Posted 12/6/2015 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
I had Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication surgery to repair a large Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia Dec. 1st (in the morning) and was released from the hospital Dec 2nd (in the evening). I am currently on a clear liquid diet and have been instructed to stay on clear liquids until I see the surgeon for my follow-up visit Dec. 16th. I am also scheduled for a chest x-ray prior to that follow-up appointment.
I had very little pain while in the hospital but I admit using the button on my IV pain pump whenever I felt a twinge of pain coming on for the first 24 hours. Prior to being discharged I was disconnected from the pump and given an oral pain med. I used it for a couple of days but it actually made me feel worse so I stopped taking it all together. The only pain I have now is a little in my shoulders from time to time but it isn’t too bad. I’m sure it’s just the gas from the surgery that has to work its way out. I also get sharp little hiccups from time to time but the doctor said not to worry about them. They started in the hospital shortly after I had something to eat (clear liquids).
Anyway I thought I would post about what has so far been a positive LNF surgical experience. I am happy to answer any questions I can and will post updates as time goes on.
Background:
I was hospitalized about 3½ years ago when sudden onset stomach issues lead to the beginnings of an impacted bowel and anemia. While in the hospital I had both upper and lower GIs and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and IBS. I was released from the hospital and told to take Prilosec (I’ve been on Prilosec for years) and Iron supplements and to follow up with my primary care doctor.
I did as directed and managed to get my iron levels up and me off the iron supplements in a matter of just a few months. Things were pretty good and stayed that way even during the time it took for me to have and recover from a total hip replacement.
Unfortunately earlier this year I started experiencing all sorts of symptoms which lead me back to my primary care doctors’ office where I was again diagnosed with anemia. I was told to stay on the Prilosec (20mg twice a day) start taking the iron supplements again and referred to a gastroenterologist.
The gastroenterologist performed an esophagogastroduodenoscopy which revealed that my hiatal hernia was now 10cm and that I had erosive gastritis. At that time my Prilosec was upped to 40mg twice a day and I was told to keep taking the iron supplements.
At a follow up appointment with my gastroenterologist we decided that the amount of blood I was losing had to be from something more than the erosive gastritis so I was referred to a Cardiothoracic surgeon. Prior to my appointment with the surgeon I was sent for a Thoracic Esophagram.
The Esophagram showed that I had a moderately large, complex hiatus hernia with dominant paraesophageal component and rotation/partial gastric volvulus and mild esophageal dysmotility. In other words, half of my stomach had slid up out of my abdomen into my chest cavity and had folded itself over and was upside down. Yeah, didn’t see that one coming.
My meeting with the surgeon went smoothly. I met with his PA first and she was wonderful. Extremely knowledgeable and courteous. Then the surgeon came in and went over Esophagram results and explained what was happening. He said that he does not consider operating on a patient unless they are experiencing substantial symptoms/side effects due to the hernia and that mine was one that needed to be corrected surgically. He asked if I had any questions but to be honest, I didn’t mainly because of the information I had found here and on the web in general. My husband was with me and I had shared with him much of the information I had gained prior to the meeting so we both felt comfortable with scheduling my surgery right away.
I know that this is a really long post but before I end this I have to say how much I appreciate all the information that is shared here. The information on this site and the contributors’ posts (whether posting positive or not so positive) is extremely informative and a great way to get a wide range of information in a reasonably short amount of time.
From the time I found out that I might need surgery and found this site, I read as many posts as I could and I believe that the knowledge I gained helped me go into surgery much more relaxed and definitely better informed about my condition than I would have been without it.