Part 2 of POST OP LAP NISSEN FUNDO/HIATEAL HERNIA REPAIR...Please conitinue to post.

This seemed to be a hot topic,  so please guys, continue to share. The old one was locked simply because there were too many replies.  So, I started a new one, and would love for you all to continue to share your stories.

Thanks Tammy, I am 8 days post opt nissen so thi has really helped me. Has anyone had trouble sleeping? I am, and I can fall asleep at a drop of the hat! I can take naps and be asleep in ten minutes ever sicne the surgery no. I thought it might be the vicotin but I was over it for 24 hours and still had a problem, maybe it takes longer to get out of your system? Also has anyway had any problems with the nauseaus feelling? I had to take a phnegren last night and this am it took care of it though. What would happen if the body did need to throw up and it cant??

nocough,
Sounds like you're doing well so far. I'm glad for you.

I didn't use a teddybear, I used a folded bath towel - it was less lumpy and spread uniformly over my abdomen under the seat belt. In case of an accident, a folded towel would not prevent the seatbelt from working properly like a lumpy stuffed animal would - your body weight would not be properly distributed against the belt with the toy. You also wouldn't want the stuffed toy between you and the airbag if it deployed.

The problem with vommiting is that your wrap is not healed yet and it could slip/move/pull the stitches. Hence the need to prevent you from vommiting or retching. Should you have dry heaves where nothing comes out - this could also cause the wrap to slip because of the way your muscles are moving. Check through the old posts - there was quite a bit of info on the nauseau and you may find an answer in there.

I had no trouble sleeping. Because you are only 8 days post op, you might still have anesthesia in your system. My surgeon said it would take about 2-3 full weeks for that to get out of my system - it might have something to do with your inability to stay asleep. This is just a thought, I don't know for sure on what would cause you to be able to fall asleep but not stay asleep.

TammyGrl0528:
Thanks for continuing this post area. I thought we might have violated some rule and were shut off. I can see by the number of visits this post has received that our information is being viewed by many. Glad we could offer up-to-date information regarding this procedure.

To all:
This past weekend's painful episode seems to have been a turning point. I was miserable over the weekend, but I feel better today than I have in a long time. No heartburn or reflux pain, no post-op pain anywhere, and I'm able to tolerate soft foods again and not just broth. I don't feel as physically drained as I did last week. I'm in bed by 10 and sleep through to 7 and am able to function without laying down during the day - what a wonderful feeling it is to sleep without a wedge and wake up without a vile taste in my mouth and burning in my throat. I'm at work from 9-4 and doing everything I did before except heavy lifting and I do walk slower. I'd say I'm back on the track to recovery again. I hope others are doing well - please send an update to this new area.

Doghouse,
At least when you have your appointment in December, you can say you've done all the meds and they don't work. Then you can go forward with the MD and discuss surgery and the tests that lead up to it. I know how tough it is to wait, my procedure was in the planning stage for 1 1/2 years. I was really disappointed when it kept getting postponed in order to try other meds and retest the manometry and ph. However, when you're talking about an irreversable procedure that could impact your ability to swallow for the rest of your life, maybe it's not such a bad thing that the doctor is moving cautiously.

Patience....patience....patience........your time will come.

Thanks Happilywrapped,

I know....patience..good things come to those who wait :) I will start my Zegerid tomorrow....weee!!!!

nocough:
NO PILLS! (notice the capital letters here) Not gel capsules, not anything hard. You have to remember that food going down can change it's form to go through the opening, a pill cannot. Get liquid Advil - children's and adjust the dose for your weight. Or get adult extra-strength liquid Tylenol. Swelling will happen intermittently for a while, so play it safe and stick to soft stuff. It is normal for the swelling to happen later after your surgery.

Glad the towel idea helped.

Doghouse:
Happy 1st day of Zegrid. Each day you take it is a day closer to surgery discussion with the doctor. Patience is a virtue .... so continue being virtuous :)

Barbara:
I'm sorry you're still tired. I'm feeling pretty good as long as I get to bed early. I'm definitely tired by the end of the evening and ready to fall into bed. Hope you start feeling better soon. I still think part of your long recovery is the two surgeries back to back. Your body has really been stressed. Take care.

HappilyWrapped-ok no pills, I guess I was pushing it but I didnt have the swelling at 1st. I havnt damaged my wrap though have I? I just about choked though, not good! Back to liquid I go. The bubble gum flavor is great good.

Michelle: Glad you found this site, wish I had before I had my surgery I would have known more what to expect. You have a similiar cas as me as I am 31 and this started when I was 15. I had a chronic cough, heartburn but the cough was the worst. What are your symptons? The cough is gone, that nasty taste of acid coming up is gone and no more heartburtn, YEAH!

You're not going to believe this.............

The test results from the blood work done Friday at the ER show gallbladder issues. After Thanksgiving I'll be heading for an ultrasound. Barbara - I could be doing the same surgeries as you but in the reverse order. I just can't believe another surgery after recouperating from this one.

Doghouse:
Positive thinking...positive thinking...patience...patience...positive thinking...positive thinking....positive thinking
You haven't had a recent ph or manometry test. It's possible the doctor has put you on the mega med doses so that when you meet in December he can schedule those tests. You'd have to be on those mega doses for several weeks to produce the outcome he's looking for to ensure you're a good candidate for surgery. Check out my previous post regarding double doses of Nexium prescribed for me in preparation of the manometry test to ensure I was a good candidate for surgery. This may be your first step toward surgery preparation. Of course, there's also a chance I'm totally off base and that's not the case. For your sake, I do hope my assumption is correct.

This may have been covered in this thread but I just missed it but how long was everyone told to expect to be off work?

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=952817 Here is the link to part one of this discussion.  Please feel free to take a look back there at what else has been going on here! P.S.  Thanks Sherry! 

hi all i,m thinking of gettin the surgery done as they said i dont have any ulcers, or hernia,s but my reflux is really bad i get it up in my mouth its the recovery i,m not looking forward to dont seem to hear all the the good after the operation.

no cough:

NO SODA (notice caps again). Soda causes gas. Maybe a few months down the road, but not now. Will you die? No, but you will have enough gas pain to make you miserable. If you can't burp you can't expel gas so no soda will be for the long term. Giving up soda is a small price to pay for getting rid of that awful cough. Maybe you can have one as a treat once in a while, but definitely not yet.

I think you are rushing your recovery a lot. A banana is probably too thick for you to swallow and you are only 2 weeks postop - I'm 4 weeks and still cannot swallow a banana. I realize everyone is different, but you'll notice you are having more choking issues than the rest of us. Please go back and carefully read our first section of posting. Many of the questions you have asked are answered there along with info regarding the swelling that will come and go for a while. What we were able to eat at different stages post op is also there. To avoid duplicate postings, we are not supposed to keep answering the same questions that we have answered before as it takes up room on the posting area - that's why I keep suggesting that you go back and start at the beginning of our Part 1 post and reread what is already there.

I'm beginning to wonder about your surgeon. They should have provided you with some guidance, not just sent you home. Most people are given an idea of a diet to follow. Everything must slide down easily so that it does not stretch the wrap or get stuck.

The information below is a guide, not gospel. To give proper credit and not infringe on copyright rules, I'm letting everyone know I found this on a web site posted by Dr. Fusco. I am not giving the exact web site because I don't want to break rules on this posting area. This diet is very similar to what I was given and what other doctor/hospital sites have provided online. Because you don't seem to have any diet information from your own doctor, I'm hoping this will help.

-------------------------------------------------------------
DIET FOLLOWING SURGERY -
Due to swelling of the wrap used to prevent your reflux, the following two short term effects are noted in most patients after reflux surgery:

Difficulty swallowing some foods.

Abdominal bloating and pain after eating foods that distend the stomach (gas bloat syndrome).

These symptoms last from two to six weeks. The following diet instructions minimize these symptoms by alerting you to foods that tend to be difficult to swallow or distend the stomach.

STAGE 1: CLEAR LIQUID DIET
When to Start: Night of Surgery. Later, drop back to STAGE 1 if you have problems with STAGE 2.
Your Diet:

Small meals of clear liquids 3-4 times daily.
Avoid extreme temperatures.
Drink slowly.
Allow cold foods to melt in mouth.
No carbonated drinks for 3-4 weeks!

STAGE 2: SOFT DIET
When to Start: Morning after surgery. Continue at this stage for 3 weeks after surgery or as tolerated.
Your Diet:

Soft foods (foods you could eat if you didn't have teeth).
Eat or drink slowly over a 1-hour period until you feel full.
Chew your food well.
Drink fluids with food to keep food moist.
Limit the following "gas-forming / irritating" foods. Tomato products, peppermint, black pepper, caffeine, alcohol, onions, green peppers, "gum chewing", menthol, fatty foods, beans, spicy foods, nuts, citrus fruits, raw fruits, raw vegetables, fiber supplements.
Avoid breads, crackers, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, and French toast.
Avoid dry meats (like cold cuts).
No carbonated drinks for 3-4 weeks

STAGE 3: TRANSITION TO REGULAR DIET
When to Start: about 3 weeks after surgery.
Your Diet:

Soft diet as above.
Begin introducing more challenging foods one at a time.
If they cause symptoms, avoid them and try reintroducing them at a later date.
Drop back to Stage 2 as needed for bloating or difficulty swallowing.
For bloating try taking GAS-X® (available over the counter) with meals.
No carbonated drinks for 3-4 weeks

STAGE 4: REGULAR DIET
When to Start: 6 weeks after surgery
Your Diet:
Regular healthy diet