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Fundoplication and food getting stuck?

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Posted 12/13/2021 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I am 4 weeks from my toupet fundiplication and hiatal hernia repair. This is the 270 degree wrap. I am having trouble with food getting stuck and hurting for a while. I am worried that I will forever have to worry about that happening and not being able to eat bread or chicken. I was wondering if anyone had the surgery (or Nissen) and whether you still experience the pain of food getting stuck? If it is something that doesn't go away I much rather undo my surgery. I honestly do not understand why I had to get a fundoplication if they fixed my hiatal hernia already.. couldn't I have gotten it fixed by itself without any fundoplication?
Posted 12/14/2021 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
You are still really early in your recovery. Make sure that you are chewing everything until an almost creamy consistency. Keep following the diet that your surgeon gave you prior to surgery. If you advance your diet to solid foods and are having difficulty, go back to softer foods for a while. At 4 weeks, I was not eating solid foods yet.

Sharon
Posted 11/7/2022 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently day 35 post op from a 270 Toupet Fundoplication. I had quite a bit of trouble swallowing anything for several weeks as well, could barely get down liquids - lost about 20 lbs, started getting dehydrated. Surgeon said my esophagus wasn't tolerating the surgery well. After a few weeks I opted for a dilation, which helped temporarily, but nothing earth shattering, really only improved my ability to get down liquids, then kind of regressed after a few days.

On day 26 post op, my surgeon prescribed a 10 day round of steroids (Dexamethasone) which I am currently on day 7. I have noticed pretty goods gains with the steroids. Able to eat more solids, albeit slowly, but it is a relief. Eggs, noodles, small bites of pizza, even had tortilla soup today with a little bit of chicken. Still frustrating because it takes so long, but much better. My surgeon mentioned another dilation next week which I'm all for, I'm impatient and ready to speed this up. Maybe ask about the steroids.

Good luck!
Posted 11/8/2022 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
RyanMTX:

I know you had the Toupet Fundo, did you have the manometry testing before surgery? Did it show any swallowing dysfunction? I'm just asking because it's odd to need dilations so soon.

Sharon
Posted 11/8/2022 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I had the manometry done, but everything looked perfect.
Posted 11/8/2022 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I was just curious because swallowing difficulty can last 2-3 months for some people. I did not advance my diet as quickly as you are, but I was following my surgeon's strict post-surgery diet. I'm not sure how much information your surgeon gave you prior to your surgery, but this can be a long and sometimes difficult recovery and your can expect small setbacks along the way. If you have come across any of my posts, I tell people that it took me six months before I felt much better, and a full year until I was the new me. I didn't require any stretches, or PPIs post surgery and I had the full fundo. It's been 8 years and I still have no issues. The only advice I can give you is not to expect too much, too soon, and not to advance your diet too quickly.

Good Luck,

Sharon

Post Edited (SharonZ) : 11/29/2022 7:29:10 AM (GMT-8)

Posted 11/23/2022 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, it took me at least 6 months before my eating was normal and for upto a year I would sometimes get something stuck and especially bread. I ate really soft foods for at least 10 weeks and in the first 6 weeks it was really small portions of mainly mushed fruits or soups with no chunks. I found that when something sticks having a drink to wash it down was a no no as that just sat on top of the food (at least that’s how it felt. It takes time. For reference I had 2 full wraps 2 years apart.
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