Asking about laparoscopic fundoplication

Hi DontStealMyBacon,

I'll do my best to answer your questions:

Are most of the fundoplications being performed now laparoscopic or is that only a small portion of them?

Nissen fundoplication surgery has been performed since 1955.  In the beginning, all these surgeries were open.  With the development of the laparoscopic technique (15-20 years ago), the use of the open procedure has declined.  Today, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is the norm, so most people posting here have had that procedure.  open procedures are only done when there are specific contraindications and the laparoscopic route is not possible.

 

How long do most laparoscopic patients take to get back to work?

A Nissen is major surgery.  Many surgeons tell patients they will be able to get back to work in two weeks.  It is possible, as long as there is no physical lifting, etc. involved, but not without a toll being taken on the individual.  Everyone is different, and younger patients recover more quickly than older ones.

I was teaching second grade when I had my surgery and thought I would go back half days at two weeks.  Because of illness in my classroom and my own particular lung issues, this wasn't possible and I stayed out for 6 weeks, instead.  It was heavenly to be able to take that long to recovery without the stress of work.  If I hadn't have the lung issues I did, and my classroom wasn't so sick, I probably would have managed just fine at 4 weeks. 

Two weeks will be pushing it for you.  You'll still be tired and be having some pain.  Depending on how tough you are, and how motivated, you can manage.  There are quite a few who've had to go back to work quite soon after surgery. Before I had mine, I met someone who'd gone back to her work as a dental hygienist after just one week.  I can't even imagine that.

Hopefully others will be by soon to provide you with more of their work-after-Nissen experience.  Good luck with your decision.

Take care,

Denise

Thanks for the answers. I know it comes down to my decision, ane I have already decided that I want the operation as soon as I can get it, ideally with enough time before classes start on August 28th. The problem is that after pushing my doctors to consider me for this surgery for 4 years now, I am finally approved as a candidate for the surgery, and the hospital keeps canceling my appointments to meet with the surgeon. I was scheduled to meet with the surgeon on July 1st, but they called me to say that the surgeon was no longer available that day and to ask if I could reschedule it 2 weeks after that. The next day I got another message from them, only to find out that they had cancelled my appointment again and pushed it to the only week I am out of town. When I asked them when the next available appointment was to meet since I was out of town of the day they had automatically pushed me into, they said the earliest to meet the surgeon was late August.

After calling them endless times, I finally got an appointment date set up yesterday for August 6th, but I wont be able to schedule the operation until I meet the surgeon and now I am just extremely stressed and continually in pain. Life isnt that bad, but right now is a struggle and I hate people.

I have a question. How do you all handle the fact you can't throw up anymore. That scares me. What do you do? I am 45 and can't see myself never throwing up again. Not that I throw up a lot. Can't remember the last one. But. I know in the next 50 years I will. Also. Burping? What percent of folks have no issues.

Thanks for giving such detailed answers to all these questions. I thought this one might be a little hard for some people to answer, but I'll ask it anyway.

I will end up asking my surgeon, but I also want to know what to expect ahead of time. I play trombone in 3 different bands year round. How long would I have to wait before I could expect to get back to playing trombone? And how long should I wait before I get back to playing and marching in my marching band?