recovery for hiatal hernia fundoplication surgery

Hi h.s.newbie,

Of course you'll eat that burrito!  It's just that now your stomach has been through major surgery and needs time to heal. The reason your surgeon has you on liquids is because for the first two weeks your wrap is becoming increasingly more swollen, which makes it difficult to swallow.

The top part of the stomach is where "fullness" is read and messages are sent to the brain.  The brain is interpreting the swelling as fullness, which is why you can't eat much at a time.  It's totally normal.  I could only eat about 1/4 to 1/3 cup at a time.   

You'll fill up quickly for a while.  That's why you'll need to eat many tiny meals all day long.  I remember at your stage I'd buy a cup of soup at Panera Bread and have some at the restaurant, then bring it home for a couple more meals.  That's a cup of soup. 

Be sure to avoid very cold drinks and foods.  They can cause spasms that are very uncomfortable.

Yes, you'll eat food again!  Patience!  You're on the seventh day of a healing process that takes 6 months to a year!  You're going to have a long hard recovery if you're chomping at the bit already!  Relax!  You've just had major surgery.

Trust, you'll get there.  It just takes time.

Happy healing!

Denise

 

Oh yeah! your abdomen will swell. Everything inside swells also from the gas they use during surgery. The pressure during the surgery isn't normal and the organs rebel. Mine was worse on my left side. also the left upper incision will be the sorest the longest. That's the hole they use to hold the liver out of the way.

Take care,
Bill

Don't worry, you'll get there! When I had my surgery, every day was genuinely better than the last! Personally, it took around two weeks before I could eat chewable food and two months before I could eat a decent variety of foods in a nearly normal amount. The main problem is that everyone swallows some air with their food, and since you can't burp at all yet, it hurts like the devil, not to mention that the wrap is still very sensitive. It will heal and you'll be able to eat again!

One other note, Ensure and such have a LOT of sugar in them. If that's all you're eating, the sugar overload may be causing some of problem. Soup, cream of wheat, and deli meat might be worth a try.

I'm so glad you started this chain! Its great to read this! I'm 5 days post surgery. I've been able to do soft things like mash potatoes. Tonight I really craved a bean and cheese burrito. The beans did ok but got some tortilla in there and man was that a big mistake! While I'm going to be less adventurous and stick to smoothies, is it normal to have this happen once in a while? Im so afraid ill undo the good work!

I was craving a burrito too! Tried to eat one last night (day 11 post surgery) & same thing happened; beans ok, tortilla no. Woke up to a horrible gut ache.
Tonight I backed off to oatmeal which went down fine. Tried a bit of a roll (king's sweet bread, my favorite) but it's too doughy & it got stuck in my throat. Had to cough it up. Ok so no doughy favs like tortillas, sweet rolls, etc. Guess I'll stick with the oatmeal, applesauce, broth. Making chicken soup tomorrow for the upcoming week. Basic, just chicken, potatoes, carrots, & some noodles. No gassy veggies this time. Will see how this goes down. Will update tomorrow.
Gut is starting to hurt a bit because I splurged on fruit gummies-not a bright thing to do.
Burping for me is still hit or miss. Sometimes it happens but still can't on command. I've read this can take time. Walking helps to move the gas to the other end. Going back to work on Monday, not sure how the inability to burp will be at the office. I imagine I'm going to be walking a lot.
I haven't eaten enough food to experience dumping (diarrhea after eating) so not sure if it's going to hit me or not. It hasnt happend with my liquid diet,; happened my 2nd day after the surgery in the hospital because I was NPO for 4 days before and I think my bowels were rebelling after not eating or drinking anything for so long. Maybe I'll find out after the chicken soup. I've read that the diarrhea can last for awhile, but most people get better over time.
I'm able to take fairly deep breaths, but it does hurt if I'm not standing or sitting straight up, and not twisted at the waist.
I'm a little worried about going back to work on Monday; I keep dozing off during the day at home & not sure I can last a 10 hour day. Stamina is getting better, but I'll have to take it slow!
I'm really glad that I can speak with others who have had this done. I'll continue thread as often as I can. Please let me know how you folks are doing.

Ok woke up to another morning with the familiar gut pain! This is disappointing. My gut was fine on the liquid diet. Beginning to fear foods again. What's up with the new gut pain?

HSN-

Yes sitting too long or driving too long will cause some pain for a while. Things still healing in there.

Stay away from soft gummy foods until at least the 3rd month. If it can't be chewed to a liquid it will most likely get stuck. Once you have irritated your wrap you have to back off your diet and activities to let things settle down. This is why I took a full 5 weeks off for mine. I learned with my first one that this recovery takes a lot of time.

Bo soft breads
No solid meats
for at least 8 weeks and sometimes longer.


Take care
Bill

Hi hiatal hernia newbie,

Chew your food not practically to a liquid.  Chew it actually a liquid.  Small bites and chew, chew, chew.  There's no reason not to bring food with you, but foods that chew easily to a liquid.  Carrots cooked long enough will be fine, but you need to eat very slowly and chew to a liquid.  You can do it!

I'll bet you're tired! 

Sleep well!

Denise

Day 2 back at work day 15 post surgery. Really wishing I could have taken 3 weeks off after surgery. I am so tired and hurting from sitting at my desk, field work and driving. Wish I could lay down or stand up while driving or working at my desk lol.
Note to folks who plan to have this surgery--take at least 3 weeks off before going back to work if you can.

I had a hiatus hernia + fundoplication surgery + umbilical hernia repair 4 days ago.The pain was excruciating the second night the worst as the gas moved down i had massive severe cramps wave after wave all night [as you cannot release wind.]my advice looking back would be not to lie down but sit up and the second day to walk as much as possible no sleeping as hard as that sounds,as this helps the gass move quicker.even now 4 days later after a hrs sleep i battle to get up without severe pain.trying to minimise pain tablets as thats the cause of constipation causing the pain.Also take your time eating sipping everything very slowly i ate fast a [huge puree meal] and paid the price.My pain feels like someone thrust a wooden spear through me chest.My advice stay awake walk walk walk.

I would be interested in hearing from people who are several months post surgery who can speak to how they have recovered, complications etc.

I had to eat baby food for the first 3 weeks. I am 4 months post op. I have lost a lot of weight, literally 40 pounds, I am down to where I was when I was 18. Its nice but now I am worried something is wrong because I am so thin. I eat my food in small amounts, I don't eat bread anymore as it fills up and is very uncomfortable or meat. Once in a while I try something new, not often because I know what works and what isn't going to. You have to keep yourself on a diet the rest of your life. Has anyone else lost a lot of weight just wondering so I can feel better about this. My surgeon told me not to eat white flour, anything that cause gas, that means: lots of vegetables: broccoli, asparagus, no beans at all because of gas, most likely wont be normal for a year. You can eat all this but it will make you very uncomfortable.

I have not had a lot of complications at all. Just if I eat too much I feel like I am 9 months pregnant and very, very uncomfortable. The surgery is great, no acid reflux and I don't get food in my lungs either although I was taking all this precautions before. It finally got to the point where it was totally interrupting my life. I actually thought I had asthma (I do) severely but it was the food slipping in my lungs. I slept on lots of pillows ate right and did everything possible and that's when I decided to get the operation.

I was told not to take antacids of any type or acid reflux medicine. I am finding that its better not to sit at the computer for lengths of time and to lie down and relax a little. I did go back to work in less than 1 week after my surgery.

Post Edited (wendy811) : 7/12/2015 8:28:35 AM (GMT-6)