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SweetieUK troupet recovery journey

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Posted 3/27/2015 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
SweetieUK,
Good idea, however, everything I put in my mouth HURTS anyway. This is my 2nd full day OFF ACID MEDS and boy, the pain is ramping up big time! I can best describe it as 'throbbing, burning pain' like someone put a blowtorch to my chest!!!! OMG! I didn't think it could get worse.

Still waiting to hear when my pH test is scheduled for. Will keep you posted.

Hope you're doing well!
Posted 3/28/2015 6:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Linda Sue,
Poor you! It's not nice having to go through the discomfort - and you are going to have a rough week - but at least this time you will get a true ph test.
Things are still a little unsettled with me. I seem to be having more digestion problems than 'wrap' problems. As a consequence I'm feeling pretty wiped out. I will be seeing my doctor on Monday if it doesn't calm down this weekend.
Take care!
Posted 3/28/2015 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
SweetieUK,
Sorry to hear about your digestive issues... are you still on liquid/mushy diet? Pamper yourself as much as you can and I'm sure your doctor will calm your fears.
Posted 3/29/2015 7:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Linda Sue,
Feeling a bit better. Things have started to calm down (Hooray!). I think eating more protein has helped. I was trying to eat as healthily as I could, but I just wasn't getting enough nutrients through my system. I think my wrap is at it's most swollen now, not having trouble swallowing - but I can feel where the repair has been done when I am moving around. I had to take a few pain killers yesterday - it was a bit uncomfortable.
Going to make a nice family dinner today - I'll be the one with a little plate like a small child :-)
Hope all is well with you!
Posted 3/29/2015 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sweetie UK,
Glad to hear you're feeling better. You know what to do and don't hesitate to take a pain reliever when you need it. That will help you relax and rest more comfortably. If you are making smoothies, I've read that adding protein powder with your fresh ingredients will help you get more concentrated nutrition.

As for making a nice dinner, I understand it's hard. I do it for my hubby sometimes as he misses the dinners I used to make before all this GERD misery robbed me of so many pleasures. He's having spaghetti and meat sauce tonight and I'm having something my home made chicken soup (it's good but I'd rather have what HE's HAVING, lol! ..... I really miss my homemade tomato-based foods!

Today is my fourth day off acid meds. It's PAINFUL to say the least ... one day at a time until my pH test. Should get a date for that tomorrow.

Keep up the good work and I'll be posting my progress as well.
Posted 3/29/2015 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure if your Doc stipulated or not Linda, but I was allowed anything that didn't have H2 blockers or PPI's before my test, so calcium carbonate based stuff like Gaviscon was totally okay. I wouldn't have survived the week without them!
Posted 3/30/2015 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Went to doctors today. Have been having pain where my spleen was repaired, in fact I've had more problems with that than I had with my wrap! Spent yesterday doubled up with pain in my mid back left hand side. Have to start taking pain killers again. Talked about my digestion too - which had settled down - but will be upset again with the pain killers - which bung you up! But that has been sorted too! Was good to have my mind put at rest. Glad I'm still off work for a week - I've been trying to do more at home - and this is what has triggered the pain. Just have to slow down for a couple more days!
Posted 5/4/2015 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
How are you doing now Sweetie? I've seen you posting in other threads and it seems you're okay!

What ever was going on with my wrap settled down after about a week of Zantac and I can eat and drink absolutely anything I wish, so I'm guessing its actually worked! Back in the gym again now, getting my strength back and pulling decent numbers again. I actually lost close to 3 stone since the OP, managed to claw back a measley 4lbs so far haha!

How's your eating and such? For the first couple of months I had to really take my time with the solids or they'd get stuck something rotten. Carbonation is still a no no for me, are you the same? What about your appetite? I've only just started getting in more than 1 meal a day as I'd feel full for so long after the smallest servings!

Hope to hear all is well!
Posted 5/4/2015 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JB,
Glad to hear you got over your glitch! I am back on a full diet. I don't eat as much as I did - lost about a stone since the operation - but I'm not upset about that as I had weight to lose! I now eat 5 times a day - 3 small meals and 2 snacks. I used to feel guilty when eating out about leaving food, now I don't - some portions are seriously huge! I've not had any serious issues with swallowing at all. I can feel my wrap sometimes when I am bending down, or if I feel a bit bloated, but otherwise I forget it's there! I can't do fizzy drinks though - they don't go down well, I tried fizzy water yesterday and it was pretty uncomfortable. I'm happy to give them up, as the other benefits well outweigh not having fizzy drinks! I've never been called back in to see the surgeon, which I did find surprising - but some NHS trusts expect you to get in touch only if you have problems - which I haven't really. Glad you are getting back to the gym - I am still building my strength back up - still get tired, but much better than I was. Still med free and reflux free - which is exactly where I want to be :-)
Posted 5/4/2015 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Sweetie UK,
I'm glad you updated your postings. I've been following your progress and am happy to know things are smoothing out. It sounds like you've had a very successful experience so far. I know how strange it seems to have so little contact with the surgeon. I'm pre-op and last saw mine three weeks ago when he set May 15th for surgery. So now I'm two weeks out and realized the next time I will see him is on the day of surgery. That sort of unsettled me but I know it's the way it works. Just getting anxious. It helps hearing about your progress. Keep getting better!
Peg
Posted 5/4/2015 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
JB, so glad you're doing better!

JanPeg, I will be following your 'journal'. I wish my surgery was closer (July 7th), but I will be thinking of you with positive thoughts on May 15th!

Sweetie UK, you have been a great 'pen pal' and helped me SO MUCH! Thinking of you and am so glad you are doing so GREAT!

What's a 'stone'? It must be a UK term I'm not familiar with!

Best to all!

Linda Sue
Posted 5/4/2015 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Peg,
Your operation is not long now - will be over before you know it - and I really would like to know how you get on. There will be pain - but it's short lived and you should get a much better quality of life! I will be keeping an eye on your progress!

Hi Linda!
You will find the time will fly until your operation too - and I will want to know how you are doing too for sure! My weight loss of 1 stone = 14 pounds. Means I have to buy some new trousers for work :-) . It has slowed down now though, as I am eating a varied diet - including the odd glass of wine!
Posted 5/7/2015 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sweetie, I'm so glad I found your post, thanks for sharing your progress.

I've found out today Im having the 270, probably at the end of the month (in the UK). Pretty petrified if Im honest about the after effects (particularly the threat of permanent 'windiness'!!) but medication isnt helping and I have a para-esophageal hernia that needs repairing at the same time so it looks like the best option.

Will keep following your updates, so useful.
Posted 5/7/2015 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Birdie,
To be honest I have found since my operation I am only slightly more 'windy' than I was before, and it's not as painful as it used to be. I can still belch, quite well in fact, and you will get a bit more down below - but you can be discreet about it smilewinkgrin
I can understand you worrying about the operation, it scared me too - you know it's going to happen, and you wonder how you will cope. I've said before my main issue was the shoulder pain afterwards - but it's short lived, and is helped a great deal by walking around as much as you can. They will give you pain relief too.
Fast forward 8 weeks - (that's me now) med free, reflux free and ready to go!
One thing to note though, as you are in the UK. Check if you get a post-op follow up appointment or not. If not, and you have problems, get on to your surgeon's secretary and make sure you do get seen! I just found out that it is not done in the trust in my area!
Good luck and let me know when you get your date.
Posted 5/15/2015 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Having had a relatively easy recovery after my toupet fundo - I thought I'd better mention 1 small issue. I've not had dumping syndrome - but I have had issues with constipation, and have since surgery needed to take laxatives fairly regularly to keep things 'moving'. I have found that after 9 weeks - and starting to take pro-biotics, my bowels seem to be settling into a nice routine again. You have to expect problems after a general anesthetic - it actually slows the bowel down - and it can take a few days to settle, in my case more. I also think that years of taking acid suppressants can upset the balance in your bowel as food is not processed properly, it can promote IBS in the long term. Now I am back on a full diet, the only thing I won't touch is fizzy drinks. I feel like I am getting the goodness out of my food again - and the pro-biotics are restoring what my digestive system has been missing for quite some time.
Posted 5/16/2015 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Sweetie,
This is wonderful to hear. I'm glad you've done so well post op! You've come a long way! :)

K
Posted 5/16/2015 7:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks K!
It's good when surgery works! I'm lucky that I heal quickly and that my wrap was so well positioned. My surgeon did say he anticipated that I would not have many problems - and he was right.
Are you waiting for surgery or tests?
Posted 5/26/2015 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your reply Sweetie. My pre op is today and the operation is set for Thursday. All a bit real now! Despite the nerves, its been invaluable reading experiences such as your own and knowing there are many success stories out there - going in positively is a huge advantage I think.

My fears are the unknown I guess, like everyone, but I will be so glad to not have pain longterm. My consultant has been great and has prepared me for the post op impact. Almost maybe a bit too much but I guess I'd rather have the info than not!
Posted 5/26/2015 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Birdie,
Good luck for Thursday! I had my op on a Thursday too - have you got a morning or afternoon operation? I would have preferred a morning slot - less time to worry I think! You will feel sore afterwards but it won't last long - and the scarring is minimal. If you are in for afternoon surgery - I would take a good book - it takes your mind off things. I had a pre-op a few weeks before my op - but had bloods done again on the surgery day - I was pleased I didn't know about that one! I didn't look when they did anything with needles ... and when you get to the anesthetic room - they work on you so quickly - you're out before you know it - and then you are waking up all done!
Let me know how it went when you can!
Posted 5/26/2015 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it's a morning, I have to be there by 8.30am so hoping I'll be first down. They mentioned I might be away from the room about 3 hours, does that sound right?

Lots of pre op tests today, really glad they are so thorough.

That's good about the anaesthetic, it's the most nervous thing climbing on that table!
Posted 6/5/2015 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
Hey guys. Wanted to let you know I had my op a week ago yesterday. Thank you for your great input beforehand, it really helped. The operation took 3 hours in the end and I was in hospital 2 nights, so not too bad at all.

Things are gong as expected with the slight worry that my reflux / taste in mouth is still very bad at the moment - I'd had some big dream about waking up without that awful taste and on day 2 it came back with vengeance.

I'm hoping its being caused by the swelling and also the after effects of the anaesthetic but clearly theres a chance it means things haven't worked as planned, which when you're feeling this way post op is a bit stressful.

I'll see my consultant next week so will see what he says, just wondered if anyone else had the same thing a week out?

On the positive side, my nutri bullet is a godsend and I'm liking creating some very tasty smoothies!
Posted 6/5/2015 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Birdie,
Glad the surgery went OK! I'm sorry you are feeling so uncomfortable right now, I would think that your discomfort would be down to the post-op swelling. I think I actually kept on taking pain meds for the first 5 days or so, then stopped, but had to start taking them about day 10 onwards for about another 3-4 days as I had problems with residual post-op pain. Your operation was longer than mine - and I had complications - so it must have been a complex repair, and it takes time for everything to settle. It is good you are seeing your surgeon soon - hopefully they will put your mind at rest!
Posted 6/6/2015 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
What were your complications Sweetie? I've not had a follow up and there's no plan on doing one so I still have no idea what they were but I had complications too. I couldn't really understand the Doctor and I was pretty stoned off the pain meds. He had such a thick accent but I'm sure he said the damage was worse than they thought (hadn't had a scope for 2 years) and they had to move my esophagus! I was in about 3 hours too.

I took liquid codeine for about 2 weeks straight, actually ran out a bit early and had to get more. I think I liked it a little too much haha ;D. Didn't help the bloody constipation either I can tell you that much!
Posted 6/6/2015 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JB,
I had a tear in my spleen during surgery. To be honest I had more trouble with that than the wrap! I was on codeine too, but they gave me it in tablet form, but gave me a pill crusher so I could take them easily. They tasted awful! And yes they do cause constipation, I had to counteract that with movicol. Thank goodness that is all over now. Took me about 10 weeks to get back to normal. How are you doing now? I know you had some problems. I didn't know you had no follow up either! Depends on your NHS area. I was quite shocked when I found out, as it is quite a complex surgery. I am glad I had it done though, as eating and drinking have become pleasurable again!
Posted 7/7/2015 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't updated on here for a while. The truth is I am getting on with life again. Eating and drinking without reflux is amazing. Well worth the pain and recovery from surgery. I can't eat a large meal, but that is not a problem when I can have what I want. I didn't realise how gerd takes over, and how ill it makes you feel. I am so much happier and not taking the medication it a big plus in itself.
A note to any singers out there who suffer with hiatus hernia/ gerd and are waiting for a fundoplication operation - your voice post surgery may be even better than it was pre-op. I didn't know how much of my lung capacity my hernia took up - but if I was a piano before, I'm a cathedral organ now!
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