A little help from the WRAP CLUB.

Welcome David, to the forum. Unless you are one of the lucky ones who have a short simple procedure planned, I'd wait until after vacation for the surgery.

My surgery was very long and complex because I had was a large paraesophageal hernia (large portion of my stomach stuck in my chest). I was in the hospital 4 days, on clear liquids until I went home, then "full" liquids (add milk) for another week or so before graduating up to soft diet. I went to a wedding on soft diet, but wouldn't have had much fun if it had been more that the weekend trip.

David -
Did they say if the hernia was paraesophageal? That means the stomach stays in the chest (beside the esophagus) all the time vs sliding, where the hernia goes up and then back down. Paraesophageal is dangerous because it can twist and become a serious emergency. That would be a reason not to wait.

Barretts is serious but I don't think a couple of weeks would make any difference. Do ask your doctor for real medical guidance!!!!! I'm just a patient like everyone else on the forum.

You might consider skipping the lunch meat. It can be contaminated easily and is certainly a source of sulfite, which is an increasingly common reflux trigger. I can't eat it at all. Bake the fist, don't fry it, especially no deep fried. Cereal often contains sulfites too. Maybe stick to oatmeal and cream of rice. You'll want the latter on hand for post-op anyway.

I found I didn't have the stomach heaving, which I call reflux, if I avoided my specific food triggers. I didn't need surgery untill I got the paraesophageal hernia.

Hi Dave,

Welcome to Healing Well!  It's a hard call with your situation. You'll be just short of the 2 month mark, which is still very early in your recovery.  However, if you're seriously suffering now, it might not make that much difference.

Hopefully some newly wrapped friends will be by who can speak to how they're doing in the early stages.  It's been 3 years for me, and honestly, I can't remember my exact progress at that time.  If you're bad enough, you might find that you actually feel better with the surgery than without.

I can tell you that by the 4 month mark we went on vacation and I was eating anything I wanted.  You'll always want to chew your food thoroughly after you've been wrapped.  I still have to.  Also, if your stomach is reactive at all, you may still have triggers that bother you.  It's just that they'll stay in your stomach!

Good luck with your decision!  Glad you've joined us.

Best wishes,

Denise