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2 Week Follow up from the Nissan fundoplication surgery

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Posted 5/20/2009 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Guys,

Just came back from  the surgeon's office. I am doing great.He said "It was a very quick easy classic wrap in which he foresees longevity with." I am so happy. He said "I can eat whatever I want as long as its in moderation as in 5x a day versus 3 big meals". So I came home and ate a half of turkey sandwich on white bread. I also had 3 sips of pepsi with a glass of water. I am doing okay. I lost 13 pounds :( .I really wanted to lose 20 -25 but If I eat the right foods ,I may reach my goal. The best thing is, I will be out on disability until July 12. Ooo I am so happy. I couldve went back next week but we both agreed I should not rush it. Not to mention 2 years ago I had double surgery ,gall bladder and inguinial hernia and went back within 2 weeks like a freaken idiot.I definitely did not give myself enough time to recooperate.This time though, I am not being the pig headed stubborn Irish woman that I use to be. I am open for change /suggestions lol.I will not dive into Rachel Rays food chain yet LOL. I want to enjoy memorial day BBQ, so I decided to eat very light until then.Baby myself.

I did not need a barrium swallow because ,I had no issues with swallowing and maintaining liquids & pureed. so there was the answer to that question.I continue to see my GI and in 6months I will need an endoscope to see how the wrap is doing. I am not on any PPI's,nor any asthma meds like singuliar,prednisone or my inhaler. My lungs are clear even with my smoking :) I gotta stop smoking soon. I can burp without any problems. Small ones but I can burp and I f i cant it goes out the other way,Just a little bit of a bang lol.

so overall ,I am happy & blessed with this new gift of life because prior to this surgery,I was dead in the gerd world. lol

Have a nice day,

Bea

 

Posted 5/20/2009 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
WOW YOU HAVE GIVING ME SO MUCH HOPE...IM SO VERY HAPPY FOR YOU...WISHING YOU THE BEST
Posted 5/20/2009 8:13 PM (GMT 0)
Bea -
Great news. I made it home finally. 3 hours car ride was much longer than 4.5 hours of surgery.

Bill
Posted 5/20/2009 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bill,
I am glad all is well and yes michele there is hope. od Bill, remember I use to sound like her.But you guys helped me immensely.Now I have to keep the ball rolling. Yes do the liquids to keep it safe. Get some rest.Baby your wife,she needs rest2.
Take care,
B
Posted 5/21/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Bea,
I have to crack the whip on the kids for the next couple days. They need to help her out a lot. I told her to call tomorrow and take vacation days for this weekend(she works weekends only). After the three days she has had she deserves some R&R time herself.

Bill
Posted 5/21/2009 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
CRACK IT BILL!! I had to crack it here. My 2 girls that r home bria & kara ,16 & 17 have "lay & stay in their room blues" I had to crack the whip here.The night b4 my surgery I bleached and disinfected my whole entire place. I told them, when mommy comes home ,you guys must wash your cereal bowls etc. I will not be cooking so u must fend for your self. They said "Who is gonna cook for us?" I said uh, "maybe by chance you can cook, just by chance use a microwave maybe". Its called cereal 'sandwich soup week!! Its my own fault.Ive always always cooked big meals for them (I starved as a kid ) so its more mental LOL I have kids who do not eat takeout !! Then, Its like oh i picked up .There is a difference between picking up. You guys are grown, there should be no more pickin up puttin toyboxes.But again, It goes back to me. I did everything for them. My baby Bria would say ma, u need help,mma, dont pik that up but only then when they see me doing it.
Posted 5/21/2009 10:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bea,
Glad you had a good visit with your surgeon! Keep up the great work! Just don't get too frisky! You still need to be very careful with chewing and small bites. At nearly 3 months, I've still had a few moments when I've gotten some things stuck in my wrap. I stupidly and absently swallowed a mozzarella ball after not really chewing it enough (I don't think they can ever be chewed enough for someone recovering from a Nissen...). It got stuck, and my wrap felt spasmy until I finally got it down--eating/drinking to push it through. It wasn't the end of the world, but it did irritate it. Also, a pill I cut up got stuck--it had sharp edges and was a little too big. I actually knew it was risky, but thought it would be okay. When I stress my wrap in that way, it bothers me...not terrible, but probably not the best thing.

It's interesting that your GI doc wants to check your wrap at 6 months. You might want to question that if you're not having trouble. Just a thought. Mine doesn't want to touch the wrap at this point lest he do something to hurt it...unless something came up and I was needing a dilitation. My colonoscopy is just 6 months after my surgery, and I asked him if he was going to do one. He said that healing wraps are sometimes tricky.

Enjoy your new eating freedom. I loved it when my surgeon turned me loose to follow my own judgement. Just be sure to chew your food until it's basically already digested before you swallow. That's a good thing...the chewing is the most satisfying part of eating!

By the way...if you're needing to get back to taking calcium for bone health, you can get it in liquid. It's a bit expensive, but your bones are worth it.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, and celebrate your new eating and GERD freedom! I'm still struggling with my allergies and asthma, which is really tough, but it has nothing to do with GERD. I'm highly allergic, and just have to make it through this really high pollen time. I'm hoping my allergy/asthma doctor can adjust my serum next winter, so spring won't be so impossible for me. My husband just bought me another fan for school, so at least we can get the air moving. I wear a mask when I go outside with the kids, to prevent the pollen from getting to my lungs. The kids think I look pretty strange, but they'll get used to it. My son, who's a teacher, thinks I've got guts (he described it in a different way) to do that. It is a bit embarassing, but I'm letting it go. One little child thought I had swine flu!
Have a great weekend!

Bill,
So glad you're home and back on your road to recovery! You and your wife deserve some good R&R! You've waited a long time for this, and I wish you a smooth and happy recovery! I'm sure you'll be happy to get some rest...the hospital is IMPOSSIBLE! Don't forget to get up and walk around, though. Thanks for all you did to encourage me to have surgery and help me through it. Now it's my turn to be your cheerleader!
Take care and heal well!
Denise
Posted 5/21/2009 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Denise,
I dread the word "Swine Flu'. Im praying it doesnt reach this suburb of staten island. Its all over Queens,NY. Thank god my grandmother moved down to Florida yes ago and most her children followed her. (Although she is deceased) I wouldnt want to visit my family,Matter fact"I wouldnt visit them".
As for my surgeon, because" I was so ansy and I drove him bananna's about wraps, revision, how wil we no etc ,he will ask the GI to do the endoscope." The GI wont be touching the wrap,just going down to take pics. I will feel better that they do.However, It is obvious ,It was successful but I have always been a pessimist. Its a mental thing, 2 really no!
Last night, I tried 1 latel spoon of white rice, 1 half latel of string beans and one piece of fried chicken. I did good.I was full though halfway into the meal. I learned a new slogan "I finally have food control" LOL
I hope your allergies clear up. I am starting to have the drip now. I hope it gets cleared up sooner then later.
Thanx
B
Posted 5/21/2009 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
You know, you don't have to worry about your wrap being a problem unless you have symptoms. You can trust that all is well until something isn't! Why put your self through that for no reason! You're sure he's not going to try to go through the wrap? Is it really worth it? Remember how worried you were before the surgery...now all is well. As long as things go along smoothly, Bea...it's your choice, obviously, but I feel for you! Of course, you can feel sorry for me in August when I'm getting my colonoscopy!

Thanks for the good wishes about the allergies. They're really making me sick. Can't wait till the spring pollen season is over.
Have a wonderful weekend! I have a four day vacation because we didn't use all our snow days.
Eat well! (and carefully!)
Denise
Posted 5/22/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Hi denise,
maybe your rite. I just wanna see what I look like inside.lol. just kidding. I tried 4 sips of pepsi. I was dying for it.We always want what we cant have in life. I havent had any repercussions, but i will not push it.That was good to quench my all and all. I had cheerios with 2percent milk for breakfast.Lunch i had a quarter of a peanut butter sandwich, then for dinner i had 3/4 of rice with a very small piece of cube steak cooked so slow it fell apart. I am doing great.I have learned to chew and chew and chew and chew and chew until it is liquidfied.lol Thanx for all your help. Where do you live again? Here in NY Mayor bloomberg never closes schools in the snow!! UGH!!! But at least he is closing them for swine flu. Maybe thats where all the unused snow days since he was elected is being used for the swine flu.
take care and enjoy your time off
Bea
Posted 5/22/2009 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
I live in central NY...I'm your upstate neighbor! I'm so glad you're doing well. I knew you would. You had a good surgeon, and that's what it takes. You're lucky to live in NYC, where the medical facilities and personnel are so good. I was told by my GI doc that if I went to NYC or Boston, I could find a surgeon that had lots more experience. He did, however, feel very comfortable with the surgeon he recommended, who had had 300+ lap nissens under his belt. I did tell my surgeon, though, that I wanted HIM, not his resident to do the surgery. I'm a teacher, and know the importance of providing hands-on experience, but not on my lap nissen!

Glad you're having such a good time eating. I don't know when it happened, but I've gotten so I can eat lots. Too much! I'm starting to eat too fast, although I don't notice many problems with my wrap--just that fresh mozzarella ball that got stuck. That wasn't fun!

Have fun this weekend! Enjoy your eatathon!
Denise
Posted 5/22/2009 3:04 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Bea,

I am so glad you are using the site to help talk through all your good moments as well as your not so good.  Talking is great therapy.  Sharing with a friend is a great stress reducer so keep it up.

I have been following your posts.

I wish you peace,

Kitt

Posted 5/22/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitt & Denise,

Please i want to keep on thanking all of your guys here janice,wendi,bill etc .I had very scarry thoughts and you guys all assisted me in my fears. I will now pass on my wrap knowledge to the next.WE MUST KEEP thE bAll ROLLIn!! thank you guys

B

Posted 5/24/2009 2:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi guys,

 Well 2day I am off to my brother's house for a (small) BBQ.As he calls it.He says 2moro's will be the better 1. Yesterday I ate 2x. Once in the a.m.Eggs and 1 sausage. I ate one seving spoon of rice and beans with a small piece of fried chicken cutlet.(less then a quarter of a cutlet) Then,I ate a hamburger last night @ 9;30pm.A bubba burger.It was soaked with ketchup.I ate it on regular white bread vs a roll.I took off all excess bread and basically made a bun out of the bread. It went down very good but i had to chew chew chew.Not to mention I used a half bottle of ketchup lol.

I do feel weak @ times and am sore.I keep walking to minimize it.I am just updating everyone on post op recovery.

thanx

b

Bill,

as always you have the forum cheerin your speedy recovery.

B

Posted 5/24/2009 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
Have a fun weekend, and enjoy your picnic food! At your stage in the game, I found toasted bread a necessity. Regular bread tended to make my wrap more spasmy. Watch out for melted mozzarella. Mozzarella in general might be a problem. Raw tomatoes seem to bother me. The skin, I think.
Enjoy!
Denise
Posted 5/25/2009 1:08 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Denise,

 Today I ate a hamburger again on bread but I removed the crust.It was extra soggy with the ketchup. I had two spoons of potato salad. a full can of pepsi BUT over a 3 hour period.No longer can chug one of them down. I really dont miss it or rather my mind lets me know dont do it lol. My brother made a few other things ,but i didnt attempt.

Tomorrow is my brothers big barbercue, I wanna try a shish kabob maybe but I have self control.Hope u r enjoyin ur extended weekend.

Best wishes, oh we have a newbie on here.our pool is getting bigger.we are not alone!! LOL

Bea

Posted 5/26/2009 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Guys,

 I am way to full to type what I ate again on here. I posted it on the posting that says post op etc etc

happy memorial day to all my friends on here, to all our service men and women and to any of your family memebers that have served in any or all wars!!! It is becuz of them, we can enjoy this day with family and friends.But always remember what they did for us.SACRIFICED & FOUGHT!!

Bea

Posted 5/27/2009 3:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I just had the surgery on Friday and I was told that I would be on liquid diets and soft foods like puddings and jello for a few months not weeks. And NO carbonation drinks.  She also told me I would have to eat pureed food (like meat and vegatables for the next 6 months.) I need to lose about 50 pounds so I figured what the heck. But she says that the gastro doctor will go back in with an endoscopy and check the healing of the wrap in 2 months and again in 4 months.  I figured I would lose a little weight but If I have to eat like this till December I will  hopefully lose a lot of weight.  I could stand to lose 50 pds, but I wonder why most of you are getting to eat solid soft foods and I am not.  I will ask my surgeon that when I see her next week.  The biggest thing I miss is my diet coke.  I love diet coke and I can't have any. I am not sure what happens if I drink it. Anyone know?

Debbie

Roanoke,Va

Posted 5/27/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie.

welcome to the official wrapped club.I got that from Bill who just had his wrap. I had mine on 5-7.If you go and read all my posts you will see where I am at, in this stage. My wrap was done with a "Bougie". While in the hospital, I maintained the liquids, then they tried me on pureed to test my wrap.went down well. I came home, followed my surgeon's directions. After 2 weeks ,I went to solids but ONLY WHAT I COULD TOLERATE. YOur wrap will let u know. You must moisten everything extra extra and sip lots of water.

Denise,Janice and the rest of the gang will fill you in.But u must nurse your wrap.You will know what you can swallow and cannot.

I had mine laproscopic,I have 5 holes.I am a little sore.However, I do not need an endoscope to see if its wrapped right. I have no problems and I am eaten. Please do ask the surgeon this. Also ,whoever is your surgeon,PLEASE BE SURE HE HAS DONE THIS PROCEDURE @ least 100 times. The better skilled surgeon,the better the wrap. Please make sure he has done the nissan fundoplication surgery over 100 times.

Please read other posts and you will get an earful,and a dictionary of knowledge fro all of us, our experiences and symptoms.

Thanx

Bea

Posted 5/27/2009 10:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Debbie,
Welcome to Healing Well. I'm sure you'll find lots of information, support, and encouragement here. Congratulations on your wrap! Now that you're on the "other side", you'll begin the healing process and enjoy the benefits of being GERD-free!

All surgeons are different in their approach. Before surgery I read about a variety of post-nissen diets. I expected to be on liquids and soft foods much longer than I was. My surgeon put me on soft foods after one night in the hospital. When I met with him five days post op, he told me I could use my judgment--and could eat anything that could be chewed to a liquid. That leaves a lot of leeway! Small bites and lots of chewing! Did he send you home with liquid pain meds? It sometimes amazes me that doctors who recommend chewing to a liquid will send patients home with hard horse-pills!

I do know that some doctors are stricter about foods than others. Maybe you can approach this with him/her. You do need to be EXTREMELY careful about what you eat. You don't want to get a big chunk stuck. While it's not the end of the world, it can be stressful. Teala, here on the forum, describes this situation as a "hairball", and explains that it is coughed up like one.

I don't understand why your doc sees the need to check the wrap endoscopically if you aren't experiencing any problem. You might question him on that. My GI doc would not touch my wrap with endoscopy unless I am having difficulty, for fear that he might do something to harm it.

The main thing you need to do is relax into the recovery. Surrender to the process. Fighting it only makes it more difficult. It sounds like you have a great attitude!
There are lots of experienced post-nissen members on this site.
Be sure to start a new topic on the front page if you have any questions and would like input from others!
Good luck to you! Glad you joined us!
Denise
Posted 5/30/2009 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi debbie,
how is it going!!

HI DENISE,MY MENTOR MUAHZ!!! Im throwing you a kiss, muahz.How is the allergies and asthma going. I hope if its there its minimal.
lol
Bea
Posted 5/30/2009 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bea,
Thanks for the shout-out! Actually, my allergies and asthma are better--not perfect, but better. My voice is still hoarse (it always is in springtime--not good for a second grade teacher who needs to talk all day), but my asthma is much improved. I am still doing my neb treatment morning and night, but I could probably skip it. I just don't want to have any mucous trapped...I don't have much mucous (the pollen is still irritating, but my lungs are handling it), but there is a bit. No wheezing, but when I do the treatment, I do cough up some stuff, so I'll continue it a bit longer.

I still stay indoors with the windows closed, and wear a mask outdoors. I'm quite a sight out on the playground with my mask, but I'm not proud. I just want to stay healthy. Pretty soon the grass pollen will be flying, too. Fun. We'll see how that goes.

I would say that my lungs are the best they've been for years--even with the bit of allergic reaction. I'm amazed at how much the surgery did for me. It was all I had hoped for--actually I didn't dare hope for this much! My doctors were so right when they pushed me in the direction of surgery. What a difference! Thanks for asking!

And you? Still enjoying lots of interesting foods? Don't worry...whatever you can't eat now will be on your menu very soon!
Have a great weekend, Bea!
Denise
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