness. But making any lifestyle changes for the better will never hinder recovery!
So... Is it worth it? Yes. Definitely yes. Like you, I have Barrett's, which adds a little more incentive to having the procedure. Very few Barrett's suffereres go on to develop full-blown cancer but why go on irritating your oesphagus when you can stop reflux at source?
If you do go ahead continiue to visit this site and read up. To my shame I got a lot of support and information here and don't drop in or contribute nearly as much as I really should. I must make more time!