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Had my surgery yesterday - Raphael - Part 1 0f 2 - Closed

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 8/14/2009 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rafael,
We'll never get sick of hearing about your day to day experiences. That's what we're here for! If you can maintain that new attitude of patience, it'll take you far. I think that most surgeons don't prepare their patients for what really comes after surgery. I researched the surgery for probably two years before finally having the courage to go forward with it. It's not an easy decision, that's for sure.

You're just a few days post op, so it's expected that things won't be all that comfortable. The surgery is very deceiving, because the incisions are tiny, and the outside of you heals quickly. You need to keep in mind that the inside was pretty much stirred up with an egg beater. You've got a brand new revamped GI tract. And to get that, there was a lot of surgical tools moving around inside you--no doubt stirring up lots of internal troubles. It's really normal to have pain, and to have a stomach that isn't happy with us at all!

We've all been there, and know what you're experiencing. That's the beauty of this forum. We're all here for you, because somebody was there for us when we needed the help ad support. I received so much information, suggestions, support, and encouragement, that I felt it important to stay around with my friends here and try to help other newcomers.

If you did any looking around the internet, I'm sure you came to the very negative and hysterical posts warning against ever having this surgery. It's tough to read this and still have the courage to go forward with the operation. Thankfully, our friends here are very supportive and encouraging. I knew that if people here were more than willing to have a redo surgery, it must be worth doing in the first place.

It's expected that you'll have some swallowing problems in the beginning. My surgeon said that the wrap becomes progressively more swollen in the first two weeks. It was helpful information for me, because it helped me realize the what I was experiencing was normal.

I hope you're pain free and having a good night!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 8/14/2009 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
We have a little more on common now. This all started for me when I was about 19 or 20. It started while I was in the Navy and they couldn't figure out what was causing my sypmptoms. I was 25 when I got out and finally got some answers when I was about 27 or so. I had my first Nissen at 35 and the redo at 38. I do understand how you feel about loosing years of your younger life to all the medical tests. I was there too. There really are a lot more younger people having this surgery than most doctors will say. I also believe there are a whole lot of infants and toddlers that have this surgery too.
Denise always said I had a very good postive attitude toward all this and I believe you do too. Keep a hold of that and never let it go. It will be very helpful over the next few weeks my friend. I also looked forward to getting on here when I was recovering. It is what kept me sane in the hospital all those long days. We mentioned something about the people here and how they will help others even when they need some uplifting themselves. This is a truely remarkable place and I am very proud to be a part of it and to have met all of these great people.
As long as you fel up to it, hang out here as long as you want and need to. But we do realize that some days are just bad and sometimes you may need to just curl up and find your own little space of peace.

What you felt the first couple days about not seeing a huge incision and not sinking in that it was major surgery happened to me both times. I kept looking at the little glued shut holes and thinking " that wasn't so bad". Then you realize your energy in gone and things take a bit more planning for a while. Anyhow, I'll stop running on here and get myself to bed.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/14/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Rlopez.
welcome to the wrapped club. Things will get better slowly.You must have patience which i never had until my surgery. Eventually swelling goes down and you test your insides to see what fits for that day.lol good luck and welcum again

Hi guys, miss u all
Bea
Posted 8/14/2009 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Good morning guys and thank you for the good read this morning. Its awsome to wake up and be able to read through 2 or 3 posts of people who really relate to you and care, though you have never met. It really gives me hope for the world we live in these days. It has changed the way I treat others as well.

I have been having trouble sleeping since I got home and the meds all wore out. I'm the kind of person that needs to "tire out" to get a good nites rest. Wend. nite I was a bit frustrated because I couldnt sleep. Last nite as I couldnt sleep I started to send myself off to places that make me happy. It worked and after my second nitely dose of Vicotin at 2am I fell a sleep.

I have allways been the "mile a minute" type of person and had lastly become verry iritated and grumpy before my surgery. I sufferd from depression for a while before my diagnosis and then took my self off of the meds to "deal with it". This surgery has done more for me than just fix my insides. It has tought me to stop and look at what I have. Popel who care, I meen. My wife, my 2 sons, my extended family and now you guys. People who care about me. And its awsome to care back and not be grumpy or in a bad mood all the time. Though I'm in pain, I'n finally enjoying life again. I never belived people could "turn a new leaf" or experience a life changeing moment because people usually dont wantto change. So they dont. Well I'm a believer now. Its funny where we find humility some times. But its great to find it!

Long gone are the days of suffering from Depression, Anxiaty Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Panic Attacks. At one point, as I was going through that I planned out the end of my life. But it was my wife who brought me back from those thoughts one morning over 2 years ago. She said she just knew what I was thinking and refused to leave me alone. And I thank her every day from there on out for doing so. She is my guardian angel and I love her.

Thank you guys! Life is good!!

Have a good day,
Rafael
Posted 8/15/2009 6:31 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Sounds like you have gotten a very good loving wife too. I would be at a complete loss without Michelle. She is definitely my rock to lean on. without her I would be a pile of goo in the floor. She makes sure We all get what needs to be done done! It all evolves around her. If she is sick we are screwed. She had drug me from places I should have never made it back from on my own. She was the one sho called the doctor and explained what wa happening here and forced him to see me that day. Of course when the doctor saw me he completely agreed I should have seen him a few days sooner, but I procrastinated that one. Long story short, if you have a good significant other who looks after iou, Thank Them often for they are the ones who keep you around.

Take care,
Bill

Post Edited (opnwhl4) : 8/15/2009 8:22:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/15/2009 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I've been out of the loop here lately, being distracted with new school year. Rafael, not all of us are old enough to be your parents. I could be your big sister though. :)
I'm glad you are getting better. Rest and take your time. I read that they cut certain nerves in your stomach before wrapping and stir up your insides with all the rearranging they have to do. It will take time and patience for you to get better.
I deal with my stress time by finding a nice quiet place, turn on soft music or a comedy show that makes me laugh and get something chocolate......relaxing until I feel like mixing with the world again.

Joy
Posted 8/16/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bill, I'm glad that we relate so much. It feels good to know that you arent alone in the world. As men our wife depends on us to take the role of a strong man, which I'm sure we both do. But with out th ewomen in our life it sounds like we suld both be lost in this world. I have never been ashamed to admit that I need my wife verry much. And I do let her know that regularly. And she respects me and loves me for it. Some people would take advantage of that though. I'm glad they dont.

Joy, I made the comment assuming that most people here might be older because of some old threads that I had read when i joined. I was also turned away by 2 doctors that claimed I was too young to need the surgery because I was too young. They passed it off as stress and depression.

Today I have had a lot of hunger pains. Seems like just after eating I'm hungry all over again. But I still cant eat more than 1/3rd cup or so. Eating close to a cup makes me feel like I ate a whole turky. I have been eating apple sauce and other mashed fruits. I also had a fruit cup last nite and it felt great. I tired the drinkable yogurt again and it aslo went well. I thinned it out of course.

Have a good evening,
Rafael
Posted 8/16/2009 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Unfortunately you will have to eat a lot more frequently for a qhile. I sure know about the feeling of eating a whole turkey. Seems just one more bite does it too. Have you tried oatmeal or something like that? It may stick wiht you a bit longer. My doctor recommended oatmeal or cream of wheat.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/16/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Raf, I'm not hurt. Everybody thinks I'm older in person. Why not online? :D

Joy
Posted 8/16/2009 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
I havent tried oatmeal because I'm afraid it will stick. Did you used to eat it with milk or water? I'll have to try that because I love cinnamon oatmeal. Or should I just stick with plain for now? I dont seem to respond bad to mild spices and salt.

I did how ever start eating boiled egg whites. OMG, I had my first this morning and ittasted like a million bucks! I had mashed potatoes yesterday too and that went verry well. I have been tempted to try some spinich pasta but I'm a bit scared to get ahead too fast. But I'm not having trouble swallowing. I can feel teh nissen "stretch" at times but not the feeling of having something stuck in my throat.

Last nite was the first nite I slep with out waking up in the middle of the nite. I hurt this morning because I didnt have my late nite dose of Vicotin. When I woke up my esophogus hurt like it used to when I had GERD. It burned but I think its because its still inflamed. I can feel it.

It seems like things are gong real well for me so far. I do get the feeling of wanting to have a bowel movement but nothing yet. I'm afraid to push at all.


Joy, I went 75% gray when I hit 31, so I know how it feels ;)
Posted 8/16/2009 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
I started graying at 17! I'm 40 now and am salt and pepper when I don't color. ;D

Joy
Posted 8/17/2009 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
well i got you guys all beat, when I was 6 years old sitting in the neurologist office for my epilepsy ,my little bro said :Mommy look missy has white hair and yanked it right out. Now, I do believe in myths and am one to prove it. He puled out 1 and 10 appeared. At 15 i was like whoa, do something. Now, I hold my brother to this until his death yes until his death.He prematurley grayed me with that one pull. lol

Raf, i have a wonderful husband as well. Sometimes I say to him, why are you with my crazy a** .I wouldve ben left me. lol get out while u have the chance.lol Its so important to the recovery phase. I use to think :I was nuts" I would say i know im feeling heart attack signs here, and they would send me home. Thank god I had this surgery and found me again.

Dont try that pasta yet. Wait. I ate so much mashed potatoes , oatmeal etc . Anyway if you read my thread it will show you what I ate etc but every1 is diff.good luck

Posted 8/17/2009 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
I agree. hold off on the pasta. It can get stuck easily. You should be able to eat any oatmeal you want to. I eat mine a little thinker than most and didn't have any problems. I also was eating scrambled eggs about a week after they let me out of the hospital. Then again that was about the 4th week ost op for me.

Bill
Posted 8/18/2009 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael
I appreciate all your posts. Wednesday I have my surgery and it is nice to follow along with your trip down recovery road.
Mary
Posted 8/18/2009 11:03 AM (GMT 0)
rlopez75

I am so glad you are doing so well.  Kudos to you and sharing your story with the other members is very kind of you and a great way of supporting others facing surgery.

Mary (K9) is headed into surgery tomorrow and I just this morning started her a thread to cheer her on.

I know she is going to do well too.

What a great bunch you all are.

Kitt

Posted 8/21/2009 12:16 AM (GMT 0)
How r u raf,

Hope all is well. Hope ur eating increased a bit

B

Posted 8/21/2009 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello every one! Sorry for not coming in here for a few days. I have been feeling better so I have been out of bed more and away from my laptop even more. The weather has been wonderfull here in Southern Cali. So I have been sitting out side by the pool enjoting it turn

An update:

The swelling of my esophogus is going down very slowly, but surely. I can allmost take a deep breath now with out too much pain. It still hurts a bit  but I have been off of pain killers the last few days.

I went to see my surgeon for my post op yesterday and he said the inscisions look good. I got glue not staples. They hurt inside a bit though and I can feel a bump under the skin confused  . The car ride yesterday agrivated it more and I'm still in a bit more pain than I would like. He told me that its up to me to experemint with what I can eat but no meat or bread yet. He was happy that I can swallow fine and can burp reletively easy especially right after swallowing something. He asked to see me back in 45 days. So I'll be in disability till then, I guess.

As far as eating I have been having soup with rice and potatoes a lot. I mash the potatoes in the liquid and it goes down great. I have also tried alphabet, little stars, and shell soup, the ones in the little bags usually in the Hispnic isle at the store. These are all wheat products and I do well with them. My diet still consists of Jello, soft soups, pudding, hard boiled egg whites, oatmeal, any type of fruit that I can shew to a pulp before swallowing and drinkable yogurt. Still no meat or greens. I'm going to take it easy with food. I still cant eat more than about a cup of food at a time.

[b]I have lost 17 pounds[/b] and feel great. I kind of like the feeling of being hungry. Its weird because I get hungry about 1/2-1 hour after I eat but still feel full at the same time. If I eat a bit more then, I feel like something inside will burst!

I'm lucky that I have my parents around that can help with my 9 month old while my wife is working. She works from home so she still heps when she can. But I still spend the bulk of the day in bed, resting. I'm going to take it easy for as long as I can. I rfuse to screw up how good I feel with no GERD symptems just because I cant waite to get out and be active......that time will come scool

Thnak you all and have a good day.

Rafael 

Posted 8/21/2009 9:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rafael,
I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well. Sitting by the pool is just the ticket! What a great thing to do while you recover. I think you could manage to eat anything that can be chewed to a liquid, so don't be afraid to try some other foods to make your life more interesting and enjoyable. Just take small bites and chew, chew, chew. If something doesn't chew right--deposit it discreetly in a paper napkin and try something else!
Best wishes with your recovery. Enjoy the time the surgeon has granted you for recovery! Give yourself the time it takes to get strong and ready to go back to work!
Take care, and have a great weekend.
Denise
Posted 8/22/2009 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
That's good news to hear. You are well informed and staying realistic in your recovery. I am very proud of how you are handling this. Most people get crazy when things don't get back to normal in a week. Keep up the positive attitude and keep your string support group and you will do great. Things will be back to normal one day and you will wonger where the time went.

Take care my friend,
Bill
Posted 8/22/2009 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys.

Last nite was a bit hard. I felt, and still feel, a bit more inflimated than usual but I'm atributing it to the 45 minute ride each way to go see the Surgeon for the post op. I had some bad palpitations yesterday. They come with the inflimation. Usually when it hurts to take a deep breath my heart acts up. No biggie though. I have learned to fdeal with it. I just keep telling my self that when I'm 100% the palpitation will be no more!!

Today I made some sea food soup. One of our our favirite Chineese dishes. It had shrimp, Talapia, carrots, water chestnuts, brocoli, and pea pods. I guess I'm fortunate that my nissen isnt that tight because I havent been having issues swallowing. Only bannanas or the fruit from the fruit cups gets stuck a bit, but goes down after some juice or water. I didn eat shrimp but the fish went down with no issues since it basically disintigrated after boiling. The vegetables were verry soft as well and were not an issue. I need the nutrition as I'm starting to feel pretty weak.

I even made a small trip to the Super Wallmart with the family to walk a bit. I was glad to be home but it was nice to get out!

Having problems with constipation pain though. I need to go, I feel it but it hurts to push. I started taking Miralax today after talking to the Surgeon about it on Thurs.

Bill, my new attitude has changed the whole household quite a bit. Long gone is that depressed and frustrated feeling in the air from me moaping around in pain before the surgery......now we just wait ;)

Life is great. Have a good weekend!
Rafael
Posted 8/22/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Mineral oil helps too!

Joy
Posted 8/22/2009 10:51 PM (GMT 0)
Raf,

 glad  to  hear your gettin out a bit. dont worry ,your pain will subside,your menu will  increase. Good luck

b

Posted 8/22/2009 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
I know how good it feels to finally get outside and walk around a bit. Simple things are wonderful. Now that I am doing some healing again myself, I have to remind myself to keep the attitude in check. Thanks for helping me remember.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/23/2009 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
glad you getting better hope you heal fast i go to see surgeon on thur next week to see when i am having mine .
Posted 8/23/2009 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey guys.

Still in pain from the inflimation, though its tollerable. Mornings are the worse because by then the pain medication has worn off and i'm stiff from sleeping.

I have also been eating every couple of hours today for some reason. I feel like my stomach is expanding a bit. I have been eating mostly vegetable soups though. I'm still afraid to try heavyer foods. I did make some fried rice today and it went well. I fired it with a bit of Pam. No meat. Just rice, peas, carrots and really tender eggs....YUMMY!!


Mookie, the surgery is well worth it. The pain, at least for me, is easy to deal with because I know it will eventually pass. The GERD will not get better and the pain will never go away with out the surgery once you get to that point. Just stay positive after surgery. And most of all keep in mind that no matter how much it hurts, after surgery, the pain will eventaually pass and you will be able to go on with your life.

Have a good day,

Rafael
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