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babygirl10150
Regular Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 95

Posted 11/6/2009 8:00 PM (GMT -7)

For those of you who have had it, how long did you have to take off work? How long did it wake before you could eat normally? What/how much could you eat afterwords and for how long?

I'm getting it done in Dec and want to be prepared as far as meals/liquids. I also asked for 4 weeks off work. Not sure if that will be enough since I'm a cna and do alot of bending and lifting. Any info would be great. Thanks!

dencha
Veteran Member

Date Joined Feb 2009
Total Posts : 1128

Posted 11/6/2009 8:07 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Babygirl,
I had the surgery and planned to go back to work half time after two weeks. I'm a teacher and at the time the kids in my classroom were very sick. Since I have asthma, my doctor wanted to hold me out of work until my classroom was healthier, so I stayed out for six weeks. Four weeks should be just fine. The lifting and bending should be discussed with your surgeon. If you have concerns and you can manage more time, by six weeks you'll be in great shape.

Different doctors have different protocol regarding food. Mine had me on liquids in the hospital and soft foods for the first five days until I went to see him. At that point, he told me I could eat anything that could be chewed to a liquid, which is pretty much anything.

In the beginning you can't eat much, but by four months or so, you start to be able to eat more. At this point I can eat as much as I did before the surgery, which surprises me. I thought I'd always eat less, and I was fine with that.

If I can answer any other questions, just let me know. It hasn't been that long since I had the surgery, so I think I'll remember most things.
Good luck! You're in a good place to receive lots of information and support.
Denise

Alcie
Regular Member

Date Joined Oct 2009
Total Posts : 72

Posted 11/6/2009 8:22 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Baby -
Read a LOT of threads. Some people heal faster than others. There are lots of degrees of how much of an operation you might have. There are co-morbidities that could affect your progress - asthma and such.

#1 - forget about heavy lifting for a really long time - like a year, maybe forever, if you don't want to wreck your wrap. Get something written from your doc. I used to work as a glassblower's helper doing some really heavy work on blown glass sinks. I won't be able to put that much pressure on my diaphragm ever again. I also changed out the mowers and plows on the tractor, won't be able to do that either.

#2 - follow your doctor's directions for diet religiously. You won't be able to go shopping for at least a week, so stock up on the foods you will need beforehand and get rid of the junk in the fridge that will only spoil. I am two weeks out and starting to eat some regular foods that happen to be soft and moist. I didn't have a full wrap though, so I could swallow small pills from day 1. Get some Gas-X and a lot of Beano. They don't really work, according to what I read and my own experience, but at least you'll feel like you are trying to do something about the gas. If your doc prescribes liquid Colace - don't take it straight! The citric acid in it will burn your throat. Mix it in a lot of milk. Don't get constipated. Take the stuff prescribed!

Read the threads again.

Alcie

rlopez75
Regular Member

Date Joined Jul 2009
Total Posts : 167

Posted 11/6/2009 11:26 PM (GMT -7)

Hello. I had my nissen Aug. 10th of this year and will probably not go back to work till mid December. My pre op imflimation was pretty bad and i'm still feeling some pain so my GP says he will give more disability as needed.

As long as your work is'nt strenuous you should be ok.

Rafael

dencha
Veteran Member

Date Joined Feb 2009
Total Posts : 1128

Posted 11/7/2009 6:50 AM (GMT -7)

Yes, everyone is different, Babygirl, but online posters are outliers. People who have the surgery and all is well rarely get online and post. They're going about their lives happy with their newly found comfort and health. Yes, everyone is different, but as long as you have an extremely skilled and experienced (in the Nissen procedure) surgery, you will do just fine.
There are people who've posted here who went back to biking in two weeks and climbed mountains in a few months. My surgeon gave me no lifting restrictions after 6 weeks, and things have been fine.
You'll find your own way through the recovery. Please don't worry. Just be sure you've done your homework, have been tested thoroughly to ensure that you're a good candidate (I actually wasn't fitting the mold, and yet my surgery solved the problems that I sought the surgery to solve), and that you have a surgeon that is highly qualified.
Good luck, and be sure to continue to post your questions.
We're here for you!
Denise

babygirl10150
Regular Member

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 95

Posted 11/7/2009 7:53 PM (GMT -7)

Rafael, you get disability from the surgery?

The only thing I'm worried about right now is picking up my 6 month old. She's pretty tiny, only 9 lbs but still in the back of my mind. I'm pretty sure I can get light duty at work although I would still have to lean over the bed rails which are at stomach level.

rlopez75
Regular Member

Date Joined Jul 2009
Total Posts : 167

Posted 11/7/2009 8:10 PM (GMT -7)

Yes, I get disability. I have actually been on disability since April due to the heavy work that I do.

You should be ok carrying the baby around if shes that light. Just be carefull not to bend over if you pick her up. Use your arms and your legs, never your abdomen, for now.

Rafael

dencha
Veteran Member

Date Joined Feb 2009
Total Posts : 1128

Posted 11/8/2009 12:16 PM (GMT -7)

Hi Babygirl,
You should discuss this concern with your surgeon. He gave me a 10 pound limit for 6 weeks. I'm sure you're not the first mom to have a surgery that limits lifting. It's important that you ask your surgeon how he expects you to deal with the demands of motherhood!
Best wishes!
Denise

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