I'll chime in also... 1) Vomitting - I couldn't do it after the first wrap, and haven't even tried since the 2nd and 3rd. It definitely isn't something most people try to do regularly, though. I...
Welcome Nano, and good luck on Tuesday. My 2nd and 3rd Nissens were mesh repairs, so hopefully I can provide some insight for you. The coughing you have now might continue for a bit, but you'll find...
Hi Marvin, I second everything said above, but wanted to chime in one one other thought. After my first Nissen, I had the same exact issue -- nearly everything go stuck for the first 3 or so months....
Oh my Michelle, From what I've seen so far - you, Bill, and I are among the small minority on the forums who have been through this 3 times. Echoing Bill, I'm concerned about who has been doing these...
Hey Sam -- You are my surgery buddy -- I also had my last surgery on July 24th. I'm still bloated much of the time. Denise is correct that you need to focus on eliminating gas-producing foods to see...
Meg - At two weeks, you just hit the peak of swelling. I had a similar episode at the 12 day mark -- shooting pain from my stomach (10 out of 10) that made me think I had thrown a blood clot or that...
Decide to get an endoscopy, or decide to get a wrap? The gastro performing the endoscopy should be aware of your surgical history. It is highly unlikely, with that knowledge, that the endoscopy...
The gold standard for checking the wrap is the endoscopy, though even that is inconclusive. When my stomach was herniated to over 50% with nearly no wrap left at all, all the endoscopy showed was a...
Hi Jordan, First thing: don't panic yet. The esophagus is a pretty funny organ in that the only way it knows to tell you it is injured is to make you feel reflux symptoms. What you are likely feeling...
I am so sorry that your wrap may be failing Smokie, I needed the second surgery about 8 years after my first one because of a massive failure. I had the first one in 2000, when there were very few...
Welcome SophIRE, I had my third Nissen on July 24, and returned to classes on August 20. That was pushing it... I do not think 2 weeks is enough time. You will likely still be battling just the side...
Ditto on the weird hiccups sometimes. At four days, you may not be ready for smoothies. I am a big proponent of the slow progression diet. I am now at 3 weeks, and am still on full liquid. I will try...
I did it twice. Both surgeries were in Maryland, and the first time I was living in California. Now I am living in Georgia. If you have the lap procedure, you should be prepared to stay locally...
As many know, I just had Nissen #3 performed 2 weeks ago. Mine failed 8 years out, and the redo failed after about 1.5 years. But, I *still* recommend the procedure for many people. As the others...
For my second surgery, I lost 60 lbs *before* surgery (doctor incorrectly told me that losing weight would likely prevent need for surgery) and then 20 more lbs afterwards. After about 2 months, I...
From my personal experiences, overfilling can result in a large amount of pain and discomfort that takes several hours to relieve. But, more importantly, if you have a weak wrap, overfilling could...
Don't fret about it PJess. At 16 days, you are just passing the peak of swelling! You need to keep in mind that this surgery was traumatic to your stomach, and listen to your body. For at least the...
Welcome to the wrapped club Carol. I had my latest fundo last Tuesday, so I'm just a day ahead. I'm still leaning a ton on Dilaudid, and I'm sorry that particular drug didn't work for you. But,...
I think the world of Johns Hopkins -- they also saved my sister-in-law's life last year. The gastric emptying test and the pancreatic polypeptide tests both test different vagal nerve responses. The...
No trouble Rain -- I visited Emory to talk about having the third surgery in Atlanta, but was *really* underwhelmed by their cavalier attitudes and suggested surgical approaches. Consequently, I had...
Rain, I'm so sorry that you have had to go through so much. My story mirrors yours in several ways -- though my surgeon opted to redo the fundoplication during both of my "redo" procedures. I too...
Thanks so much Barry -- my heart goes out to you too. I know the worry accompanying bumps in the recovery process can be very stressful. And, as my situation obviously highlights, they don't always...
As Denise points out -- there are LOTS of different suggested diets following fundoplication. Personally, now on day 5 following third procedure, my doctor has me on clear liquids only until day 15,...
I remember - after the first Nissen - having "sticky" foods get stuck pretty often at first, and then tapering off to only occasionally after a few months. In the first 6 months, or so, it would be...
It is hard to say why repeats are needed. For me, my anatomy just doesn't like to agree with me. But, each redo leaves you a little worse for wear. After #2, I was given a lifetime ban on...
11 hours until Nissen #3. On the plus side, I had all sorts of bad-for-me foods in the past couple of days. I am having the familiar lower chest pain right now, which is helping convince me that I'm...
You will need to talk to your surgeon about this, because not all HH repairs are the same. On my first one, the doctor did a simple suture repair to the diaphragm, and I was told no more than 25 lbs...
I hate hearing that a doctor is telling patients that he has a 90-95% success rate. What is his success rate after 5 years? 10 years? The average failure rate goes up dramatically as time goes on. To...
Just an update, if anybody is interested. It took several months to get on the schedule, but I have officially scheduled "round 3" on July 24....
Obviously, I can't speak for all, but for me - after the 2nd redo - the doctor put a long term restriction on lifting anything over 25 lbs. and from carrying/pulling/pushing anything over long...
Yes Kix, I do get pain in my chest -- lower left chest area right in-between the last couple of ribs. Sometimes it wakes me up at night. But then, suddenly, it will go away for days at a time. I am...
Hi Kix - and welcome to the forum. I can certainly try to help answer your questions. I am 32 years old, and had a full wrap in '00 and a complete redo with full wrap and large mesh repair in '10....
Hi Dave, This all sounds about right... You had major surgery! I remember returning to work about 16 days after my last fundo, and that I needed to take a nap in the middle of the work day just to...
Thanks so much Carolyn. I am glad there are more of us "too young" people on here to stick together. I hope the EGD goes easily - and shows something that can be fixed. I hate when we're subjected to...
The first time I needed a redo, I came unwrapped and my reflux came back with a vengeance. But, that time I had reherniated 50% of the stomach too. This time, they are telling me that I have not come...
For 8 years after my first fundoplication, I would often tell people that this surgery is one that you will be cursing for the first 3 months and then praising for years. I remember crying to my...
Welcome Deb, The pH test is certainly not pleasant, but it is absolutely doable. Things I have learned from my way-too-many-times doing this test: 1) Carry a wad of tissues. Your nose is likely to...
Of course there are many suggestions out there -- I am just going off of my own personal experiences. After my first fundoplication, I was put on soft foods only a few days into it and suffered chest...
If it is really bad, you may want to consider the "slower" approach. Many doctors suggest 2 weeks clear liquid, 2 weeks cloudy liquid, 2 weeks puree, before moving to soft foods. 12 days seems very...
I totally agree with Kitt -- You need to give it more time and keep talking to your doctors. If this is a fundo, it takes a while to feel good again. But, I have to ask... 5 weeks later and eating...
Cmac- I had my redo done (and am scheduling the 3rd one) at Johns Hopkins. There is a very small club of American doctors that routinely do these redos. I saw another surgeon in Atlanta before...
Hi John, My first fundo failed after 8 years, and I was able to find a surgeon willing to do a second -- and to keep it laparoscopic. Unfortunately, every time the procedure is redone, you increase...
Oh goodie. A chance to vent. 2 Nissens and recurrent symptoms, I'm now on anti-reflux and anti-dumping syndrome diets (I haven't been able to tolerate meat products or high-sugar items without...
It depends largely on what kind of diet your doctor has put you on. Are you still on mush or will you be on soft foods by then? Either way, I found that having pudding cups, some baby food, and...
I was born in 1980 and have already had 2 fundos. It is encouraging to know that I might be able to get another lifetime's worth of relief from my next one. For my last surgery, I traveled across the...
I am 32 years old and just visited the surgeon again today to see about *another* redo. I went through my original procedure and the first redo without any online support, but figured I might reach...