Nissen Fundo

I had Nissen Fundo 4wks ago.The surgeon has done quite a few and is very skilled.I had hiatus hernia repair.I had bad inflamation and reflux and ppi were not working.I took it easy for 2wks and felt good.I mowed the lawns washed the car.That night i ate spicy food and a drink of lemonade and had a very small bit of acid come up..The next day the flatulence had gone and bloating started.I felt tired for a few days.Im feeling a bit better now not as tired but a pain in my left shoulder has started seems to be worse when i breathe in deeply.I can burp easier now to.Slight pain left rib.I have a ver yvery slight taste of acid in mouth?That maybe ok.Im thinking the warp has loosened from the physical assertion 2 wks after op.Im sure my palpitations are back (is hernia back) maybe just anxious.any tests can be done and if curtains can it be fixed.Any thoughts.Cheers..

Welcome, Cowboy 22!
You're a full-fledged member of the wrapped club! Congratulations! I had the surgery in February of this year, and have been through just what you're going through.

I do think you were pushing it to do the work you did at 2 weeks. I'd recommend you take it a bit easier for a few weeks. My surgeon said no lifting more than 10 pounds, and I would think that pushing a lawn mower, and the motion it takes to wash the car might be a bit much. I do know a member here, Rick, rode his bike something like 20 miles at the two week mark, so it doesn't mean you can't do anything. Just let your body tell you what you can handle. Listen to it!

At two weeks, your wrap is still swollen. During the healing process, my surgeon said "pretty much anything is possible". He shared the fact that until it heals, the swelling goes down completely, and things have settled into place, you can get some reflux slipping by a place where it's not sealed due to swelling. Also, I've heard that the esophagus is a "dumb organ", and it can interpret all pain/discomfort as reflux.

My pre-surgery symptoms included uncontrolled asthma. After enough time passed to allow my lungs to heal, they've been great! I also have had moments when I've gotten reflux-like symptoms--most often after having irritated my wrap by eating something too fast or eating something that was irritating. Also, there are times when my wrap gives me a little problem--a mild "pain" sensation that is solved by a small swallow of Maalox.

This surgery is a major revision of your GI tract, and it'll take time for your body to adjust. I've head that 80% of the healing occurs in the first few months, and the rest over the course of a year.

It can be deceiving, because of the laproscopic procedure--the outside of you heals very quickly, and you appear to be recovered, but the inside of you has been stirred up pretty badly, and continues to need time to heal.

As far as the shoulder pain--I found mine to be greatly relieved by walking. I went on my treadmill several times a day and (beginning slowly and building up speed and distance) I could draw a parallel between how much walking I'd done and the comfort of my shoulder. I personally think that walking is the best medicine for that problem.

I wouldn't be at all surprised that your palpatations are a result of your anxiety you have about doing something to your wrap. I have mitral valve prolapse, and it always kicks up with stress.

I really don't think you have loosened your wrap from your exertion. You're experiencing normal healing symptoms. Still, please take it easier for a couple months. Not to say you can't do anything, but let some things go, get help, and just focus on your recovery.

There are lots of members of the "Wrapped Club" here, and I'm sure they'll be stopping by to add their perspective.
This is a great place for you to vent, ask questions, and get lots of support and encouragement.

Best wishes, and stay positive! You made a good choice, and you'll do just fine, once your body has time to adjust.
Take care,
Denise

Hi Cowboy22,
I forgot to mention the likely cause of the shoulder pain...I don't know if you've been told that the gas they pumped into your body to create a clear field for the surgeon as he worked on the revision, can put pressure on nerves and creates the shoulder pain that is so common after the procedure. The walking moves and relieves the gas...helps to get it out. Since it's loose inside you, it takes time for it to make its way out.
I was told by the night nurse after surgery that I needed to get up and walk right away--she had me walking the halls all night--whenever I got up to go to the bathroom. I continued the walking when I came home, and it made a huge difference.

The left rib pain is from the operation itself...that port is where most of the action occurs while the surgery is taking place. My rib incision area on that side was very painful. Mine was made worse because of my asthmatic cough that was hanging on because of pre-surgery inflammation and infection. The pain will resolve as time goes on.

Good luck with your walking!
Denise

Would the shoulder pain stillbe there after 4 weeks?.Its only come on in the last 4 days.Worse in bed.Cheers for all the help

Cheers Denise Yes im impatient and want to be 100percent now have to learn patience!.Glad to hear other peoples experience.btw im in new zealand. and its a lovely day here .Sun is shining Cheers..

Cowboy-
I'm with Janice, there's not much I can add that Dense and Kitt haven't already told you. I would like to touch on the shoulder pain though. As you are healing he nerves are the last thing to come back. This very well could be why you are having the shoulder pain now. I have found out from a different surgery that nerves do strange things as they try to heal. I would mention the shoulder pain to your surgeon, but sounds like the nerves finally "woke"up.
The hardest thing to do during this recovery is to be patient. Doesn't seem like it, bit this is a very major surgery. I was just in the hospital the other day for a kidney stone and had 4 different nurses tell me that the Nissen is one of the toughest surgeries to fully recover from. They kept telling me they couldn't believe I had done it twice in three years.

Take care,
Bill

Hope im not bein a pain with all these posts.I had a lot of flatulence right up until 2wks when i did some physical activity outside(lawns washed car).from then til now i can burp quite loud.Twice i have noticed a very slight bit of acid comin up.Im thinking the wrap must of failed.CANT get thisfeelin out of my head.and worried about osophoegul damage(as it was immflamed on the scope 6mths ago).Am i goin mad.I went back to surgeon last wk he looked a bit dissapointed.Please help ....

Cowboy,
Greetings! Your worries are very normal. Most of us have had them. Probably 3 weeks after my surgery (or so) I had what I felt was pretty severe reflux feelings. It was very scary, and like you, I was sure my wrap was a failure. I called my surgeon, and that's when he said that pretty much anything can happen at the early stages of recovery. I might just be "feeling like" I had reflux, or it could actually be reflux. The surgical site is swollen, and as I said before, acid could actually slip through.

As far as burping, I wouldn't worry. My surgeon said I wouldn't be able to burp, but I had little burps letting go even in the hospital. The resident who worked with my surgeon said that it was a good thing, and that a burp could be let out without letting out acid or food. My burping ability is variable at this point. Sometimes I burp pretty easily, and other times I get bloated and gassy. Be happy you can burp. It'll make your recovery that much easier.

You could have irritated your wrap from overdoing (I had irritated it by trying to eat rice noodles/Pad Thai), but it's very unlikely to be a permanent problem. Just take it easy, and relax.

It definitely makes sense that your shoulder pain hurts when you breathe. That's when your lungs take up more space in your body, and it presses the gas/nerves--causing the shoulder pain. Try the walking. I think it'll help you.

It's normal to panic when you have worrisome symptoms. We've all been there. I was certain that my wrap had failed. I still get some discomfort in the wrap area from time to time that almost mimics reflux. Actually Maalox liquid antacid really calms it down and makes it feel better.

I can tell the wrap is holding because I'm not suffering from the uncontrolled asthma that I had--caused by the reflux irritating my lungs. My lungs continue to be great, and I'm so thankful.

Relax, and stop worrying. You're only 2 weeks out! I'm 6 months out, and still have some little quirky things happening. It'll take a good year for your healing to be complete. Our GI tracts have been revised, so there'll always be differences. They're well worth it, though!

We're here for you, Cowboy! Any questions--no matter how small--ask away! We've been where you are, and know just what you're experiencing. We can give you support and advice that your doctor doesn't have, since he's not likely to have been on the receiving end of the surgery. It's always good to ask your surgeon/doctor whenever you are worried about something.
We're here for the day to day tips to help you deal with the post surgical recovery.

I don't know if anyone has suggested that you get some anti-nausea drugs to have on hand, but if they haven't, please get some. The one thing that COULD cause your wrap some serious problems is a stomach bug, and dry heaves--trying to vomit. Some here have had their wraps fail as a result, so getting anti-nausea drugs was something they recommended to me when I was new.

Hope you have a good day and get lots of walking in!
Take care and feel well,
Denise

Cowboy, I'm at 15 days now and have learned a bunch from the great people who frequent this board.

I will also tell you to take it slow and easy like others have. I'm a natural worrier too, after dealing with palpitations for 11 years due to a swollen and inflamed esophogus. I know how bad it messes with your head. I used to lay awake at nite and count my prolonged beats untill I dozed off.

Doctors wont accept the fact that an inflamed esophogus agrivates the heart when in incroaches its space. I know for me since the surgery, when I feel my esophogus in inflamed the palpitations are right there with it. On days when I eat light and dont feel inflamed the palpitations are no where to be felt. Its very hard not to get alarmed though, I know.

Hang in there. I cant believe that you mowed the lawn at 2 weeks. I dont even feel like getting in the car,let alone washing it!!

Take care,
Rafael

Hi all.Took a losec pill 2nite anfd feel heeeeeeeeeeeeeeaps better.nausea gone.May just stay on meds.nutha op.Dont know if i wana go thru that again.Loose fundo for sure..Should i get it done again......

Thanks Denise for the kind words.Im glad that you are happy with your recovery.These rooms are a godsend for recovery being able to connect with likeminds such as yourself and all the other wonderful people!What led me down this path is mainly a hiatus hernia as in my job i do some heavy lifting at times and the ache was gettin me down .I had a scope down which showed imflamation osof stom entrance.Biospsy ok.I took losec for a while after that and stil had regurgition of food .Eat a mouthful of cake and its back up again and acid at times.I went back to surgeon and he told me about lap fundo.I should have got all the pre tests done(didnt know till this forum) but as ive got med insurance  prob rushed it a bit lookin back and thats been eating me up with regret too but we cant go back but by sayin that for the first 2 wks felt the best in yrs.Im a do now and find out later.Always been like that .try and put somethin together and read the instructions later lol.Taking that pill has changed my life for now no more nausea.I mainly did the op to get off meds long term  and have my food stay down.Oh well lifes journey aye.Goodmorning to you all in the states and i will sign off from New Zealand as its midnight.Cheers

Surgeons vary on that recommendation. I personally have found it helpful, as it takes time for things to settle. Some surgeons stop their patients immediately, while others like to continue the meds protect the wrap as it heals.
It's not unreasonable at all, for you to find it helpful at this point in your recovery.
Good luck, and sleep well!
Denise