Nissen Fundoplication on 3/21/18

I would say just enjoy the ride...I'm sure they will take great care of you there. You'll get painkillers, but make sure you have plenty of coldpacks and hotpacks - they were great for my pain.

Don't push the diet...you don't want to be at a point where you have to throw up stuff. Better to just be conservative with your diet. Flavorful soups are VERY helpful and comforting. My hospital had delicious french onion soup broth, beef bone broth and chicken broth. I also had a lot of chicken and beef pho broth afterwards at home. When you're not feeling well or are hungry, broths are the way to go. They just make you "feel" great.

Good luck!

I had a Nissan funds wrap seven months ago. I did have some post op issues, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, of which was helped with pain medications. I recently had a heaviness in my chest, nausea at times but not every day. I am eating a soft diet, squash, hot dish, yogurt. I saw the surgeon today and told him the problems I was having, nausea at times, appetite, and heaviness in my chest. His responded ,(it does not surprise me your esophagus was not robust.)I was scheduled for a second scope in two weeks. At least he was honest. Does this mean my surgery failed and a redo might be needed?

Frycat:

Definitely just use the onion broth, and take out the onions, you will definitely give yourself heartburn after the surgery and that's something you need to avoid.

Sharon

First night home: I’m going to admit something...on the way home which was a 2 hour drive I asked my husband to stop at Starbucks and to get me a small white chocolate mocha. I sipped it going home, and had zero issues drinking it, and I loved every sip. I figured I might have dumping syndrome, but nope..nothing. Haven’t had a bowel movement yet, since the morning (before)of surgery.
Sleeping was a bit more problematic than at the hospital. My abdomen has become tender and sleeping on my side which is my favorite hurts the worst. I may try a pillow tonight to see if that helps to support it while on my side. Little bit of shoulder pain from gas. I have a high pain tolerance, but it still bothered me enough to try to change positions. I do t feel any pain inside.none. And my abdomen when upright really is no problem, just a little sore as though I did some sit ups. Slightly bloated, as I think the gas still needs to dissipate. No appetite, but will make a thin small healthy smoothie for breakfast.

No...my discharge papers show week 1:liquids/purées, anything that fits through a straw, week 2:soft foods: avoid breads and chunks of meat., week 3: regular foods.chew well,avoid eating large meals and eating fast.
Three S rule: eat Smaller amounts, Softer foods and eat Slowly.
No limitations on what I can drink...unlike what I have read here on this site.
That’s it...we had a discussion before surgery re: full vs partial and he only does full. He stressed he doesn’t wrap too tight..I’m burping. So he does what he says. Very very happy with Dr. Jossart so far.

Post Edited (Fyrcat) : 3/24/2018 7:50:04 AM (GMT-6)

Day 3: yesterday...no shoulder gas pains! My stomach still looks bloated, but there is no pain. If I palpate my abdomen it is tender but not painful. This has really been easy! My appetite has not returned, and I am eating small(1/4-1/3 cup) at a time. I made a potato bacon cream soup that I puréed. That was my lunch and dinner..really good. Love having mango Lassi(yogurt drink), I purchased at Costco. This has been my snack throughout the day.
This morning(day 4), I made for myself and my husband French scrambled eggs. I beat eggs with a little cream(optional), and in a saucepan with some butter slowly cooked them about 10 minutes . Towards the end I added a couple of tablespoons cream cheese, and grated Parmesan. I removed my eggs before they set too much(more pourable) and cooked my husbands a little firmer. These were beyond delicious! We have chickens, so not worried about under cooking our eggs a wee bit. This was the most I have eaten since my surgery. I maybe got in 1.5 eggs and feeling good!

Hi Gooby...being female I wore leggings and a loose zippered sweater and ugs going to the hospital and coming home. I also wore while in the hospital a pair of loose fitting elastic banded cotton shorts under my hospital gown, as a privacy measure. The gown opened up in the back. If you are a male, I would suggest elastic topped sweatpants/pants or shorts. Just make sure they are a bit big. I have to tell you it didn’t hurt to have my pants touch my incisions.
So, I was pretty scared too. But not as bad as when on the actual operating table and the anesthesiologist was bringing the mask of gas down to my face..I looked up and told the crew with tears in my eyes I was scared. She held the mask away for a minute and everyone comforted me telling me I would be fine and not to be so scared they would take care of me. They did, and again, for all my fears and my husbands, this is surprisingly and easy thing so far to go through for being major surgery. I think my biggest fear was what will I be like after? How bad will my ability to eat be? So to answer that for you and anyone who is contemplating this surgery I am going to say that so far no food or pills are getting stuck. I am still on thin/liquid foods. But I can down my supplements with no issues. I took 1 zofran and 1 Tylenol since I have been home and that was the first night. My abdomen feels like I did some exercise, and is simply a little tender. I feel nothing as in zero inside. Weird..thought there would be somekind of pain or discomfort..nope! My diaphragm was repaired, and there was pain at hospital, but even that went away.
I now have no feeling of acid in my mouth or throat. After living with acid for so long it is an unusual feeling(and good) not to have my teeth feel rough..they feel smooth. So my doctor told me to expect the peak of the wrap swelling around the 4-6week mark and food may have a tougher time going thru the LES. For swelling and inflammation I take turmeric and bought some bromelein . I don’t think I will know if all this works but it can’t hurt. Cathy

Thanks again, Fyrcat! Being female, I'll try some loose t-shirt/sweatshirt tops and some bigger yoga pants. Since I'm retired, that's pretty much my daily attire, anyway! So glad to hear how well you're doing and hope it continues to go this way for you! I'll try to post after my surgery, as well!

I've spent weeks reading on this site and have finally, as of today, become a member. I have suffered from acid reflux for many years with the GERD diagnosis. I just recently had another endoscopy with BRAVO testing and manometry and barium swallow test. My first major scare was in 2011 when I ended up in the hospital with fears of having a heart attack. Little did I know that it was "just" acid reflux. I've suffered from all the symptoms at one time or another, the worst being the chest pain and the constant taste of acid in my mouth. I'm also beginning to wonder if the chronic sinusitis that I have is related to the GERD. I had a horrible flare up during the holidays this year and my primary care doc referred my to a GI doctor about surgery. Long story short, I'm scheduled for the Nissen procedure on April 18th at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Most days I'm okay with the surgery, on other days I want to cancel. Long term I feel the benefits out weigh the risks, but I still have huge fears as others I have read on this thread. I want to thank everyone who has shared their experiences on this site because reading on this site typically calms me down and I don't feel like running to the phone to cancel! Any advice or encouragement is welcome. This is my first major surgery, but deep down I feel that it could be truly life changing. In a good way I hope!

Thanks for the words of encouragement Fyrcat! Keep posting your recovery for us. I hope things continue to progress smoothly for you. I'm in good health otherwise and will be turning 49 in a few days. I'm hoping that going ahead with the surgery now rather than later will help my recovery as well.

Yesterday day 5: still pain free, getting a bit bored with liquids and purees, but afraid to test the waters with anything else. Smoothie for breakfast made with almond milk, banana,strawberry,cherries,oat bran,yogurt flax oil. Only about a cup total for breakfast, this has been our usual morning breakfast for many years. Lunch was some Swiss chard from my garden I made into soup and dinner runny polenta. In between meals I try to get in some lassi(yogurt drink). Cannot drink or eat much at one time or I feel bloated.
My abdomen is becoming less swollen everyday. I am enjoying the new feeling of no acid. In the middle of the night I did wake up to some discomfort I believe, was at the wrap site. As things start healing I’m sure I will feel more. It susbsided after a few minutes, maybe the beginning of some swelling?
Had good bowel movements yesterday, we normally take psyllium husk, and I resumed this 3 days ago. I take less than I used too, but it still effective..yay!
I have a stationary bike in the house and with little resistance did about 30 minutes total yesterday. So far recovery is going sooo good! Cathy

Thank you guys
your posts are comforting
please keep it coming!