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2 weeks post Nissen Fundoplication - advice please

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Posted 5/31/2018 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

It has been a tricky 2 weeks for me since my operation and I thank you for your help and advice. Considering I was worried that I wasn’t able to swallow anything properly a couple of weeks ago I think I have improved a lot.

I had a full wrap and have a couple of questions for those more experienced if you could please help.

1. How durable is the wrap? I have tried to be very careful in not lifting anything heavy, it’s been very difficult with having a 9 month old! The aim is abviosuly to not have the surgery again but I know that unfortunately people it does happen from what I have read. How delicate is it at this stage? I mean can I carry small bags of shopping? Push open windows that are above me? Move around relatively freely but just not lift anything heavy?

2. Would I know if my wrap had come undone? I presume it would be painful as the stitches would have ripped and it would be a lot easier to swallow!?

3. At the moment, after 2 weeks I am managing to just about eat mashed potato, purée food (helps with having a baby smilewinkgrin ) however I sometimes have food get stuck that just won’t go down. I have to sort of encourage it/push it back up my esophagus and spit it out. Is this normal? I’m worried that this could undo the wrap? I don’t know how durable it is!?

I’m sorry for the questions, I’m sure they sound silly but it would really help speaking with someone with more experi nice for reassurance.

Thank you
Posted 5/31/2018 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Did you talk to your surgeon about your lifting limitations? It seems there are various recommendations, but at 2 weeks post-surgery I would be very careful about lifting. There is no way to know how durable one's wrap is, but I would definitely ask the surgeon about lifting bags of groceries and pushing open windows - can someone do those things for you temporarily? Right now you are two weeks post-surgery, so you may be experiencing peak swelling of the wrap. Make sure you are still chewing your food to almost a liquid consistency and are eating 6-8 small meals a day. You are very early into your recovery, make sure you don't advance your diet too quickly. Mashed potatoes initially gave me problems with sticking and not going down, but that eventually subsided.

Sharon
Posted 5/31/2018 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your reply. If I’m honest it’s a bit unclear how much constitutes heavy lifting. I think I’ve just been told to not lift anything heavy... I have great family around me who have been very supportive and are on hand to lift anything heavy for me. But I suppose I’m a little bit unsure as to what ‘heavy’ is.

Yes the advice on food is quite different from different sources. I’ve started to try some mince today which I was told to start minced foods and little bits of soft fish and I just have to really keep chewing it to almost liquid like you said.

Did you find after you had the procedure you had to sort of burp/push/cough up bits of food that got stuck early on?
Posted 5/31/2018 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
neo,

1. I agree with Sharon regarding the lifting. It's a fine line. Make sure you're walking and doing low impact things like that to build your strength. I didn't and I paid for it as I believe I suffered muscle atrophy. My surgeon gave me some stretches to do, but just be careful. I'll just say I was afraid to even lift a toilet seat. But that's me. I was 32 at the time. In regard to the bags, request the bagger at the store to pack light. Maybe request assistance to the car. Don't overload and try to take everything in your home at once. lol.

2. I am told if a wrap comes undone, it's extremely painful. You know something's up. I have some nausea here and there years later (idk if it's related), and am still afraid to throw up. I was close a while back and still couldn't, so it's still in tact even though a scan shows it's been "disrupted". It is to my understanding that bad damage is really only caused if mass trauma is done to the chest/diaphragm area. I slipped on some wet wood and fell. No damage. A drunk friend shoved me. No further damage (previous scan did reveal aforementioned disruption). It pretty much takes HUGE impact like being in a car wreck and making friends with the steering wheel. That said, wear your seatbelt!

3. While you'll get really tired of them, I drank Ensure for sustenance because I had a hard time swallowing early on, too. If it continues, the wrap might be a little tight. One's esophagus can be medically expanded at the ER or whatever, but it's too soon for all that. Don't fret. I remember basically pureeing some deli meat and it just wouldn't go down. Things eventually improved. I'm sure they will for you, too. When that time comes, do not overdo it. LOL. Once you're full, put the fork down. It's hard because you wait so long to eat something you really want.

You'll be fine. Things are still in the early stages. I hope I've helped a little.
Posted 6/1/2018 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
I did not have problems with food getting stuck, I was really careful about advancing my diet. I followed the UPMC post-Nissen diet, and it was very helpful. When you had your manometry, did it show that your swallowing function was compromised at all?

Sharon
Posted 6/2/2018 8:38 AM (GMT 0)
1039snooth thank you for your answers, they are really reassuring and helpful! I think part of me wants to be reassured that my wrap is still fully intact and that I would know if it had come undone as I have read that it can be so fragile that I don’t want to go through the surgery again.

Sharon thank you also for your contributions, I will look into that diet for reference. When I had my manometry test my esophageal motility/swallowing was all fine and even the pressure that my scphincter was creating which was confusing considering the overal test showed significant reflux!

Thank you all that have responded so far with your experiences and advice it means a lot
Posted 6/2/2018 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I had this same surgery 14 months ago. Two weeks is very early and I would take it as easy as you can. It took me 1 full year to get rid of all (most of) the issues: Chest pain, anxiety, soreness.... ect. Limit your lifting. Remember, your stomach area took a beating. 8 months after my Nissen Surgery, I had an Inguinal Hernia Surgery. I was lucky enough to have the same Doctor and Anesthesiologist. Each one, talked to me before and after the surgeries. Before my second surgery, I was complaining to the Anesthesiologist about all my concerns of the Nissen Surgery. He told me he was not surprised that I was still having issues: chest pain, anxiety,ect. He told me that they turn the stomach several times and push as many organs ect. out of the way. Although being careful, some scaring can take place. And, can take months to heal. You will get better. Have faith and be patient.
You need to take it easy for several months.
Try Yoga. It helped me.

58 yr.old Mike
Posted 6/14/2018 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi I tewabear..

Did u have reflux symptoms during urine recovery??
Posted 6/14/2018 11:33 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry.. 'during ur recovery'??
Posted 6/14/2018 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Neo 4789-
Welcome. I had the same surgery done two years ago (twice)
First time in 1/2016 for severe reflux and the second time for an artery decompression. That was done 9/2016. The Nissen was in front of the artery surgery so it had to get taken down and put back together.
Yes, I had reflux symptoms during my recovery and still do now. Only when I don’t take Protonix.
So much for trying to take no medications. Check with your surgeon on the exact pound weight limit.
Mine was nothing heavier than a gallon of milk for about 4-6 weeks. I bet your 9 mo old weighs more than that. 😉 My diet progression was slow. My swallowing was tough. I was chewing to liquid for a while.
I preferred the taste of Ensure Enlive. The chocolate tastes best in my opinion.
All the tips about are great. Walking in short stints helped me.
What took the longest was getting back to my “normal” diet. You don’t feel too hungry for a while .
They suggested frappes too.
Good luck. It will take a while but you will be back to yourself in no time.

Just don’t over do it. 😎
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