Newbie here,
I had my surgery last Thursday, came home on Friday. I had a full wrap. Dr. said 25% of my stomach was in my chest cavity.
On Thursday I was eating the liquid diet...popsicle, jello, water, on Friday they had me eating scrambled eggs, jello, and juice.
everything was fine,over the weekend I was having milkshakes eggs and ice cream,and pudding.
Today is now Monday and I'm eating little bits of chicken, fish, mashed potatoes with no problems what so ever. I have had no pain, havent taken any pain medication, since leaving the hospital, just alot of gas and bloating, and I am burping, but absolutley no heartburn, which is great! I feel so much better since the operation! 
congrats on such a good outcome! I wish I heard more good outcomes from that surgery, especially the burping part. I am still waiting to see if I need surgery done after all these tests. I am curious though..how well did you tolerate the diagnostic testing before surgery, like the esophagul mobility test with the tube down your nose? I couldnt do it myself..blah
I couldn't stand those tests, will never do them again! The one test where I had the tube in for 24 hours was a piece of cake, the one where they move the tube up and down while you swallow water was the worst test I have ever done, I was in tears with that one, but it had to be done and the outcome from surgery made it worth it in the long run.
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.
Hi guys,
I'd like a bit of info from both of you, if you have the time.
I am a GERD neophyte, and have all my symptoms under control at this point, but the next step (if I have a relapse) is diagnostic testing. I have had the blood tests and basic tests, but if my reflux comes back I want to hit it where it hurts.
Chris, you said your stomach was entering your chest cavity. Is this hiatal hernia? If so, do you know what tests are good to identify this? Barium swallow?
And why is the manometry test so painful? This is the one test that I really want done because it explicitly reveals whether the LES is the main problem. But you two are scaring me!
Any info you can provide will be appreciated,
ABCD
I surely did not mean to scare you at all, I'm sorry.
Yes a hiatal hernia is when parts of your stomach enter the chest cavity, these are two of the tests I had done....
The manometry test is very uncomfortable, they had me lying down, then they inserted the thin tube through my nose and down my throat, but as they raise and lower this tube several times you are sipping water through a straw....the uncomfortable part is getting the tube past your gag reflex.
This test took about 30-45 minutes.
Agian, I'm sorry for making you nervous, but this is 1 test I don't want to repeat.
If you have any other questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Raising teenagers is like nailing Jello to a tree.
The manometry was the worst thing I have ever done in my life - 10x worse than the surgery. I got a bloody nose during the procedure....
I get chills just thinking about it. I never had a barium xray for the procedure, but I've had one since. It wouldn't taste bad if you only needed a spoonful, but a whole bottle! Ughhh (literally, like drinking chalk).
Everyone I've talked to who had the surgery tends to get a little worried after a while (a few weeks) when they still can't swallow food. It goes away, don't worry! Expect to have occasional problems here and there for a few months. I had it two years ago and maybe once every 4 months I'll have a little problem.
Good Luck!
Matt
I get chills just thinking about it. I never had a barium xray for the procedure, but I've had one since. It wouldn't taste bad if you only needed a spoonful, but a whole bottle! Ughhh (literally, like drinking chalk).
Everyone I've talked to who had the surgery tends to get a little worried after a while (a few weeks) when they still can't swallow food. It goes away, don't worry! Expect to have occasional problems here and there for a few months. I had it two years ago and maybe once every 4 months I'll have a little problem.
Good Luck!
Matt
My first ever, anywhere forum comment!!
I had an open, full Nissan wrap Dec. 2003. In Feb 2005 it "slipped". I have now had 3 motility test, 3 PH studies, 4 endoscopy procedures. Being considered for repair. Found out it "slipped" because I got an aspiration pneumonia in Feb, 2005, on a Vent for 3 weeks. Mega doses of sterioids left me with diabetes, graves disease and just found out I have Avascular Necrosis of the Femur/hip. So now need a hip replacement.
I am a nurse but my recommendations come from first hand experience and what helped me. During any procedure that tubes are placed down nose or throat the biggest thing to remember is to breathe really deep, and slow! In nose (one side is still open), and out mouth. Also ask nurse or tech to soak the tube in ice water immedicately prior to procedure. Makes insertion much easier.
I had my nissen about two and half weeks ago and I feel pretty good. To be honest I found the endoscopies interesting. The manomatry wsa pretty uncomfortable though. I had two endoscopies done and they both said I was a canidate for the surgery. I have had heart burn literlay all my life, i can remember being in gradeschool, I am thirthy now, and having heart burn. So far the hardest thing for me has been the diet. I feel very restricted by it, but I have lost almost twenty pounds. You really have to eat slow and chew well. At this stage for me there is still alot of swelling and if I dont chew well I get very uncofrtable when i eat. I have absolutly no heartburn whatsover and so far no food has come back up, or liquid. The first few days were the most painful but within in the first week most of the pain was gone and I was up taking waks down the street.
You have to weigh the risks and get as informed as possible, it dosnt work for everybody.
You have to weigh the risks and get as informed as possible, it dosnt work for everybody.
I am a 40 yr. old who is seriously contemplating the Lap Nissan Fundo. I am going to go the laprascopic route and am wondering how long I can expect to be 1. laid up in bed. 2. Unable to work, light duty included and 3. on a scale of 1-10, how bad pain wise was the post op recovery. I already did all the testing, including the upper endoscopy and it confirmed that by stomach is sticking through my diaphragm into my thoracic cavity. The hernia is pretty good size and the doc said because I lost 40 lbs. in about 7 weeks that I need to have it done soon. Your help will be appreciated....Kurt
Hi Kurt,
I had the surgery this past February. I'm a 37 yr. old.
1. I was in the hospital for 2 days, on a liquid diet for 2 weeks & taking it slow that first week. I lost 12 lbs in that first 2 weeks....doctor didn't want me to lose anymore cuz of my weight. I've maybe gained about 6 lbs back but I'm happy with my weight.
2. Back to work in a little over a week but light duty/half days for a few days. Seriously take it easy & don't lift heavy.
3. I did have some shoulder pain while I was in the hospital...the surgery caused a partial pneumothorax but nothing major...it resolved itself on its own. The small incision on my left side of my stomach was more painful than the others. Swallowing was the most uncomfortable aspect of the surgery for the first 4 or 5 days.
I'm happy that I haven't had to take any medicine and haven't had any reflux. The biggest problem I have now is excess gas...flatulation. Me being a single female in the dating world...it's embarrassing...makes me not want to go out on dates at night cuz that's when it's the worst. I guess it doesn't help that I drink diet coke (carbonation) and a beer now & then.
Good luck Kurt!
Hey, if anyone knows what to do about the flatulation issue, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know!!!!!!
I had the surgery this past February. I'm a 37 yr. old.
1. I was in the hospital for 2 days, on a liquid diet for 2 weeks & taking it slow that first week. I lost 12 lbs in that first 2 weeks....doctor didn't want me to lose anymore cuz of my weight. I've maybe gained about 6 lbs back but I'm happy with my weight.
2. Back to work in a little over a week but light duty/half days for a few days. Seriously take it easy & don't lift heavy.
3. I did have some shoulder pain while I was in the hospital...the surgery caused a partial pneumothorax but nothing major...it resolved itself on its own. The small incision on my left side of my stomach was more painful than the others. Swallowing was the most uncomfortable aspect of the surgery for the first 4 or 5 days.
I'm happy that I haven't had to take any medicine and haven't had any reflux. The biggest problem I have now is excess gas...flatulation. Me being a single female in the dating world...it's embarrassing...makes me not want to go out on dates at night cuz that's when it's the worst. I guess it doesn't help that I drink diet coke (carbonation) and a beer now & then.
Good luck Kurt!
Hey, if anyone knows what to do about the flatulation issue, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know!!!!!!
Thanks for the info. Have you tried Gas-X, or Beano or any of the anti gas over the counter meds that are offered.....just a thought. Again, thank you and that makes me feel a bit more confident in my decision to have the surgery. Kurt
Sometimes I think that I may have this surgery someday but I'm scared about it slipping eventually. What do docs say about that...can it be repaired if it slips. A friend of mine had it and her doc told her it was a permanent fix but I've heard so many people say it stopped working because it slipped. Also, is a person able to do any exercise or lift weights with this surgery....it seems that maybe all a person could do is walk for exercise.
I had the surgery 7 years ago. I was 32 yrs old at the time. It has been a complete success. When I had the tube in for the 24hr test, I had over 700 episodes of acid reflux throughout the night. The doctor who performed the surgery went a little tight when he wrapped my stomach around my esophogus, it took 2 months for me to get back on solid food, but as I said, it's been worth it. I no longer get heartburn. The biggest thing is to try to stay away from carbonated drinks. They will make you feel bloated and could in time stretch your esophogus and put you back in the same position you were in before.
funeral6703, did the doctor say that losing 40 pounds was the reason why you got the GERD?? Because I lost so much weight and I think that that's why I have such severe GERD. But they don't want to give me surgery since I burp all the time from this GERD and they think that this would make me miserable after the surgery (being unable to burp)...
I'm wondering if I should have a second opinion because I am not working and the manometry and PH testing showed that I have such an awful case of GERD. So I'm not sure why they don't want to give me the surgery if people here are writing that they CAN burp after the surgery!
Concerning the fundo surgery...are any of you who have had the surgery experiencing more constipation because your insides are basically twisted. What do the docs say about the motility of your gut if you have the surgery.
Sillylilly, I had the surgery done in 2005 and I have had no problems with constipation at all. I did have an extreme amount of trouble with diarrhea for about six weeks after the surgery. We are all different in the way we recover.
Carla
Epilepsy, severe adult onset asthma, allergies, GERD, depression, hypothyroidism
anotherday, how is it that they determined that you need the surgery?? I have reflux that is so terrible that my teeth are even having major problems from it. They say that mine is the worst ever. Yet they say that I am not a candidate for surgery since I burp so much.
sillylilly, did they say that you could have the surgery??
Are any of you who have had the fundo surgery runners? I have been a runner all my life and it is my outlet -- my way of meditating. Now, the GERD is so severe that I cannot run because it causes me to reflux. I am getting depressed and am in constant pain. I was just told that I have Barrett's but that because I don't have a hiatal hernia, I am not a candidate for surgery. Is that true in your experience? Are people like me who have failed conventional drug therapy after 10 years of GERD supposed to just roll over and wait until the constant reflux turns Barrett's into cancer? I am frustrated and would like to know if surgery is an option for me, in spite of the the GI doc's claim that I am not a candidate. If you have surgery can you lead a normal life afterwards, e.g., resume running and sports? What is the rate of fundo failure?
I had the lap Nissen in 2005. I can do everything that I did before, which for me isn't much because I have severe asthma. I lost a good friend a couple of years ago to esophageal cancer. He started out with Barrett's. If I were you, I would run, not walk for a second opinion. I did have a hiatal hernia, but it was a small one. The main reason I had my surgery was because my physicians thought the reflux was triggering some of my asthma attacks. It did help a little with the asthma attacks and with the reflux. I do still take Nexium, but at least now I don't feel as if I have a sewer backing up in my throat.
I know it's not a surgery they take lightly. Have you had the ph probe yet? What tests have they done? I can't imagine that having this surgery would prevent you from running after some recovery time. With you already having Barrett's, I would push for the surgery.
Carla
Epilepsy, severe adult onset asthma, allergies, GERD, depression, hypothyroidism
I am due to have the lap nissan on Oct 11th and I cannot wait!
Have had GERD for 9 years now and finnally got the go ahead toady for the surgery!!
I got scared when a consultant said that you should not be on PPI meds for more than 2 years as they do not know what risks are involves for being on them for that long!
So here I am waiting...and willign for oct 11th...no more meds...no more reflux!!
Claire.....all the way from thew UK!!
Have had GERD for 9 years now and finnally got the go ahead toady for the surgery!!
I got scared when a consultant said that you should not be on PPI meds for more than 2 years as they do not know what risks are involves for being on them for that long!
So here I am waiting...and willign for oct 11th...no more meds...no more reflux!!
Claire.....all the way from thew UK!!