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Question about eating after Nissen Fundiplication

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Posted 8/13/2011 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hey,

A lot of ppl here have mentioned that they can only eat small portions after the procedure. I am just wondering, what kind of symptoms do you guys have that makes you feel that you cannot eat anymore?? Also, what happens if you try to continue eating?

I ask because I had a surgery about 3 wks ago. I am in my 20's & am a pretty active person. One of the main reasons I got the surgery was to be able to play soccer again w/o throwing up after 15-20min. However, playing soccer burns a lot of calories & I have to eat quite a bit to maintain my fitness.

Thanks
Posted 8/13/2011 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, Arsenal.  I hope you find your answers here.  I hope you will do some searches in the search box at the top of the page, also read the general info on the locked pages. 

I find that I have a permanently smaller stomach, although some people have stretched theirs out after surgery.  Since a Nissen, and the other surgeries where "wraps" are performed, make the stomach smaller, your stomach will not hold as much as it used to.  That's great for people who are overweight.  The rest of us just need to eat more often.  I never lost any weight after surgery - just ate a little every hour or two.  Now I eat what feels comfortable, not as much by half as I used to eat, whenever I am hungry and have no problems with weight, never feel ravenous.  The feeling of hunger remains the same.

If you overeat you will probably feel full, or bloated and nauseous, no mysterious symptoms you haven't felt before.  You can feel like you had thanksgiving dinner eating 2 cups of food even a month or two after surgery.  For soccer you might want to carry a nutritional bar or drink with you for right after the game, even if you plan to go out for a meal afterward.  Just don't think of going out drinking!  That will hurt, could damage the wrap - all the gas.  Don't play until your surgeon OKs it!

Posted 8/13/2011 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Arsenal

Im 6 weeks post op & can only manage about 1/2 cup of anything before I start to feel bloated & nauseous. That's when I know it's time to stop. If I push the boundaries & continue to eat then I get major stomach pains. I am looking forward to the day when I can see the bottom of my coffee cup lol.

I also think it's more important to choose quality nutritional foods over quantity.

I'm still on soft foods & now that I have returned to work I feel constantly hungry??? (well I think that's what the feeling means) & I don't have nearly enough energy to get me through the day. By the time I get home I feel exhausted even though I am only working half days at the moment. I talked to my GP & she said I must take regular breaks & eat small amounts often to get the right balance between energy in & energy out.

You will need to wait until you have a full clearance from your surgeon before you return to playing soccer but in the meantime maybe try building yourself up with walking. That way you will get an idea of how your body responds to extra activity while you have dietary restrictions.

As your fitness increases & once you start playing again you may like to try a Whey protein drink to supplement your diet.

Good luck. Just remember to listen to your body & be patient. Some things just can't be rushed.

Take care

Lynda
Posted 8/14/2011 2:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Arsenal,

When they do the surgery, they wrap the fundus of the stomach around the esophagus to create the wrap. Apparently that section of the stomach is where fullness is registered. My surgeon said the fullness feeling is a result of swelling.

My experience reinforced my surgeon's comments. Once the swelling went down (after several months of healing) I no longer felt full after just a little food. I can eat very normally now.

You will continue to heal for a full year. An experienced member here once said that you do most of your healing in the first six months and the remainder in the first year. That is so true. You'll continue to feel improvements throughout the first year. I actually think I continued to feel improvements through the second year as well.

Don't worry. You'll be able to eat plenty once you're fully healed. Be patient. It does take time. Many people eat multiple meals throughout the day to make up the calories they can't eat at one sitting. You will gradually be able to eat more and more, but be careful not to overfill you stomach--especially in the first months.

Good luck!
Denise
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