Nissen

For those of you who have had it, how long did you have to take off work? How long did it wake before you could eat normally? What/how much could you eat afterwords and for how long?

I'm getting it done in Dec and want to be prepared as far as meals/liquids. I also asked for 4 weeks off work. Not sure if that will be enough since I'm a cna and do alot of bending and lifting. Any info would be great. Thanks!

Hi Baby -
Read a LOT of threads. Some people heal faster than others. There are lots of degrees of how much of an operation you might have. There are co-morbidities that could affect your progress - asthma and such.

#1 - forget about heavy lifting for a really long time - like a year, maybe forever, if you don't want to wreck your wrap. Get something written from your doc. I used to work as a glassblower's helper doing some really heavy work on blown glass sinks. I won't be able to put that much pressure on my diaphragm ever again. I also changed out the mowers and plows on the tractor, won't be able to do that either.

#2 - follow your doctor's directions for diet religiously. You won't be able to go shopping for at least a week, so stock up on the foods you will need beforehand and get rid of the junk in the fridge that will only spoil. I am two weeks out and starting to eat some regular foods that happen to be soft and moist. I didn't have a full wrap though, so I could swallow small pills from day 1. Get some Gas-X and a lot of Beano. They don't really work, according to what I read and my own experience, but at least you'll feel like you are trying to do something about the gas. If your doc prescribes liquid Colace - don't take it straight! The citric acid in it will burn your throat. Mix it in a lot of milk. Don't get constipated. Take the stuff prescribed!

Read the threads again.

Yes, everyone is different, Babygirl, but online posters are outliers. People who have the surgery and all is well rarely get online and post. They're going about their lives happy with their newly found comfort and health. Yes, everyone is different, but as long as you have an extremely skilled and experienced (in the Nissen procedure) surgery, you will do just fine.
There are people who've posted here who went back to biking in two weeks and climbed mountains in a few months. My surgeon gave me no lifting restrictions after 6 weeks, and things have been fine.
You'll find your own way through the recovery. Please don't worry. Just be sure you've done your homework, have been tested thoroughly to ensure that you're a good candidate (I actually wasn't fitting the mold, and yet my surgery solved the problems that I sought the surgery to solve), and that you have a surgeon that is highly qualified.
Good luck, and be sure to continue to post your questions.
We're here for you!
Denise

Yes, I get disability. I have actually been on disability since April due to the heavy work that I do.

You should be ok carrying the baby around if shes that light. Just be carefull not to bend over if you pick her up. Use your arms and your legs, never your abdomen, for now.

Rafael