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Post op Nissen Fundo-one week update

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Posted 7/6/2017 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am one week post op as of today. I have read so many responses on this forum and appreciate everyone's posts. My surgeon is a heart and vascular surgeon that specializes in the Nissen procedure with full wrap. After one week, I am doing amazingly well. I was on a liquid diet for the day of my surgery and the next morning and was moved to a soft diet by lunch. I have tolerated foods very well with the only side effect being that some foods cause gas and bloating more than others. This I can live with by taking Gas-x as needed. I do get full fast and can only eat small amounts causing me to lose 7.4 lbs in one week (I have plenty to lose). My only complaint is that my chest still hurts when I take a deep breath especially around my heart area. I am scheduled to go back to work next Friday and feel that I will be able to do so but I am still getting so tired so easily. A shower wipes me out. After reading so many posts about the maximum swelling at 2 weeks I am a bit concerned about how I am going to feel next week. Will try to update each week.
Posted 7/6/2017 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Tammy,
Sounds like you're doing very well post surgery. I was given a spirometer (inhalation device) to use daily to improve my deep breathing. It hurt to use but I was told to use it regularly. It took a couple weeks before I felt ok breathing normally. Rest while you can and have a plan going back to work. I took a few naps in the backseat of my truck at lunch a few times but the weather was cooler at that time of year.
-Mark
Posted 7/13/2017 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
2 week update~
I went back to work yesterday for 4 hours and 4 hours today. I want as tired as I expected. I did start to hurt after being at work a couple hours. Almost all of my pain is caused by sitting upright. And with having a desk job that is what all my time at work is spent doing. I had my follow up on Tuesday and the doctor told me to return to abnormal
Diet over the next few weeks. I have decided to not try any carbonated beverages until after 6 weeks post surgery. I have tried more foods and have done well with most of them. I still find that I am not able to eat much at all which is fine with me because my doctor said the only way I could compromise the surgery is by overeating. He also said that each week I will feel better and better. So I hold on to that hope for now. Will update again next week.
Posted 7/21/2017 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
3 week update~
I went back to work full time last Friday and I have done pretty good. I did have some considerable pain and nausea on Wednesday and had to push through. I have continued to introduce new foods to my diet and have done fairly well however, I am holding off on carbonated beverages and bread until much later into my recovery. I have been able to go back to exercising (walking) daily and can walk 2 1/2 miles without any problems. Hope everyone is having a great recovery.
Posted 7/26/2017 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
wow Tflannery1 I was not able to exercise until after six week had nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia but when I did I waited until my seventh week. Been working out hard my 1st week I did eight days straight then down to 4 days and now im at 3 days due to how much weight I lost over time my highest was 225lb last year then before the surgery I was at 211lb since then im now at 189lbs have not seen these number in over ten years so Im grateful for the surgery. I do get full faster these day so I eat until I get full but very light meals so far since I was clear to eat what every after a week post surgery. You are doing great keep up with your recovery
Posted 8/10/2017 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
6 WEEK UPDATE~

Wow, I have come a long way in 6 weeks. I rarely have any stomach pains now. I have returned to regular eating including bread and have no trouble. I have not tried any carbonated drinks and since I was addicted to Diet Mountain Dew before the surgery. I haven't really missed it so I might not even start back again. I have been drinking water and tea instead. I am so happy with my surgery results. I was able to stop taking 4 medicines (Pepcid, Protonix, Carafate and Reglan). I have read a lot of horror fundoplication surgery results and I truly believe it is a matter of finding the right doctor. I am going to Universal Studios on September 1st and before I was worried about being able to ride the rides and eat the food but now I feel confident that I will be able to do both. I have been able to walk 3 1/2 to 5 miles per day on our local walking track and before I would feel like I couldn't breath due to the hiatal hernia pushing into my lung/diaphragm area.

Hope everyone is healing well.
Posted 9/8/2017 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
10 WEEK UPDATE~

Life is great! I am still feeling great and am back to normal. I went to Universal Studios last weekend and was kind of afraid about some of the rides however, I had no problems at all! My diet is completely back to normal and I am even able to drink carbonated beverages without any complication. I am so glad I had this surgery as it has changed my life for the better!
Posted 9/8/2017 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Your recovery period is inspiring. I'm a week out & having no trouble swallowing but the pain in my left side is unbearable. I'm taking hydrocodone 15 mg every 4 hours but nothing for breakthrough pain.
Posted 9/8/2017 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
PattyLatty,

You are very early in your recovery but having no trouble swallowing is a promising sign. Just hang in there.
Posted 9/11/2017 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hello! Had my surgery last Wednesday. From reading everyone's posts, I feel I am doing good so far. I have not had any issues with swallowing, I just can't eat much at a time. I could stand to lose some weight, so I'm not concerned. My main issue is the extreme pain under my left shoulder by my neck. The pain almost feels as if something is broken. I've tried rotating that arm a lot, maybe it is out of place. No success. Not even pain meds help. Also, I was told that my surgeon did not put the mesh around my wrap. Is that normal?
Posted 9/11/2017 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you are doing pretty good. I also wasn't able to earn much for a while but around the 8 week mark that went away. I also had severe pain in my chest. My doctor told me that it is trapped surgical gas that didn't escape so I had to wait for my body to absorb it which took a few weeks. They sent me home with a spirometer that helped. I also took gas x numerous times a day which also helped. Just rest assured that these issues will subside with time. Happy healing.
Posted 9/11/2017 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
It's mostly gas, as Tammy has stated. The quickest way for relief is to walk around as much as you can. You may lose weight initially, but most people regain most of it as they progress into more normal food.

Sharon
Posted 9/12/2017 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, ladies.
Posted 9/12/2017 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I have hiccups and they hurt! Today had been better than yesterday, but still a lot of pain and A LOT of nausea. I haven't eaten much today, so that is probably one contributing factor. Thought I was going to lose it a couple times. Nothing sounds good to eat and tastes and textures are messed up. Tomorrow will be a week post op.

Post Edited (USArmyRetired) : 9/17/2017 3:14:18 PM (GMT-6)

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