Laparscopic Nissen Fundoplication and Hiatal Hernia repair surgery

Digestive health
101

Hi Margaret

My 2nd day back at work and had to rush home as felt really sick about

4pm manged to make it to 5.30pm rushed out .

got home said I'm going for lie down as don't feel well call me in hour

so do my dinner with in 10 mins was in bathroom trying to be sick again.

My be did to much as went for walk in lunch hour on way back was bit struggle.

Think sitting in office chair all day didn't help.

Feeling better now but still getting fidgety in office chair have cushion on chair now.

I don't think I can actually be sick any more as you reach try to be sick but can't actually be physical sick.

Don't take any pain killers but keep ant sickness tables in bag just in case.

Take the tablet for wind still as get bit trapped wind can hear gurgle some times.

Eat Rice Krispy for breakfast as that seams okay gone off yogurt.

Think more sensitive to taste and for while have to go to bed if he was cooking anything smell made

me feel sick. But bit better now.

Eat shepherds pie, fish pie, spaghetti carbnara, ham mushrooms tagliatelle.

But only half the microwave portion at time.

Can eat chocolate.

was getting board eating same stuff looked up some suggestions on website

To get some ideas what could try so added the ham mushroom tagliatelle and spaghetti .

Tried scrambled egg on slice toast but get bit pain after thinking was bread.

Just got to be patent.

Still get bit tenderness on scars but bearable.

Just got to try be patient which I'm not good at as don't do sick.

Don't drink enough find hard to get enough drink down

. Keep sipping but only manage small bottle water .

Can only drink small tea cup of decaff tea or coffee.

Really miss that. But just can't drink it.

Coffee goes down better than tea.

Tried lucazade Raspberry one see if that helped

but took me all day to drink it.

Think maybe would be better if could drink more.

Last two day had funny pulse feeling in ear as if

you can hear your heart beat in ear strange feeling hope goes.

Just takes time can't believe some say back to normal quicker

but my be they didn't have 360 one done.

Just trying get to find food that is okay and don't get trapped wind or sick feeling after.

Sure we will get there just take every day as comes and try think new stuff to try.

Take care glad to hear you doing okay.

Was feeling bit crap being back at work to begin with but didn't want to be to negative

on here to put people off but think probably try to do too much to quick as my work

wasn't really covered when off and still working too fast can't slow down.

Need to take bit easyer change my old habits trying too hard to get all done.

Need to sit back bit and say not my problem you didn't get covered when

I was off sick will have to wait it's turn and not try rush get all up to date ..

Catch you again soon

Take care

Zena

102

Hi Zena,

The nausea feeling happens less often now, sometimes strangely it's hungry and eating a little something clears it, Hungry feels different to before, so maybe you are hungry not sicky just a thought. If and when I have felt nausea coming on I get up and walk around have sips of water and an anti sickness tabs and convince myself it's in my head and I'm not going to be sick, it clears off soon, I wouldn't try making myself sick.

Margaret x

103

Hi Julie!

my name is Linda and I live in in a very small town in mid coast Maine in th U.S.

I'm scheduled for the same surgery next week on the 25th. The blogs I have read and video's that some people posted are enough to scare me to death

Your review is the first and most  in depth information that I have read and 

the Most positive. I have printed four copies to put up around my house to read when I may have tough days.

i want to say a huge thank you for helping me get through this.

many thanks,

linda

104

Hi  Denise

I had surgery nearly 2 weeks ago. I had my first attack of Reflux nearly 40 years ago. It went away for a good few years, then returned. The last 2 years, I had reflux. at home, everyday and nothing I ate or drank could calm it.

Since surgery, I am feeling so much better.

My incisions are a little sore especially if they rub on a shirt.

I am eating small amounts, and am now varying my diet. 

Made stewed apple with a sponge topping yesterday and I managed a small amount. It was delicious.

Take care of yourself immediately after surgery and push fluids as much as you can.

Stick to Milk, yogurt, and soup for at least a week and allow your 'insides' to calm down.

You will soon know if you have eaten the wrong thing. Its like trying to drive a bus down a single track lane... gets stuck!!! 

Ive made this mistake a few times and always have water to hand, to help wash it down.

I had a scan last week and all is well. The wrap is in place and fluids are passing through nicely.s

Amazing to see how narrow your Eosphagus becomes. Imagine it being the width of a straw, then it becomes clear what you can eat for a while.

Think Positive thoughts.

I am 63, have retired from work and had retired from life. I now feel energised and can think forward.

My aim is to take an exercise class in the new year and get rid of the middle aged flab!! I might even get back on a horse!!

Keep in touch....

 

105

think I should have addressed this to Linda!!

106

HI Hilary,

Thank you so much for the positive news. It's great to hear how well you are doing.

I'm 67 and have had severe Gerd No lung issues since I was thirty-two and finally found a doctor that listened to me and diagnosed my problem.

I have purchased puddings,soup,broth etc so hopefully will be prepared .

My surgery is scheduled for the 25th and the surgeon said it will take four hour which is much longer than I had anticipated.

I've been through surgeries and think I handle them pretty well, get up and move ASAP and stay positive.

It has been all of the horrific blogs and utube videos I've seen that make me have second thoughts about having the surgery.

After reading your report after only two weeks,I'm back to a positive outlook.

I hope we can stay in touch and keep each other posted.

do you think eventually we will be able to eat normal food again?

keep me posted!

talk to you soon,

Linda

107

Last night I had fish, 2 very small tinned potatoes and some peas. Took it slowly and chewed well. Had water too to help wash down.

It was delicious. However, I did feel sick 2 hours later but I think it was taking my Meds too fast.

I think we can eat normally again but smaller amounts.

I wish you Good Luck for your surgery. Im sure it will all be fine. A MPA helps enormously.

I also have Fibromyalgia and my GP was a  bit concerned that I would make a very slowly recovery, but far from it.

H

108

Hi Hilary,

I made it through without any problems. Maybe a little sore throat.

My diet is pudding and broth. Tonight I made poached chicken and ate a small portion of the broth along with some meat. It was delicious                           

no nausea,no reflux and no cough! I now have a new lease on life.

Don't listen to the negative blogs.

Hilary, how are you progressing? At the rate of your recovery,you'll be eating Sunday roast any day.

i'll keep you posted and do let me know how you are doing.

as I mentioned I also have Barrett's  and journals say it helps  keep it at bay and progress so quickly.

write soon

L.

109

Hi Linda. I seemed to have taken a couple of steps backwards with my diet. Back to soup, rice pudding and custard. Saw my Consultant yesterday who said he wasnt surprised as my Diaphram and Eosphagus was so inflammed, it will take ages to repair. Ive lost over a stone, which is a good thing!

I havent had any heartburn but I am still getting nausea.

I havent attempted to eat any meat or bread. Can cope with a very small amount of Spag Bol.

Glad you are doing well.

H

110

Hi Linda,

I'm 19 weeks post op now. Not 100% yet but off ppi mess and laying down properly at night, I still get a little bit of pain in my chest and lots of wind top and bottom.

With food I can eat virtually most things just child size portions even they are sometimes too big.

I lost a stone in the first week and since then stayed more or less the same up a pound down a couple.

I still get the odd nausea feeling but it soon passed, I take a cyclazine tablet if feeling dodgy at bedtime which could be once or twice a week.

I've been to the doctors this week to have a blood test as I felt I hadn't seen anyone since week 7 after op and wanted to update on progress.

Best wishes to you with your recovery.

Margaret

111

Hi Margaret,

Glad to hear from you. sounds like you are doing much better than some.

I'm doing fine,eating normally. No nausea . Pain in my shoulder and gas,gas,and more gas!

I sure wish I could get rid of some weight.Lucky you. What were your lab results?

my IPad is on the fritz so will write later.

Get well soon

L

 

112

Hi Linda,

It will take a week to get results from blood tests, I'm expecting them to be all clear.

I think I might have over eaten or something the last few days I've felt some burning and a little pain in my hiatus hernia area, it may just be a lot of trapped wind, I will try some deflatine, I resorted to taking a couple of rani tagine yesterday which I didn't think I would be doing again, but I guess as my partner says " normal stomachs get heartburn sometimes too"

The pain you have in your shoulder is from the gas the surgeon put in during op to inflate you so they could see what they are doing, it will pass in a few days, take deflatine it good for trapped wind.

Margaret

113

Linda.. Rani tagine is my phones attempt at predictive spelling for Ranitadine..

114

Hi Julie I just had the surgery 8 days ago.

The pain, baaaaad acid reflux, food regurgitation, organ-twisting.... (An so on) pain had been going on for almost a year! I couldn't even get through a day at work without clutching my chest & crying. It was becoming a horrible way of life. I would spend days & nights crying. . Terrible 😔.

I was told I had a hernia --- & they thought it was a moderate size. I went to see a specialist (hours on the bus from my house & work) because my primary local doctors were just giving me medicine that was not only not working but making me super sick (all PPI's & antacids --- even simple Zantac gave me migraines).

The same Doctor that did my hernia/reflux surgery also removed my gallbladder in June of this year (so about 5 months ago). When I went into see the specialist I went in because of this hernia. The pain was getting so bad I needed to see someone that would help me in more detail. They ended up realizing that the gallbladder needed to be removed first before the hernia could be taken care of unfortunately. The surgeon knew at the time that I had a hernia but the gallbladder took first priority. Upon removing it the Doctor Who did the surgery realized the hernia was not only there and present but was extremely large . (He even took photos and gave them to me after surgery)

Per my insurance I had to have more tests (CT's, ultrasounds, etc) done to prove that the surgery was necessary. My surgeon knew that it was probably going to have to happen so they put in a request with my insurance; my first request was denied by my insurance. So I was required to do a few more tests (barium swallow, 24 hour PH -- not fun, etc), and these tests were done. The tests ultimately did prove that I needed to have this surgery. I am eight days post op surgery and I no longer feel the acid reflux & my stomach is no longer in my chest.

(my surgeon said after talking to me after the surgery, he told me that the hole was about three times the size than the normal hole of the esophagus area. Pretty crazy; No wonder I was in so much pain.)

I just too prepared prior to having the surgery with the proper foods I would need to have ready (I even bought those apple sauce baby food pouch things -- the doctor thought they was a cool idea). & My mom also came and helped me the first few days after surgery as I wasn't exactly sure of how I would feel. There is still some pain as the insides of me have been stitched so I am still in pain here and there but the acid reflux is not there which is a big deal. Feeling I am on the road to recovery and I am so far glad that I have made that decision.. I went on a lot of blogs, I researched a lot, and thought a lot about it beforehand. I even looked at reviews and surgeons who have done many of these procedures before I chose my doctor. They have been really great .

I am glad to hear of your success --- I was SUPER scared as well as I have also heard many not so happy stories. . Thank you for sharing your story.

It's good to hear you are doing well.

115

Hi Dawn. I am 5 weeks post surgery. No pain from already healed incisions, no reflux! (Hooray). Am still eating small amounts, but I am starting to vary the content. Managed Scrambled egg on lightly toasted toast.. so delicious just to have a different texture. Last night, I ate the contents of a small chicken pie.... couldnt manage the pastry  tho. I still get the feeling that food is getting stuck, but I always drink plenty whilst I am eating, so it soon passes.

I also had my Gall Bladder removed last September. Its quite common for the two to be connected with our problems.

I still get some nausea if I have over eaten or eaten too fast but I have some anti-emetics from my GP.

Feel really quite well considering that I also have Fibromyalgia. I am so glad that I had surgery and I am looking forward  to being able to eat Christmas Lunch or at leas some part of it 

Hx

116

Hi Hilary

It great to hear you are recovering well.

I would say appart from the smaller portions of food I'm probably 90% there.. I've been having a weird sensation in my side the last month ish I've been to doc and had blood tests and all clear do I'm thinking it's hopefully just muscle as I'm back to working normally and it's fairly physical, it's in line with my scars along on right hand side.

Regards

Margaret

117

Hi Margaret

Hope you are doing okay.

I'm not about 13 week down line after operation.

Not doing too bad. Still not realy eating bread.

Still on small portions food.

Did manage to eat a Burger king cheese burger the other week

as my daughter had appointment at St Guys hospital for dental

treatment and on way home we were starving as hadn't eaten

She was going to get a burger from burger king

i just fancied a cheese burger so thought I'd try one

we were at Waterloo station so not that much chose of normal

price food and just missed train so thought give a go.

I don't normally eat Mc Donald or Burger king

But tasted so good even though was like a mouse eating it

nibbles and making sure chewed well

was okay did get a little pain after but had drink water

and over all okay.

Managed one those Gingster pulled pork slice that was okay .

But last night X made some noodles with mixed peppers mushroom

He normally make quit hot so I get hump but he said he would

only put 1chill in instead 3 lol.

Was okay bit of after burn on lips but had drink sqash.

Thought nothing more as seamed okay but got terrible stomach

cramp at 2am then felt bit sick ended up trying to be sick for 30 mins then

went back to bed felt after while food felt if moved and pain went

managed to get some sleep.

Stomach was bit soar this morning more diafram sore

Think we're was straining when trying to be sick but nothing

comes up .

Know not drinking enough find it hard to get fluid down

well enough fluid like should be able to. ..

Suppose takes time, just impatient.

That and work been bit stressful at moment so probably didn't help..

Sure will be okay get odd pain . But nothing major.

Still not put weight back on .

Can actually fit in to a few dress is never got round to throwing out .

Luck fashion comes back round again as they are the shift pencil

type dress..

Lol just as well the were shoved to back wardrobe as came in handy

for work. Was going to throw them out before operation but when

surgeon said I'd lose about 2 stone thought may be would see if

fitted after when I'd lost the two stone.

Can't remember when last wore them either.

Posabaly before i had my daughter who is now 29 or when she

was small.

Some one at work asked me were got them in said God there old

They said they look new .

Just as well never throw them out as didn't want to buy new

clothes till got bit further down road and weight settled

incase put weight back on ...

Glady to hear you are still okay

And also the other people on here doing okay.

Not been on here recently as been so busy playing catch up

at work trying to get every thing up to date as work wasn't cover

when I was writing off sick for the 4 weeks.

Just have to try not let work wind me up which is hard at moment

and try not to do too much. Sure then I'll feel better.

Still not tried alcohol yet been over 1 year since I drank any

.my last was 4 Glass champagne at works 30th Anniversary do.

Then with spicy was in agony for rest evening but did let spoil

evening was just gutted as was free bar well for beer and wine

lol and I couldn't drink anything else only water as felt I'll.

Hope be able to have some.

Mind not drank any coke or anything fizzy .

When do drink like Jack Daniel and coke with ice .

or Mojo in summer..

Oh well hopefully will be able to by next summer ...

Slowly slowly should get there in end ...

Take care

Zena. .

118

Hi Zena,

Great to hear from you again.

Have you tried the Kingsmill or Warburtons Thins? I've been getting them as they aren't as big as the small loaves of bread, either toasted or with a slice of cheese, for my lunch at work I have 1 pice and a bachelors cuppa soup, I'm still eating a lot of pasta as it's just easy and yummy. I can manage small portions of most things. Low alcohol ale on the odd occasion goes down well, I've even had a few baileys coffees.

I've been having this odd pain in my side but after blood tests came back clear last week I'm thinking (hoping) it's just muscle pain from being back to work full on again.

My weight has stayed the same I lost just over a stone. It's hilarious how my jeans all fit nicely and don't have to open the zip or button. I be quite happy to stay this weight now.

Best wishes to you Zena.

Regards Margaret

119

Hi Margaret

Yes I did look at those thins as used to eat them before sometimes. I noticed that the now do a fruit one did wonder about trying them as could prahps toast on for breakfast make changes from Rice Krispy as try and make sure have bowl them before work as try to make sure don't skip meals as some times don't feel Hungary so could quite easy skip a meal but then feel a bit rough later . Used to eat lots fruit but eat banana or few strawberry can eat apple if chop it up small first. Did get one those little pot fruit like sell in supermarkets but too much as started to feel sick later .

Still can't really drink tea only very small cup. Coffee can drink more of at moment. Go down ok still only small mug.

Hopefully your pain is just muscle pain.try not to do too much. I go slight paid when I started walking at lunchtime when weather was better as used to walk for 55 mins in lunch hour and grab sandwich or have something quick when having to follow diet. But after back at work after operation could only walk 26 mins and last bit was struggle sometimes felt like pressure not chest stomach. And few times by 4 start get pain in side or stomach and feel bit sick. Think body way telling us we are doing too much as you forget. as Dentice said take care your body has been through a lot and needs to recover. Even though you body is strong and amazing heals it's self you need to take care of it . When though about it Think hes right. As people not been through the don't understand because they can't see anything as inside you and don't know what feels like. And don't realise every day can be different an feel ok one minute but rough the next event if for little while after eating or doing to much. Think managed to sleep bit better than was still wake a lot in night but have for year for no apparent reason except my mind don't switch off when I go to sleep. My Dr did say first after I saw her after operation try make sure you get rest try sleep when can so body can heal and don't over do it look after yourself. Lol

Suppose we need to be kind to ourselves and remember not to over don it .

120

Hi All,

I have had this surgery done 4 ays ago at one of the leading health service facility in the caribbean, (Healty City Cayman Island).

I am optomistic, and hoping that my current simtoms will imporve soon, I was able to belch right away after surgery, but as most have mentioned, I was advised by the surgeon that I should only eat small portions, not to drink liquids until after eating, and it has also been deficult to swallow, but very early in my recovery time as this is day 4, and i was released from hospital today. I have a followup to see the surgeon in a week, and I hope things continue to impove, as i have been on reflux med nexium for over 7 years, and was told that this medication have been proven to damage your liver, therefore, I had to do my research on my options to improve my health, and in doing so chose for this operation.

Can anyone advise on thier current ststus after surgery, and if things have improved?