Did you have complications with your Nissen?

I had my nissen 6 weeks ago too, just remember that you are still in the beginning of healing from major surgery and it does take time to get better.

I think that having an open line of communication with your surgeon really helps. I follow up directly with him instead of any other doctors and he has time and time again helped me feel better about the post op symptoms I have been experiencing. I can imagine that if you needed mesh in your diaphragm that your healing time will be a little longer than someone who needed less work done.

If your wrap is too tight, are you having esophageal irritation because of food getting stuck at the wrap site and not getting down, or do they see that you are still refluxing? Did they do the Upper GI that soon after surgery?

Hoping that you can find some answers

SJ, I saw in another thread that you're eating bagels. I'm nowhere near that it seems. I've been feeling I have made a bad mistake by having this done. No relief is in sight. The surgeon called me today (which was nice) and expects I'll not feel like myself for another six weeks. So basically, I'm half-way through hell. Only half.

The mesh has been frustrating. A DaVinci robot helped with the procedure. I wonder if it caused me to tear.

The surgeon told me she is happy with how my wrap is right now. Apparently, that's where it should be. I should have asked why eating can be so taxing then. The radiologist doing the Upper GI saw a pill they had me swallow get stuck (I'm thinking at the bottom of my throat, top of my esophagus), so that led him to believe it's too tight. However, he's not the expert. Expanding my esophagus could cause the wrap to loosen is what I think she said, so I'm to avoid that for the time being. The surgeon also told me reflux was only seen when I was lying on one side. She told me everyone has reflux. She's not been concerned with anything I told her. I'm concerned, though.

My post-op literature was very poor. I did a whole lot of taking it easy. I've had trouble keeping hydrated and nourished. The surgeon feels that's a big part of my problem. She says the wrap looks good, but it's the rest of me that's having trouble healing. I've probably lost 30 lbs.

I see my gastroenterologist Monday. Yay...

Thank you hope you start to feel a improvement soon
Ali

That's really sad ,it must have been the tear because I have to remind myself I'm four weeks out,I get no pain ,no reflux I'm not eating meat or bread just soft foods,it does take a while sometimes to go down but no pain.
Hope they sort you out soon
Ali
X

hi 1039smooth, its understandable at the stage your at to be pessimistic,but honestly its still very early days for you yet in your recovery.Everyone heals differently from this type of operation aswell so it might take you longer than someone else whos had the op around the same time.
I would say between three to six months before you start to notice improvements. Hang on in there,things will improve. All The best! Barry

You're still very early in your recovery. I had my Nissen done on April 30th. During my procedure, two short gastric vessels were torn as well as a tear into the pleural space which caused my right lung to collapse. These are generally described as "routine" complications with this surgery because of the anatomy in the region where it's being performed as well as the amount of inflammation and scarring in the area from the years of reflux. You can imagine how big my eyes opened when I woke up to see a chest tube sticking out of my body!

At about the 4-6 week point, the swelling around the area of the wrap is at its peak. Swallowing will be more difficult and probably slightly painful. Drinking warm liquids will help that. If you think there is something genuinely wrong with your wrap and your recovery, then it might be prudent to seek out a second opinion from another thoracic surgeon with specific expertise in the Nissen procedure.

It should be noted that you'll feel worse before you feel better. Continue to take it easy and be smart with your food choices. You absolutely must keep hydrated and nourished. Drink lots of water, warm teas, milkshakes (add protein powder if you can), yogurt, etc. if you're not comfortable with semi solid food yet then stick to fortified liquids or puréed food. If you aren't getting the nourishment you need your body will have a more difficult time healing, this includes eliminating swelling around the area of the wrap.

Keep your chin up and take care of yourself,
-TonyG-

I've also been having some pain in my stomach/right side for a couple days. To be honest, I haven't had much PAIN throughout. It's what I could call discomfort, so maybe that's a good sign? I've had some good days, too. The following day is usually poor.

I stayed overnight and was released. If she's misled me about this, I wonder if she has been honest about everything else. I'll never have any way of knowing or proving anything. She was kind enough to call me yesterday mainly in regard to my Upper GI. She also said she would call my gastroenterologist to see what he could come up with over the weekend to help me. I have paperwork that says I would likely be back eating most of the things I used to at the one month mark and clearly, that wasn't the case.

I wonder if she could have done better by using the sutures or better stitches or staples or something. I like to think she did what she thought was best and that the mesh won't harm me. She said diaphragm tearing is more common in older people. I'm almost 33. Perhaps she said a week because of my age. She told me a week pre-surgery. I do clerical work, so it's nothing too taxing.

Did you keep tabs on the amount of food? I'm seeing people saying like 1/2 a cup and things like that. I've had very little literature to go by post-op. I don't know if that in itself should make me worry about the surgeon. I've had pretty good success with the things you have listed. As far as warm liquids go, I sip on warm water and warm pureed soup.

I may need help freeing my mind more than anything. My father is ill, so I moved back home a while back to help out, so between him and me, my mom is really going through hell. Had I known this was so involved, I probably wouldn't have done it at this time.

I think liquid Motrin really burns up my throat. It's of the children's variety which my mom was told is fine for me to take. I try to avoid it, though, because of that burning.

Since you've been through it, do you still think all my troubles are normal or did anything alarm you? I hope I can take the brutal honesty. lol

Thanks for the food advice.

I'm wondering how many walks I should take and for how long. I could definitely do better in that regard. I took one walk today. It wasn't very far, but it was something.

She said a week, but I didn't feel remotely ready until four weeks after. I'm still far from feeling great, or even good, but I'm still trying to work.

I get frustrated when I do feel better and the next day, it's like I'm back to where I was.

Thanks, Bill. I will give it a try. That might be a little challenging at work, but I'll see if they might let me walk around upstairs. The halls kind of wrap around the building. They don't want us doing that, but maybe I'm an exception.

I suppose I will try and get a copy of my tests to make sure it wasn't done wrong. I'm still unsure if it's too soon for a second opinion.

I read your story. I'm so terribly sorry you've gone through this. I found it to be upsetting and terrifying. I'm glad you had the support of your wife. I really have no one.

I'm sorry for multiple threads. You're absolutely right.

Tony, I took two short ones today. I guess it's kind of far for me. I've been walking the same distance since the beginning (mainly for clotting), but I haven't kept up with it like I should. I'll probably go walk the dogs with my mom later. I go pretty slowly and will sometimes handle one of the dogs when they're calm.

I think I may be pulling the trigger on a second opinion, but it's crossed my mind.