12 days nissen post op questions

Hello again everyone. I am still have very sharp pains in the main wrap incision site area when I try to eat "real" (not mushed up or liquid) foods. It feels like a muscle spasm and makes me catch my breath. It is hard to move without pain when the spasm happens but if I lie down the pain is eased. Is this food getting caught??? Is that what it feels like??? I don't feel like anything is caught but I maybe it just doesn't feel like I expected. I also get this pain periodically if I move a certain way. It doesn't have to be a big movement even, but it does spasm up for a few moments. Should I be concerned??

Amanster
As posted on your 10th day.. you are not finished swelling yet.. you will continue to swell at the wrap site until day 14 or 15. Then it will recede at its own pace. You must listen to your body. It is telling you that you are trying to rush your recovery. You are not ready for the food you are trying to eat yet if you are experiencing pain at the wrap site after eating. Please try to relax into your recovery. I was on soft food until the beginning of my 3rd week. At that point I began eating grilled or broiled fish, chewing thoroughly, I would boil fresh veggies ( zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, sweet onion, mushrooms) until well done and they went down well after chewing chewing chewing. This must be your mantra for recovery... listen to your body, it will tell you when you are ready to advance your diet choices.. please at least allow your wrap to begin to reduce the swelling before you start trying to eat a "regular diet" Some people can do this at a very early stage in recovery, others, it takes time. Your body will let you know if you are an early recoverer or if you need to take your time. I promise you will not starve. You may lose some weight, but you will not starve, it just seems as though you are.
You need to remember that you are only on day 12 recovering from major surgery. Your insides have been lifted, poked, moved, bunched and sewn. This is not a 2 or 3 week recovery. Your major healing will take place in the 1st several months. You will continue to heal up until and probably after your 1 year mark. If you are relatively young/active, you will probably be able to go back to work or resume semi-normal activities after the first 2-3 weeks. Did your surgeon instruct you on what to lift and what not to lift etc?? if not you need to call and ask these questions. Most doctors have some restrictions for you. We here at the forum welcome all questions and we want everyone to come and feel comfortable here. Please feel free to come here to question, gripe or praise. We understand that this is a difficult time and most patients are not properly prepared for the recovery to come...
I hope I have helped answer your question
I do want to say though... if at anytime you are concerned about the way you feel or about pain you are having... CALL YOUR DOCTOR... that is what they are there for. Sometimes when we experience something , we need to be reassured that it is "normal". Everyone recovers in their own time and at their own rate. You have a right to question, worry, gripe or be happy at the new hurdle you have jumped.. we want to hear it... we will support you in your fear, answer your questions and be happy when you are .....
Reach for the Sunshine... Rainbows will follow..
Sandi

Thanks for your input everyone. I don't think I really understood what people meant by spasms in the wrap area until it happened to me. They really do hurt don't they. Fortunately for me they go away if I lay down. I think it just takes the pressure off of everything. I have been on all liquids and pureed food today and so far very little pain. I think I tend to want to rush my diet because I feel dizzy if I don't get enough calories. I went back to a protein smoothie for breakfast, some mashed sweet potato thinned with chicken broth, a bit of banana blueberry baby food, and an ensure so far today. I am going to try and puree some chicken noodle soup in the blender for dinner and sip on another ensure this evening. That should be about 800 or 900 calories, which is the most I have had since the surgery. It is exhausting eating like this though, eating every hour or two or constantly sipping a protein drink.....not a lot of fun but I'll do what I have to to get through the next few weeks.

If anyone has other food ideas that I haven't thought of I would love to hear them!!

Thanks again for all your support, it makes me feel better.