Surgery 1 week from today

Hi Barb,
I'm having the hiatal hernia and Nissen surgery 8/10. Good luck with yours. I don't know anything about the CAVA, but it sounds like the doctor is looking out for you.

I read the 2011 thread about the surgery and it was a tremendous help. Everyone shared day to day and their fears and progress. They shared great advice and things they did wrong.

I'm a young 65 and never been in the hospital or really been sick, so this is a new experience for me. I hope we can share our post-op days.

Mike

I hope your surgery went well. Mine is first thing tomorrow morning. Looking forward to hearing you are home and felling better.

Congratulations on your success. I got home yesterday afternoon. It went very well. My abdomen is doing well. Left incision is very sore. They said that was because its the only incision that stretches the muscle. I didn't expect the shoulder pain to be that bad. It went away over night. I'm on Advil so that's pretty good. The doctor said he saw why I needed the surgery. I had inflamed esophagus and it was stuck in hernia. The worst is over, now to our healing!!!

Glad to see both of you here! My Dr suggested I stay with cold foods the first week and that has really helped. I had some pain for the first few days, but as each day goes by it becomes less and less. I also am walking (slowly, but walking) every day. I see the Doc again Monday - and am hoping to be released to drive!

Cal what kind of soups did you liquefy?

Hi Barb, CaliJR,
I'm home day 2. My shoulders hurt the worst. I think it is from sitting. I'm moving around well. I keep my pillow close by for my left incision and then use it on my chest when I cough. Definitely sending the volunteers at the hospital a thank you.
I'm on full liquid so frozen yogurt, chicken broth, Boost, and fruit juices. Not much solid to pass. Just taking Advil every 4 hours. I haven't needed narcs except once in hospital for shoulder pain.
My swallowing feels great. Have had nothing stick yet. I even had a little warm coffee....soooo good.
I told the nurse I was looking forward to losing a few pounds. She said no, no, no, I need the food for healing. But like you said CaliJR, I have no appetite. I watch the clock and eat about 4 oz of something. Wife said I ate 500 calories yesterday so I need to step that up.

How about some updates on how you are all doing?

That sounds like good progress Mike. I am 4 weeks post op and I pretty much can eat most things although I shy away from any steaks and breads. Although toast liquefies when chewed and I can have that. I still eat fairly small portions. I had some hypoglycemic issues in the mornings last week most likely because of my low intake of foods compared to my walking around, etc. I am sure I was burning more than I was taking in. I adjusted my breakfast to include complex carbs like potatoes and that seems to have done the trick. I also snack a little more and added in some orange juice. If I do too much, like yesterday's office moves we had at work, I could get a little light headed and need to rest. I do have some bloating issues so I use gas x when needed, probably because I don't worry about the gassy foods I may be eating. I am still around 10 lbs under and I am pretty much hanging there for now. I have not done any physical activities except walk. My wife is adamant that I don't lift anything so I try hard not to. If I do too much I feel it in the ab area. I guess those 6 holes are still healing. I sleep way better now days. Although when I lay to the left, I can feel a pull around the esophagus which I imagine is the tie on the wrap. It feels uncomfortable and I have to turn back over. So for me, overall this has been a successful surgery. No PPIs at all. No acid reflux at all. Cheers all.