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Surgery effects after Paraesophageal hernia

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Posted 2/6/2015 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
I am in my 6th week after this surgery. I don't eat much because I feel gas and cramping very quickly after I eat or drink anything after 2 hours it subsides. I have lost 37lbs just because I am not eating much. I am taking GasX and Hydrocodone for pain then I can sleep a little. How much longer for this happening every time I eat? Very frustrated because my doctor thinks I can eat a steak by next week. That won't happen as much as I'd like a steak. Do I eat bland? I do walk and have been walking 2-3 miles a day. Any thoughts? I play golf assume I could play by April and I bowl assumed I could do that by March. Some of you are saying a year. My doctor never told me that I would be my self after 4-6 weeks. Not even close to that timeframe. If you want an extreme diet plan here it is. One chocholet Boost every morning that's it till lunch time 1 bean burrito that's it till dinner then a protein shake at night.
Posted 2/6/2015 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
sorry I meant chocolate
Posted 2/6/2015 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
fbr,

Sorry for your troubles. Unfortunately gas and cramping will come with the surgery for a little bit longer. What I would suggest is eating more non-gassy foods and trying a probiotic to help regulate your system. It could be that you just have a flare-up of not friendly bacteria in your gut causing you excess gas that needs to be normalized. This is common after surgery as you are pumped full of antibiotics during the operation then given other medications that can alter the normal bacterial flora in your stomach. Protein shakes and bean burritos are probably not the best for you as they contain a lot of fiber and can contribute to gas.

Give it a try and see if that helps.

Be well and take care,
-TonyG-
Posted 2/6/2015 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with TonyG, probiotics helped me quite a bit. Also, I would back off of the bean burrito - that may help with the gas. You might want to try and eat multiple small meals during the day instead of just breakfast, lunch and dinner. Have you talked to your surgeon about your pain level? Six weeks seems like a long time to be on hydrocodone to be able to sleep. At 6 weeks out, I was still eating soft food and when I progressed to solid there were some things that bothered me. When that happened, I went back to a softer diet and then tried solids again.

Good luck!
Posted 2/7/2015 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sharon, I actually have been taking the Hydrocodone because the gas pains have my nerve endings on my chest where he cut me open very irritated. It also flares up the muscles in my lower back. I ate bland tonight and feel better possibly no pain meds tonight. What's in Boost that causes so much gas?
Posted 2/7/2015 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tony, at least you give me hope that there will be a day that I'll feel good again.
Posted 2/7/2015 2:40 AM (GMT 0)
I just had my first Probiotic Peach Activia---tastes like crap but if it works at this point it's worth it. thanks
Posted 2/7/2015 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
they make a probiotic colon heath pill that works a lot better than yogurt. I think one is by Phillips colon health. I got the generic tho and that help a bunch. I am almost 5 weeks out and I take gas x regularly so I don't have that much pain with it anymore. the milk in boost and the bean in burrito is not very good as far as gas goes. It is a trial and error thing. I have to eat small every two hours. the three times a day was making me too hungry and I was eating to much too fast. now I am leveled out and feeling much better. I hope you feel better soon
Posted 2/7/2015 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
thanks for the information--I'll do that
Posted 2/9/2015 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Millk products will give you gas. You might try Lactose-free milk and just take a vitamin with it, making it equivalent to those breakfast drinks. Also skip the corn syrup in the drinks which gives gas. At least you'll be feeding the bacteria in your gut less.

I like Colon Health probiotic too, for the same reason as mernzy.

I ate a few bites or swallows every couple of hours for the first few weeks and didn't lose any weight. I mashed or processed my own real foods, actually had them frozen and ready to just heat up. It got a little boring. I should have made up less of each thing and more different foods. It takes a long time to go through a single chicken processed to baby food.

Look online some of the post fundoplication diets. Also check out pages of "gassy foods."
Posted 2/11/2015 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
thanks Alcie, starting week 7 still feel very weak. Constipation is terrible lately having taken Hydrocodone for pain since December 30. But I have stopped that for the last 2 days trying to stay off that. Took laxatives the last 4 nights---finally went. It was draining. But the good things out of this so far are Blood pressure is perfect without BP medication and lost 4 waist sizes in my slacks which I needed to lose. Hopefully by April I'll be strong enough for golf.
Posted 2/13/2015 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
fbr
I had my surgery nov 4 2014. it was almost 4 weeks before I could sleep laying down without severe pain. I had to sleep propped up on the couch. I have only lost 28 pounds so far. my doctor instructed me to eat no more that 1/2 cup of food every few hours and he warned me that I would have lots of gas. I have found out that fried foods, high sugar content foods. make me feel horrible and hurt my stomach and I end up with diahrea. I guess its just going to be that way for a long while. I went back to work in 3 weeks, I work at a desk, but I was still in lot of pain. its just going to take some time. im 58 yrs old. that may be part of the problem.
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