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Post Hiatal Hernia surgery Reflux

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Posted 9/13/2013 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
After suffering almost continuous reflux for8 months I had hiatal hernia surgery last week which the surgeon said went real well. I have been on liquid diet for the last 6 days and started a soft diet last night with no problems. My only issue is that I still have some reflux a few times during the day. Has anyone experienced this and have any idea if it will go away with more healing time
Posted 9/13/2013 11:05 AM (GMT 0)
Ed69

Welcome to Healing Well.

Yes it is quite common. while things are swollen there can be slight reflux or food and such hanging up at the wrap causing a reflux feeling.
It does go away with healing, but it's a slow recovery.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/13/2013 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Bill
I am seeing the surgeon on Tuesday and will post what he tells me.
Thanks to everyone that has posted information on this, it is a big help when you are nervous about a medical condition.
Posted 9/13/2013 5:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to HealingWell.   Glad you've found our online community. It’s a great place to connect with others traveling the same road...you'll find much support, encouragement and advice from others who understand. Good Luck at the surgeons.  Let us know what you find out.
Posted 9/20/2013 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I visited my surgeon today and he told me that it is food hanging up in my esophagus causing the reflux like feeling. We confirmed this with another barium swallow which showed the wrap in good shape just slow getting food and liquid through it. I was instructed to stay on the liquid/soft food diet for a few more weeks and it will probably go away.
Posted 9/20/2013 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Ed, I had the Nissen and am having the same thing. The Upper GI showed my wrap is tight and it showed reflux. I'm not sure where the reflux is, though. I can't thank you enough for sharing. I feel a little better. However, I'm having some reflux feelings with just liquid. I wonder if that's normal.
Posted 9/20/2013 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
1039smooth
What you are describing sounds exactly like what I have been feeling. I get the reflux feeling with liquids or soft foods. The liquids seem to bring it on quicker but go away quicker also. I am trying to go for a walk after eating or drinking anything, it seems to help getting it down. I have also found that not eating at least 4 hours before going to bed helps at night. I think what you are feeling is normal and you just need to give it some time to heal.
Good Luck
Ed
Posted 9/20/2013 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I'm six weeks in. I wonder if it's normal at this point? Early on, I didn't have any signs of anything. I could feel things getting caught, but I didn't have that reflux feeling. I definitely don't walk enough (today is an exception) and I have trouble keeping myself hydrated. If I feel this way after I drink, then hydration is even tougher. I had some Cream of Wheat on Sunday and some mashed potatoes a few times. The mashed potatoes from KFC are a very good consistency. The potatoes you warm up that are already in a bowl didn't go over as well. I felt more heartburn than reflux. Muscle Milk, which was formally good to me, is aggravating me now. Can't win. lol

I also have thrush. I'm taking my medicine for it too late in the evening. Luckily, I'm almost through it.

Like I said, I hope everything is still normal. At the Upper GI/barium swallow, the radiologist saw that when I tried to swallow a pill, it was getting stuck. Apparently esophageal expansion is simple.

I was just under the impression reflux would vanish after going through this. My research prior to the procedure was poor.
Posted 10/19/2013 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well it has been 6 weeks since the Nissan surgery and I am still having the same chest pain as before the surgery. I am getting a lot of sore throats and pain in the lower jaw that i did not have before surgery. The surgeon performed another barium swallow followed by another endoscopy which both showed the wrap in good shape and no damage to the esophagus. The swallow showed no reflux which is hard to believe since it feels just like reflux. This was all good news but still having the pain after 6 weeks is a little discouraging. I am trying to be patient and not let my mind think it might be something else but that is easier said than done. Anyone else been through this that can tell me how long I should expect this?
Posted 10/19/2013 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ed,

Are you being very careful to chew your food thoroughly and sip water after eating to ensure that all the food gets through the wrap?  Also, when taking meds, consider crushing/opening capsules for a while, since medication held back at the wrap site can also be irritating.

The esophagus is a "dumb organ" that interprets all pain as reflux.  It feels exactly like reflux, but instead, it's post-op pain, and pain created by food/medication being held back at the wrap site and irritating your esophagus. 

I know six weeks seems like an eternity when you're wishing away symptoms, but try to be patient.  It takes six MONTHS for most of the healing and a year for the rest. You're still at the very beginning of your healing. 

Any pre-op damage that caused symptoms takes a good long time to heal as well.  The damage wasn't done in six weeks, and it won't go away in six weeks.

Try to surrender to your recovery and follow its lead.  As much as you'd like to "will" your recovery to be complete, you can't control it.  Your body will heal in its own sweet time.  Worrying and stressing over symptoms won't make you heal one bit faster.  In fact, it will make your recovery much more stressful and difficult.  Try to relax and go with the flow.  You will heal!

Hang in there!

Happy healing,

Denise

Posted 10/19/2013 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
Denise
I have been opening my pills and trying to slow down and chew more. It's a strange feeling being the last one to finish a meal. I have switched back to a liquid and soft food diet and eating every two hours to try and reduce the irritation. I had no idea that the healing from this could take as long as it does. Reading posts from other people that have been through it helps calm my nerves which is a big part of the issue.

Thanks for all you do on this forum
Ed
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