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Part 2 of POST OP LAP NISSEN FUNDO/HIATEAL HERNIA REPAIR...Please conitinue to post.

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Posted 11/22/2007 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
HI Happilywrapped,

Your right different doctors different ways. I have an appt on Nov 28th so I will ask him. I have a feeling though if you really overdid it during the healing process you would regret it which is why I havnt. They said to have common sense when it came to eating too. I tried the pasta because I wanted to see my reaction to basically see if the surgery worked. So far so good but I agree about during the healing process I dont think you should go acidic crazy. I am glad its not forever though. That is one thing I look forward to is earing normally. My sister bought me a gift card to Carabas and probably after the New Year too I will go because their portions are so big. Do you think we will ever be able to eat as much as before? I am ok with that as I did over eat its just I can eat so little now but I understand this is very temporary. I had some cranberry sauce, one little piece of turkey,sweet potato casserole (no nuts) and mashed potatoes. Little portions of all and I felt like I was still able to enjoy Thanksgiving without overdoing it. I saw people get 2n and 2rd portions like I used to and then the whole afternoon I was bloated. I do wonder if I will ever have soda but again no biggie on that. I wont be trying that till maybe summer and a very very small amount at 1st. I think we all will have different reactions to stuff just like we did before the surgery. Chocolate never bothered me but it did for some. Well off to watch the parade.

Posted 11/23/2007 5:37 PM (GMT 0)

I have been reading all the threads and recently had the lap nissen done (4 weeks ago today).  I have been pretty pleased with the outcome so far, except having a problem with gas bloat.  I'm unsure if I eat to much or if it has anything to do with drinking when I eat.  Just wondering what the best solution to that is.  Also was wondering how long it takes to get back to more normal sized meals.  The nurse told me that I should be having maybe a little over a cup serving size at meals...does that seem right?  I have gotten a little nauseated since the surgery and concerned with the vomitting.  My surgeon said to please try not to retch or vomit, but other threads I have read said they had no problem vomitting...so I guess I'm confused.  I did wonderful yesterday at Thanksgiving with my servings!  I wanted to eat more, but my husband said NO WAY! He knows how miserable I get when I overeat!  I have lost about 15 lbs since 4 weeks ago, and the other concern I have is the lack of energy.  What can I do for energy, people that know me are even telling me that I look pale!

Babytooth

Posted 11/23/2007 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
happily wrapped

thanks for your reply i dont drink any fizzy drinks at all, i have 2 to 3 cups of tea a day, i dont eat pastys i do try,  i always tend to burp after i eat or drink i eat pretty sensible its bland all the way, no fried breakfast ever no eating 3 hours before bed . will after see i ,m going for the pressure test as thats what they think is my problem . cheers

Posted 11/23/2007 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
Babytooth,

I'll be 5 weeks post op on Monday, so you and I had surgery about the same time. I still don't eat normal size portions. Our stomachs are still swollen and in the healing process. I know eventually I'll be able to eat more at a meal, although I'll never regain my pre-surgery capacity, but I don't expect that to happen until several months from now. My co-worker's husband is 10 years post op and he eats like any other "man". I think the idea for right now is to stop when we're comfortably full to ensure we don't stretch the stomach while it's still in the healing process. Besides, our stomachs are physically smaller than they used to be now that it's wrapped around itself. The amount each of us will end up being able to consume is a variable that will depend on each individual.

As to some can vomit and some can't - that's another one of those "everyone is different" answers. If you can eventually, great. But for now the idea is to not vomit so that you don't take a chance on making the wrap slip out of place or pull on the sutures. Four weeks post op isn't a good time to put a strain on that area - hence no vomiting. You're going to get conflicting info from the web no matter what topic you search for; just read through and follow what your common sense tells you is best - especially when it agrees with what your doctor told you.

Regarding your question about your paleness and lack of energy - there's a Part 1 to this area and I think if you scroll to oldest post area of this section there's a link to it. Porcelain Doll mentioned the same exact thing as you - lack of energy. She felt better after consuming a small portion of liver. If you aren't up to eating meat yet (it's something I couldn't do right now myself), you might consider cooking some eggs on a cast iron skillet - you'll get some iron into you and that may help your energy go up. Or eat any other food you can consume that is high in iron. I haven't had a problem with energy, my problem was my gums were sore and bleeding. I started drinking white grape juice and apple juice because they are less acidic than orange juice and still contain vitamin C. Adding vitamin to my diet over a few days resolved the problem with my gums.

I haven't had to deal with gas bloat, thank goodness. But I've been told that it could come from eating certain foods - like onions, beans, turnips, and cabbage - so I've avoided all those types of foods. I've also heard that for several weeks post op, gas is a fact of life for some people no matter what you do. I'm sure that others who have experienced gas bloat will chime in with responses for you.

Funny, isn't it? We've all had the same surgery and all of us are traveling down the road to recovery together, and all of us have hit different bumps, divots, and detours along the way. Just one more indication that each human being is different from another and there is no exact medical scenario to follow - there are guidelines, but nothing set in stone. Personally, I think that's sort of cool.
Posted 11/24/2007 2:07 AM (GMT 0)

Happily Wrapped

Thank you so much for your info and insight on this post-op procedure.  You seem very knowledgeable with all the information you have given people.  I just today started having really sharp pains in the stomach region today, right underneath the ribcage.  I'm kinda unsure whats going on there, this also was my first day back at work.  So maybe I overdid it...kinda unsure.

Babytooth

Posted 11/24/2007 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
I tried to log on before, but I guess i was not able. new. poor recovery from my nissen
Posted 11/24/2007 1:18 PM (GMT 0)
Babytooth,
I really did my homework before choosing this surgery. I didn't do much research through posting boards at first, I used the hospital and physician web sites - anything that was backed by fact and not personal experience. Once I had the facts about the procedure from trusted medical sources, I started looking at personal experiences and found the information to be very old without a lot of good outcome information posted. I thought chiming in to add to this posting board would help others who were also searching for information.

I'm not sure what to tell you about the chest pain. When I called the surgeon regarding pain, he had me get my tush immediately to the ER for a CT scan to ensure the wrap was in the correct location and had not moved. The wrap was fine, but the pain turned out to be gallbladder related. I'm not saying there's a problem with your wrap or that you have a gallbladder problem. I'm just telling you what happened to me 2 weeks post op. It could just be muscle spasms or gas working it's way out while your stomach adjusts to it's new position. I would suggest that if the pain continues, don't wait too long to call your doctor and ask about it. This site is good for ideas, comparisons and moral support, but your surgeon's office is your best source to find out about that pain - especially as it is new and in the area of your wrap.

Good luck.
Posted 11/24/2007 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
post nissen girl:
You don't sound to happy right now. Have you recently had surgery or has it been a while? What happened after your surgery? It sounds like either you aren't one of the lucky 95% who had a successful outcome or you are just having difficulty recouperating. Can we help?
Posted 11/24/2007 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Babytooth,

Welcome. as far as the gas bloat, I have found gas-x to be helpful. I also try not to consume too much at one time or I will feel very nauseas and bloated. This week I was able to eat more still very small portions and my energy is returning.

Happilywrapped-You know I thought about the stomach being wrapped around the esphogoas as I was eating too and I bet it does have an affect on what we can hold. Although I also know that stomachs can stretch so maybe it will be back to its normal size eventually??? I might ask that at the post opt but to be honest I would rather not eat as much as I did before. On Thanksgiving, while everyone was bloated and miserable I wa shappy as a clam and still felt like I had Thanksgiving.

Post nissan girl-Maybe this thread will help you and also look at Part 1, maybe there are some things you are struggling with that we have brought up.

Is anyone having any trouble with thicker mucus? This may be an aftermath froma cold I had about a week prior to surgery. I was over it then and felt fine and still do no but still having trouble with the mucus and catch myself clearing my throat alot. I tried liquid musinex but it didnt help. My husband had the same cold and still is stuffy in the am so I hope that is all it is and not that my cough is coming back in the form of clearing my throat???
Posted 11/25/2007 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
nocough
I bet part of the recent increase in how much you can eat has to do with swelling going away. Your stomach definitely has a smaller capacity right now because some of it is wrapped. I think I was told I'd loose about 1/3 of my pre-surgery stomach size and I think someone else posted they lost about 1/2. It's a good question to ask at your post op - I'm curious to see what your doctor has to say. You know, another one of those comparisons about what mine said and whay yours said :) I think along with the end to reflux, we got an extra bonus - a mini bypass. I'm sure going to take advantage of that bonus.

Can't help you with the mucous question. Once I coughed up the after-anesthesia phlegm during a really hot shower, I didn't have any further problems in that area. I think I did that around 2 weeks post op and you're further than that.
Posted 11/25/2007 6:30 AM (GMT 0)

Happilywrapped,

I can't believe you now have to have your gallbladder out, bummer.  Good luck!

To those of you who are still wondering if you will be able to burp or vomit, I had the the lap Nissen and a hiatal hernia repair in 2005 and at first I wasn't able to burp.  Then I was able to do the little burps, then I moved on up to the regular old burps.  When I was going through the healing stage, I could not vomit.  I know this because when I would get something stuck in the esophagus, a couple of times I tried to throw it up to get rid of it and it absolutely would not come back up.  I had to wait for it to move on down.  Probably six months after my surgery, I got a stomach bug and yes, I was able to throw up.  So, don't be scared by the horror stories.

Take care!

Carla

Posted 11/26/2007 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
my surgery was emergency 6/06, due to volvulus of stomach which was rig giant hiatal hernia. mds treated me for gallbladder pain. my symptoms were cough, sore throat , troble swallowing, vomiting and PAIN. Finally threw up tons of blood on my job as icu rn. I was never told of anticipated weight loss. I had lap procedure and went back to work 2 wk later- way too early for my type of job. I got so weak. Sickly looking. Now my symptoms are back. I did gain back some weight. I'm so disgusted. I feel I'll never be normal or pain free again.
Posted 11/26/2007 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
anyone suffering from right rib pain post nissen. It improves when i stand and put pressure over site, but it kills
Posted 11/26/2007 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
post nissen girl:
I do not have right rib pain post nissen that could be related to the procedure. I'm sorry you still aren't feeling well a year and a half after the Nissen surgery. Although the procedure didn't provide the outcome you hoped for, it's a good thing that it was done if it did save your life. I hope you find the health improvement you are looking for.

For others contemplating having surgery:
I'd like to mention that in one of the other subject areas, post nissen girl posted that her wrap was done as an emergency procedure and also mentioned that at the time it probably saved her life. For anyone reading this posting area and seeing the different recoveries and outcomes, I wanted to make sure you had this background information after reading about a hard recovery and lack of pre-op information. It's important for people who are thinking about having this procedure to know that this situation was not the standard procedure.

It's good to read about both good and not perfect results. It's also important to keep in mind that each individual's health background and surgeon as well as other factors make each surgery and outcome different for each person. Be informed by what you read, don't be scared by it.

Post Edited (HappilyWrapped) : 11/26/2007 12:01:56 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/27/2007 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
I have intermittent chest discomfort and now I have IBS. Anyone else notice flair up in IBS post fundo surg?
Posted 11/27/2007 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello
This site is a great way to understand what happens after the surgery and what to expect. I just saw my doc last friday and well it looks like I'll be going into surgery prob next yr.
Back in sept I had the scope done again because I have been getting severe stomach pains along with reflux (which eventually I went to the hospital as there is no way to ease the pain) and he found that I now have a hiatal hernia. Another test that I had which involves eating then lying still for an hour and a half showed that my stomach muscles are severely weak (as the doc put it). He also said it will be a complicated surgery.
I had really bad colic when I was born which lasted for the first 10 months of my life. The doc said it would turn into adult colic (which I guess is the GERD, not really sure) anyway, I have had this ever since I can remember, having to watch what I eat and try to keep the stress levels low. So the reason I am writing here is because I am getting nervous about the surgery. about the after effects. I read somewhere that I may wake up with a tube in my nose, well if that happens I know I will gag, especially if I feel it. I talked to someone who had it and they said that they dont feel any pain.(bloating, gas, nothing). So I am hoping I am someone like him. If anyone can give my tips on what to expect especially with my stomach muscles being weak. If there is anyone who has that also.

thank you

Laura
Posted 11/28/2007 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone experienced dizziness and blurry vision? Mine started when I took the dog out for a very short walk but he saw somethng and I had to pull to get him back home. He is only 35 lbs so it wasnt lie a big dog pullling but I was ou o breath all the same. So I started getting dzzy and then my vision blurred about anhour later. I couldnt even walk in a straight line. I ame home and went to ly down at 630pm and I slept until 7am this morning. I fell a little dizzy this mornign and still have some blurred vision. I luckiy have an appt with the surgeon today, this has me greatly concernted. I use a computer at work all day and I cannot see well it wont be good! I am sure it is a temporay thing but want to know wht to do about it.
Posted 11/28/2007 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
If this topic gets locked again, I will start a 3rd thread, so no worries guys...This is a great topic, and I am so pleased you are all helping eachother so much! Keep going!
Posted Yesterday 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I had my post opt today and the last I hopefully will see of doctors or hospitals for a long while. '

Yesterday I had a bad dizzy spell and blurred vision. I spoke to the doctor and he feels like I am malnourished and need to start eat 3 solid meals a day that include Protein. Then I had a headache and took what I thought was tyenol to discover today it was phenegrn! I took two so no wonder I slept from 630-7a and it really made me dizzy. So I am going to try to eat more, the swelling is going down but I will still be very careful and chew. The trick is not to overeat and become nauseous. We can throw up but if we do it would more than likely rip the wrap. That is why they give you a pernmanet prescription for Phenegran. I thought I woudlnt even be able to but I can but I shouldnt which is really worse. They said to always keep the pills on me especially vacationing at places such as Mexico. So at least their is a solution, I do not want anything to happen to this wrap!! I have lost 15 lbs so far and he wants me to gain most of it back. He said I was not overweight before and it would slow my recovery if I skipped meals. He said I was "THE POSTER CHILD" for this surgery and how it can be the answer for a chronic cough. This chronic dry cough has been going on since the age of 16, I am now 31! It is so tiresome and aggravating and to not have it is such a blessing!! I thank God for a great surgeon and great doctors that finally found out what was wrong. I was reading Women's Day the other day and they had an article on chronic cough and how it is often misdiagnosed as allergies when it was acid reflux! Where was this article 15 years ago? Oh well now I am all fixed so that is what matters. Now when I get a cold it wont become bronchitis or walking pneumonia due to the continual throat irritation. I don't have to repeat myself on the phones with the automaton customer service lines. It would prompt me and I coughed and then had to start all over because they say , "Sorry I did not understand" UGH! I dont have to tell the people on the airplanes or strangers I am around that I am not sick or contagious just a chronic cough. There are so many things I can not even mention them all.


The only negative about this surgery so far is I wont be able to have sodas anymore. I think it is a fair trade soda, or coughing!!! Now I can have pizza, tomatoes, onions and garlic and mint. So it is a good compromise. He said if I drank the soda because I cannot burp as good now due to the wrap it would cause a major bloat and could put pressure on the wrap. I was down to one soda a day before so I am used to the water. He said I didnt have to avoid acidic foods or caffeine just make sure to chew chew chew. Also he is very clear about not lifting, and if I lift something to bend my knees.

So I have my working orders, eat more, do less. He said that I dont need to carry on like I did before I had the surgery. I have been pushing it some and then without eating the protein and skipping meals, the body revolted.

So I do not regret the surgery one bit, best thing that has happened to me in a long while!

Thank you all for your support to make my recovery much better.
Posted Yesterday 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
Here is a link to a live Lap Nissen Fundo surgery http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bit8IZOQVLA the sound is a bit low but u can clearly see what happening inside the body. It seems like they pump alot of air in the stomach before to surgery. That person stomach almost look like a beach ball yeah
Posted Yesterday 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
I am going on about 5 weeks post-op and was feeling pretty good up until this last week and a half. I was also feeling dizzy like nocough had stated, but also feeling weak on top of that and only urinating two times a day. Well...I work at a hospital and just yesterday almost passed out and looking very pale according to the nurses there. I had to end up getting 3 liters of fluid and also got put on iron tablets for anemia. I was very dehydrated. It is very important to keep up with the fluids, but I seem to get so full so fast. I also have a 3 month old that I have been nursing since birth, so the doctor said that I am losing extra fluids that way, too. I'm sure most of you don't have that problem, but it is very important to keep well hydrated and well nourished. Has anyone else had any problem keeping enough liquids on board?
Shadowcat-
I never did wake up with a tube in my nose. I guess that is just depending on each surgeon and how they do things. I did have a manometry test done on my esophagus prior to surgery, which checks the motility of the esophagus and probably other things too, in which they had to stick a tube down the nose and that definately was a gagger! I made it through just fine though and it gave the surgeon a good idea on how my esophagus was working and stuff.
Carla(another day)-
Now that you are this far post lap nissen, how has your diet been and are back to drinking carbonated things? I guess I should ask, how is your diet into comparison with when you were just a few weeks post surgery? How much weight have you lost since the surgery?

Babytooth
Posted Yesterday 6:34 AM (GMT 0)

Just to give you a little hope, I had my surgery in March of 2005 and for about a year and a half I have been having one or two Diet Cokes per day without any problem.  I know everyone is different and don't try it too soon if you do try it.  I can burp, I can throw up and I can drink carbonated beverages in moderation, not that I want to throw up.  My only problem was because of the severity of my asthma and getting bronchitis not too long after surgery and causing a small tear in my hiatal hernia repair from all the coughing.  I've decided to keep it as it is unless it causes me major problems.

Good luck to all!

Carla

Posted Yesterday 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
another day-how did you know when to try soda. He said that since I am only burping at the upper portion it wouldnt be enough to let it out. Can you burp from your stomach area? I think I might be too scared to try it. I mean I can live without Soda since I got alot of my fav foods back and do not cough anymore. Of course everyone wants their cake an it it too.

YEs Carlo I am too interested in your diet )how much you can eat) as apposed to pre opt. Also is there anything you avoid completley

Babytooth, yes hydration is so improtant andI have been doing tha tjust not the eating part and definilty not enough protein. But its an easy fix and we will just have to force ourselves to do it it will shorten the rocovery time.
Posted Today 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
I was told that I coudl throw up but it was very important that I didnt because the retching would have a good possibility of tearing the wrap. That is why they give you a permanent prescription for phnegren to take when you even think it is a possibility. They also told me to start taking them if anyone in my family or co-workers had the stomach bug. So I haven them in my purse an dat home just in case. I certainly dont want anything to happen to the wrap. Just wanted to give people a warning because my surgeron was very specific about that and I can see how that could happen. I would say ask your surgeon about it because like Happily Wrapped said differnt doctors different opionions.
Posted Today 4:25 AM (GMT 0)

nocough, I would wait several months or however long it takes for you to be able to do a regular old burp before you try carbonated drinks.  When you first try them, start out with a few sips at a time and see if you can burp.

As far as what I can eat, I can eat pizza, Mexican food.  I avoid anything with too much garlic, I guess I'm just afraid because of being so miserable after eating too much garlic before that it doesn't even appeal to me now.  I used to love oranges, pineapples and other citrus fruits, but they don't appeal to me any more either.  I have also lost my desire for coffee and I keep thinking that I am going to make myself a pot of coffee one morning and just see if I can enjoy it again.  I used to love to have several cups of coffee and read the Sunday paper.

Just be sure to pace yourself at whatever you try and don't try anything too soon.  I was so afraid to try steak for that first time and I really can't remember for sure now, but it must have been at least four months or longer.  I went out to dinner with friends and I felt safe that they would take care of me if anything happened.  I just cut it in very small bites and enjoyed the heck out of it.

Take care!

Carla

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