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I had my toupet fundoplication 9 days ago.

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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 11/21/2013 7:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I had my toupet fundoplication 9 days ago.

I was told on the morning of my surgery that I had a hernia which is what I suspected all along. I believe that the hernia is what caused all of my problems which started in April.

I have got over the surgery and have been eating a liquid /sloppy diet but I don't feel symptom free. I don't think the surgery as worked. I know that people will say its early days and give it time.

Last night was really bad I ended up taking Lansoprazole to try to ease the pain but of course it didn't.

I am really worried. Is it possible for the hernia to have returned or for the wrap to have come undone so soon?

Or is it that the toupet just isn't a tight enough wrap for me.

I know I'm going to have to get back in touch with the surgeon and go through yet more tests but I'm also afraid that I won't be believed. I told the surgeon the day after my surgery that I still have reflux and he assured me that I don't but I'm sure I do.

To be perfectly honest I'm in as much pain now as I was prior to surgery.I got over the surgery pretty quickly and I had no problems with swallowing.

The surgeon I used was very good and specialises in hernia repairs but I guess that sometimes they have failures.

Has anyone had surgery and knew it hadn't worked within the first two weeks ? And if so what did you do?

Thanks

Maria

Maria,  I gave your thread a title.

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 11/21/2013 10:34:25 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/21/2013 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
You still have a lot of swelling going on. Maybe try ibuprofen for the pain and hopefully that will help some. The recovery sure can be a roller coaster. The worries we have only make it more difficult. Can you call your doctor and ask about it? I hope so!
Posted 11/21/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
The swelling can make you feel pretty horrible and the swelling can be uneven. It is very very difficult to predict how well the wrap will work until your swelling has subsided.

I took liquid childrens motrin to help with the swelling. I was also convinced my wrap was in vain and wasnt working...its hard to stay calm and give it time, but I think everyone has the same fears you do in the beginning. It will all be ok!
Posted 11/21/2013 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dan, Laurie and Stephanie

Thanks for your replies.

Maybe you are correct and it is swelling which I guess could be forcing open my sphincter open which is then letting acid out. I do hope so.

I don't feel there is any swelling as I have no trouble swallowing at all and I just assumed if there is swelling then I'd feel it when I swallowed food.

I guess I need to give it a couple more days for the swelling to go down in the meantime I've started to take my PPI's again to see if that helps.

I'm going to get in touch with my surgeon to see if he can give me any ideas on what the problem could be. He's a very experienced surgeon and he assured me that the reflux had gone. Maybe I need a barium swallow to see if the wrap and hernia repair are still in tact.

Is there any medication that could help with the swelling or is it just a matter of waiting for it to go down naturally ?

Could the pain I'm feeling in my chest ( which I thought was acid reflux and heartburn ) actually be pain in my oesophagus from the
wrap? Although it feels like the pain I had prior to surgery.

Thanks for your help

Maria
Posted 11/21/2013 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Maria, 

Perhaps you should call your Dr. - you should have received a post-op instruction sheet and somewhere it should read like this:

Call your doctor or nurse if:

  • Your temperature is above 101 °F.
  • Your incisions are bleeding, red, warm to the touch, or have a thick, yellow, green, or milky drainage.
  • Your belly swells or hurts.
  • You have nausea or vomiting for more than 24 hours.
  • You have problems swallowing that keep you from eating.
  • You have problems swallowing that do not go away after 2 or 3 weeks.
  • You have pain that your pain medicine is not helping.
  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You have a cough that does not go away.
  • You cannot drink or eat.

Wishing you fair winds and following seas,

Kitt

Posted 11/21/2013 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt for the list and also for the title to my post. I forgot to give it a title and I had submitted it before I realised.

Maria
Posted 11/21/2013 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
Ibuprofen/Motrin/Advil will all help with the swelling - as they are anti-inflammatory drugs. I forgot to say that in my previous post. Don't hesitate to call the doctor. I found the nurses very helpful on the phone.
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