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7 weeks after Nissen Fundoplication

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 10/13/2013 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had my Nissen Fundoplication August 2013. I did not want to have the procedure due to the stories I read on the Internet. I have been suffering with acid reflux off and on since I was a child. I am 53 years old. Within the last year, I was diagnosed with a short segment 5mm Barrett's Esophagus, and eosinophilic esophagitis (the count was 400+). I had no strictures in the esophagus and the GI doctor thought I had a small hiatal hernia. Nosebleeds every day for 5 months. I experienced largyngitis that would come and go. I kept telling the Gastro doctor I had difficulty breathing and was able to push my stomach down. I counted one day 20 times in an hour. Earlier this year, I noticed I would drink fluids and feel it in my left breast. Also, heard my stomach gurgling in my chest too. Well, I finally went through with it. The surgeon found I had a 4-5 cm sliding hiatal hernia. The doctor had to place a 5x6 cm mesh and sew my diaphragm shut from almost my armpit to my sternum. I am only 5'1" 113 pds and the surgeon is at a loss for the large HH and hole in diaphragm.

My question is in regard to the recovery. I seem to yawn constantly which causes pain. Will this cause problems with the wrap? I have no nausea so far. Coughing is controlled with cough medicine. Thanks..FlaCracker
Posted 10/13/2013 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi FlaCracker,

Welcome to the Healing Well yeah yeah yeah Wrapped Club! yeah yeah yeah I'm sure yawning is very safe for your hernia repair and wrap.  It's natural that you'd still get some pain in the area, and since your hernia repair was extremely extensive, it certainly makes sense that yawning would still hurt.

I can just tell you that I had a lung infection before, during, and after my surgery, and coughed hard and constantly.  My wrap held strong and I did fine.  I would suspect that yawning is much easier on your healing wrap than the severe coughing I was doing, so I think you can relax.

Glad you've joined the forum!  It sounds as if surgery was exactly what you needed.  I can understand your hesitancy to get the Nissen.  Like you, I held off far too long because of reading those scary posts.  Shortly before my surgery I found this great forum, and the people here provided me with great information and support.

Since there was precious little positive and helpful information online, I've stuck around to help others the way I was helped.  Hang in there, and good luck with that yawning!  Just remember that healing from this surgery takes a full six months for most of the healing, and a year for the rest.  It'll take patience, but if you can surrender to your recovery and go with the flow, you'll do just fine!

Happy healing,

Denise

Posted 10/14/2013 8:16 AM (GMT 0)
Yawning can be somewhat painful for a while as it stretches the diaphragm. It won't hurt anything though.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 10/14/2013 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Denise and Bill. You were both helpful in my decision to get this surgery done. I know of two people in my local area that got the procedure and both are satisfied. I too had asthma and have experienced nothing post surgery. The pulmonologist said I was lucky as there was no damage to the lungs. The surgeon said he could not have closed the hole in the diaphragm if it had gotten larger. I had a good surgeon and don't experience the trauma like some individuals had posted. My only problem has been constipation which causes gas which causes the chest pain. I am a semi vegetarian so I had to work around the no gassy vegetables while healing. I definitely learned the hard way the first 2 weeks with vegetable soup.

I would like your feedback on sneezing. I have been lucky to suppress most of my coughing but it is coming back out in sneezing fits. In my earlier thread, I mentioned no nausea but it started. So I got the anti nausea medicine you recommended. I also drink a lot of ginger water.

Also, I hit a large pothole in the road the other day. I jolted the car and jolted my wrap. I hurt a couple of days after that. Chest pains. Any thoughts?

Thanks again...FlaCracker
Posted 10/14/2013 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi FlaCracker,

Those kinds of things can happen throughout your recover and even through the first year.  You'll have little setbacks, and your wrap area can hurt for a few days.  Even challenging your wrap with foods can create some discomfort for a few days.

When that happens, just baby the wrap until it gets feeling better.  Have you tried ice on the site?  It might make it feel better.  I very much doubt something like that could cause a problem.  If your diaphragm repair was that involved, it's likely that you'll take longer to heal.  Hang in there!

Take care,

Denise

 

Posted 10/16/2013 12:15 PM (GMT 0)

What about the hiccups. Do they ever subside? Just started at week 4. 

FlaCracker

Posted 10/16/2013 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi FlaCracker,

Oh yes...they subside!  The diaphragm has been irritated by your surgery, and it's a reaction to that. As healing continues, they'll become less frequent.  Quite a few people here have had the same problem, and they've disappeared over time. 

Hang in there!

Denise

Posted 10/17/2013 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for answering my concerns. I hate to nitpick on little things but since this surgery I am very cautious about everything. No more roller coasters for me! I still take PPIs as my surgeon prescribed because of the Barrett's and possible areas that were overlooked on the esophagus. I have my acid reflux under control but unfortunately I have bile reflux too. It hit me bad last night. The surgeon keeps telling me it is gaseous fumes not reflux. He tells me you don't get Barrett's from gas fumes but from acid. I will still be under surveillance for the next couple of years.

This forum has been very helpful.

Cheers....FlaCracker
Posted 10/17/2013 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
FlaCracker, may I ask what they said was causing your bile reflux?

I had an upper abdominal ultrasound scan about 8 weeks ago to rule out bile duct problems and it was fine.

Good luck with your recovery and keep well.
Posted 10/17/2013 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
I had a hysterectomy last year 2012. My Aunt swore up and down I would get gallbladder problems as a result of the procedure. about 12 weeks later, I got severe gastritis. GI doctors could not control it. PCP ordered ultrasound and gallbladder was fine. Ruled out H. Pylori (natural immunity), no gastroparesis. I did have a colonscopy last year and there was a section of the colon that needed to be monitored. No explanation for bile. My father, aunt, and cousin all suffer from lower and upper gastro problems. Maybe hereditary? Not sure...but I was miserable last night.

I feel a lot better today. Maybe because I am off of work today:)
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