HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Bea's post op laproscopic fundoplicationn Part 1 of 2

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic locked
1 2 34 5 6
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/18/2009 2:46 AM (GMT 0)

ok bill

you will be home in no time buddy!!

B

Posted 5/18/2009 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
How is it going with you? I'd love to hear (and I'm sure others would as well) just where you are in the recovery process.
Hope all is well. You sound great!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 5/18/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
If the barium swallow doesn't show any leaks I should get to go home tomorrow.

Bill
Posted 5/18/2009 11:24 PM (GMT 0)
That's great, Bill. We'll all be keeping our fingers crossed! Did you already have the test? You've been through a lot...it'll feel good to get home and start recovering.
Keep us posted.
Denise
Posted 5/19/2009 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Guys,

  wow Bill, I am so happy for you.get rest though.I'm wondering now why they didnt do a barrium swallow? Denise, my progress is good. I will know on wednesday when I see the surgeon how much weight I lost and when can i officially eat .Memorial day is coming up. I wanna indulge slightly lol

take care Bill & denise

b

Posted 5/19/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Bea,
I'm glad to hear you're doing so well. Can't wait to hear what the surgeon tells you about eating. I'm visiting my GI doc tomorrow for the first time since my surgery.

I'm back on an antibiotic and prednosone for my stupid allergies. The tree pollen is killing me. Consequently, I've got some gastritis back, and the accompanying diarrhea. Fun. Oh well...it'll go away when my stomach gets feeling back to normal. Actually last night my stomach was killing me, but it felt better today. We shall see.

Bill,
Rest well. We're thinking of you. Can't wait to hear how the barium swallow went. Hopefully it will be your ticket out of there!
Take care.
Denise
Posted 5/19/2009 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
They're go9ng to do the test first thing in the morning. They had to staple 2 holes I had in my stomach and they have to be sure they aren't leaking. My surgeon stopped by and said the wrap wasn't done right the first time.

Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
hi bill,wow, maybe now you will enjoy memorial day. The next holiday u shud be coming along. Im going to ask my surgeon tomorrow why he didnt feel the need to give me a  barrium swallow. Good luck Denise with the GI

B

Posted 5/19/2009 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, Bill. At least there are doctors around who are skilled enough to fix the mistakes of others. It's too bad you had to suffer so long before getting it fixed. Hope the barium swallow goes well, and that everything is patched up fine.

Bea,
I didn't do a barium swallow after the surgery either...I had one in the fall as part of the testing procedure to see if surgery was a good option for me. I don't think they're routine.

Bill,
Did your doctor use a bougie to control the tightness of the wrap, or did they just do a loose wrap? It would be interesting to know.
How about eating? Have you started? Did they give you the right things on your tray?

Take care, both of you!
Denise
Posted 5/19/2009 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hey denise,

 I had the bougie wrap. Maybe this is why I can burp? He also said it was a classic wrap.

bill, Im wondering too about the bougie? It seems to be good practice here in Ny,however I dont think its mandatory.I think it should be if its not

B

Posted 5/19/2009 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I will have to ask him tomorrow which way they did it. I have a feeling it was done as a looose wrap, but I willl ask him. I haven't been allowed anything to drink or eat. They are waiting until they know there isn't a leak. I am just on iv pain meds. It actually is more painful this time than the last. I think that is due to the extra time it took and the repair of the holes. They also said I had a lot of scarring in there. I had suspected that. Also they did wait until I was in the OR before int8bating me. I asked before and he said my airway was large enough that he wasn't worried about it. It is strange having 3 different doctors ask you questions and tell me what w nt on. This is the first teaching hospital I have been to. The whole staff has been so nice and helpful. They were trying to get me a private room so my wife could stay with me, but they are all full. They are bending the rules and letting her sleep in the lobby on this floor. I feel so bad, she only got 3 hours sleep last night and she had to take my mother halfway back home to meet my sister and then drove back here. She has been up since 1am and just went to lay down at 9pm. She is exhausted. Thanks for listening, I have just been rambling. Not much else to do though.

Take care,
Billl
Posted 5/19/2009 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
its okay bill, we are here to ramble on to each other.I hope she gets sleep.My hospital made Dave leave at 10:30 the night of my surgery. I was sad. Hope u and the mrs get plenty of rest.nite

b

Posted 5/19/2009 10:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill,
With your long distance from home, it was a really good thing that your wife was able to stay there in the hospital. Been there, done that, so I'm sure--like you--she didn't get many winks of sleep.

I was reading about the use of bougies...there are some doctors who feel that they put your esophagus at risk of perforation--especially because the anesthesiologist usually places it. The article preferred the use of a loose wrap. The problem, I think, is that many doctors don't have the experience to feel comfortable "eyeballing" the wrap. They want it tight enough to keep the GERD at bay, but loose enough to allow comfortable swallowing.

It'll be interesting to know what your experience was. I know you're in a big teaching hospital, so that might be a place where they would use the loose wrap. I was in a teaching hospital, too. Actually, because of that, I made my surgeon promise that his hands would be the ones doing the wrap, with just assistance from his resident. I went to him because of his experience...I wanted him, not a newbie. I'm a teacher, I know that they need to experience the procedure to learn, but not on me! Not this time!

Good luck this morning. I hope everything goes well.
Denise
Posted 5/19/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)
My surgeon told me that he did this one. My wife didn't get much sleep last night either. She wasn't able to get comfy. She is here in my room dozing in the chair now.

I sure am not used to the teaching hospital thing. A bunch of doctors come around to see you. Even talked with ones who aren't even involved with me. Guess they are Just curiious. Some have a really surprised look when they find out I had this surgery before.

I made through the first 24 hours here! The resident says I can go home today if the barium swallow is good. But my surgeon says I am staying until tomorrow. He knows we live 3 hours away and I don't think he wants to take any chances. My wife thinks I should stay one more night just incase also.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Bill,

great advice.Stay put. You want everything done right. So far so good. Yes my surgeon did mine as well. He knew of my prior fears since my prior surgeon retired. Im glad your wife is sleepin. whats another day.

take care

b

Posted 5/19/2009 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Everything looked good on the barium swallow. No leaks or reflux! He is making me stay 1 more night just to be safe. I have to call him directly if I have a fever or soreness not associated with the incisions because it could be the staples coming out of my stomach.
Bea, he told me that he usually doesn't do a barium swallow afterwards , but mine wasn't a normal wrap. I fogot to ask him if he used a bougie or not. I think he just does it as a loose wrap though. He has done a lot of these though. I finally got to drink something! Wow apple juice is very tasty! I also had some warm tea. That felt good as it went past the wrap. My wife is sitting here eating a very large and very good smelling cheeseburger. She always does this.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
****. what I wouldnt do for that cheeseburger.steal  her cheesburger and mail me half. I will take off the cheese bit by bit just 2 eat it.lol. Glad the tea and apple juice are going down. I am more happy that the wrap was great.Im so happy. Did you have to drink the stuff for it? Sounds like the 3hour drive was well worth the doctors compassion & expertise. What about the NG tube? I dont even like saying the name nevertheless type it. it makes my hairs stand up. Did they remove it when you came out or do you still have one. Not that it matters because we do everything and anything to stay alive.However, I wanna cringe for you ,if its still in. As a sign of buddiness.lol Just put n your mind, yumm this tea taste like steak,yum yum. Your on your way.I gather he will make u try pureed now or even soft .Who knows,but this is great news.

Take care

B

Posted 5/19/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Bea,
As far as I know they didn't use an NG tube this time. They did wait to extubate me until i woke up though. Not nearly as bad as an NG tube. I am on liquids for the next couple days. Then I can go to soft foods.

Bill
Posted 5/19/2009 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Bill,

well they extubated me under the gun.Thank god for that. However that NG tube ugh. You know my story. I am glad your holding liquids down. I am so happy. I feel for your wife as I did my hubby.But this is why we marry,through sickness and good health.My turn will come around soon enuff I prefer the furthest away.Its great to have a great spouse and family.Nothing replaces that.

B

Posted 5/20/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bill and Bea,
Glad your barium swallow came out fine, Bill. It's probably a good idea to spend another night...the stomach issue isn't something to fool around with. It won't be all that long before you'll be eating your own cheeseburger! You know, I was always under the impression that fundo redos had to be done as an open surgery. I'm so glad that isn't necessarily so.

I just went to my GI doc today--the first time since my surgery. He was very pleased that I haven't had a lot of trouble swallowing. I told him of my concerns that my asthma/allergy issues will cough out my hernia repair. He said that the worst case scenerio, I could get a redo. That's when I asked him if it was done as open or lap. He said, emphatically, that it would be done laproscopically. That makes me feel better, because I can see myself back in surgery again, because I definitely put a lot of stress on the hernia. I just hope things stay good for a reasonable amount of time. I don't want to be doing several redos a year! Heaven forbid!

He wants to do a colonoscopy, because he has never done one on me...I had another GI doc who did it--along with an endoscopy. When I asked if he would do an endoscopy, he said he wouldn't touch my wrap as long as it doesn't need stretching...that they can be a bit touchy so soon after surgery, and he wouldn't want to do anything to harm it. Thank goodness he knows to leave well enough alone!

Bea,
Hope all is well with you...you sound like you're doing great. You go to your surgeon soon, don't you? Let us know what he says. I'm so glad you've gotten such great results with your asthma. That's another thing my GI doc said--that in my case, where the GERD was inflaming my lungs for so many years, I may still see more improvement over time. Healing takes a while. My allergies are horrible right now, and have triggered more asthma. It is frustrating. I had about 3 weeks of perfect lungs. That's the best I've experienced in years. I just can't wait to get back to that again. It'll be a while...tree pollen, then grass pollen. Bummer.

Bill,
Get some rest tonight, and have a good trip home. Glad you're on the other side.

Best wishes to you both!
Denise
Posted 5/20/2009 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Denise,

2moro I go to the surgeon. I hate the po;;en allergies etc.But for some reason Ive been so fine it worries me. I am hoping to never have to get a redone, gerd symptoms and asthma. I will follow up 2moro. Glad to hear ur well

love

B

Posted 5/20/2009 5:29 AM (GMT 0)

Bill...glad to hear that all went well !

Take care....

Posted 5/20/2009 8:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone -
I made it home and it is much easier to read this on a computer monitor than a PDA. I couldn't believe how many times I messed up tying with that thing. Thanks for all the well wishes and support. I am sticking to a full liquid diet for a few days then I can start adding soft foods as I feel up to it. I can't believe how different this one is compared to the first one. I have about half the pain and I have had no issues with swallowing this time. Of course my energy is quite low, but over all I feel better now than I did before surgery. He showed me a diagram of how the first wrap was done and that showed why my stomach hurt so much all the time. I am a FIRM believer now that getting a highly qualified and skilled surgeon is key for this surgery.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 5/20/2009 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
amen Bill AMEN!!
Posted 5/22/2009 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
Well I managed to get myself readmitted to the hospital. I felt so great yesterday and this morning I woke up with a horrible knot in my stomach and unbelievable pain. After a few phone call my wife took me back to Chicago. They were pretty positive I had something leaking in my belly. The ct shows only a small amoint of fluid. My white cell count is around 20,000. So I am back on iv only to see what happens. The wrap is great, I can swallow better than ever. Just have to get past this. I can't believe how different I feel today vs yesterday .

Take care,
Bill
✚ New Topic locked
123456