Having problems after surgery for a hiatial hernia and nissen wrap

So you're around week 7?
You're still in that first healing phase time. With the kind of surgery you had it's going to take longer to heal than others.
A fellow poster- alcie, had the same surgery. She's also around your age I believe?? Hopefully she will be here soon. She's more informed on this type of surgery.

Hi Barbara,
I had the NF and Hiatal Surgery done almost one year ago. March 1st will be my anniversary and let me tell you it was a LONG road to recovery. I don't know if any of my posts are still available right after I had it done and then after but I was miserable.
I even got depressed and would cry thinking why did I have this done!!! I think it took 3 months before I started feeling different, no acid reflux, pain, etc.
The recovery seemed to come in waves of every 8-9 weeks for me. I would see a big change every 8-9 weeks. I was on a liquid diet for the first 14 days and then a soft food diet for 6-8 weeks after. I wondered if I was ever going to be able to eat normal again or eat out and it did happen around Oct. of last year.
I still have some issues, gas seems to be my friend and won't leave me but at least it's not all day and night anymore. If I drink some water, I can hear it sloshing around when I walk.
I would pamper and baby yourself as the recovery takes about a year. Someone told me that on this board and I took their advice and it made all the difference. I don't have to take GAS X any more but when my stomach would bloat and cause me pain, I would take those and then go lay down.
Look back and see if you can find my posts from early one, maybe reading mine will help you as there is a light at the end of tunnel.
I wish you well on your recovery.

Did they do a motility study on you before the surgery?
I suggest that you find a new doctor and tell them what's going on. This is not normal for the surgery.

Yellow means something with the gall bladder, I think.
I'm not sure. What a delima!

Thanks Joy, but my gallbladder was removed long before I had the hernia surgery. That was removed because it no longer functioned at all, not even a slight percentage, was enlarged and infected. So it's not my gallbladder. I was just reading Alcie's response and that hit home. I too had a flu like problem prior to these problems starting and felt a "tearing" in my abdomen, upper area, with severe pain. When I think back on this, it makes sense because I seriously feel as if my hernia has come back. I have similar "stabbing" pain in this area when ever I eat anything, even the smallest amounts of food. Because as we all know you can't eat large amounts of food anyway after dealing with this. I have cut out breads just recently and nothing fried or greasy. I am a big time cook and love to do that so much, but here recently I have gotten so depressed over the "episodes" I've had, I am afraid to eat. I think I am going to contact my surgeons office and see if I can't get an appointment, even without insurance. I have to do something about this. Thanks for all the help.

Hi Louise,
Welcome to Healing Well! Glad you've joined us. I have a suggestion to make...start a new topic on the main page. Click on the link below, and it will take you to the main page. Go to the top of the page and click the "Post New Topic" button. Then copy and paste your story in that new topic. It will make it easier for others to discover and learn about your problems and answer your questions.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45

I'm so sorry to hear you've had so many problems since your surgery. Wow! Your pre-surgery stomach issue was very dangerous. I can see why it was a difficult surgery.

Honestly, it's not uncommon to have some changes caused by the surgery that persist after recovery, but something as extreme as you are describing is uncommon.

Gas is caused by the fact that the wrap is tight enough not to allow burping. Therefore, the gas has to escape through the "back door" creating those embarrassing odors (and noises!)

You might look at your diet. The less gas-producing things you eat, the less you will have. Have you tried taking BEANO when you eat things that are more likely to produce gas? Have you looked into food intolerance? Sometimes people who have food intolerance have more gas and discomfort.
Here is a link with some helpful dietary information regarding problems with gas:
www.drugs.com/cg/how-to-avoid-and-decrease-problems-with-gas.html

The diarrhea coming quickly and causing symptoms like the ones you describe sounds suspiciously like dumping syndrome. While the information refers to gastric bypass surgery, this can occur after Nissen surgery as well. For many it subsides after the healing is complete, and for others it is rare, but does occur occasionally. You sound as if it is a more chronic condition. Here is a link with information. You can click on the topics at the left to explore the information provided:
www.mayoclinic.com/health/dumping-syndrome/DS00715

Also, here is a URL containing information regarding dietary changes that can help:
www.upmc.com/HealthAtoZ/patienteducation/Documents/DumpingSynDiet.pdf

If you continue to suffer like this, I suggest you get a second opinion from another GI doctor or surgeon. If you live near a large center (Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinics, Johns Hopkins, etc) you might consider going there for a second opinion. They often have more experience dealing with problem cases.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope you find an answer very soon.
Take care,
Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 4/20/2011 6:39:43 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Cindy -
Welcome to the group. You might want to start your own thread to see if you get more responses.

I wouldn't be asking for endoscopy either, but a barium swallow is not invasive and will show if the wrap is intact, where it is, if there is any reflux. I would also not ask for a dilation at ths stage either!!! It's only too tight if you can't swallow past it.

Gas is normal after this surgery. You have to learn to not eat "gassy foods" (google term for explanation and lists), what will help stop gas, not drink sodas, not drink through a straw - all the usual stuff. You can read a lot of older posts if you put some terms in the search box at the top of the page.

A lot of the gas after 2-3 hours is already in the large intestine, although it feels like it's in the stomach, because it's right up under the stomach. I know if I eat ice cream I start passing it in 2 hours - amazing it can get there that fast.

Your wrap is right at the tip of your breastbone, so you can tell the difference. My wrap has reherniated, stomach has migrated partly up into my chest again, so I feel pain right after eating everything, even drinking a cup of coffee.

Some people heal in 3 months, but if your op included hernia repair (mine did) it can easily take a year.

You may have to adjust and eat every three hours something small.

Five months.

Hi it's Cindy:

Can someone please tell me that the rumblings in the stomach goes??? I can't take it anymore. Every three hours or so the rumbling would start....is it gas or it that the vegus nerve is still irritated. Anyone experiencing this problem? Please let me know.

Cindy -
It's probably just gas. It may go away by itself, or you may get used to it, but there are some things you can do to help.

Cut out "gassy foods." Google lists. Reintroduce them slowly, one by one to see which ones you tolerate. White rice is pretty non-gassy.

Gas and bloating are often caused by maldigestion, although celiac, appendicitis and gallbladder can cause it.
Adding probiotics and/or yogurt can help. If it's bad enough a doc can prescribe Rifoximin to curb bacterial overgrowth.

Check what your doc gave you. Was it soluble fiber? Soluble fiber often causes gas. You can't digest it, but your gut bacteria can! Miralax has no fiber. Citrucel (methylcellulose) is the only fiber the gut bacteria don't digest, but try the tablets instead of the powder. The powder is full of sugar!

Sugars and complex carbohydrates are often problems, and there are many types. All the sugar substitutes have dextrose, a sugar you can't digest but your bacteria can, causing more gas. So cut down on bread, sugars and sweeteners.

after reading this im questioning weather to have the procedure done.