Post-Nissen Fundoplication surgery - did I eat too much?

Hi, love this forum, hoping someone can help me.

I had lapro surgery last Monday, 5/7, and only had ice chips, water and a little chicken broth the first two days. The pain was more tolerable and I was able to eat a few spoonfuls of scrambled eggs on Wednesday so I came home.

Only had liquids, little bit of scrambled eggs, and a little bit of tapioca since then but after reading the diet I should follow last night, today I had an egg and some toast with PB, crackers with light cream cheese, eggs noodles with margarine, sherbet, rice krispies with lactaid milk and more sherbet throughout the day. My stomach bloats right up after I eat, I have tons and tons of gas, and a couple of fast trips to the bathroom.

Is this normal after you start adding food or did I eat too much today? It makes sense to go back to liquids tomorrow but if this is normal I will keep adding the food so I don’t go backwards in my recovery.

Thank you so much!!!

Thank you aero1, I appreciate the response. I thought I would be on liquids for a couple of weeks and was surprised when I read the paper last night that they gave me at discharge with all of the foods listed. Guess I wanted it to be true but you’re right, I learned a painful lesson.

Thanks SharonZ, I will check it out. I was surprised too and it even has chopped chicken on it which I am definitely not touching for a while. I cut back yesterday to Lipton noodle soup, clear protein drink, etc. and was better BUT shortly after I had a scoop of watermelon sherbet the bloating, gurgles, and gas started. I will stay away from sherbet today and see if it still happens.

It seems to be trial and error as to what bothers me and what doesn’t. One day at a time I guess.

Thanks again

Wendy:

Some people have issues (initially), with dairy products.

Sharon

creamed soups ... cream of wheat ... pudding ... jello
mashed potatoes
pancake smothered in syrup


those are the staples I used for 3 weeks or so

I am now eating gravy with a bit of sausage, some toast smothered in butter, some fried eggs
Yesterday I ate a piece of pollack but I peeled all the breading off

Stick with stuff easy to slide down and use a baby spoon

Wendy:

Your symptoms are all part of the healing process. When you have bread, make sure it is very well toasted and remember to chew your food until it's almost a liquid consistency. You are right that it still may be a little soon for bread. If something sticks, you might want to skip it and try it again in a week or two. You are so early into the recovery process, don't expect too much too soon.

Sharon

Also I did not eat ANYTHING with sugar in it ... only now am I starting to eat some sugar products

I looked for Sugar Free

The first 3 days I had diarhea and frequent trips to the bathrooms but it passed

I am one month out today and while I feel I could eat almost anything at this point I will not even attempt it lol

Yesterday evening I had a Burrito from Taco Bell minus the soft bread burrito itself it had lots of cheese and lettuce and today I feel some roaring around in my gut so that tells me that most likely the lettuce was the culprit

Thanks again SharonZ and wvgal57, I really appreciate the help

You’re lucky Sharon that your doctor explained things to you, thankfully I have this forum or I would be so lost.

I was Thinking that it was the sugar from the sherbet that was really killing me, because when I would have a couple scoops of sherbet that’s when I was dying in pain, gurgling and Spending a lot of time in my new home, the bathroom. No sherbet today but some gurgles, nothing major. I guess I just couldn’t understand why sugar would bother me after the surgery, I’m one of those people that needs to understand something.

Sorry about the taco, but I will learn from your mistakes. I was wondering if I should try to make myself a little Romaine lettuce salad with some dressing to try to get something healthy in me, I think I will wait on that one now!

Oh no wvgal57, poor thing. Wow you’re still having pains from strawberries on Saturday? That’s a long time isn’t it? I haven’t tried lettuce yet and will stay away from that.

I am back to mainly liquids too, but can eat butternut squash and a scrambled egg without any issues. I have tried a couple of things but they hurt so I can’t eat them yet I guess. I didn’t think it would be this hard.

Like an idiot I figured I was all better this morning, plus the crescent rolls in the fridge were calling me, so I baked them and sucked one down and then it got stuck and I was freaking thinking I was heading to the hospital but then remembered something I read on a post here to sip warm water until it pushes it down. I won’t eat bread again for a while. Lesson leaned 😩

OMG Sharon, that’s discouraging but thank you for telling me. I am getting frustrated because it’s been 2 weeks since surgery and every time that I try something new it doesn’t work and I’m back to a protein drink, tapioca, butternut squash and scrambled eggs. I will try to be patient. Thanks again 😊

Thanks Sharon. Haven’t tried oatmeal or cream of wheat but will. I appreciate the help

Molly:

Unfortunately you are going to experience gas and belching post-surgery along with the gurgling noises. As far as overeating, I'm not sure that's something you should be doing - I think you are roughly one month into recovery, correct? I think you are right, you need to slow down, your recovery is a marathon - not a sprint.

Sharon

Too much sugar and dairy products could be two culprits. I can't answer your question about ruining your fundoplication. I know I sound like a broken record, but you are really early into your recovery and I think are expecting too much. What you are going through is common, and most of us have had the same experiences. You might try going back to a softer diet, as you advanced yours fairly quickly. Everyone's recovery is different, and I know that I've told you that I didn't feel much better until six months and my "new" self at about one year. It can be exhausting, and I felt that way too. Unfortunately, your surgeon probably didn't do a good enough job of explaining to you what you would experience during your recovery. Just accept the fact that you are going to experience small setbacks along the way and to give your body time to heal.

Sharon