Do you feel you were prepared sufficiently for your recovery by your physician?
Yes-Absolutly - 7.7% - 1 votes
Yes-Somewhat - 23.1% - 3 votes
Didn't effect me - 0.0% - 0 votes
No-There were gaps - 30.8% - 4 votes
No-Not at all - 38.5% - 5 votes
If it hadn't been for friends and family I would have been unprepared. - 0.0% - 0 votes
Ben_Nissen
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2013
Posts : 29
Posted 8/18/2013 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Aug 18th - Day 31
It's been 9 days since my last post and here's what's been up with me.
I had been eating a mix of liquid and soft food for about two weeks when in my third week I couldn't get anything but liquid down. It was just the same as after the surgery. My wrap was swollen again and I had to back off to just liquids. I have added in SOME soft food, but it has been about the same for a week. Not terrible, but slowly moving forward.
I have started having heartburn again in the past week (today three hard hitting episodes), so tomorrow I am making an appointment with the assisting surgeon on my procedure to discuss all of this. In the mean time antacid is my friend.
I did find that I could have a glass of wine (one small glass, one time) which is nice to know for social reasons.
So that is the latest, moving slowly but surely.
dencha
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2009
Posts : 7263
Posted 8/18/2013 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ben,If your wrap is that swollen, I suspect that some of what you eat/medication is getting held back at the wrap site and irritating your esophagus and creating the reflux sensation. The antacids can help, as they coat the esophagus and buffer the food/medication effects.
Hang in there! Swelling gradually goes down. You're at the roughest part of your recovery. It gets better!
Take care,
Denise
Ben_Nissen
Regular Member
Joined : Jul 2013
Posts : 29
Posted 8/30/2013 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
Aug 29 - Day 42
I have taken quite some time since my last post, but here is how things are going. Denise, you were absolutely right, the "reflux" was because of medication not getting through the wrap! I have adjust my schedule and am not taking much of anything before bed and it has helped dramatically.
I am still staying on the liquid/soft diet and am comfortable where I'm at. A few attempts at pushing the boundaries have not been terrible at all, but uncomfortable. I went out to lunch for the first time and really had to struggle to find something at a restaurant with no soup! I enjoyed some well chew waffle fries and called it a day (but they were great!). I can now "chug" a cold glass of water and that is heaven! :)
I am still aspirating, but not as much I am happy to say. I am going to start exercising again next week. I have lost 25 lbs since the surgery and want to loose another 25.
So all in all things are good!
opnwhl4
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 4961
Posted 8/30/2013 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Ben-
Great news. Be sure to ease into the exercising.
Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/1/2013 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
This thread has been so helpful. I had my surgery on 7/17/13 (a day before you) and our recovery sounds very similar. Knowing that the reflux I'm experiencing is probably food or meds sitting in my wrap is a big relief to me.
dencha
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2009
Posts : 7263
Posted 9/2/2013 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Holden9977,Welcome to the Healing Well 
Wrapped Club! Glad you've joined the group! You've probably read by now that the esophagus is a "dumb organ" and it interprets all pain as reflux. I had my surgery over four and a half years ago, and I remember well the worries I had that my surgery had been a failure because of reflux feelings I was experiencing. It's a very common concern.
Stick around and ask questions as they arise. This is a great place to receive information and support from others who've been there, done that!
Happy healing,
Denise