Post Surgery

Hi alleycat,

Welcome to the Healing Well Repaired Hernia Club!

I'm not sure how a your recovery will differ from a Nissen recovery, but I would guess that the reason you can't eat much is that your stomach is swollen from all the pulling and stretching and stitching. Swelling is interpreted as fullness, so your stomach keeps telling your brain that you're full.

There is swelling that peaks at 14 days during the Nissen, and I'm sure that your hernia repair involves swelling and healing similar to the wrap surgery. Still, I would think that your swallowing will not be as difficult if you didn't get a fundoplication.

You are right that hospital trays are not reliable regarding Nissen diet...I got lots of wrong things...carbonated drinks, a straw, caffeinated coffee...to name a few. You are lucky (as I was) to have researched what you should eat prior to your hospitalization.

My guess is that you won't have as much trouble swallowing as you would if you'd had a Nissen. I would expect you'll get back to normal much more quickly.

Did they try you on the oral pain meds before sending you home from the hospital? That's what they did for me. They didn't want me to get home and have the pain med not effective. Could you add an over the counter pain med like liquid Motrin or Tylenol? You'd have to check with your pharmacist to see if that would be advisable, but it might help take the edge off the pain. The really rough post-surgical pain will subside soon. It's the worst for the first few days.

If you are in pain and your meds aren't doing it, why don't you call the surgeon's office and let them know. I'm sure they don't want you in pain.

Congrats on getting your hernia fixed!
Happy healing!
Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 8/31/2011 6:39:20 PM (GMT-6)

Glad you are home and on the road to recovering. Heal well!

Hi Alleycat!

Nice to hear you are at home and your surgery went well! Your sweet home is the best place for your recovery time.

Your devil-hernia was quite large and it has a good place inside you where to live it's monster-life to destroy you . Now you are the winner and the devil has gone away! Congratulations!

I do hope this was your first and last devil-hernia surgery (that I hope for me, too). So horrible to think if this devil will re-herniate. NO...never again !

I noticed that my breathing is easier nowadays than before the surgery. So it's easy to believe it also in your situation.

You got broccoli in the hospital?! Gosh...so wrong choice to be the first meal! I got only liquid (Tea, coffee, juices, warm milk...). My last lunch in the hospital (2nd post op day) was mushed fish-soup & vanilla pudding. It was super-delicious after this all. At home I ate mushed vegetable soups, other mushed soups with cream or Philadelphia-cheese, yogurts, smoothies etc.

I really hope your pain-meds will work. This is your first post op week so it's normal if you have some pains, relax. Just try to understand...this was not a small surgery!!! In my case, I hadn't any pains after the surgery. (I think, this is not normal).

In my recovery time I hadn't any swallowing problems. Listen to your stomach. I'm sure you will know in which day what kind of food is suitable for you.

Thumbs up, that you will have also quick & easy recovery

-Sari-

Hi Alleycat,

It sounds like you're eating some interesting and nutritious foods!  Be sure to stick to things that can be chewed to a liquid.  Keep in mind that your wrap will become increasingly swollen and peak at Day 14. Don't be surprised if your swallowing becomes more difficult before it gets better once the swelling begins to decrease.

Have a great night!

Denise

Hi Sari,

Thanks for checking on me,  I have had some, not so good days.  I was struggling with using the bathroom, not so pleasant!  I have just felt quite ill Sunday and Monday. I took the mag citrate they recommended and started also taking a stool softener, it made me feel so nauseated and I felt that way all day and still didnt go. So a friend came by and brought me a store bought enema package so that seemed to get me over the worst yesterday but i dont see how i could be constipated as i am not even eating hardly anything and trying to drink drink drink. . I used the bathroom again this morning it was some easier but still had some difficulty. Food doesnt have much appeal and seems like nothing tastes so good. I am trying to cook some greenbeans today and letting them cook until soft. that should add some fiber. I have asked my husband to get me some vegetable soups in a can and I can drink the broth and eat the veggies out of them.  I never gave consideration to having this issue and so hope i can figure it out. 

alleycat

Yes, your advice was good, and we do love licorice, as my husband is Finish. I also lived in Finland for over 4yrs. (Turku, and Tapiola) We hope to be back over there one of these days. I had forgotten about the dried plums. Very good advice and licorice as well. I will get busy and start walking and now i am past the worst I think but actually had to do an enema to get going. Now today it was more normal. But eating is not so fun and seems that nothing is tasting very good. I am trying to stick to vegetables but we normally eat quite spicy and am afraid to try any thing like that yet. Give me an idea of what you ate your first two weeks if you can remember. thanks, Alleycat

Hi Sari,

 

Somehow I missed your first posts.  I don't remember ever welcoming you to the Wrapped Club!   When did you have your surgery?  Thanks for sticking around and sharing your support and experience with others!

Isn't it maddening when you get a long post written and it disappears?  Thankfully it doesn't happen often.

I would love to hear how your healing is progressing.

Take care,

Denise

Alleycat,

 

I second Sari's recommendation to walk, walk, walk.  I also followed that excellent advice, and it was really helpful.

Hope you're having a good day!

Denise

Hi Alleycat,

 

It's likely that the gas/air you're getting in your stomach is from the vegetables you're eating.  Here is a link that lists gassy vegetables: http://ibs.about.com/od/ibsfood/a/GassyFoods.htm  Also, here is a link to a link for a PDF with food guidelines for Nissen patients:  www.nwsurgeons.com/downloads/post-op/NissenFundoplication.pdf It might just give you some ideas and help you with food choices.  Everybody is different, though, so do what works for you.

Now, when you look at the list you might question what on earth you CAN eat!  Have you tried BEANO when you eat gassy veggies?  Just take two or three BEANO tablets (chewable) when you start eating a gassy vegetable.  It will make a big difference.

Do you have a crock pot/slow cooker?  You can make a piece of meat, a little onion, some carrots, some potatoes with a little liquid (if you put in a package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix with some water it adds flavor).  Just check your slow cooker's cookbook or internet recipe for amounts and time.  The long cooktime will make everything really, really soft and easy to chew/swallow.  Also the veggies will be infused with the flavors, which makes them really tasty.

Once your swelling goes down it will open up your eating options.  You are right that you shouldn't try any raw veggies.  Salad is really hard on your wrap, and you'll have to eat it sparingly in the next year if you're anything like me.  It can irritate the wrap.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings!

Hang in there...once the swelling subsides things will start to get better.

Have a great day!

Denise 

Hi Alleycat,

 

While I sent you the link for the Nissen diet, I didn't follow that.  The healing is very individual, and you're at peak swelling, so you're likely to be very wise to back off for a few days.  I agree that the antibiotics are not helping anything (except your bladder!), so it will help to get rid of them.

I think you'll find the BEANO helpful--especially if you aren't a meat eater.  You need to get your protein somewhere! 

If your doctor told you that you could move to a regular diet, once your swelling gets better, you will have a lot more choices.  I really wouldn't worry about carrots or potatoes in small quantities.  The peas and beans are good but should be accompanied by BEANO (you take it with the first bite of food). 

While they aren't as nice, canned peas and beans are probably great right now.  Canned peas are liquid as soon as you bite them!  If they give you too much gas, back off for a couple weeks and try again.

My doctor gave me this instruction..."Eat anything that can be chewed to a liquid."  I just took very small bites and chewed chewed chewed until whatever I was eating was liquid.  If you get something in your mouth that doesn't chew to liquid, just deposit it in a napkin and try something else.  I was told to avoid bread and steak.  Bread is fine as long as it is toasted well.

Once you're feeling better, just experiment.  As long as you chew to a liquid, eating regular food is just fine.  I never an trouble at all until I was farther along on my healing and stupidly had a cherry tomato that got stuck at the wrap site.  It went down after a bit, but I did have some spasms from it.  Warm tea or room temp. water are the best for getting things through the wrap.

Things will improve...it's a gradual process.  I'll bet food will be more appealing once your stomach is off the antibiotics.

Have a great day!

Denise

Hi vis,

 

I'm glad that our posts are helping you.  Once you have your surgery, why not start a new thread and share your experiences.  That way when you have questions, it'll be easier to find you.

I did lose weight--about 18 pounds after the surgery, but gained it right back starting at about the four month mark.  I'd lost that much or more when I'd had a gastritis/esophagitis episode before my surgery.  They used to send me into a two or three month healing period where I had to eat very little, very creamy, non-irritating foods until I was healed again.  Thankfully that doesn't happen any more. 

The weight loss could probably be minimized by eating more meals all day.  I know that some here have enjoyed Ensure or other milk-shake type nutitional supplements.  The first couple weeks are the toughest for swallowing, then it gradually gets better, and you'll be able to eat and drink more comfortably.

I'm glad you've joined us!  Good luck with your surgery!  If you have any additional questions, ask away!

Take care,

Denise

Hi everyone = heippa kaikki

I have to say again, so small world!!!
Well, I was only one day offline and so many messages here!
I had my vacation day and I was at Tallinn-cruise.
Best wishes from Estonia!

Denise:

Thank's for those words
I think everyday as a member of wrapped club has been excellent! I won't change that to my "ex-life" never-ever...
The only problem nowadays is to remember to eat _small_ meals.

My surgery was on 10th March 2011. This was assisted by the da Vinci-robot. As we discussed in Finland's GERD-forum my surgeon was "mr Leonardo and his crew". Thank's Leonardo ;)

<- I'm like this emoticon with those question marks...wondering now, there seemed to be so my things that went well. First my surgeon did super-work with me...then the robot-system was less-invasive with a short recovery-time...then the patient knew the all possible complications after the surgery and how to minimize them if they appeared.

Is there something special, that you want hear about my recovery-time? Let me know...I'll tell it.

As I said before, I'm here to meet other patients who has/had this devil-hernia . I just want to know, what I am going to wait for the future. Is there something what is good to know now...before it's too late. This first surgery was surprise to me...and...I try to avoid re-surgeries and hope this devil won't re-herniate. If I know something, what will help the others, it's only a pleasure. I do hope, everyone will have so easy recovery as I had.

Alleycat:

How are you today? Are you still suffering from constipation? Hopefully this is soon in balance.

Visl6:

Before my surgery I was in GERD & weight watcher's diet. There was little bit difficulties to find suitable foods. I also stopped smoking on September 2010.
After the surgery I lost 3 kg's eating those liquids for 3 weeks. Now my ww-diet continues...

Ashley:

Moi

This is a small world!!!
It's a pleasure to meet you here!!!

My history was:
We have in my working place health centre and own doctor there (I mean "työterveyshuolto", is this right word to use?).
My doctor sent me to G-scopy. Findings: La C esophagitis, open LES, hh ->Nexium meds -> after 1 month re-G-scopy -> then he sent me to Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH/Kirurgi) to get surgeon's opinion ->I met him twice -> Another surgeon from HUCH/Meilahti asked me to be his patient -> I said yes -> the surgery was in Meilahti on March 10th 2011 -> in this op the hernia dg changed from hh to paraes-h.

Hoping your symptons are in balance...You are a strong Finn-lady. Do you know when your G-scopy is...and where?

**************************************************

Yes, today I have been 6 months a member of this wrapped club!!!
I am going to celebrate that (maybe tomorrow) to have a meal: chicken-breast, rice and glass of wine

Happy healing to everyone= hyviä vointeja

Moi Sari,

I only know that it will be within the next 3 months at Laakson Sairaala. I have a million questions about how it happens here in Finland, would you be comfortable sending me an email? You can write in English or Finnish :)

Ystävällisin terveisin,
Ashley