I have a para esopageal hital hernia

I am really worried of my outcome of this surgrey how long does this take to heal what has everyone eaten after post sugrey? How long des it take to heal from sugrey. Thank You Lexipoo

Here is another link with post-Nissen food choices.  It is much more liberal than the one posted by imstarryeyed, but is a closer match to the one I was put on post-Nissen.  Every surgeon seems to have their own eating protocol. 

While some keep you on liquids for a long time, others don't .  I was on liquids in the hospital, and on soft foods when I was released.  On Day 6 post op when I visited my surgeon, he set me free to eat anything that could be chewed to a liquid.  That made my life a lot easier, since it provided many choices.  It does put more responsibility on the patient, but I was up to the task.  If you take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew, you will do just fine.

Here's the link:

http://slhhn.org/docs/pdf/keystonesurgical-fundoplication%20diet.pdf

Unfortunately for some reason it doesn't work as a life link, so it has to be copied and pasted into your web browser.

I don't know if you've seen my post-op journal chronicling my early days of recovery (my surgery was in February 2009), but here it is, just in case.  It might help you get a better idea of what to expect:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443

I was told that the majority of healing takes place in the first six months, while the remainder takes a full year.  I was on vacation and eating out at restaurants at the four month mark.  Until then it's a gradual improvement...just be patient with your recovery...let it lead the way.  If you can surrender, and follow it wherever it takes you, your recovery will be much easier.

I'm glad you've joined us, too!

Best wishes,

Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 11/26/2011 4:14:44 PM (GMT-7)

Surgeons don't tend to give their patients much information prior to surgery, unfortunately.  I've worked on this forum for nearly 3 years, and have seen a wide variety of issues leading to Nissen surgery.  There have been quite a few with paraesophageal hernias that were quite large.  Generally that surgey is longer, and it's possible that your hospital stay may be extended a bit.

I never recommend any particular eating protocol, because that's an individual call by your surgeon.  Still, not every surgeon requires that their patients remain on a liquid diet for a full month.  My surgeon didn't think soft foods were all they're cracked up to be either, and can also cause some hold-ups at the wrap site.  His opinion is that chewing food to a liquid is preferable.

That said, I wouldn't be a bit surprised that those who have a large paraesophageal hernia will be required to stick to a liquid diet longer, as the procedure is longer and more extensive than the typical hernia, and the recovery is probably a bit more difficult.  I would also wonder if you've been told that the surgeon may need to switch to an open procedure.  Bill, a moderator here, had an open procedure not long ago and has found the recovery to be pretty similar to the lap procedure.

Actually, your PCP's description of the surgery sounds very close to what they do with every Nissen...just that the large paraesophageal hernia is more difficult to put back in place.

I wish you both the best of luck!

Glad you've joined the forum!

Denise