Fundiplication a year ago

Digestive health
1

Hi all..

So tomorrow 8th June will be a year since I had my hiatus hernia and reflux fixed..

I was terrified before I had it but now a year on I'm glad I had it done.. Yes it was a long road of recovery but for the sake of a few months of discomfort and odd diet it was worth it because I was suffering since I was very young, with bad acid reflux, and everything that comes with it.

I can eat and drink what I want now but smaller portions to what I was having before operation. In recent months I can count on one hand the amount of times I've felt nausea, before op nausea episodes could be several times in a week, I've had the odd bit of acid but a good burp clears it quickly, I've got a little bit of phlegm still but nowhere near amount I had before., my tiny scars have got some scar tissue which sometimes after a busy day can be a bit tender.

I'm very happy with my new stomach.. 😁

Margaret

2

May I ask you are you off any medication you might have been taking, ? And what was the diet you had to stick to also did you experience much pain pro operation? I went for a ph test on Monday and only coped with the tube in for about 4hours and had to remove it because I was gagging all the time, I have anxiety and IBS and don't know if I could cope with the op.

3

Did you actually have your hernia fixed, or did they wrap part of your stomach around your esophagus?

4

Nevermind, I just saw the title of your post.

I would still recommend eating healthy, and not "eating what you want". Poor diets can also lead to heartburn. After you've experienced bad heartburn for so long, would you really want to go through that again?

5

Hi Mag,

Glad your op worked -mine did too - and I am 2 years post fundoplication. I can eat and drink normally - and have not taken any anti acid meds since! In fact I have not been sick (touches wood) since my op. It is uncomfortable for the first few weeks - but totally worth it. It gave me my life back!

6

Hi Joyce

I took paracetamol and ibruphen for the pain, I was very sore but it was bearable I've had worse back pain.

My diet to begin was sloppy, like porridge, mash patato, scramble egg, custard,chicken soup for a few weeks then slowly moving onto more chewy stuff like fish, chicken.

Regards

Margaret

7

Hi

As far as I know they fixed the hiatus hernia first and then they did the wrap. It wasn't a huge hernia just big enough to give me hassle..

Regards

Margaret

8

Hi Margaret,

So glad you have no regrets and are far along in the healing process.

Can I ask what your experience entailed? Hospital stay, initial recovery time, dietary restrictions?

I just got the diagnosis yesterday of a hiatal

Hernia and the doctor mentioned surgery was most likely. I'll get more details next week but in the meantime am trying to learn a little more. I realize every patient is different but really have no idea what I'm in for.

Thanks kindly!

9

When I said I eat what I want I didn't mean I eat unhealthy food, I mean I have a healthy varied diet and have no afterburn like before operation..

10

I was on 40mg Nexium 300mg Ranitadine and copious amount of gaviscon and still had symptoms, now I take nothing, I've had the odd Ranitadine just because I ate a tad too much and it made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

I've always been a bit windy but since op I'm Very windy now, for me that's not too bad a trade off to be off all medication..

11

Hi cas

I was only in hospital overnight and was allowed home next day when I was able to swallow.

I took 7 weeks off work, mainly because my job is quite physical housekeeping and I went back on light duties for about a couple of weeks. Thankfully I have very good employers.

Regards

Margaret

12

You might find the wind settles as time goes on - although now I do these really long belches after eating sometimes - but I had a 270 deg repair. Think I may have taken gaviscon after a night out - but that may have been about twice in 2 years! Not bad going! Good to know it's worked for you too! I was originally on lansoprazole 15 then 30, then pantoprazole 40mg - both upset me - so I ended up on 300mg ranitidine and gaviscon advance - was awful - so to all you people who get the chance of a repair seriously consider it. I did have a wonderful surgeon too and that really helps!

13

Thank you for replying to me, so pleased you are doing so well its too read about someone having positive response to treatment.

14

Mine was 270 too. Surgeon said they tried 360 but decided it was too tight for me and loosened it same op.. I'm guessing that's why I still get a tiny bit of phlegm..

15

I think people are quicker to go online and tell of their horror stories so it looks like the procedure dosnt work, most of the people who have successfully had op get on with life and forget to tell people all about their new improved stomach and life without meds etc.. So it's not a balanced view..

16

Hi Margaret

That should really good to hear.

I am now 8 months post op and I also feel great. I still have a bit of throat clearing and cough now and again but nothing like before.

I am now back at the gym working out and trying to get my fitness levels back up.

I haven't felt this great in years and so pleased I had the op.

Louise

17

My surgeon preferred the 270 as it is looser and you are less likely to get complications - he did a hernia repair at the same time. I never had to do a liquid diet - he told me to go onto sloppy foods straight away. He came to see me the morning after surgery at I had problems with my spleen which was adhered to my stomach. Repair had to be done - and I was checked out before I could go home I was meant to be a day surgery case - be ended up staying a night!

18

That's wonderful Margaret. I can't believe it's been a year already. I can Remember reading your posts after your op as if it was yesterday.

Gastro says I'm not bad enough to warrant op as I haven't got much damage! But I didn't push it because I've been quite good lately. Not cured but better.

19

Hi,

Yes I can't believe a year has passed too.. It's been a long road but not as long as the time I lived with reflux and all the rubbish symptoms that come with it..

I can't find any of my posts from a year ago.. 😕 I would love to read them again but they seem to have disappeared..

Regards

Margaret

20

Could I ask where you had your op and by who? If and when I have this done again I'd like to opt for a proven surgeon, was never impressed with the first one!