For successful fundoplication members.

How about an update from some of our members. I've gotten emails from post surgery members that love reading about successes and how helpful it was to them. Thanks to the Forum Moderators too. 😃

So happy to hear about your successful outcome. I'm one that has had great results as well and it's wonderful to be able to share our stories. I know when I was trying to decide on my surgery I hung on every word on successful posts to get me thru this. Please continue to update your status,it's so helpful to those that are on the fence and/or scared .

Hello friends,

Thanks to everyone who has posted for being a great resource. I have been lurking on this site since the day before my surgery, when I almost chickened out because of all the horror stories. Then I found this thread, to my great relief. I’ve referred to your journals on a daily basis ever since, to let me know what was coming next so I wouldn’t stress about each new development.

17 days past surgery, I believe I am having a typical—and good—recovery. I keep hearing from aides at the surgeon’s office that their post-Nissen patients are their happiest ones. So posting a truly positive report feels like something somebody needs to do!

about me: 54 year old female, overweight but healthy for my age, no athlete but reasonably fit, respiratory allergies and sleep apnea, maxed out on reflux meds for silent GERD. I chose the surgery to get off the meds and (as a possible bonus) address persistent hoarseness in my speaking and singing. It also seemed wise to head off any serious damage to my esophagus. But I must admit I have not been made miserable by GERD as so many folks on this forum have.

I had a terrific surgeon, without having been savvy enough to pick him—my trusted ENT made the recommendation. This surgeon does several Nissens a week. He welcomed questions and inspired confidence. However like many on this forum, I found that there were some normal aspects of recovery that I did NOT learn from him, nor from the prep materials given to me. Still, I lucked out. I hope everyone else chooses their surgeon more carefully than I did!

I also stumbled into doing some right things beforehand. I lost 35 lbs in the nine months before surgery and became more fit with a trainer’s help, mostly to address an arthritic knee but also as a byproduct of good acid reflux hygiene—no late meals, a 12 to 14-hour fast between dinner and breakfast—in hopes I could resolve my issues that way. (In the end I couldn’t, of course.)

Another thing I didn’t plan, but benefited from: My surgeon spoke of this as a same-day surgery from the beginning. When, at the hospital check-in, they mentioned most people stay overnight, I made it clear that I understood it to be same-day surgery unless there were complications. From what I’ve read on this forum, staying in the hospital, even a good one, can mean mismatched care from overworked personnel – being served the wrong food or meds, being kept in bed when you should walk, etc. I went in at 8 am, was in surgery around 11, and after an extended recovery-room time (standard procedure for those with sleep apnea), was allowed to leave as soon as I could burp, swallow water, and walk slowly down the hall—about 4 pm. (Even though I had a small hernia repaired as well!) I was comfortable at home and my husband made sure my meds, liquids, and short walks happened on schedule. Why not have a full-time nurse instead of an eighth of one?

I’m pretty sure all of this helped me bounce back quickly.

Some other tips based on my experience (with thanks to everyone who supplied hints in one way or another on the forum):
• Ask your surgeon if s/he tends to do a loose or tight wrap, and discuss what’s right for you. Mine was a loose 360. I was able to burp almost as soon as I awoke from surgery. Burping really helped relieve the shoulder/collarbone pain of the first couple of days. (Though some worry that a loose wrap won’t fix the reflux, I have been off meds since surgery and I don’t believe I am refluxing at all.) I’ve also had less of a struggle with swallowing than many on this forum.
• Walk as soon as you can after surgery, and more every day. It doesn’t have to be vigorous. Your body will tell you what it can handle. This helps relieve gas and you might feel better sooner.
• Burps will give way to flatulence, a natural stage of recovery. Don’t be embarrassed. Let it go!
• Take naps. Healing is hard work for your body and it will get tired. If you have sleep apnea, use your CPAP religiously, to guard against stressing the wrap in any way.
• Sleep with a pillow supporting your abdomen and hold it close when you turn over in bed. Your innards have been rearranged, and this will cushion the shifting of your organs while they are still tender.
• Stay on pain meds if you need to. Don’t be heroic. I went off very naturally a week after surgery—for others it might be two—just by forgetting to take them. Transition to simpler stuff if you don’t like being on codeine. Fortunately, there aren’t a lot of nerve endings in the area that’s been messed with.
• Especially in the second week, take extra care to have small sips and bites and go slow. If the second week is indeed the peak of wrap swelling, it seems like a funny time to transition to soft foods, as my diet plan directed. But you can always retreat to liquids if you need to. Some doctors advise liquids for two or three weeks, and I can see the logic in that.
• At the first sign of a full or pressured esophagus, stop and wait for it to go down. Sometimes sips of liquid help reluctant food down – tea works for me.
• When they say small meals six times a day, they mean it. Do it. If you wait four or five hours between meals, you’ll eat too much or too fast and be very uncomfortable. I’ve found that eating every two or three hours keeps me from having too much at a time.

As I head into day 18, I’m feeling great. Foodwise, I was on three days clear liquids, three days full liquids, then soft foods (like yogurt, mashed potatoes, toast, cheese, etc) as much as I could tolerate. I am now s-l-o-w-l-y eating some easy solids – scrambled eggs, flaky fish, soft-steamed veg – and just started drinking tea with caffeine, all with no ill effects. When I mentioned the 14-day peak of swelling—much discussed on this forum—at my follow-up, which happened to be on Day 14, the surgeon countered that swelling starts immediately and lasts for four weeks. But I admit I did feel a distinct easing of the pressure on Day 16. So now I feel free to gradually add things back to my diet. In a few days I may try a half-glass of wine. I hope to be on a nearly normal diet by the time I go on vacation in four weeks.

I’ve lost eight more lbs. since surgery. I’ve tweaked my fitness regimen – midlevel cardio and light stretches, nothing that stresses the abs – and weight machines are at least six weeks away. But all that walking after the surgery made it easy to get back to a routine. I’m just now moving to a fairly vigorous level.

I went back to the office after two weeks, plus a transitional couple of days working from home. The only challenge has been bringing the food I needed in the right amounts, and making sure I stick to the schedule. It's easy to get caught up in meetings and forget to eat.

As a plus, my voice is less hoarse. Also, I’ve reduced one of my allergy meds by half. (Maybe all that phlegm I used to get was caused by reflux?)

My apologies that this is so long, but I hope it is encouraging to any folks on the fence who may be suffering from GERD a lot more than I was. If I am enthusiastic, with minor problems solved, think how great you will feel! Just do your homework better than I did – you don’t want to rely on luck. Get a great surgeon, schedule at a time when you can spend two or three weeks on recovery, and commit to the process in a positive frame of mind. You’re going to feel so much better!

And thanks again to all the great moderators and participants on this forum!

fiftysomething

So glad I found this site! I had a full wrap done a month ago. I had a para esophageal hernia that needed tending to. I was seen in the ER the next morning I had surgery. I am very pleased. I had no idea how much my life was being impacted by the hernia/ GERD. I can breath again. No reflux. Throat is not constantly sore. No more sinus problems.Recovery is a learning process. I am following a soft diet and slowly introducing foods. Still some pain especially if I push myself too hard.I am just happy that I feel so much better. Also,this site has helped me figure out ways to cope.

50something,
Great post! I made a copy for reference. My LNF is scheduled for June 30th, I'm 68, in good health (still work as a painter), and have suffered with GERD for 6+ years.

I'm further encouraged by posts like yours and I thank you. 17 days strong! Keep up the good work!

thank you very much! I will definitely be posting my surgery 'journal'.

What were you able to wear comfortably for the first week or two after surgery? I want to make sure I have some comfortable lounging-around wear that won't bind or pinch.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks 50something ... you've confirmed what I was thinking. I might even buy a summer 'mumu' to wear for the first week or so; nothing to bind me anywhere.

Hello to all,
Thanks for your good wishes! I'm back home after having surgery at 7:30am Tuesday, June 30th and was home by 7pm Wednesday. No sleep, of course! I had a full Laprascopic Nissen Fundoplication by a cardio-thorascic surgeon and have 5 small incisions. I will be on a clear liquid diet for 2 weeks, and have my follow-up with my surgeon on July 20th. They will take another chest x-ray to check the wrap. (They took a chest x-ray later on the day of surgery).

I'm 68 and have had GERD for 7 years, the last 2 were the absolute worst.

I was able to leave the hospital the day after surgery, only if I could urinate and the doctor thought I was ready. I could NOT spend another night in the hospital! Too busy, noisy and too much LIGHT! So I was able to pee, YES!!

My surgeon did not allow anything by mouth for 24 hours after surgery! I heard that this helps the wrap heal faster as those first 24 hours with nothing to stress it are very important. That was ROUGH and my nurse brought mouth swabs several times as I was so parched! I'm used to drinking a lot of water and it has already been 12 hours before surgery since I had anything by mouth.

I was also on dilaudid through IV and was getting anti-nausea meds shots (no it didn't hurt). My abdomen is swollen to twice it's normal size and makes wearing clothes difficult, but I'm managing. I don't need to be anywhere! I finally got a full 6 hours of sleep last night in between 'time to take meds', at 1:30am and 5:30am so it makes getting a full 7-8 hours impossible for awhile and I just can't sleep during the day, at least not yet. So today is my 3rd day after surgery and the neck and shoulder pain were totally gone yesterday. I didn't have that for too long.

I am able to swallow, burp and hiccup. I am on Norco (Vicoden), a stool softener, a muscle relaxant and an anti-nausea drug for 10 days. My diet is liquid for 10 days. I don't have much of an appetite so it's difficult to get much in my tummy. I am consuming apple juice, prune juice, mango juice, jello, popcicles, nutrition shakes and water. Today, I believe I will be able to increase my intake as my tummy is 'growling' like it wants more than it's getting, LOL! My husband made coffee this morning and it smelled so good, but I can't have any of that for awhile due to the stimulant content. Yes, I told my hubby to make coffee if he wanted it. He has been my 'rock'.

My abdomen is swelled to twice it's normal size and 3 of the 5 incisions sit right at my waistline so getting dressed is a real challenge. I don't have the right things to wear and be comfortable.

I'm a bit 'loopy' from meds so I hope I don't repeat myself. I found it difficult to walk very far. In the hospital, I walked down the hall and back, and since being home, up and down my driveway (driveway is long), and across the front of the house and then I'm totally pooped. I got myself in shape for this surgery, too! I'm sure glad I did seeing how weak I am now. I know it will take time for healing and I've scheduled the entire month of July OFF. I am following doctors' orders to the letter and if I need to be off more than 4 weeks, I will do it. My quality of life for my entire future rests on how well I recover from this important surgery. I have had no acid meds as my doctor said I wouldn't need them anymore! It's still early and I'm in pain but I believe my days of acid reflux are OVER.

I had an endoscopy just before surgery, a breathing tube during surgery and my throat and chest are still sore and I can't talk for too long as it hurts! I guess this is normal??

Well, this is a long enough read and I'm gonna take a break. Thanks for your support; it means so much to me. I got so much great information from this forum over the past few years, I don't know what I would have done without this wonderful community of such caring people!

I am working on my journal and will post it in the proper place after my July 20th follow-up visit with my surgeon.

Just_A_Matt, I'm sure you'll do very well being so young. Do exactly what they tell you to do during those critical early days of recovery and you'll be feeling great in no time!

I'll be following this thread. Today is my 5th day after surgery and I think the acid reflux is GONE. Still on a lot of meds and have some after-surgery pain, but I feel better than I did BEFORE surgery!!!!! WOW!!!!

I am 75 years old and had NF surgery 12weeks ago. I have had a large hiatal hernia for years. During the last year had a lot more trouble. Hernia was twisted as well as my stomach. Could not eat that much because of this condition. Been on Prilosec for years. When eating could not eat that much because of those conditions. Could only eat half my food and then still felt stuffed so would not eat dinner. Only good thing is I lost 20 pounds before surgery. Lot of times would get pains in left shoulder into neck after eating. This would last for hours.

Had surgery and could not be happier. Glad to be rid of the shoulder pain which would last for a few hours. Do not take any meds for gerd. Did not have an problems after surgery. Did not take any pain meds in the hospital. The only problem I seem to have lately is I guess dumping syndrome. Did not know what this was at first but learned now.

I remember reading on a blog someone mentioned it was important to get the right doctor. I guess I did. He was a bariatric surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. It was not close to home but would make the trip again in an instance.

The main thing to remember to chew your food, eat slowly.

Please tell me about weight loss. I have lost 40 pounds in 4+ months, post op. I am eating normally but in small amounts, I think what worries me is I haven not been this small since I was 18!!!! lol anyway, any weight loss info is appreciated. I am doing well just recovering still but progressing each month by leaps and bounds.

Hi I am new to the forum. I had a Nissen fundoplication on 3-6-15. Everything was going really well. Then on june 16th I had to have gallbladder surgery. I think its from the weight loss. I was wondering if anyone else experienced gallbladder problems after. I am 4 months post nissen and one month post gallbladder. I still worry about the wrap but I have some burning at times but it seems to be on my stomach not reflux. It seemed to be clearing up until this past week. I am have had to wean back onto certain foods since the gallbladder. I dont drink carbonated beverages and avoid fried foods. Overall I am very pleased with my Nissen. I had a very experienced surgeon. I appreciate any input on if this sounds normal. Thanks. I really appreciate this forum vesus the horror stories.

Bump.

Thanks Seabee.