Typed on my phone while in recovery for unrelated surgery, so please forgive typos or just downright morphinemadness!
This forum was a great help to me when I had mine done back in 2009 so to give something back:
Mine is a massive success story, I had symptoms as yours for years and it actually resulted in me losing quite a few teeth in my 20s due to acid erosian, sleeping was like putting a half fillled coke bottle on it's side and id sometimes wake up frothing at the mouth!
FYI I also had anxiety problems (PTSD) and it was chest pains from that that eventually drew me to have investigations on my oesophogus.
My journey to recovery was fraught with worry and I really did think it had failed.
Anyhoo here are my tips:
I'm not a doctor, but have had a good outcome.
Do not lift anything heavier than 1 or 2kg for 8 weeks it's just not worth the risk and even then go steady.
If the nurses bring u solid food after the Op. REFUSE IT!
Don't rush onto any "scheduled week by week" policy on what u eat. Buy loads of nutradrinks or blend all your usual meals (beef and potatoes is especially nice!) Take your time and don't pressure yourself.
The whole area will be swollen and take some time to settle down and the wrap may "find it's position" so if u start finding stuff blocks , gently tip forward and gently ease it out if i can. I found that eating more or drinking liquids to move it doesn't work (even now) . But it will change over the months , for me it got worse, better, worse etc for the entire first year!
Don't rush onto solids. Go very slowly as it's a bit frightening when stuff gets stuck as you usually find out 3 spoonfuls too late! (It kind of stacks for me). As long as u get the nutrition in, it doesn't matter how.
When trying solids:
Small bites and chew chew chew. I take around an extra 50% of time to eat a meal I used to.
I found that the surgeons "problem foods" weren't problems for me, but others are.
Foods that I still have to eat "specially" are mince or burger patties, rice and some flaky white fishes.
Steak and bread are fine for me.
My overall outcome 10 years later is fantastic, but there are a few minor things for me.
Good:
Had heartburn maybe twice as one off single occurrences in 10 years. (I had phantom heartburn for about
2 months after the op and was convinced it failed but barium swallow showed zero leakage on year 1,5 and 7)
I hardly think my diet is limited anymore but I do eat slower
I can drink and eat in a reasonably unlimited way.
Bads: (bigger list but very very minor compared to my old symptoms)
Recovery was a worry, I felt u get little guidance from the surgeons post op and they seem a bit too eager to have u back in for "balloon expansion" if you're not on solids in 12 weeks (perhaps my personal experience) I refused and am fine.
I cannot belch, I've done so perhaps 4 times in 10 years - so yes, all gas comes out in farts
but it is manageable and able to relieve yourself as you would with a toilet break.
<skip this one if u are easily grossed out>
I cannot vomit, though am assured if it's really really needed u can, however I've found that unfortunately, instead of vomiting you will eject it rapidly from the other side. This has happened 3 times in 10 years and I had salmonella so it's a pretty rare case.
I cannot drink carbonated drinks without discomfort. Champagne at weddings is impossible.
Certain foods are not compatible with me anymore - fizzy drinks, onion and leeks will make me bloat noticeably and when I ignored it and tried to push through in the early days I had serious distension.
Recovery was slow for me . 3 months I was still wrestling forward and back with blending and solids.
I think in all honesty it's about
adapting your eating style and not "forgetting" that things have changed. Chew chew chew, but not so.much to be swallowing compact little balls!
Overall, 6 months post op I was still unsure and a bit anxious about
having to have it redone, vagus nerve damage etc
18 months post op, life was back to how it was and I really appreciate how life limiting GERD can be, without realising it as it creeps up and how liberating this operation was for me.
Last silly point, but if u scuba dive, take care with bloating as it really affects your buoyancy
)) bubbles from the butt to go deeper isn't quite as elegant as just emptying your lungs.
A wall of text, I know, but hope this is useful to future readers!
(I'm no doctor, just a patient so disclaimer inferred!!!)
Post Edited (GaryJones) : 11/30/2018 3:04:46 PM (GMT-7)