HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Nissen procedure

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/3/2009 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
HI all, I just underwent the Nissen Wrap on the 22nd.  I had a huge opening in my diaphragm and a major portion of my stomach was moving into my chest.  Probably a congenital problem. Very few symptoms.  The problem was found when I had my gallbladder out.  I can already breathe better, but healing is slow.  I assume becasue so much work had to be done.  The surgeon said it was a great success.  I am still taking mostly liquids and some baby food and pureed stuff.  Does anyone have experience with how long it takes to get back to a regular diet?  My stomach is rumbling like crazy.  I guess it is just adjusting to all the changes.  So far I am optomistic.  I am 62 and otherwise in great health.  ALso energy level gets low.  I am slowly getting back to normal activity, but bending overcauses discomfort.  Not a lot of pain though.  I am ususally a very active person and am getting antsy to get back to normal stuff.  anyone from similar age group with experience with this?  Good luck to all.

Mariacarole

Posted 8/3/2009 3:21 AM (GMT 0)

Mariacarole,

 

Hey there, this is Kitt and welcome to the GERD/Heartburn Forum. 

I am so glad to see you found us.  Also it sounds like your surgery was very much needed and you are doing excellent.  Thank you so much for sharing as hearing the good outcome is always an inspriation for the members here in this wonderful forum.

Please know we welcome you with open arms.

Take care and stick with us.

Kitt

Posted 8/3/2009 7:21 AM (GMT 0)
Mariacarole,
After both of Nissens I was allowed to eat any soft food I wanted to after about 5 days. The key is to chew it VERY well. As Denise says "Chew it to a liquid". Stay away from breads though. That is the last thing you want to reintroduce to your diet. The stomach noises are normal. My last Nissen was done on 5/18/09 and my stomach is till making goofy noises.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/3/2009 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
HI And good morning, Happy Monday. Thanks for the welcome and thanks to those who shared. It makes things easier to know that you are not alone in this, Have a good week and good luck to those who have a surgery planned. I appreciate the advice about bread. I think i had read that. We are all better off without bread anyway!
Mariacarole
Posted 8/3/2009 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Maria-
I forgot to add that if and when you add bread to your diet, toasted bread is easier to get down. Not completely sure why, but both of my surgeons said it is and that was my experience with it.

Bill
Posted 8/4/2009 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery on the 29th and have alot of pain also. And bending over...say something is on the ground, wow its very hard and painful. I feel constantly bloated. How about you?
Posted 8/4/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mariacarole,
I'm 57 and had the surgery on February 27th. I know every surgeon has a different protocol, but mine had me go home from the hospital to soft food, and after 5 days, when I saw him, moved to any food that could be chewed to a liquid. That gives you a lot of leeway. You just have to make sure that you take small bites, and chew, chew, chew. You'll be able to eat most things, which makes life a lot better! I remember in the beginning I would nibble on the crust of bread...at Olive Garden I ate the creamy chicken soup, and nibbled the crust off of the breadsticks. I don't know what you're experiencing, but I could eat VERY little in the beginning. After about 3 months, my stomach capacity was much closer to normal. Now I think I can eat pretty much what I always did.

Your GI tract has been revised, so you'll expect some adjustment. I have a very reactive stomach, and since my wrap is made from stomach, whenever it gets irritated, my stomach starts complaining. At times the food won't stay in my stomach, and just dumps right into my intestine. That's when I get the really loud grumbling sounds. I get diarrhea at those times. It's not all the time, though, and it seems like there's no consistency in the types of food that sets it off. Wow, though, when my stomach/intestine starts complaining it is LOUD! Generally, though my stomach is doing really good.

I'm back to totally normal activity...actually, after my second visit to the surgeon, (sorry, I can't remember when that was), he released me to do absolutely anything I wanted to do. I tried not to lift heavy weight until after 6 weeks, since I'd heard of that restriction for hernia surgeries.

I had the surgery to try to improve uncontrolled asthma. After a few bumps due to pre-surgery lung problems, I'm doing great. My asthma is under control, and I'm not coughing and wheezing. I wish I had gotten the surgery years ago.

It sounds like you really needed the surgery! I'm glad you've done so well. Welcome the GERD forum! I hope you continue to post your progress on the forum. If you have any questions, I'm sure the great members here will do their best to answer them!
Good luck, Mariacarole!
Denise
Posted 8/4/2009 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
HI Denise, Thanks so much for all the information.  I am being really careful.  I get some bloating after I eat, so I think I should probably eat even smaller meals.  It's funny about all the chewing.  You would think it would be easy to do, but it has to be so deliberate, so I have to keep reminding myself.  The noise is loud.  Actually, I had a bit of a noisy stomach the last couple of years as the situation got worse.  I know that I am breathing easier.  I had just gotten used to occasionally gasping.  I know it is quite a trauma to the stomach so I shouldn't be impatient.  I have no problem with swallowing and before I choked very often, kind of like things going down the wrong pipe and it would happen when I wasn't ingesting anything, just a fit of choky coughing. I am so grateful that the swallowing is going well. I am so glad to have found this site.  I was finding all kinds of really weird stuff and most of it was several years old.  My surgeon does mostly lap band weight reduction surgery.  I think with all his experience in that field, this made him very confident about this surgery which he has done less.  It is kind of a rare surgery really, not like tonsils or gallbladder etc which lots of people have had, so it was harder to find information about it.  Even all the doctors I have seen in the last couple of years had different opinions or didn't know anything about what to do about it, so it was disheartening.  I figured out that the doctors I felt the best about all thought I should have the surgery especially since I am not getting any younger.  Thanks again for sharing.  I am feeling better every day and really forcing myself to rest since I don't go back to work for about 3 weeks, I think I will be much improved by the 21st. My daughters came and helped me the first week and the one who lives closest  came back this weekend to change sheets and help out and visit. That was really helpful.   I have had some diahrrea also, but then I always did! Such a learning experience!  Have a great week.  Happy almost Tuesday.

Mariacarole

t

Posted 8/4/2009 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Mariacarole,
You've got a great attitude, and that's half the battle (more than half, actually). There will be changes with the surgery, but it is such an improvement from what we experienced before the surgery that it is worth it. I think that some surgeons/GI docs don't prepare patients properly for the post surgical experience. That's why these type of (positive and supportive) forums are so important. I researched everything myself before the surgery, so knew just what to expect, and the ins and outs of what to do. Also, keep in mind that it takes a full year for the complete healing to take place. Our stomachs and GI tracts have to get used to the changes that were made.

I'm working hard to prepare our house for sale, so I'm not on the forum as much as I'd like, so if I don't respond right away, be patient. I'll be back! We members of (as Bea calls it) the "Wrapped Club" have to stick together!

Take care, rest up, chew carefully, and have a great week!
Denise
Posted 8/4/2009 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mariacarole,

 I am not the originator of "welcome to the wrapped club" That belongs to Bill, who welcomed me wit it. I will again greet you "welcome to the wrappe club" I have a thread going with my pre/op and post op. I was so freaken ansy about everything but They taught me patience although I do sometimes go out on a limb/ Good luck to you

Bea

Posted 8/4/2009 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Nexium for 9 yrs. & have the beginnings of asthma, I think--wheezing @ times, running out to air when I speak a sentence. How does one know if a Nissan procedure is needed? What symptoms did you, Dencha, & Mariacarole have? I'm frightened, & want off Nexium. I have also developed alot of bone prbs. too which I've read Nexium can be a culprit. I know I have a small hiatal hernia & am overweight. HELP!!
Posted 8/4/2009 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hoosiergrandma, My problem was a large hiatal hernia without dramatic symptoms.  I did have damage to my esophagaus but no relfex that I felt.  SInce there are not many Surgeons around who do this surgery, it is good to try to find one or two who have experience. Sometimes the medical school hospitals have a group or a few who do a lot of these surgeries.  A lot of surgeons still feel it is best to open your chest. My surgeon does a lot of lap band surgery laparoscopically so he does the nissen too.  I think it is important to get more than one opinion.  It is frustrating dealing with all the symptoms and I think the anxiety of that makes it worse too. It is my understanding that the surgery is also done for those who want to discontinue all the powerful medications and get rid of their reflux whether they have a hernia or not. You might look for reputable physicians who do the weight reduction surgery.  THey may also be experienced with the nissen or may know who has a good reputation. Since it is kind of a rare surgery, most surgeons know who specializes in the nissen.  THat's what I found here in Modesto CA.  Modesto is about 200,000 people but has lots of hospitals since it is a central city in a large farming area.  I had a  trusted and admired surgeon who removed my gallbladder whom I asked for a referral .  (I was surprised that many if not most of the general surgeons don't do this surgery) He referred me to someone who does the surgery and he assisted him, so I felt pretty confident with them.  It is never an easy decision.  I was also anxious to stop taking aciphex. Good luck finding the right fit for you.

. Mariacarole

Posted 8/4/2009 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
hoosiergandma, My doctor ran a bunch of tests and determined that I needed the surgery. I decided not to do the Nissen but the EsophyX procedure. I'm waiting to hear back from the doctor who specializes in it for the go ahead.

Joy
Posted 8/6/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all, Today was a good digestive day(such interesting stuff). I was having a lot of bloating and discomfort after eating so I decided to cut way back on the milk products: pudding, ice cream cheese. I ate applesauce today and some plain yogurt since it doesn't have lactose like pudding. Also, I drank more soy milk(I notice someone else mentioned soy milk before as being positive). I also got some of those baby food sausages.They are gerber graduates 'lil sticks and actually pretty good. They kind of melt in your mouth, but are high protein which my dietician daughter says I need more of to heal well. Just tiny little amounts throughout the day. I am starting to think about food way too much. Two weeks today since surgery. I have lost some weight, but can't really have anything fitted around the waist. Even things I was wearing before. Too uncomfortable to zip up jeans and slacks so luckily I have dresses which I like to wear to work. I have to go back on the 21st. I guess the stomach sensitivity will get better with time. Just thought I would share the change in diet and how it seems to have been easier to digest things with less milk. Also, I did some vaccuming with a very light weight vac and that seems to bother me too, so it will have to wait. I noticed someone said they had pain when bending over. I think that is something you should avoid as much as possible. I did some one day last week with laundry and the dryer and was very uncomfortable so I try to just squat down and go straight up so there's no pressure on the middle or put it off as much as possible. As you can see, I have a lot of time on my hands. I have been driving and went to visit a friend who is having a medical procedure tomorrow. It was good to get out. I am forcing myself to lie down and to stay in bed in the morning way past my usual getting up time. Just doing the basics. Feeding the animals and watering plants. So good luck to all whatever stage you are in pre,post or just debating. Thanks for all your sharing.
Mariacarole
Posted 8/6/2009 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mariacarole,
Hope your dietary changes help you feel more comfortable. You're only two weeks post op, so you've got to expect some difficulties with swallowing and some strange wrap sensations. My surgeon told me that my wrap would become progressively more swollen for the first two weeks--peaking at two weeks--then the swelling would begin to go down. I followed that pattern exactly. Things got harder and harder to swallow, but then subsided as time went on. I remember going to eat at Panera Bread and only being able to eat a half an egg souffle. If you know the size of them, they're not very big. I was only able to eat about a quarter cup of food at a time. That's pretty normal.

Be patient...your eating will continue to improve over time. I'm five months post op, and can eat most anything. Tomatoes seem to give me problems, and I thought salads, but I had one for dinner tonight and did fine. Occasionally I have an episode of stomach dumping, when what I eat gets "dumped" into my intestine, and it makes loud grumbling. I'll have diarrhea afterwards for a day or two. From what I hear, it's a common post-op experience. It doesn't really bother me, because it doesn't happen all the time.

Be sure to continue to take small bites and chew carefully. It sounds like you're being super careful. If you eat gassy foods, Beano seems to work well for avoiding gas. You just chew two or three tablets just before eating.

Good luck, Mariacarole!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 8/6/2009 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hoosiergrandma,

Sorry I didn't respond to your post sooner! I had the surgery because my family and asthma doctor felt that my asthma was made worse by GERD. I was wheezing, and coughing lots of mucous up daily. I needed to use my nebulizer twice a day for an entire year. I was even hospitalized for GERD related asthma. I was taking Protonix 40 mg twice a day, and still getting breakthrough heartburn.

I was afraid of the surgery, so I put it off for about 4 years. I just wish I'd done it years sooner--before the steroids caused permanent damage (thin skin that bruises and tears easily, for one thing).

I didn't have the very high incidence of reflux (based on the 24hr PH monitor) that may here have had. Mine was just enough to keep my lungs inflamed. My GI doc even felt that bile reflux could harm my lungs and induce asthma.

I have been on PPI's for close to 20 years. To make things worse, my asthma problems have required me to take prednosone and inhaled steroids--also very hard on bones. The last bone density I had showed a lot of bone loss over the last two years. I have osteopenia in my back, which is moving towards osteoperosis. Not good. I'm hoping that it will improve as I reduce my intake of steroids and PPI's. I'm still taking one dose of Protonix 40mg once a day (I was taking it twice a day), because my stomach is very reactive and gets irritated easily. I'm going to soon try to wean off it...taking it every other day for a month, then stop. We'll see how it works. I'll probably take it intermittently, whenever my stomach is acting up.

Good luck finding a solution to your problem.
Posted 8/6/2009 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Mariacarole-
I forgot to mention the other day that I also have switched to soy "milk" and have had a huge improvement with bloating/ digestive issues. I am glad you tried that. I only started trying it about 2 weeks ago, but it has made a huge difference. I have been tested for lactose intolerance, but it was negative. I think our stomachs need some babying for a while after this surgery. It really is a huge change to the system. I am glad to hear today was a better day. It seems once you get past the 3 week mark or so things start getting better quickly.
Denise and Bea have a lot of good stuff on their posts after surgery. Unfortunately mine was uncommon due to they way my first surgery was done. I hope the unusual complications I had won't deter anyone from this surgery.

Hoosiergrandma, There are some very specific tests that needs to be done to see if you are a good candidate for this surgery. They usually want a PH study and monomatry test done at minimum. Of course they usually do the EGD to see if there are any other problems like Barretts. Some also want a barium swallow test done to see if there are any strictures and they can also see the reflux and hiatal hernias with this. I have had so many of these darn tests I forget which ones where actually to see if surgery was the route to go.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/13/2009 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
Mariacarole,

Congratulations on your 3 week anniversary. I am glad you are doing well and the skinny clothes sure sound good to me................ turn   smilewinkgrin

I am so glad you have joined us and your support of the other members is awesome so keep on posting and do keep us up to date on your own progress.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 8/14/2009 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
yay skinny it up!
best wishes
griff:)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply