Part 3 of POST OP LAP NISSEN...Please continue to post!!!

I would guess but I am not a doctor. I felt like something was in my throat constantly and then waves of strong contractions which squeezed my chest. There are 2 drugs that the PA for my surgeon said are commonly used for this. Neither is fool proof.  I actually found the article online which discussed them. Imipramine and Verapamil. The first is an antidepressant that works somehow and the other is a cardiac drug called a calcium channel blocker. The cardiac drug scares me a little but if it continues I will try it next. The esophagus has a lot of calcium channels in it and that is why is supposedly helps. Good luck to you and if it continues you may want to call. You can't go without food or drink. My primary care doctor just called me back and he told me to try a little Gaviscon. He thinks it is soothing on the esophagus and may help too. He said sometimes a little irritation can cause this type of thing. He told me Reglan is very unpredictable and it can cause strong contractions in some people. This would be bad for a Nissen. A little more knowledge

I do not know, Anyone?

Elaine, the gaviscon was a disaster. It foams and caused me more distress. No more for me. I will try mylanta or something. I just tried baby food fruit and it was really tasty. My neighbor suggested that one.

sillylilly - Thanks for that! I can cope with 4 weeks or longer if I know it will eventually subside!

I will just girt my teeth and bear it and NOT try the Gaviscon. Thanks for the heads up Sushan!  

Hi everyone, I just joined the forum.  I have been reading your posts regarding the Nissen surgery.  I have CF and had a double lung transplant in 1997.  As far as the lungs go, everything has been smooth sailing.  I am on a lot of medicines, but don't find that such a big deal since I've taken medicine all my life.  I am 43 and have been married for 17 years.  I have been having a lot of stomach issues on and off for about the last year.  It's gotten to the point where I have quite a bit of pain, nausea, diaharrea / constipation.  I am in the process of getting scheduled for an endoscopy, Upper GI, and gastric motility study.  I've had all these before, but probably 15 years ago is my best guess.  I have been taking Prevacid (last 15 years)and Miralax (since 2000) for my GERD/ IBS issues.  If I miss either one it's bad news.  Recently I can be eating and all of a sudden everything will come up.  Other times I feel so full and bloated, even when I haven't eaten anything.  I have a lot of pain in the very top of my stomach, below the breast bone and lower right side of my stomach, near the pelvic bone.  I know I have gastric paresis, I have to take a motility drug daily.  After reading the posts I'm wondering if the surgery, if recommended, is worth the lifestyle changes required.  I can put up with nausea and such....the only worry is that I will not absorb my immunosuppressants for my transplant.  Also, there is the worry I will aspirate into my lungs when throwing up.  I know my pulmonary doctor is a big supporter of the surgery.  It's even part of the protocal for transplant now.  They automatically perform the surgery 6-8 weeks after transplant.  Luckily, when I had mine it hadn't become part of the package.  Has anyone out there suffered from CF which has caused the progressive worsening of the digestion system?    If anyone has had a lung tranplant I would love to here your opinion when comparing the pain.  I've heard some people say it hurt worse than the tranpslant.  I guess after I go through these tests I'll know more.  I had the 24hr PH study years ago....doesn't sound like it's improved any.  I think of all the things I've had done over the years this was one of the worst.  Thanks for listening.  I appreciate any comments you may have.  I plan on visiting the forum often and keeping up with everyone.  One question.....what does it feel like when you need to throw up and can't?  That just seems so bizarre to me!!    ---Mary

2newlungs - Hi and welcome! I can vomit (what a word) and burp. Also I was aspirating into my lungs when I went to bed before I had the Nissen and now going to sleep is bliss. No waking up choking and no chest infections for weeks on end!

"the only worry is that I will not absorb my immunosuppressants for my transplant" - what makes you think that?

Sushan - Glad you are feeling heaps better! I have been feeling terrible for the last 2 days. The spasms are so bad and lasting for hours on end. I decided to take some Carafate yesterday and I am feeling much better at the moment so hopefully will be able to eat a bit better today. Everyone is on holiday here as it is bank holiday weekend. I will ring my surgeon if things haven't improved by Tuesday but am ever hopeful!

I usually post in the total colectomy portion of forum, because I had a T/C feb 20th. I have had two nissan wraps one in april 05, one in Sept 06 I guess I ripped it or it has slipped again, they want to do a third. I am still recovering from having ALL my large intestine removed.

Has anyone heard of someone going through this surgery twice, isnt there a limit of stomach they have to work with there? Im right back on the same two antiacids one antibiotic not lying after meals eating smaller meals and all is fairly easy being my intestines just got removed so I am still playing with my diet there.

I just want to know if this has happend to anyone else 3 nissans? When do you just say nomore and what happends now that theyve worked on that area created scar tissue and artifical stuff seems my symptoms are worse than before the first one.

Please HELP ME!
Angie

Bo Peep, I am on Carafate for 2 weeks. Since I have been taking it as recommended every 6 hours (in between meals), I have been able to eat almost anything. I haven't had a bad spasm for several days. I have tiny ones that really don't bother me and lord help me if I eat too big of a bite of something too fast, but that is normal stuff. I haven't tried meat that is not ground and I haven't tried raw veggies, rice and "tough" foods. I have also avoided the gas producing foods. I ate little bits of cuban bread with butter at a restaurant last night. I thought I ate a lot but when I looked at my plate I realized that my many pea sized bites ended up only being about 1/4 of a piece. Funny, I used to be able to gobble several whole pieces up before and with my meal. (this is a good thing to eat small, since I still need to lose about 15 more pounds!) I have actually been able to tolerate more liquid volume too. Another one of my secrets and this is something I did with the first Nissen on the advice of my surgeon was to chew up a 80mg simethicone tablet (We have generic Gas X chewables that are very cheap here) with meals. It really does seem to help and I did this for quite a long time. I think at least 6 months the first time and then I kept them on hand for whenever I needed them. Update me on your progress.

Susan 

How disappointing. The UK has unusual product names compared to what we are used to in the US. It is like Cream of Wheat? The other question is was the temperature hot when you ate it? Watch the cold and hot. You should ask your surgeon to look up Imipramine or Verapamil for the esophageal spasms. They used the Imipramine on me but I am weaned off of it now. There was a Dr. in Canada who wrote a paper on it.  You may find it on the internet. I know they are frustrating and they hurt. I hope they can find something for you soon. I have found that pureed foods were not always the best for me. I actually did better with a bowl of cheerios in milk and ate about 2 or 3 at a time and chewed them up. Good luck.

o Peep,

Hey gal, sorry that you are having so much trouble with the spasms.  How long ago did you have your surgery?  You should be getting better by now I would think.

After alot of research about the Nissen wrap I am opting for the Hill repair which is done in Seattle, Wa.  I live in Florida so it will be a long trip but I think it will be worth it.  The Hill is a different procedure which doesn't involve a wrap per se and the recovery and side effects are not as severe.  I just can't bring myself to have my stomach wrapped around my esophagus and the gas bloat issue is a big one I think.  The burping and vomiting is not an issue either for most people.   Also, I won't have to be careful about lifting weights or exercising like you do with Nissen because there is no wrap involved. 

I sure hope you get over the spasms soon girl.  Take care.

Sillylilly

Hi all! I was pretty good yesterday but not so good today. I am ringing my surgeon later so we will see what he suggests.

Sushan - Are you still feeling good?

sillylilly - Good luck with the Hill! How long will you have to wait to get it done?

I just spoke to the surgeon and he said to see how it goes until Thursday and if still no better to ring back. Another 2 days to wait. :(