What happens if you vomit after the wrap?

Hello all. Had my wrap done last Feb. 11th. All is well with me. Still have some throat issues, but not like before. Had LPR. Even had a follow up egd and barium swallow to check the wrap, as I thought it may have slipped. Both tests showed no reflux, and my Deemester score was less than one(1). So my question, in case it ever happens, is "How many folks have had to vomit since their surgery, and how did it effect the wrap? That was one thing my surgeon warned me against. Would like to hear from you. As for my health, was back on solids about six weeks after the wrap. Back in the gym and on weights at about four weeks. Went from 175lbs to 157. Back up to 165 and holding. Right where I want to be. I guess it really is all about the surgeon. Thanks and good wishes all.

renegade_7

If you can vomit, that's a plus. for those that can't it recommended that we have anti nausea meds on hand so we don't dry heave. Dry heaving is what can damage the wrap.


Take care,
Bill

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opnwhl4
Moderator: GERD/Heartburn, Kidney disease

Nissen 6/06 and 5/09
#3 8/24/11

hi Renegade,

I've had three stomach bugs since my surgery. Each time the nausea snuck up on me and I didn't have time to take my anti nausea drugs. My surgeon told me that I wouldn't be able to vomit post surgery, but as it turns out, I can.

In each case I vomited once before taking anti-nausea meds to stop the vomiting. Around here we were warned and continue to pass on the warning that it's crucial to avoid vomiting whether or not you can actually vomit, or just retch. Either can be hard on the wrap .

In my situation, the vomiting did not cause problems, but I took precautions not to vomit repeatedly. That could have been a different story. Compazine suppositories work well for me once the vomiting has started. Zofran, in my case, works best for mild nausea. Once I'm sick enough to vomit, there's no keeping meds or food in my stomach.

Be sure to keep anti-nausea drugs on hand. I know that Bill and I carry them with us wherever we go, just in case. Once healing has taken place an occasional vomiting or retching incident isn't likely to cause problems as long as you take precautions to ensure that it doesn't happen repeatedly. It can cause irritation of the wrap, though, so there can be some residual pain or discomfort that takes time to heal.

Best wishes,
Denise

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GERD/Heartburn Moderator
Nissen Fundoplication 2/09
Allergy/Asthma

"Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists.”

“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose”

“Accept - then act. Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”
Eckhart Tolle

Post Edited (dencha) : 10/14/2013 5:33:29 AM (GMT-6)

Great question.

The thing that concerns me is if you have a stomach bug or get food poisoning post nissen. Vomiting is usually nature's way of getting rid of the toxin. So if you take an anti-nauseau pill I was wondering what effect that has the body in that instance ... wouldn't you become even more ill from failure to expel the irritant?

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Symptoms of reflux started on 8th May after taking one Bisphosphonate tablet. I had never suffered reflux in my life before this date.
Osteoporosis

Having the flu or getting food poisoning will cause most people not only to be nauseated but to have diarrhea which will empty your intestines  no matter which bacteria caused the infection.

Denise,
Did your doctor have any problem/issue with prescribing the suppositories?
I know my surgeon seemed like writing me for more zofran was ridiculous, but my neurologist wrote me buckets of it. It just seems like some doctors dont want to prescribe even benign helpful meds so you can be proactive about stuff like this.

Thanks for that info Denise. I will ask my pcp next time I see him for the suppository med. The surgeon gave me the pill version of Compazine. I keep it in my purse. I used to use the melt under the tongue Zofran for kidney stone attacks (they cause extreme nausea, preventing from swallowing pain meds).

We are going to Mexico in January. I've been there several times and been fine, but 2 years ago I did get sick the last couple of days. They say it can come from eating a lot of fresh produce, which gets watered with the bad stuff. Who knows... Regardless, I need to take something with me that will work if I do get sick.

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Laurie
GERD (Nissen Fundolplication Sept. 2013)
IgG, IgM Deficient
Chronic Pain caused by Degenerative Arthritis,
Asthma, Chronic Sinusitis, Allergies,
Chronic Kidney Stone Disease, Depression/Anxiety

THANKS TO ALL WHO REPLIED.

Hello I am from the UK and have had a LNF done last Saturday and did experience major pain I think from the gas they pump into your tum in my chest and shoulders.
I am also having pain when I swallow water or other clear liquids or soups. Its like the food goes in and then there is a nasty sharp pain and the sensation of bad trapped wind which moves up the food pipe like it should finish in a burp but I can not burp) and it is painful and lasts for about 30secs. (I have done little burps a couple of times and have had hiccups but nothing satisfying) and on occasions I have a bit of a burning sensation I presume where the internal surgery was carried out after watery soup and trying very watered down Ready Brek.
I don't really feel like I am progressing with the intake of food. Yesterday (Saturday) I had a bowl of ready brek and a bowl of soup not all in one but go spread over the day plus a glass and half of water so felt I had done really well. Today though I feel a bit of pain and a mild burning. I have tried some watered down Ready Brek and get pain about ten to fifteens secs of swallowing any of it.
I don't think the hospital was very good with the information they gave which was basically nothing much! just to take clear liquids for a couple of days and then go on to sloppy / puree food over the next 6 to 8 weeks. is this pain normal at this stage? I am frightened I will have to go back in to hospital and have some more of those horrendous tests done or the stretch which I have read is not very good and often does not work! How can they put an endoscopy tube down in these early stages when everything is still swollen? I get asthma also which seems to be worse than it has been like my tummy area is restricting my breathing and also on occasions a deep cough shoots up my throat and the silly dry cough I experienced before is still going on during the evening and the need to clear my throat. I so hoped these things would have gone after the op. I also have not been to the loo for emptying of the bowels is this because I have not put much in me stomach? Thank you.

Hi Luna Wolfheart

Welcome to the group.

I'm also in the UK and I had my fundoplication on the 12th November.

I know your not going to believe this but it really is early days and you have a lot of internal recovering going on.

I'm in exactly the same boat as you thinking that this hasn't worked but lots of others on the site who've been through this had all the same problems as we do. It can take months for things to settle.

I too struggled going to the loo but you have to remember that you've hardly eaten anything.

I get the mild burning in my chest and I think it's heartburn but then I try to convince myself that it's the wrap.

I've been to see my surgeon last week because I was concerned that things hadn't worked but he's so sure that I don't have reflux. He said its early days and things will settle down.

When others on the site reply to you they will tell you that most people believe that the operation hasn't worked but weeks/months later all it turns out fine.

The doctors/hospital don't really give much advice on what to eat. What you've been told is pretty much what we all get told.

I'm sure that everything will turn out fine for both of us and we just have to believe everyone that's been through this that things do get better.

Take care

Maria

Luna Wolfheart,

I'm in agreement with Maria. I had my nissen done November the 1st. I remember what I was feeling and going through well at your point right now. Even for me at 5 weeks, going to the loo still doesn't feel like it did before the surgery. I wasn't going that much or that often at all either. I suspect lots of improvements are going to happen in the next few weeks for you. You are going to feel lots of these things but it gets so much better. Honestly I'd be shocked if you weren’t going through all those weird feelings and difficulty getting food down. At the time you're at, I was having trouble getting liquids down, even soft foods were completely out of the question for me. Now I'm eating all kinds of things. Also, it seems to be easy to jump to horrible conclusions too soon. Myself and everyone else I know worried a lot about lingering symptoms. As time went on for us, many of our concerns went away as things changed for the better.

You can read my journal if you like here:

http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2922489

Hello thank you very much for replying to me. It is nice to have someone else to chat to about this. Its week two for me now and I am on soups at the moment and trying some ground rice. I was feeling quite well Tues am until I took delivery of a package and the delivery chap just half shoved and threw me the large box which hurt my tum as it was heavy! So I have now gone back about four days with the pain :-(.
Are you still taking pain medications as I have had to increase mine again probably cos of the package incident. Were you told how much rest is needed and what you can and can't do? My staples have been removed now and I am booked into see my gp soon. I appreciate your kindness. Thanks Luna.

I havn't been on any pain meds for a while, but at the point you are at now, I took some pain meds from time to time. I'm not alarmed at all that you need to take them. I'd honestly expect you to need them, especially after your package incident. You can do anything that you feel physically fine doing, in terms of walking around and carrying light weight objects. I'd stop the moment you begin to feel uncomfortable as that would be your body asking you to give it a rest. If you are having trouble getting a lot of food down you may find that you will get tired faster, so at that point I'd give in to the need to get more sleep. No amount of sleep is going to hurt you, it can only help you right now. Go get some sleep. I like to air on the cautious side, so I think it's good to just baby your body for now. Not because you have to but because it couldn't hurt.

Hi am I posting onto the right thread re: recovering from a wrap or should I be on another one with a different title?

Hello can anyone help please. I keep feeling sick is this normal? I have some anti sickness tablets to take three times a day if required. I really did not want to take all this medication. I am on liquid paracetamol 20ml and Tramadol if needed too. How long can you keep taking this stuff for? Can these meds make you feel sick or is it the wrap.
I have to say I feel like I am struggling with getting the soups and water into me. I just don't know if I am rushing the intake of food or not having enough or doing too much about the house.
I am trying to walk about and go for a walk into the town as I read it was good for you to do this. I feel like I have wind trapped down me food pipe does anyone know if I can take anything for this to relieve this sensation and did anyone take any form of laxative or suppository to get things moving? thank you x

Hi Luna Wolfheart

When was it that you had your surgery ?

I had mine on the 12th November. I remember feeling sick on and off for the first 3 weeks. Mine wasn't the meds as I stopped taking them after the first few days. It could be the meds making you feel sick or it could be the wrap and all the internal things going on.

I think you can take the meds for as long as you need them. Try to eat little and often and sip water throughout the day.

Try not to do too much around the house especially anything heavy.Carry on with the walks.

I get pain in my chest / wind pipe don't know if it's wind or just the wrap swelling or healing.

I'm sure it's ok to take a laxative if you need to but remember that you are only eating small amounts so you won't be regular yet.

Maria

Hi thank you for replying I had the op on the 30th Nov. I think you messaged me last week and I do apologise if I have mentioned the same things again its just I start to panic and I need a bit of reassurance that things are ok. Its brilliant when some one replies who is going thru all this too as my family are lovely but they don't know what is going on with me the same as the lovely people on this wonderful site do. I so appreciate your responses.
What stage are you at with your intake of food/liquids? Its strange as all I seem to do is think about the food I cant have or I am thinking of what I could try. I buy something and then can only have a tiny bit of it or as soon as I open it the smell or texture puts me off it!!! My hubby cant keep up with all the stuff he has to eat as I can't manage it. I am soooo looking forward to some mashed spuds n gravy but I think I best wait a few more days to try that as the soup is not going so well at the mo.
kindest regards
Luna

Luna

I'm still eating soft sloppy food although I do try other things too. Yesterday I had a sandwich which I could swallow fine then about an hour later I tried another sandwich and found that difficult to swallow. I have tried mash potato and gravy. I was fine eating and swallowing but later that evening I got chest pains which lasted for hours. Not sure if it was heartburn or spasms or I'd irritated the wrap by eating too much or too fast.

I think about food all the time too.

Are you finding swallowing difficulty or is it that you get full quickly?
Do you get any pains in your chest or at the wrap site ?

Maria

Hi Mcedge
I seem to be able to swallow ok but then I get pains at the wrap site and into my chest and the sensation I need to burp but I can't! It feels like I am full of wind in the food pipe and I am also getting tummy pains like roaming wind!! So I am presuming I am either noshing too fast or having too much in one go? Have only had a cup of soup today and its caused problems
do you know if there is anything we can take for this besides the pain killers can anything bring the wind up or make it disperse also do you take any vitamins? What kind of food did you try to start with that is a bit thicker than soups I am dreading to move on cos of the pain. Did your surgeon do a barium swallow with you to make sure swallowing was okay. I got a letter Sat am saying I have an appointment to see my surgeon in March 14 which seems a long way off.
Kindest Regards
Luna

Hi Mcedge
you know when you (and others on this site) are saying 'having problems with swallowing' - does that mean you can swallow the food from your mouth and down your throat and into the food pipe normally but then you start getting pains after this or do you mean you can't swallow anything from your mouth down your throat? I am getting meself all confused!
thanks
Luna

Luna-

The swallowing issue is normally getting foods and liquids past the wrap at the bottom. Where you are in the recovery process it is going to be tough right now due to swelling.

Try limiting your meals to 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time, but 4 to 6 times a day. STAY HYDRATED! This is very important. Your stomach is a bit smaller and swollen too. so it won't like much food at one time. It also helps to drink something warm, not hot, before eating. It helps to loosen things up a bit and sooth the sore wrap area.

Ice and heating pad can also help with the soreness of the wrap area.

Take care,
Bill

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opnwhl4
Moderator: GERD/Heartburn, Kidney disease

Nissen 6/06 and 5/09
#3 8/24/11

Hi Bill
thank you for helping. I feel worse than I did last week. I feel sick quite a lot even when drinking a bit of water. I am concerned as I don't feel like I am getting enough of anything into my body. Is this all normal? I am into my third week now and I thought I would be on pureed food by now but that is not the case. Is the sensation of wind in my food pipe the wrap causing this? It is very hard to know what to do isn't it, how much you can do around the house without hurting the wrap. I have been trying to do things like: putting the washing into machine, dryer, washing up pots, having walks. I am trying not to bend up and down so much as I was doing as I think that might aggravate the wrap site. I did dry heave last night when I was brushing my teeth which panicked me but then I felt a little bit better?
I am so glad I found this site. Thank you for your help.