My Nissen Journey- Surgery Friday August 9th 2013

Get used to getting full quick! I fill up fast and when I over eat it hurts. I tried smoothies and they bloated me. Had to steer clear of raw fruit and veg other than apples for a bit. Its frustrating sometimes trying to find things that are good to eat.
I have a very hard time gaining or losing weight. I am 5'5 and 145 and I stay there pretty consistently. I was eating fairly normally after about two weeks though, and most stuff was higher cal and I ate frequently in small amounts. I lost a bunch of weight prior to surgery because my throat hurt so bad and I couldn't keep anything down so that might have a lot to do with it. Also most safe food is full of carbs. I was pretty low carb prior to surgery so all that comes into play. I would have loved to lose weight though, but I didnt!

I am still bloated even today. Every day in the afternoon I bloat, then I take a long walk with the dog and it helps. Walk as much as you can.

I was wondering if it would be ok to share my full story here. My situation is similar to bunny that was having so much trouble.

Ate cream cheese today and some rice pudding. Now I feel really disgusting and my stomach hurts. I am not saying that my nissen made me lactose intolerant, because that seems pretty impossible, but I for sure feel gross whenever I eat dairy now.

I am eating like I did pre-nissen, and I think that is a mistake. Just because I can eat things, doesnt mean I should and I think I am aggravating my stomach. I need to take some time and change my eating habits. Its always so tricky though to find what feels good and what doesnt.

SJ, right. I guess I'm a little impatient and scared. I've tried and not many have reached out.

Tony, I'm told I'll be able to eat like I used to eventually. I don't believe it for a second now. I feel like I made a mistake.

I read a horror story a few minutes ago elsewhere and fear that will be me. eep

Thanks, Bill. I wish I could just make my mind stop. If I stop worrying about me, I look at my dad who has cancer, so there's no solace anywhere I go. I'm sorry. :(

I appreciate your patience with me and support of me. I was telling someone earlier that I'd like to cry, but it's uncomfortable to cry.

Two Months out from my Nissen and I have to say that I am feeling really really good.

I have started working out again, and walking a lot more. I am hoping to get the treadmill rebuilt after moving so I can start trying to jog again...I got sick in April when we moved and the home gym was totally put on hold until I got this straightened out. I am excited to finally tackle that project.

I did talk to my surgeon about how loose my wrap is. He said it was totally deliberate, and it is still working perfectly. I should be glad I can eat anything and everything. Which I am. I still cant belch, but my stomach will "vent" itself for lack of a better word if it needs to or I am sitting a certain way. It has helped with the bloating.

Speaking of bloating, it is my only real lasting complaint, other than the tightness I feel in my esophagus when I get bloated or eat too much on accident. I also still get hiccups and spasms. Those are a lasting nuisance, but I can hardly complain all things considered, and it does seem to be getting better.

I got excited and tried to eat salad yesterday and while I could swallow it just fine, my stomach HATED me for it. I bloated and felt so full for like 6 hours after lunch. MISTAKE. My throat still feels tight today even after the gas x and gaviscon. Still using trial and error to find a diet that works since my stomach has completely changed preferences since surgery. The key is smaller easily digestible meals. I dont know why I am still struggling with this so much...maybe because I feel like I should be able to perfectly control it and I cant because I am still healing. :) That is just me though.

I am probably going to space out the updates even more on this thread. Nothing is really changing like it was in the first month or so, my symptoms are all the same and things just keep getting better and better. I know that before I had my surgery I was really interested in the long term outcomes and how people were feeling months and years out from their surgery so I promise I will still stick around and give my reports. I really enjoy participating in the community and helping lend an ear or give advice to those who need it. I guess I feel like I owe it because I dont think I could have gone through this surgery without all of you. Thank you so much. I appreciate each and everyone of you.

Yeah, the salad was HORRIBLE. I took the longest walk with the dog to try to get rid of that bloat.
I had to put on a pair of my boyfriends comfy pants because all of my stuff got too tight. I didnt know a body could inflate that much. Gross I know, but its what we wrap kids have to deal with.

I get it less now that I stay away from raw veggies and dairy. I think I am also swallowing less air. My reflux gave me areophagea, i was swallowing air all the time. My surgeon says after you get rid of the reflux, you stop swallowing so much air. he was right. Now I just need to control my diet.

I'm watching and listening-- reading your posts and following your recovery. Gassy foods are an issue for me. I'm not sure that I have a full grasp on which foods I should avoid. I still struggle with bloating, although you had your surgery several weeks before mine. Today is my 5 week mark post Nissen. On my last day of antibiotics and feeling good. Glad to hear that you are doing well. I'm not that far behind you.

Yesterday was a really really bad day for me.
I am not sure what really was going on, if I had the flu or something, but both my boyfriend and I were really really sick. I did not feel like I had to vomit thank god, but we both had really bad headaches and chills and muscle aches along with awful heartburn and the runs :(

I was really scared because my stomach burned so much and I felt like I had heartburn and it was almost like acid was in my throat. I was not burping though, I could only release air when I would drink fluids.
zantac and pepto helped a lot yesterday and I took another zantac this morning just to keep my stomach happy.
once again I am worried about my wrap being too loose.

Good news is, today at noon I go to see my Gastro, not my surgeon. I am going to ask her what she thinks about the situation and if she wants to schedule any tests or wait. The last thing I want is to be put back on those horrid PPIs, but I am trying really hard not to let my mind run with bad and pessimistic thoughts.

I will check back after my Gastro appointment and let you guys know what they say.

Thank you Diaas. Sunday night was the first time I actually thought I might have some reflux. The worst I would ever get is a burning pushing feeling at my wrap site which would feel like reflux, but I dont think it was. I think my stomach and wrap was just irritated and I think I was gassy.

Sunday night I was able to burp when I would drink water and it felt like a little bit of stomach contents were coming up when I would lie flat or drink, but there was no belching unless I was drinking so it was probably very minimal reflux if it was happening at all. I know that my esophagus feels a little burning and sore all the way up when I eat too much or when my stomach gets upset, but that feeling comes and goes. I am not the best at eating a bland easy to digest diet, especially since my wrap is loose and I am able to swallow so many things so easily.

It was honestly more reassuring when I could feel food go past my wrap or when I was getting the spasms more often letting me know things were pushing up against my wrap, but its funny how, the more normal I feel, the more I feel like my surgery isnt a success. I do plan on bringing up this irrational thinking with my gastro.

The fear of the unknown is horrid! I know that I would be ok to have to have the surgery redone, because I know what to expect now, but the thought of being disappointed to go through all this for nothing makes me really depressed and anxious.

I am not having reflux daily. That is correct.
I still have sore throats, mostly just dry and scratchy now instead of burning acid horribleness. I think some of that is because I have allergies and post nasal drip and breathe through my mouth at night and its not reflux anymore. I am also still healing from all the damage prior to my surgery so I think things get more sensitive than normal.

I had some bad bad regurgitation constantly prior to the surgery, acid and non acid. All my food was coming back up like a cow almost. :)

My fear is that as I heal, my wrap gets looser and looser and since I am only two months out, I just worry that more and more of my old symptoms will/are returning. I did talk to the surgeon about this and he made my wrap quite loose on purpose and doesnt feel like anything is abnormal. I have heard from multiple sources that the wrap, when done correctly, will allow for normal amounts of reflux and belching. I think that what I am experiencing is normal, but it still worries (even irrationally) that my reflux will come back.

I truly am happy I had the surgery, I just think I need to ask for some testing so that I can have that reassurance that it is working. Anxiety sucks

Hi StephanieJean,

Stop worrying!  The things you're experiencing are normal and a part of healing. You're only two months post-op in a recovery that takes a full six months for most of the healing and a year for the rest. 

Raw veggies are very hard on the healing wrap.  Even when chewed thoroughly, they can be difficult.  In addition, some veggies can increase gas and create painful bloating.  During my early recovery I'd take BEANO before eating a meal that had gassy veggies included. 

It took me a long time to be able to eat raw veggies after my surgery, and for the first couple years at least, I'd get irritated after eating a dinner salad, or salads several days in a row.  I know it's hard to deal with, because there's nothing like salad and fresh veggies! 

Even now if I eat tons of celery, carrot sticks, cucumber, etc., my wrap can get a little angry for a few days.  I have a sensitive/reactive stomach lining, and my wrap was created out of that stomach.  Therefore, my wrap occasionally gets a little temperamental.  I wouldn't go back to the way I was pre-surgery for anything, so a little quirk now and then is well worth it.

Don't worry about your wrap getting too loose.  It will heal and do its job.  The things your experiencing now are related to your recovery.  You have not even come close to healed.  I took that full 6 months to heal, and continued to have improvements even into the second year!

Relax and enjoy your recovery!  Don't worry about things you have no control over.  Your surgeon knew what he/she was doing, and given time all will be healed and well.  Just try to surrender to your recovery and follow its lead.  If you struggle with worries and stress over healing pains/quirks, it makes things that much more difficult. Just try to go with the flow and give your body permission to heal in its own sweet time.

Hang in there!

Happy healing,

Denise

PS...From what I've read, it sounds as if you're a beer fan, like me.  Before my surgery I feared that I'd have to stop drinking it due to the carbonation. However that's not the case.  I enjoy beer just as I did before the surgery, although I didn't drink more than a few sips in the early weeks.  So keep the faith...it's not forever!