Posted 2/25/2014 4:07 AM (GMT 0)
I am post NF one year in about 15 more days. I am sure my results are atypical. I had a HH repair and a full floppy at Keesler AFB hospital. I had been on Nexium for years with good results as far as the control of acid when I watched my diet and ate my major meal early in the day. If I didn't, I had nightly silent reflux. I did all of the mechanical things--elevating the head of the bed, etc. but still woke up coughing-up reflux and choking. I finally had a serious lung abcess and decided to see if there was any alternative. After all of the tests and in view of the lung problems, the Air Force doctors almost required me to have the operation. They said if I didn't I could be denied all treatment at military facilities.
I studied all approaches to the operation on the internet and other sources. I used the archives of HealingWell and other Websites and read every question and answer in those files that related to my problem. I really became an amature expert in the digestive system as related to our problems. So I went into it well prepared...and I was still scared. I even asked the Doctor if they could do the HH repair without the wrap. They told me that they wouldn't do it that way due to their establihsed proceedures.
Anyway, through a lot of prayer, and confidence in my doctors, I went into the operating room relaxed and confident. Five hours later I woke up and haven't had one incident of reflux since then. I haven't used any Nexium or antiacids since then and within three weeks I was back on my normal schedule. I can now eat anything and sleep through the night. My problems are minor compared to many people. They are:
1. I don't really get hunger pangs so I don't know when I need to eat. So, I am somewhat dependent on eating when someone else is hungry or eating by the clock--breakfasttime, lunchtime and dinnertime.
2. Even worse, I don't know when I am full. If I eat single portions and then quit I am satisfied. However, if other people continue to eat, they expect me to be sociable and continue also. This first became a problem last Christmas. We don't have a sit-down dinner at Christmas. We have an open house where the family drops in with covered dishes and desserts and we eat continuously all afternoon as people come and go. So, I overdid it and it got painful. Overeating seems to effect my Vagus nerve in the abdomen and I get pressure and pain in my chest and aching all the way up both sides of my neck. By the time I recognized the problem I was miserable. The same is true if we go to a buffet. Everyone else goes back for seconds or more. They assume that since I am done eating, I am anxious to leave--(this is especially true for my wife). It takes hours to get rid of the pressure. If I could vomit, I would.
I know that this doesn't answer your questions but I know that it takes time to recover. Hopefully your problem is a passing thing and your recovery will continue with only minor setbacks.