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7 Days Post Op - Hiatal Hernia/Gerd Surgery

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Posted 1/10/2018 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
Susan - Stay away from the Toupet at all costs!! I was going to have that procedure as well. See Dr. G. and save yourself a lifetime of problems!
Posted 1/10/2018 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
Caleb - thank you for detailed update - much appreciated! Very happy for your good recovery and well being, hopefully your infected incision will be cleared soon. In other words, you just got nice present for Christmas and NY - your life back). Very interesting to know regarding weight restriction as well (if any) after 8 weeks and especially in life long run. And, burping / vomiting ability. Also, what about your energy level - did you back to yr work already?
Please continue with your updates, since there are people considering same procedure - this will help a lot in deciding.
P.S. I lost you on FB - i'll open my email here to share contacts, if you don't mind, thanks
Posted 1/11/2018 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah - The incision thing is weird. More annoying than anything for sure. So, with the weight restriction, note that scars reach maximum tensile strength after about 8 weeks. Your scars are stronger than anything in your stomach prior to the surgery. i.e. you can lift whatever you want after 8 weeks and forever after that. You just have to be careful to let the internal scars heal before lifting anything or you can rip the sutures and mess up the surgery. Burping was a little tough the first few weeks but is absolutely no problem now. I burp all the time. I haven't thrown up since surgery but am told it is no problem. I went back to work after 2 weeks part time and it was no problem. Energy is good. Feel free to share contacts here as well. Basically, everything is the same now as before surgery except I can eat whatever I want.
Posted 1/11/2018 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Caleb, thank you again for quick reply and positive encouraging info.




Admin does not allow us to share personal info in posts. Thanks

Post Edited (Felixer3) : 1/29/2018 6:48:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/27/2018 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
Diane - Can you fill me in on how the inflammation feels please? I feel like I've had a couple of episodes lately. Not quite heartburn, but close? I've been off my PPI's the last two weeks and am wondering if it is kicking in? I'll add my email address to my profile.
Posted 1/28/2018 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
Enrage, I just posted a reply but I can’t find it. I am on FB.

Your hiatal hernia is really fixed. Did you ever have your postoperative EDG, which would show if you have inflammation? Heartburn causes me to burp and it is very painful. I keep on burping and it is torture. The inflammation is more like a subtle burning feeling that lasts for a period of time and it comes and goes. It helps coating my stomach with milk and Tums. I don’t seem to get it anymore so I’ll try weaning myself off the PPIs’. If I do feel it coming on I drink lots of milk.

My GI put me on pantaprozole now on 40mg per day (2 tablets). I can easily step down by rotating 20mg then 40mg. For a month or so. If that goes well then I’ll go down to 20mg per day. Then one every other day. But i do take over the counter Zantac 150 at night. I’ll work in the Zantac as I get off the PPI. I also have Carafate, which coats the stomach and works really well. I still take it on a PRN basis (rarely). It works the best.


I have removed your personal info from your post. If you will go to your profile & put in your email address, a member can email you.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 1/29/2018 3:17:36 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2018 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
So I went to get an endoscopy today and per the doctor my esophagus is normal, my duodenum is normal but there are erosions of the antrum. Not sure what that means, the doctor popped his head and said you have erosions, but that was it, too much in a fog to ask more. I still have the excessive saliva and frequent burping. I feel like my stomach is in my chest. I wish I could understand what is going on. I for sure thought I had a hiatal hernia, I know you all aren't doctors. I was prescribed omeprazole for a month and a half and then have a follow up appt with the MD.

I can taste my stomach contents when I wake up, haven't had a good night sleep in ages. I just wish I knew what was going on, just so frustrated, when you feel unwell and you know something is wrong. I hope to have more answers when I get the results from the doctor in a couple weeks. Tired of being tired all the time and tired of having excessive mucous/saliva in my throat when I eat, just frustrated. Needed to vent a little.

I am also waiting for biopsy results from this procedure. So ready to call Dr. Gee's office and see if they can do anything for me. I want my life and my health back, and I don't want my life controlled by GERD. Ready to cry, from it all.

Folks I do want to share that PPI are not safe long term and we require stomach acid to help with digestion/absorption of nutrients. Also stomach acid serves as a protector against bad bacteria that can harm us. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgh.13737/full

Thanks everyone for sharing.

Post Edited (Rangerdude) : 1/30/2018 9:27:32 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/1/2018 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
I ended up having the laparoscopic Toupet procedure. I left details on another thread. My GI doc knows both the surgeon I went with as well as Dr G. (They are all with Florida Hospital.)
Based on my anatomy, they felt the Toupet was the correct procedure for me. I'm 3 1/2 weeks post-surgery and feel very good. My stomach was entirely in my chest and had damaged the lower lobe my left lung. After the surgery, the most noticeable change is that I could breathe! I am not pushing myself to eat solid foods. Slow and steady. I've only lost 6 pounds and it was weight I could afford to lose. I have occasional pain in my back but it is relieved with Tylenol and walking.
Posted 2/3/2018 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Susan, you sound like you are doing well for this stage of recovery. I know what you mean by saying breathing right is the biggest relief. Strangely, as I was coming to, I could already tell I was breathing better and didn't have a post nasal drip (which can happen sometimes from reflux). Just don't rush eating solids. Just follow the plan and staying an extra week on any of the stages isn't exactly a bad thing. I lost a total of about 42lbs and then gained back about 5-7lbs some 6 months later. Now, I'm my ideal weight, BMI and body fat. Good luck with recovery!
Posted 2/4/2018 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
Yellow1955,you guys have been so wonderful..i am 32 yrs old and my doctors told me i have HH a small one and when i go back i will ask the doctor the cm of the HH.i dont have GERD.i have gastritis caused by hpilori and am taking antibiotics,i dont have pain from my HH just discomfort around my left ribs thats all and i cant eat a large meal.my question..am scared of having hernia come back after surgery.do you guys think i should go for surgery now or wait till when i am 40 or 50 since i dont have GERD..i used to punch heavy bags and am worried that i wont be able to do that after surgery and yes i lift weights also.should i wait for surgery or i can go ahead and do it now.i just joined today and i hope i get a reply from someone.thanks yall

Post Edited (chris909) : 2/4/2018 8:35:06 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/10/2018 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I'm sorry for the long post but ...I been patient of Dr G from a long time when he was treating me for TOS (Thoracic Outlet Syndrome) and just recently I visit my gastroenterologist and he did a colonoscopy and endoscopy and just told me to keep taking the Nexium I been taking for about 6 years and carafate and Zantacs etc. I was kind of disappointed because I knew that it was something else.

I went and saw Doctor Atiz not even having 3 months pass from my last endoscopy and he did another one and the bravo PH test and then ironically, he referred me to Doctor Farid G. I was like I know him; I've seen him before but not for this.
So I talk to Doctor Farid G and he explain me about this surgery and I have that schedule to be done on March the 7th (Next month) I been reading about it looking for an excuse to bail out because I promised myself that I was not going to have more surgeries. I already have 5 back surgeries and the last one was the worse. L5 L4 S1 fusion and the most painful surgery ever.
I am an executive chef and I have never had any problems eating any kind of food, fruits, juices etc.

I had the HP bacteria and they treat that with strong antibiotic back in 2009 and the Doctor back then, put me on Nexium and I believe that from the day I started taking Nexium and took those antibiotics, my reflux started.
I used to eat pineapple, oranges and all kind of citrus (I live in FL ) so they are available fresh all the time here and I never had any problems , till like I said I started taking Nexium. Now, I can't go a day without taking the Nexium.
I can eat some stuff like tomato sauce and pizza etc and not get as sick as other posters here, but there are days that I get REAL sick with that. I remember times in the past that I couldn’t even breath or catch a deep breath and I went to the ER in Celebration Hospital (that is my hospital and I did all my surgeries there BTW) and It was bad to be afraid to eat or taste food, being a Chef for so long 25 years + .
So, now, back to the point I'm trying to make here: If Yellow and Cnrage had that done, why you guys keep having problems burping as you describe it? Why is that painful after a year of having that done?
Why the tube in your chest? Do I really need that? Or I could just watch what I eat like I was doing for the last 5 years and avoid the reflux by taking my daily Nexium and other stuff?
I want to get off the Nexium and that is the reason I was going to have the surgery done because the Nexium block your calcium absorption and long ago, my GI doctor told me that I was going to get off those soon because Of my Osteopenia and because of all the back surgeries I had = I need my bones to be strong and not weak and Nexium don't help for that.

I been seriously canceling this surgery and try just to manage with the Nexium and diet, but on the other hand, I also was diagnosed with barest esophagus once and then it went away, but they told me 5 years ago that the walls of my stomach and my esophagus where too thin and that weren't normal and that I could develop cancer if I don't watch it.

So, if I do the surgery, I may clear the cancer possibilities , but I'm just tired of being in pain and just traumatized with all the surgeries that I had in the past and the horrendous pain I been trough after those back, shoulder and other surgeries.
I can't work in the kitchen anymore because of the back surgeries, I'm in so much pain and I can’t lift more than 20 to 25 pounds and many other restrictions.

I miss being in the kitchen and cooking professionally like I did. I won't so many awards in cooking competitions when I was on the panhandle area in FL. I was all the time on TV doing cooking demos and now I can't even work doing what I went to school for it because of my restrictions.
I also can't taste stuff that I cook here because I'm afraid of getting sick, but because I cook professionally for over 25 years, I know my food and I don't have to taste it. My GF love everything I cook for her and her family sometimes.

Now, I'm scare of the pain, because I been taking pain meds for years to treat nerve damage I got and the arthritis those surgeries on my neck, lower back caused. I take also Zohydro ER and I'm thinking, I already developed a tolerance for pain meds, so I'm afraid that I'll be in so much pain because all they give you there is that deluded? I may have to call my pain managing Doc to coordinate my pain treatment?

Is that surgery worth it? I saw you Yellow, talking about pain you have not a year after the surgery by burping and taking Meds in the Nexium family? Why? I'm doing this mostly to get rid of those meds and lose weight perhaps because I gain weight after my back surgeries and I was thinking that being able to lose weight = less reflux chances = lower blood presume and also by lowering my blood pressure that way I can get off the blood P med (Which is the cause of some of my weight gain) besides my inactivity due to my back and I'm afraid that keep taking the Nexium because I just have a test at Celebration Hospital last month and came positive with Osteopenia.

Sorry for the long post, I guess I just want it to explain everything I could and get a straight answer before I do anything next month.
Posted 2/20/2018 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
Artano,

if you had your surgery with Dr Gee the 7th We were "together" kind of. I had mine the 5th. They are great at the Celebration Hospital, aren't they? If you did not get it- schedule it. It can be life saving, really.

I love a good cook! I too love to cook and am executive-- in our home that is.

I am doing very well after surgery. The esophagitis I was told to expect has come knocking loudly. But I am so used to pains there I was toughing it out until someone suggested I take a pain pill,. Never thought to. But it worked.

He wanted me to go to Dr Atiq too but during our meeting, with my coughing every word or two plus the very high bp the week before I left home he decided he needed to schedule me ASAP. My stomach was upside down in my chest. Dr G had me go to "his" pulmonologist as he said I was aspirating. He wanted Dr Umeh to see me in his office prior to seeing me in icu. I never thought of it that way before. But he knows his stuff. I have damaged lungs from coming in too late. If I had known I wouldn't have been late but too many GI doctors are on those "you have a hiatal hernia - see you in 10 years" schedules! Since Dr Gee trained at Mayo Clinic I guess he maybe had access to my pet scan there outlining my HH and eroded esophagus.

I think many doctors may schedule too fast/too early but this doctor cares. You can see it in his eyes when you describe your symptoms. His eyes light up when he recognizes he can indeed help. If ego is involved it is only the ego of someone who can indeed correct a problem when he has the right information and he seems to enjoy getting it from his patients. He watches their respirations, color (he said I was WHITE.. watches your breathing prior to making a decision. After surgery he said You have color!

Barb, his NP from ICU is great to work with. She is very knowledgeable and pleasant (but busy) She has given me her number and we text. She is on top of my recovery while Dr Gee went back to operating.

I awoke in ICU with two chest tubes. I think I would change/trade you for your nasal tube. But what can you do? Barb said I was tough (they were all amazed at my spine surgery c-2 to t-3 which they saw in my chest xrays up into my skull- hey impressive is putting a new valve in your esophagus but they don't work in the skull.) When you awake with chest tubes in place there you just cope. They make you clumsy- that is for sure. I had an uneventful recovery the next few days on the 5th floor. I am glad this is over. Don't worry about chest tubes- I guess I was one of the few. He has worked out ways to not put in chest tubes so this is rare these days for him and his team. I sure didn't want the gunk in my chest- draining them was good.

i AM HOME IN mISSOURI NOW and recovering nicely. Each day brings more breath and a better feeling. No more horrible 3 hour coughing jags for me. I am eating but have to be careful because of the scaring. It should start flaking off before too long. I have always had asthma but was told to expect more until my lungs heal fully. about 6 months =/-.. He thinks maybe my asthma and sleep apnea will go away too. Amazing how many things are connected to your digestive issues including tiredness, pain and more.

For those of you before me- thank you for previewing this for me. You helped me trust this doctor and his team. For those of you considering this surgery, surgeon and his team I don't believe you will regret it. It may be a long distance from home but from what I have read from other patients about NF and other common digestive surgeries this is a fantastic alternative! I cannot say that enough.

Although I went first to an outstanding surgeon at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, CA and trusted him but I instinctively I distrusted what kind of surgery he performs. I truly think it is problematic. It slips, twists and causes more problems than it fixes. It well may be deadly. People just wither away after it.

Please don't stall in getting corrective surgery. Dr G and Barb heard my voice and instructed me to come straight down. Barb said she could tell by my cough I needed quick help. She was right.
Posted 2/21/2018 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I have appointment with Dr Gh. for 3/22. Leaning toward this procedure. Will post after visit.
Karen
Posted 2/21/2018 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen,

Fancy meeting you here. I had Nissen fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair surgery in November. I've been fortunate since the recovery has been pretty easy.

Chubster
Posted 2/21/2018 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
OMG Chubster. Too bad we have to suffer with this, now. ☹️
Glad your NF is working well.
I have been dealing with GERD since 2015 and finally have had enough.
Hope all is well otherwise.
I am still Afib free.

Karen
Posted 2/22/2018 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Karen,

I didn't know I had a problem. I had silent reflux and came really close to having cancer. I've had a mucosal resection, the surgery, and a cryoablation to get rid of the Barrett's. The doctor thinks I'll have to have a second cryoablation. It's been quite a journey. And I'm also still afib free.

Good luck with your surgery!

Chubster
Posted 2/22/2018 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Nana

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad to hear you are doing well and that the procedure has help you too. I know Doctor Umeh very well too. I saw him a couple times and also have an appointment with Doctor Lama (They all work in the same office) Lama is my pulmonologist.
I know them from way back and I do remember having trouble breathing also back then. It was like a vicious circle.
I don't have any more the breathing problem and haven't used my inhaler for a long time. I take Nexium every day and watch what I eat and I don't really have major acid reflux like before, but at the cost of not eating all the stuff I did before and taking the Nexium which is blocking my calcium absorption. I was actually talking to a friend today and he told me not to have it done? He said that he was like that and that he stopped taking Nexium and watched his diet for like 2 months and that his stomach kind of got back to normal and told me that the Nexium is a big part of the problems. That I need it to let my stomach heal alone and that eventually, as he did, I will be fine.
Part of me want to do it, but I have not try what he said and so I was thinking on trying that first and if that didn't work, then do my procedure.
I'm very confused though. I'm 50+ and I know that it take longer to heal at my age right. I had to postpone my procedure because as I type, I'm fighting the flu and so I need to get over the flu first before I do anything.
I'm just wonder about the recovery time at home and not being able to lift more than 5LB? So, I may not be able to drive my Jeep?
I wish it was easier, I know. But what I was mostly having the procedure to quit taking Nexium and Doctor G told me that I will have to be on Nexium for a few months after my procedure anyway, so I’m like ...mhh.
Well, I really would be interested on hearing more about your experience and post Op though. Also, from other people too, before I jump on that table.

Thanks you.
Posted 2/22/2018 7:30 AM (GMT 0)
Chubster,
Oh my, you have been through a lot this past year. Silent reflux--scary.
I have Barretts past 3 yrs. going to get latest biopsy results in week. I am also going to discuss cryo for it, too. I am also dealing with gastritis but I think it is due to continued aspirin use. At least I hope so as that would be an easy fix. . I don't see any way to send private msg on this Forum so I will send on our afib forum.
Good to have a familiar face (so to speak) here. Wish it weren't so.
Karen
Posted 3/4/2018 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,
I am so thankful to have found this site. I am scheduled for surgery April 11and this thread has helped tremendously to reduce my anxiety. I tend to be pretty literal about things so when I heard 2 weeks of a soft diet, my interpretation is after that I can eat anything and feel great. I heard 2 months of no lifting (also no golf) and my thoughts are after that my activities will all resume as before. Your comments have made me realize that the healing process is individual and gradual. I curious as to how any of you felt 6 weeks out of surgery. I know the lifting ban will still be in place but did most of you feel like you were able to get out and about? to drive? I have a family reunion at the beach 11 weeks out of surgery...does that seem doable? I know it all depends on the individual, but just curious as to your thoughts.
Posted 3/4/2018 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
CJrose, at the time when I had my surgery, I was limited to only six weeks postoperative - no lifting. Dr. Gee must have added an extra two weeks sometime later. I swim every day and not lifting included no swimming. I started getting back to swimming at six weeks, but I took it easy. If it was sore, I stopped. In the beginning, and for a at least a month after, it was very sore when I lifted my arms and stretched my body. I am older so it took me more time to get back to normal. However saying that, I was in bed for several days after getting out of the hospital. I was so surprised that I felt so great after undergoing such major surgery. I was out and about after a few days. I live in Florida and it is too beautiful to stay inside unless I feel very bad. The soft diet was really any food that you can chew. I was limited to not eating steak. I was on very soft food (yogurt, jello) for the first day, then gradually added food in my diet.. I ate slowly and chewed my food well. Your stomach is very swollen and the valve (which open and closes as you eat) is swollen too.

Forget reading about the Nissen procedure postoperative period. It doesn’t apply to us. You will note that there isn’t much said about going home and restrictions after this procedure. There isn’t any - except for lifting and eating slowly. We are happy and so grateful. Some individuals did have lung damage from the reflux, and they have restrictions.


I’m not certain about driving restrictions. I didn’t ask, nor was it mentioned. I didn’t go anywhere by myself.

The only issue I have now is keeping weight off. Dr. Gee told me not to gain weight - otherwise I will haver. eflux again.
Posted 3/5/2018 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
Yellow 1955...I am also older...just turned 65 but have been dealing with this issue for many years. I live in FL too, an hour north of Orlando. I could surely stand to lose about 20 pounds. My fear is once I feel good again it will be harder to control my eating! I'll take it one day at a time and look forward to life with no eating problems. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Posted 3/5/2018 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
"The only issue I have now is keeping weight off. Dr. Gee told me not to gain weight - otherwise I will have reflux again."

Why? A limitation of the procedure? Can't think of why this would happen based on how you described it.

Also another question -- in a previous post, you mentioned esophagitis and being on PPIs. Was this only part of healing, or afterwards? Thanks so much.

Post Edited (AppleBananaPear) : 3/5/2018 3:30:37 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/5/2018 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
AppleBananaPear, when Dr Gee said that I shouldn’t gain weight, I took it as if I were to gain weight, my anatomy would change. I wasn’t all concerned (at the time) as my GP told me to lose weight because the extra weight was affecting my liver and cholesterol. An excellent question to ask Dr Gee. I kept the weight off for two years, but now that I don’t have reflux any longer, I love to eat. I wish some of the others would check in as they probably would have more info.

My inflammation was caused by stress. My brother passed away six months after I had the procedure from lung cancer. My postoperative period was very stressful. I’m the only one that I know about that had this problem. I was so preoccupied with my brother, that I didn’t pay attention to myself until I was in so much pain. Dr Gee recommends patients stay on PPI’s now for six months. I was off medication after a couple of weeks, and I didn’t have a postoperative GI until almost a year later. Had I gone back to the GI, I wouldn’t have gotten the inflammation. He would have recommended that I stay on the medicine.

Post Edited (Yellow1955) : 3/5/2018 4:43:17 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 4/15/2018 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All
I just wanted to report my progress after my Wednesday, 4/11 surgery with Dr. G. The day of surgery and day 2 are a blur. I was moved to the surgical floor on Thursday evening. Friday the 13th there was a water main break in the hospital! They did a great jog dealing with the no water issues. I was taken off clear liquids and allowed any liquid by the afternoon. I really wanted coffee with cream but since they had no water...so I had to wait. Saturday lunch was a soft food diet. I ate the mashed potatoes and pudding and passed all of Barbara's tests so she released me. Pulmonary was a little concerned about a small amount of fluid in the left lung but given the water issue (now working to flush but not to shower or drink), they could't do anything about it so they released me also. So by 5:00 Saturday night I was back home an hour from Celebration.
The pain has been minimal after the first 2 days. I'm finding that I can only eat small amounts of food. But that's no problem. I'll update more as the week progresses.
Posted 4/15/2018 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep us updated. What is your lung issue?
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