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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 8/24/2009 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Rafael,
Glad to hear things are starting to get more bearable. You're right...the challenges you're experiencing now will pass, while the untreated GERD never leaves. I'm so happy that my asthma has recovered as a result of my surgery, and I just wish I'd had it sooner. You're now on the "other side", and you're healing. Be patient...you're only about two weeks out, aren't you? That's not very long. Actually I found that at two weeks I started having more difficulty swallowing, due to swelling of the wrap. Don't be surprised if that happens. It's to be expected.

Eating small meals more often is just the ticket. As time goes on, your stomach will be able to take more food. I'm almost 6 months out, and I can eat as much as I'd like. I was expecting to have my stomach size limit my eating, but (unfortunately) it doesn't! I've got to be careful, or I'll be gaining more of that weight back!

Take care and hang in there!
You'll get better by the day.
Denise turn
Posted 8/24/2009 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Good to hear the rice went down well. I had some problems with rice early on, but the last few weeks it goes down easily. You will get hungrier some days and think that you are over eating, but your body does need the calories to heel itself. Keep up the great attitude and patience.

take care,
Bill
Posted 8/24/2009 5:59 AM (GMT 0)
Denise, yes its just about 2 weeks. Thank you for letting me know that it getting worse isnt just me. I have noticed that the wrap feels tighter and today I noticed it becoming a bit difficult to swallow. Its also feeling like the inflimation is getting a bit worse.

Ever smash your finger? Thats what it feels like to me, in my esophogus. Like its tight and throbs a bit. I wouldnt say it burns but it hurts. The fact that the surgery is so non invasive still messes with my head. I look in the mirror and dont see much and some times I cant imagine why it still hurts if the outsdie has allready healed so well.

Today I lost it a bit and started to feel a bit negative. I started to doubt the success of the surgery. I guess I thought it would be an instant relief ior maybe because the first week was a bit easier. That week it hurt more around the inscisions than in side me. Then I started to tell my self that this will go away. I just have to cope with it one day at a time and not loose focus, Its just hard because I hate seeing my wife continue to carry the role of 2 people. The fact that the last few days it has gotten a bit worse seems like taking some steps back and that is hard to deal with as well. But then I remind my self that my esophogus had part of my stomach stuffed in to it and that repairing it was acutally a huge process done through tiny holes. Its hard to rationalize though when you feel crappy. Teh fact that my Surgeon asked to see me in 45 days tells me recovery will take longer than I expected. But I will try my best to be patient and keep a good attitude.

Bill, I just chew, chew, chew and swallow small bits and the rice goes down ok. It does get stuck a tiny bit but a bit of drink helps. How long ago was your second surgery?

Have a good nite,
Rafael
Posted 8/24/2009 6:42 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Mine was done on May 18th. I really don't have any problems now, but getting here was a small battle. Mostly from the problems they had undoing the original wrap because it wasn't done right.
I know it's tough to do, but please remember this surgery is one of the toughest for your body to recovery from. I've had several nurses and doctor over the last couple months tell me this. I was even told this last Thursday while at the hospital for this dang kidney stone. It is so deceiving because outside you heal so fast.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/24/2009 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill. Sorry to hear about the stones. That must hurt, doesnt it? My mom had some and had them removed.

After thinking a bit last nite I came to the comclusion that I may of been irritating the wrap by not chewing throughly enough. This morning I over chewed my food and I feel less inflimated after eating. I think I was letting hunger get the best of me. I thought I was chewing well but obviously not well enough. I will take my time from now on and chew, chew ,chew....and then chew some more..lol! Good thing is that I'm not as ungry today as I had been the last few days.

I feel motivated again today. This weekend was a bit hard but I'm focused on the end result again and I'm not letting frustration get the best of me.

Have a good day!
Rafael
Posted 8/24/2009 9:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi rafael I am coming up on my 1 week and today I feel pretty good might even go with out the pain meds tonight. We will see how I feel. So far I have not had anyyt rouble swallowning and nothing feels like it is getting stuck anymore. Best of all the constant chest pains have gone. Am ready for the next round of healing to start at tleast I wont be so worried about the problems because I an aware of them and ready to deal with then as a normal part of healing. Will also be happy if I miss that experience all together. next week my surgeon said I can start eatting soft foods, to include soup, cereal with milk, baked potato rice and pasta. I am not sure about the rice and pasta will try some mac and cheese very mushy on the noodles and see how that goes.
Mary
Posted 8/25/2009 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Mary congrats on what seems to be a good recovery! From my experience, now, I can tell you to chew, chew, chew when you start on soft foods. I also hope you skip the 2 week inflamation that myself and others have described. I have found that the most important thing is to not swallow to much at a time as that stretches the wrap and agrivates the esophogus. Taking big gulps of liquids has stretched mine and agrivated it as well....I need to stop being so inpatient! Lol!!

Today I had more rice and I'm loving it. about cups of cooked rice through out the day. I even had a rice bowl with veggies from our local Tereyaki place. I am getting in the habbit of chewing verry, verry well. Something that I never used to do and my wife would get on my case for "scarfing down" my food. I'm chewing well enough that the inflamated feeling was very minimal today and the palpitations have aslo subsided quite a bit. I'm verry gassy though for some reason.

I had scrambeld eggs with verry finely minced ham and onions too. It went well as far as swallowing but I think the ham might of been a little shock to my stomach as I got a bit of cramping through digestion. It only lasted a bit though. My surgeon recommemded I start with ham because when thinly sliced it easy to digest and its also very low in fat. I think I will give my self another week though before I try it again.

I really enjoy writing my daily experience and progress here. It really helps me realize how well I'm actually healing. I am also discovering day by day that what I'm going through is what most of you have or will be going through so it makes it easier knowing that I'm not alone through this journey.

Thanks again for being here with me.
Rafael Lopez
Posted 8/25/2009 4:47 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael. so good to hear that you are doing so well...keep up the good work!
Anne
Posted 8/27/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey, guys. I'm a bit inflamed this evening for some reason. I havent had much to eat today eather. I have had stomach cramps like I ate soemthing that gave me indigestion.

Can some of you tell me what you were eating around day 16? I'm getting tired of vegetable soup with rice, fried rice, oatmeal, and yogurt. I'm wondering if I'm ready to move on to chicken. I had some fish the other day with great success.

Rafael
Posted 8/27/2009 7:15 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-

i would stay away from un toasted breads yet, but anything you can chew to mush or liquid should be alright. Just go very slow and try small portions of different things until you know for sure what works. You should be ready for some type of ground meat if you want it. just remember to chew,chew,chew! In a couple weeks you should be able to add any bread you want to. Just go slow and....you know th drill!

Take care my Friend,
Bill
Posted 8/27/2009 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Bill. I'm afraid of beef since I stoped eating it 6 months before my surgery. But if beef would be good I dont see why chicken wouldnt. I need substanance because I feel really weak at times. That may also be why my inflimation still persists. Sometomes it feels like a bit of reflux burning, but I dont have that lump of flem in my throat or the bad taste in my mouth, so it may just still be the swelling.

I'm taking super easy but the inflimation seems to still be there.....and so do the palpitations. Uhh, I'm tired today. I spend most of my day in bed ocassionally getting up and walking on the treadmill verry, verry slowly since its so worm out.

Have a good day,
Rafael
Posted 8/27/2009 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rafael,

I am sorry you are still experiencing the burning and the palpitations. If fish works for you then I would keep that in your diet and try to eat small meals more often.

Also if you are so fatigued I am wondering if B12 shots would help you.  Your body maybe defecient in B12 = fatigue.

Hope you have a better day today.

Take care,

Kitt

Posted 8/28/2009 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Kit. Now that I think about it that makes sense. The week after my surgery I drank a case of different kinds of Vitamin water and I did feel better. I never got more and I feel I need it now.

I ran out of Vicotin as well. I called my Surgeon to see if I could get a refill and never heard back. I will call tomorrow. I smashed some Tylenol and mixed it with juice but its super bitter and allmost made me throw up.

On a good note, I had an Empanada today which my wife made. It was small, and filled with ground beef, peas and carrots. It went well but filled me up quick.....man that was good!! yeah

I'm starting to deal with the pain better. My esophogus feels like it throbs more, which brings on the palpitations, when get up too fast or when I walk around more than I should. Also when I sit up in bed. Before the surgery I didnt lay flat for 7 months and now laying flat makes me feel better...who knew! rolleyes

Have a good nite,

Rafael

 

Posted 8/28/2009 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Sounds like you had some good eats there. If that went down well, you can stay on those lines if you want and just keep it slow and easy my friend. Soon you will look back at think wow, I am feeling better, but won't be able to put your finger on the exact day it happened because it gradually gets better every day, even when we think it is worse.
Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/28/2009 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds great would love an empanada. Had a baked potato with butter and it went down fairly easy of course I was so hungry I had to remind myself to take small bites and chew chew chew. I have been a fast eater since my time in the military. When I was in they would yell at us to hurry up and eat. Eat now taste later was their motto. So I learnedto wolf my food down not a good practice now. It is so great to know that there is light at the end of thistunnel thanks for all yoiur posts
Mary
Posted 8/28/2009 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Mary, I know I complain about the throbbing and pain but I would not give it up to go back! There is light. Its really bright too. smilewinkgrin

I never served, but I too would wolf down my food. I agree with you that breaking that rythem is hard.

Bill, yes that was good eating. Its funny that it takes enjoying a small bit of food like that to start appreciating this surgery. Seeing the rewards of the pain that I have endoured in the last few weeks makes it [b]so[/b] worth it. I see now that things will come together for the better. Even if its 4-5 weeks from now.

I was curious to see what the process of the nisses fund. involved, so I searched for pictures last nite. [b]Bad Idea.[/b] I have a huge issue with change and even more with change with in me. Seeing what they did, how the took the stomach and wrapped it around the esophogus, then stiched it gave me a panic attack last nite. I had anxiaty all night and coulndnt sleep. I started worring about the stiches coming loose or my stomach slipping down off of the esophogus. I finally got up and did some cognetive thinking and put my self at ease. I have now accepted that I made a huge and great choice that will benefit me for the rest of my life. I wouldnt change a thing.

Thanks for listening(reading really),

Rafael

 

Posted 8/30/2009 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all. I called the doctor today because I'm coming out of my 3rd week and I still have that inflimed feeling. Like I'm breathing really cold air and my esophogus hurts/burns. It hurts to take a full, deep breath also. I guess hurts might be to strong of a word but more of a heavy discomfort. It also feels that way when my belly jiggles, when I step too hard. I started taking prilosec in case a bit of acid is sneaking by causing my discomfort. The doctor also called in some more liquid Vicotin for me to see if it helps since I had ran out. I dont think any thing has come loose though because I can feel the tightness in the wrap when I swallow. I can feel it extend when I pass food and its hard to burp unless I do it right after I drink. I was able to take 3 bites out of a grilled chiken burito today and it went down slowly but surely with th help of water after every swallow. In that sense I am making some progress though.

I read Surfergirls thread about day 21 and get even more frustrated because I want to be where shes at now. Monday will be day 21 for me and I dont feel any different than I did on day 14. I try and keep reminding my self that the surgeron said that "it looked verry bad in side and was very inflamed" when he look inside me, so that may be why its taking so long for me to recover. I literally looked like I was 6 months pregnant before the surgery. I'm trying not to loose hope but its hard when every day seems to be the same with no progress.

Thanks for reading along,
Rafael
Posted 8/30/2009 11:07 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Keep that spirit up my friend. I also looked one the web for what happens when they do the surgery. I was looking before and also looked again before my redo. They really do mess stuff up and then out it back together. It helped me to understand I have a lot of healing inside to do even tough I looked and felt good on the outside(incisions). Remember we are not all the same and some of us take a while longer to heal and don't get to where everyone else is at n the same day after surgery. Some are lucky and move along faster, but may hit a wall and wind up slowing down the progress. With how bad you were inside I wouldn't be surprised if you were a couple weeks behind at first on the healing schedule. I was behind this time myself. The week 2 and 3/4 can be good or can be an huge struggle. Get yourself past the 4 week mark and then reevaluate what is going on. I bet you will see a big improvement by then. This is a lifetime change and if it takes 2 or 3 months to heal properly, remember it is a short time compared to the years of none or way reduce symptoms you will have.
I am so proud of you for keeping a great attitude and having patience. I remember you saying at one time you had a completely different attitude towards things and possibly family. I can relate with you about that. I struggle daily with this. Don't think it is your fault if you can't keep the perfect attitude every day. It's not going to happen and you are allowed to have bad days. They will get better and the true Rafael will come through as you want to be. I have been struggling with myself the last 2 weeks or so, more the last week. I feel I am totally broken down now and do not like what is going on or what I am projecting towards others right now.
Keep on healing my friend and things will be better than ever soon. It seems things will never change, but all of us who have done this are proof it will.


Take care,
Bill
Posted 8/31/2009 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
Bill your an angel in desquise! You allways know how to help people get at ease. on this forum Thank you!!

I know you have been suffering from another illness as well and you too have to accept having bad days. I know its hard to see the silver lining when it seems like you allways feel sick or in pain. You mentioned being at the hospotal quit a bit in the last few posts you have made in this and in other threads. I hated being at the hospital especially because they would tell me I was fine and just send me home feeling like I was crazy. Hopefully they will find a way to relieve your pain from thosse kidney stones so you too can go on with your life.

One thing that has helped me is realizing that there are people out there suffering way more than I am at this point. I may complain about my inflimation but I thank god that its only that, and that the pain and the palpitations will eventually fade. I remind myself that every minute of every day there are people out there suffering from terminal desieses and illness with unbearable pain. Though its sad it has made me appreciate my life and what god has given me. If this is the worst of what I have to deal with in life, then I thank god for that. I cant begin to tell you how much I appreciate my life and all that I have accomplished so far. It may not be alot but it could be worse. So every day when I wake up I thank god for letting me do so. When I go to bed I thank him again for letting me enjoy my 2 boys and my wife. I will never take any thing for granted after this. It feels so much better to help people than to turn a cold sholder.

Today was a better day, though when I woke up I was verry sore all over my body. I feel better and can tell that the inflimation is finally starting to fade just a bit. I bought some protein and have started mixing small amounts in my soups and soft foods since its flavorless. I think this will help me heal better since I have been feeling weak the last few days. Your rite Bill, every one isnt teh same. I cant expect to heal like other people do. I have to accept how ever long it takes for me to get there, but getting there is still the main focus.

Thanks again ,
Rafael
Posted 8/31/2009 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Rafael, I am new to the board. I have watched your posts with interest as my Nissen was the same day as yours. I was in awe of how much you were eating. On the 10th day I was not able to eat any solid and was on liquid until yesterday. I'm now eating mashed potatoes, meatloaf, very slowly and water to wash it down. I don't seem to have experienced the pain level that you have. The only pain meds I have used since coming home is liquid ibuprophen. Cheer up, you are my guide and hero.
Teresa
Posted 8/31/2009 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Teresa guide and hero? Thank you for making myday!! I do stay as cheerfull as possible, most of the time. I'm fortunate enough to have my parents here with me every day and that greatly helps my spirits as my wife is cooped up in her home office untill 5PM during the week. I didnt think I would be eating solids as early as I have. Today I had beef stew. The beef was so tender it shreded apart by its self and I smashed the vegetables so, chewing consistantly, everything went down with no problems. I did how ever have trouble swallowing some chineese noodle soup because it was a bit gummy and hard to fully chew. I didnt have more than 2 spoon fulls of that. I still wont eat any thing dry though I'm afraid of bread or full slabs of meat. I did how ever have a scambeld egg with 1/2 a weiner mixed in to it with a small corn tortilla. That tortilla tasted like heaven!! Thats why I stick mostly to soups/stews, tender scrambled eggs(whites only), boiled eggs9whites only), pudings and fried rice.

Thank god, today is a better day. The inflamed feeling started to fade more noticeably today. I still feel sore inside and for some reason have been getting that indigestion type of cramping pain in my stomach. My palpitaions still persist mostly when I lay down on my back or recline on the couch, though they arent as pronounced as before. They seem to be fading as well. I think I did the surgery with the hopes that the palpitatins would go away and never come back. I have been told that my heart is healthy so this is the only thing I can think that causes them. They dont hurt but they are like torture! That elongated heart beat causes a spike in my blood pressure and my whole body pulses hard. Lately its just been my stomach pulsing though. When I have pain and I get a palp. it throbs like something in me is goign to pop! If you have never felt them before consider yourself lucky!!!

Have a good evening,
Rafael
Posted 9/2/2009 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi every one.

Today was a great day for me. The inflimation has gone down noticeably. I can take a full breath now with little resistance in my chest. The last palpitation I had was at around 10am thins morning yeah . That inflamed/burning feeling has also noticeably diminished.

I have stayed mostly on liquids today eating only mashed vegetables in some beef stew broth. I also had another corn tortilla barely wormed till it just got soft. I also tried some "Superfood" made by Naked Juice and added some protein in it.

Dont have much to add or to complain abou ttoday, really. I rested like as usual and even took a 1 hour nap during the mid day. I hope this is just the beginning of whats to come as far as my recovery. This is more along the way of what I imagined after getting the surgery. I can start to se the light at the end of the tunnel getting brightter. If tomorrow I wake up in pain and with light palpitations, I wont be let down because after today there is no doubt in my mind that the surgery was a success for me. It also backs up my theory even more that my palpitations and GERD went hand in hand.

Good nite,

Rafael

Posted 9/2/2009 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I am glad you are feeling better. Today was a little rough but in the grand scheme of how things used to be today was rather good.
Mary
Posted 9/2/2009 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael, so glad that you are feeling better.

I am going to go have that b12 thing checked with my doc. I am so tired sometimes. Could it really be that easy to fix that ??lol

I am also going to try to make ten oclock my bedtime and see if getting more good sleep makes a difference.

Sounds like you are eating well...good for you !

take care , rest and get well soon, Anne

Posted 9/2/2009 8:07 AM (GMT 0)
Rafael-
Good to hear things are starting to turn around for you. It seems to just get better one day and I neber could figure out the exact day it happened. Keep up the positve attitude my friend, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Take care,
Bill
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