Post TIF/laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair procedure questions...

Hello!

I just found this website and signed up in hopes of getting some feedback from those who have done the TIF/laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair. I got it done on the 19th Feb and am now recovering at home...

I am on my first week of liquid diet and it's going well. The doc prescribed me tylenol with codeine but I never needed to take one since the pain has been tolerable so far. I am, however, having a spell of bad spasm (or this urge to burp out the gas) quite frequently. Moreover, I am finding myself in need of coughing out mucous from my throat here and there, as I feel something is stuck in my throat at times. Lastly, I am still feeling this sour taste in my mouth and my wife told me that my breath smells a bit unpleasant.

Have anyone had these symptoms the first week? Also, I am getting a conflicting message from the nurse. The discharge nurse said I can have a small amount of coffee but the doctor's nurse, who called me to check up, said I can't. Given that I was served a cup of Lipton's tea (caffeinated) the day after my surgery, am not sure really what the protocol is!

Sorry for ranting but it is so frustrating and wanted to reach out to you to get a feel of what your first week was like. I am going to see the doctor for follow up next Wednesday so am hoping I can get some answers then...thanks for listening...

Thank you for your kind words, Denise! I am so happy to find this website and people who are going through/have gone through what am going through at the moment...

Oh, I am also having the throat symptoms. This is called globus (generally; there are more specific names depending on where exactly it's felt), and it can, just like water brash, be caused by the body preparing for reflux. It's tightening up your upper esophageal sphincter (UES), which again makes the body want to swallow. That swallowing would help to keep down reflux if it was there. Since it's not there anymore, the explanation is that the irritation from the surgery is causing this reaction in your body.

Please also report what your dr. says about that :)

Just returned from the 1 week post-op appointment with the surgeon. I asked him about the spasm/gas build up (and the pain in my shoulder) and he said it should go away relatively soon. He is right that these symptoms are becoming less and less with each passing day. I also asked him about the sour taste in my mouth and he said that is also common after the surgery. He continued to put me on Nexium (advised to take it by separating the capsule and taking the powder inside with food) for another month.

The good news is, he did approve for me to go back to work tomorrow! I was going crazy staying at home and just waiting for the healing to take place. I also asked him about the flatulence issue that am having and he said that would also go away over time.

All in all, the visit was very short - 10 minutes in total. I first talked to the gastroenterologist. He said I could have decaffeinated coffee with cream but still need to stay on liquid diet for another week. Then, the surgeon came in and he basically asked me how am doing and said I need to see him in a month for another follow up.

At first, I was uncertain about this whole thing but am glad I did it. I don't have the heartburn anymore, although there is still some discomfort in the area where I had the laparoscopic surgery and the chest. I am hoping these will go away soon, too...