Not yet
I had my 6 week post op and really didn't have it then but going next week at 8 week out and will. I think too it could be food related some what because I am so ready to eat and seem to pick wring foods in my haste. Had such a hard time eating the past year or so because of the large hiatal hernia I had I am trying to make up for that I guess. Still haven't tried a lot of foods.will work up to them slow. Why are you concerned tha the operation might not have worked?
Jennifer
It is still early on your recovery but you may need to mention your concerns. I am almost 8 weeks out and still have some discomfort from time to time. I was told this is a major impact on the body and mind and will take some time to recover. You are not alone and I have found this forum to be helpful to learn and vent.
Jennifer
Purely because of now experiencing what feels like heartburn. I used to suffer from it for many years and was put on medication, it cleared up the heartburn but for the past 3 years I suffered from acid reflux whilst trying various medication. I went into the op thinking it would stop any reflux or heartburn problems so now I keep getting bits of heartburn that's what makes me worry it isn't tight enough. Don't quite understand how they can determine how tight to make it if that makes sense.
Hi ALL, I am writing a final post before I un-subscribe.
It is almost 2 years now since my surgery and I can confirm It is a huge success, I had a healthy heart/full MOT check recently and the Nurse gave me a great big healthy thumbs up. My partner would tell you, that this is down to the work I put in (then and now). The surgeon (although incredible) can only repair your stomach and cannot stop acid from occurring or damage from re-occurring - the rest Is up to you. Please read my original forum again – don’t run before you can walk.
The surgeon told me I had been driving fast on a motorway and after the operation I would be driving slow on a single lane forever – it’s a great metaphor and one I have adhered to.
In the first few weeks after the operation I started slow, small and often and although I have now found a happy portion size to meet calorie needs, I still remain slow, small and often. I snack regular to avoid an empty stomach and acid damage. I avoid the foods which can cause acid and listen to what my body tells me about which foods to eat (a food diary can help with this). I struggle to digest red meat, raw salad and vegetables – this isn’t a problem, I can eat minced red meat, poultry or fish and I roast vegetables and peppers etc. which make them more easily digestible. I avoid gaseous drinks (these hurt), rarely eat fried food or pastry and only manage small amounts of fruit or salad. I enjoy softer foods with sauces etc. and maintain a varied diet. Your taste buds will adapt with you (I developed a sweet tooth I still enjoy food and eating out (just different to how I used too).
It is true that I can no longer vomit (this isn’t something I miss, as it was far too frequent a problem pre-op). I’ve not suffered due to this at all.
I basically changed my lifestyle and diet to suit my stomach and it has worked wonders, my weight has now settled/returned to its comfortable level, my health is much improved (I take no prescription medication at all).
The operation was a success and I do my best every day to continue my good health. You can too!
Best wishes
Julie
almost forgot - you will have discomfort and anxiety - you've had major surgery - give yourself and your body time to heal. Take care or yourselves. julie
Hi Julie,
Thank you for the inspiring post. It should ease anxiety for others contemplating this operation.
I hope you don't mind if I use some of your account within a booklet / series of leaflets I have been asked to compile that may be given to patients about to undergo oesophageal procedures.
Chris
Hi Chris,
I'm happy for the information i've submitted to be used in leaflets providing they are 'not for profit'. Kind Regards Julie
No. The leaflets would be free and could be handed by consultants and nurses to patients considerng or about to undergo the particular oesophageal procedure.
I was originally asked to do this by a Gastro-Intestinal Nurse Specialist and since had overwhelming endorsement from consultants. Once I have them available, the difficulty will then be the procedure the hospitals have to go through to have them officially approved by their respective boards, as has been the case with the (free) Down With Acid book, but we will be able to give them out as a charity wherever needed. (And the contributors will remain anonymous: referred to by a christian name or pseudonym.)
That's fine, best of luck.
I had the Nissan fundoloplication done in 2011 for a hitias hernia, over the past year have been getting my symptoms back and bad pain in the chest area. My gp has done a referral to my consultant that did the operation. Lifting and bending is really making my symptoms bad. Not eating much.
Any help would be very much appreciated
Mark
Hi, my positive story goes . Years of omeprozole for heartburn. 5 months ago approx while eating a meal I had excruciating pain/ sickness all night. From then I started having problems starting meals. Felt as if food was getting stuck but would eventually go down. This worsened till a month ago when I could not even drink a cup of tea without having to regurgitate it to get rid of the intense pain. Was then forced by family to go into A and E after a terrible weekend with no food and minimal fluid. Had an x-ray, barium meal, CT scan , endoscope and ECG . Was told I had a large hiatus hernia and my stomach had twisted causing a constriction. Had surgery a few days later.. nissen funduplication and hernia repair.. was in for 2 days , minimal pain and discomfort..slight pain with deep breaths and lying on my side in bed..porridge for breakfast and soup for lunch next day.. 3 weeks later I have started on more solid food ,mince , pasta, lasagne. Slight discomfort when bending over etc but only twinges nothing like before op. This was my first visit to a hospital in 57 of my years.. in my case it was a breeze the whole experience. Hospital were brilliant.. Miracle cure so far.. cant wait to get my favourite steak pie and chips.. Hope this helps folk that are waiting for operation etc.
Hi, I have my fundloplication and Hiatus Hernia repair booked in for June 8th, I don't have symptoms as severe as you but after having lived with it for most of my life I'm taking the plunge and having the op, I'm praying for an outcome like yours, I want to experience eating like I've never had before with no burping food after eating etc no more phlegm.. Good luck with the rest of your recovery..
I have suffered from heatburn since I was 18. I am now 55. I have been taking medication for years and it worked very well. However about 4 years ago I started to get a lot of pain in my throat and caugh. I went to the Gastro and had scope done. But same thing acid and iritation. So I continued meds. But I have pain in shoulder blade constant. Sometimes can streatch it out a little but Its awful retricting my life. I was considering the Nisen because the meds dont work any more. But what I read is awful results from people. There is a also a oral procedure esopex. I need to get something done soon before my healt and insurance get worse. Any advice. Thanks Paul
Hi Paul,
Throat irritation and cough point to reflux rather than acid as being your main concern. Medicatin is good for reducing acid but may not help with reflux other than making it less corrosive.
The vast majority of people having Nissen are entirely satisfied - though they may not wrie about it as much as the few who have a problem.
From the Down with Acid book: 'A study published in Surgical Endoscopy in 2014 reviewed the durability of Laparoscopic Fundoplication over 20 years and concluded, "Long-term results from the early experience with LF are excellent with 94 % of patients reporting only occasional or fewer reflux symptoms at 20-year follow-up.'
There are other procedures (which yu may find on the www DownWithAcid org uk site in the chapters on Reflux Reduction Techniques) but Laparoscopic Nissen Fundolication is the gold standard.
The Esophyx (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) may sound appealing but doesn't have anything like the success rate.
From Down With Acid:
An article in World Journal of Surgery in 2008, "Anti-reflux Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication using EsophyX: 12-month results of a Prospective Multicenter study," written by surgeons employed by Endogastric solutions, concluded, "12-month results showed that EsophyX-TIF was safe and effective in improving quality of life and for reducing symptoms."
This helped the device get FDA approval for use in the US.
However, the paper also stated, "Global assessment revealed that 56% of patients were “cured” of their GERD based on the clinically significant reduction of their heartburn and complete cessation off PPIs."
Hi i am having surgery in 3 weeks your story has made me positive. do you lose weight after the surgery all the blogs i have read say that you do. Does the acid stop and the chest pains?
Hi Elizabeth,
I just wanted to let you know,that I had the 360 nissen fundoplication surgery 8 weeks ago and,I have lost,weight and still trying to balance it all out. I had a large sliding hiatal hernia that was repaired along with wrapping my stomach around my esophagus. So far pretty good,still trying to reintroduce foods and get back to normal. I actually didn't have heartburn, gerd or chest pains before but now I do get a very little but tolerable. Hope all goes well and I will answer any other questions of I can.
Jennifer
Hi Elizabeth,
My op is on June 8th, I'm expecting to loose a bit of weight while recovering, I'm not overweight but no harm in loosing a bit for the summer, I'm sure once I'm back eating properly again the weight will go back on..
I am having the op to reduce symptoms, chest pain, constant phlegm, burping, nausea when I eat too much, etc .
I'm 46 and had these symptoms most of my life, I'm on 40mg of Nexium and ranitadine and gaviscon when needed ( most days)
I do hope after the op I can be rid of all this and enjoy food like never before.
I'm not sure how big my hiatus hernia is. I've got my pre op assessment tomorrow morning. Good luck with your op.
I just found this discussion board and was extremely interested. I toohave Nissen almost two years ago. Since then I have had my throat stretched and Botox injected to see if that will stop the vomiting. I vomit almost every day, at least one time. Immediately follwoing surgery I was OK, lost 10 pounds and felt good, considering the diet restrictions. But within the last 6 months I have dropped 25 pounds more and continue to vomit daily. I would never recommend this surgery to anyone. I am now schduled for a removal of the wrap and a feeding tube. OH MY I'M SO LUCKY! although the doctor (a new sugeon) does not want to do the surgery, stating there is too much scar tissue and it most likely will nnot help or stop my vomiting.
This has been the hardest 20 months of my life. I just want to go back to acid feflux and occasionally vomiting.
Really do reseach before undergoing this procedure.
Hi Kay,
Sorry to hear about your experiences recently,
I had fundloplication 12 weeks ago, I know it's a slow process recovery so I'm trying to take it as slowly as I can, I've lost a stone in weight which I lost in my first week and it's kind of stayed the same, I'm still in the early stages of recovery and have a little tenderness on my scars, also some days I have a little bit of nausea, sometimes the nausea feeling I have worked out is that I'm a bit hungry.
I took 7 weeks off work and am taking it as easy as possible as my job is physical.
I do wish you all the very best and hope you are feeling better very soon.
Margaret x
Hi Julie and all in this discussion,
I had my op 12 weeks ago now, I'm doing OK I think, the discomfort from op and scar tissue is easing off a bit now, on the odd day I have a bit of nausea, sometimes it can be just that I'm hungry, most days for my dinner I have a small bowl of pasta with grated cheese frozen mix veg and glug of olive oil it's really all I can be bothered to eat, bran flakes in the morning and spaced through the day small cheese sandwich, cuppa soup, granola bar,small smoothie, and maybe a bowl of flakes before bed.
I went out for dinner Sunday and had gammon, it was massive but I managed a third of it maybe less and some chips, that was it for the day I was stuffed.
I find I have a tiny bit of phlegm still nowhere near the scale I had it before the op and get bloated feeling very easy.
Lots of wind both ends.
It would be great to hear how everyone else is getting on further into recovery to me, I do hope you all are doing well :-)
Margaret x