Week 2-6 Nissan Fundoplication Update

Insta:Alissaalissy
Forum: www.healingwell.com/community...
Procedure: Nissen Fundoplication w/ Hiatial Hernia Repair
Weight Loss: 20lbs from Surgery
Issue: Acid Reflux for 4 years w/ small Hiatial Hernia

[@mariasalazar6179]

So glad to hear you are doing great after your surgery. I'm going to have my surgery the end of May and your testimony was like a breath of fresh air everything I would hear about this type of surgery was so negative that I was second guessing if I should even had the surgery .Thank you once again for your help

[@pamspilman5308]

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts..

[@melsh9]

Thank you so very much

[@Lyn4817]

Hi Alissa, well I made it through my repair and Fundiplication okay. To day is day seven and am on free fluids for another week before going onto a soft diet until I see my Surgeon on July 16th. Apart from the referred pain across the shoulders, which I have been given pain relief. I was in theatre for three hours, my stomach pulled back into place without issue. Then I was kept in five days. That may have been more due to my age and have an episode shortly after being discharged and my surgeon decided he would keep me an extra day. Basically everyhing you have said is spot on, for those wondering. I am having trouble tolerating virtually everything apart from water, it simply wants to pass straight through my body, so far. I expect being on a liquid diet 11 days may play apart in that. I am seriously looking forward to going on to the soft diet. Even though I made my own homemade soups and froze them, prior to surgery. I expect a greater percentage of people would stick to stock cubes and thin broths. Right now in all honesty after being home two days, I am not looking for foods or liquids. Fortunately it is our winter as we live in the tropics. Would I have the surgery again, yes! It wasn't as bad as I expected, (Half my stomach was in my chest but it hasn't set in place.) especially after my surgeon asking if I wanted to go to ICU post op. I thought that was really weird. I will try to remember to check back in a bit later on. Hope all is going well with you Alissa. Your videos have been extremely useful, so thank you.

[@vishnuvardhanreddy2402]

Hi mate how you feeling now after all these years? Please let me know am thinking of having this procedure done asap

[@cskiles318]

Thanks for sharing I had mine 2 yrs ago couldn’t find many real stories. To Any1 getting this I know your terrified. I was to. Truly I can say the diet was the hardest part after. I still can’t have carbonation. Just try as you get better small amounts of what you love. I do know carbonation wears at your wrap. Even if you can tolerate it. I still have some stomach probs that slap me down because I’m so afraid of that throw up feeling keep that Zoltan handy. Melt under your toungue for fast relief. Cold towel on neck. You have to find what works for you. Some ppl have no probs. And maybe you won’t I have no regrets and have had zero heart burn. And I don’t have to take anything. It will be ok 👌

[@francescadaniel6381]

I am 2 weeks post op. Only pain was gas pain. Incisions healing well. Eating is the biggest challenge. Soft foods only. I go from full to starving! Lots of scrambled eggs. Use the back of your fork to make bites the size of pencil eraser so nothing gets stuck. Eat slowly!

[@muhyee294]

Hi there how r u now have u fully recovered would u recommend

[@utubz007]

Hi, Thanks for your video. I saw a surgeon today and he talked about the short term recovery issues. He mentioned that it may feel uncomfortable in the lower part of the esophagus and a full stomach feeling. How did this effect you? Did your surgeon talk about that side effect and what causes it? Do you feel like you can swallow normally now and did you have a solid heavy meal (steak or burger ) meal yet and if so was it a problem? I appreciate your help !! And good luck to you.

[@alissachristine250]

Hello! Great question! The “full” feeling is more just you aren’t too hungry. Give yourself a full 45-60 mins to eat. And chew closely and everything will be fine. Yes! I’m 8 weeks into recovery and just had Tri Tip the other day and everything was fine. It takes really a full 3-4 weeks to move off very soft foods at which point solid foods and bread might me difficult to eat still but by week 6-8 you shouldn’t have any trouble. Please check if your surgeon has had experience with this procedure. There is a big difference in the road to recovery when it’s “i can do the procedure” vs “I’ve had experience with this procedure”. You want to feel confident the surgeon will do the wrap properly and just the right tightness. I feel completely normal now with no acid reflux. I have no issues eatting. Alchoal isn’t too much of an issue but really cannot consume more then 1-2 drinks. Let me know if you have any questions and best of luck!! I’ll try to do another update soon.

[@utubz007]

Thanks Alissa. I really appreciate your information. At the clinic there are 3 surgeons that specialize in the procedure so that seems like a good thing. Have you heard about an issues with the " wrap " part of the surgery. Seems like that would be a very important part of the surgery. Thanks !

[@alissachristine250]

Hi Charles, If you have a surgeon who is experienced (which sounds like you have several who are), then the wrap should go well for you. There is tightness in the esophagus for the first few weeks, my suregon said if I still had difficulty eatting after 8 weeks post op, then I was to go back and see him. I haven't had any issues so I haven't seen him since my initial post op appt after 1 week. The problem that people run into is that the wrap is done too tightly. This means then they will have to go in and stretch it via upper endoscopy. If they do that however, you run the risk of putting yourself back into a similar spot as you were before. For example, I had a loose esophagus sphincter, so if they had stretched my esophagus post wrap, I might suffer from GERD again. There is a balance to it. There is documentation that says wraps can last up to 10 years or so. I don't know how accurate it is, but be aware that there might be a possiblity you'd have to get it done again in time. I understood this risk and being off of medications was worth it for me. For some, they still suffer from light acid reflux post wrap (this is prolly because the wrap wasn't done as tightly as it should have, again theres a balance to it) however people report having to take less medication then they were pre-op. I recommend going to www.healingwell.com and select the GERD form. It's a great supportive community that you can read of peoples experiences (the good and the bad). But keep an open mind about it all.

[@seyedebrahimhosseini4492]

Hi there , I hope you are doing well now. I am 17 days after the surgery and have some issues such as shoulder and rib pain from my left side. I also can not sleep well at night due to rib pain and short/fast breath. Do you have these issues?

[@marinapieri4086]

Hi Alissa thank you for the video. Can I ask why didn't you do the robotic lamparoscopic surgery instead of the normal lamparoscopic surgery?

[@alissachristine250]

Hello! My surgeon called me night before surgery and notified me a part on the robot had been recalled. He offered to reschedule the surgery for after the new year but I needed to have it done before 2018 due to insurance reasons. He felt confident doing it laparoscopically without the robot. So that’s what we proceeded with. My surgeons specialty was in Gastro surgery so I felt he was educated and skilled enough to perform it even with the change.

[@marinapieri4086]

@@alissachristine250 thank you dear

[@c.golden8280]

​@@alissachristine250 Was your surgery a single incision through the naval?

[@alissachristine250]

@@c.golden8280 It was through the abdomin so 5 small incisions.

[@georgemathew2241]

Hi Alissa, great to hear you are doing good. Can't thank you enough for sharing this review. I am 34 and was diagnosed with 3 inch hiatal hernia last year. I was unable to sleep at night cause of reflux but had no symptoms during day time other than frequent burps. I have been on Omperazole for last 1 year. I take them once every 3 days. Now I have no symptoms at all as long as I take a pill once every 3 days. However I am a little worried of being on medications for rest of life causing other damages as I read on internet, at the same time worried of damaging vagus nerve from surgery. Would you have gone for surgery if you could manage symptoms with medications like me? Being a parent makes me so worried going through a surgery and having more issues and 2 docs I have seen had totally different views on surgery. Will really appreciate your input. Thanks

[@alissachristine250]

Hi George - Thanks so much! The short answer to your question is = I don't think I would have continued taking medication for the long term even if it meant I was feeling okay on them because of several reasons: 1) PPI's mess up your body's proper nutrient absorption. They lessen the amount of acid in your gut that is needed for proper nutrition absorption. 2) There are more and more cases showing the effects it has not only on your liver but also risks that I feel doctors really down play from long term use is associated with osteoporosis and dementia. 3) If I forgot to take my meds, I'd be miserable. Taking my medication later in the day instead of first thing in the morning on an empty stomach still didn't seem to help my issue. For me finding a non-medication route to feeling 100% again was the goal for me. Is there a possibility the Nissen could fail on me in 10 years? - sure. Is there a possibility I may have to go back on a low mg of medication even after the Nissen? - of course. These are all things I went into the surgery understanding. Please note - I saw 2 gastro specialists during my 4 year time period. My last one did not think I needed surgery but I wanted a surgical recommendation despite what they said. Took me 6 months and hundreds of dollars later after multiple 5 minute meetings with my gastrologist to get one (stupidest thing ever honestly..this is story for another time). My surgeon looked at my history and said I was a prime candidate. So I put my faith in him and went for it. After the surgery was complete he said the only thing that was going to help me was the surgery and I'm thankful I trusted my gut on this one. Get a third opinion if you can. I did a lot of things BEFORE I jumped to the conclution of wanting surgery including : Seeing a dietition / changing eatting habits / weight loss / medication usage / exercise regulary / cutting out all things that would cause a flair up / 2 upper endoscopies . Let me know if you have any more questions

[@sameenarenfro9053]

We’re you able to walk very well at week 3 and what was your pain level at week 3?

[@deneenschaad1950]

I didn't hear you mention milk shakes & also, medications that you have to swallow that can not be crushed?

[@alissachristine250]

Smoothies were difficult even by the two week mark when I was authorized by the doctor to give it ago. But everyone is different, I'd just try more watered down ones. I chose to have the doctor give me liquid pain meds instead of having to crush up medication. This was much easier to administer

[@christinafordhomedesignlif8847]

When did the trouble swallowing go away

[@LucileivanDamSilva]

Hi Alissa, thanks for this video. I live in Holland and I have an appointment with the surgeon in June. I am really scared about the pain you described, but I hope I can handle it with pain killers. How does it fill when you sneeze and cough? I am allergic and sneeze and cough very often. Thanks.

[@alissachristine250]

Lucilei van Dam-Silva Hi Lucilei, the first two weeks will hurt when you sneeze or cough. Best to be a clean environment to avoid dust or allergies as much as possible. You just have to brace your gut for the sneezes. It’s temporary pain. You should be off the pain meds after the 1st week. I know the anticipation of pain can be intimidating but the short time of discomfort is worth it for the end result. Best of luck, keep in touch!

[@LordArkeus]

Hello, thanks for the update. I have a question about your symptoms before surgery. Did you have frequent headaches?, and did you feel like your tongue was irritated during silent reflux?

[@alissachristine250]

Hello, No my tongue didn't, however I was constantly congested due to the acid going up into my mouth and into my nasal cavity. Occationally it would cause my throat to be sore but I was religious about my medication and anti-acid tablets like tums or pepsid. I do have more brittle teeth but thats about it.

[@LordArkeus]

@@alissachristine250 Thanks for replying, I am trying to find the roots of my problem because the ppi are not working and I feel even worst after 4-5 days of using them. The PPI does help with the chest pain but it doesn’t help with the symptoms of the pharynx and I think since I have regurgitation that the PPI are the main contributor for the weak teeth. Also when I am on them my ears hurt frequently. I need to have a Bravo test to see how bad is the reflux and a SIBO test. SIBO is Overgrowth of bad bacteria in the Small intestine. There is a doctor that thinks the these bacteria can ferment certain type of carbohydrates and produce high amount of methane gas and Hydrogen gas which will cause pressure on your stomach and weakens the LES valve. I want to have the fundoplication surgery, but all of the gastroenterologists just want to give me PPI 24/7. Right now I am just eating Salmon and brown rice ( cooked with coconut oil) with ppi, zantac and carafate and These don’t solve the problem. I have an appointment on Wednesday let see what BS does the doctor comes with. List of PPI that I have been on ( Nexium 20mg, Omeprazole 20mg, Pantoprazole 40mg, Zegerid + sodium bicarbonate 40mg)

[@alissachristine250]

Hi, the PPI's stopped helping me with my acid reflux too. I did look and it appears that acid reflux can cause headaches/ear pains as it irritates the lymph nodes in your sinus' which can cause a build-up of liquid - much like a sinus infection but it's what causes the problems you might be experiencing. I have heard the theory of the hydrogen gas but haven't really spoken to anyone about it. My gastrologist also didn't want to recommend me for surgery, he thought it could be fixed with PPI's. Put it this way - you fix your problems, you no longer have to see that gastrologist which means they lose money by not seeing you for regular check-ups, scheduling you for upper endoscopies/ other tests, and looking for their continual guidance which they would be happy to ask more money from you for. Save yourself the money and push to get a surgical recommendation and leave it to them to determine if you qualify. I'm in CA and the surgeon told me since I had persistent GERD and a hernia, I qualified for the surgery. I never had to do a barium swallow or all these other tests people have been through, I only had 2 upper endoscopies. How did the appt go? Did the BS show anything important? I was also was on Omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazol, dexilant, constant acid reducers and nothing worked.

[@LordArkeus]

Hey! I couldn't see the doctor because he had an accident and injured his leg, but I got the SIBO test done which was negative. I don't know if I should trust that result because I saw that the calibration of the equipment was expired. I am going to stay a little longer on Zegerid twice a day and 50,000UI Vit D3 to see if there is any improvement. Oh, On the appointment day I did saw his assistant, but he was saying I was too reluctant to follow the treatment and that I needed to see a nutritionist. He also implied that I was hypochondriac and probably needed to see a psychiatrist. The BS didn't show anything, Since it was done around 2-3 years ago I didn't even have the Hiatal hernia. My first endoscopy didn't show any hernia either, but the second endoscopy did @@alissachristine250​

[@xman007ism]

LordArkeus You should get a manometry to check if your sphincter works correctly

[@mokabokal101]

thx for the video , do you mind to tell me the name of the surgeon , and where you had the procedure plz

[@alissachristine250]

Eric Salanger, San Luis Obispo CA

[@saadahmadkhan2745]

Hi how r u feeling now? Any gerd symtoms?

[@maxmcsm7617]

Hi before you went for surgery were you told about vagus nerve damage and how likely this was? This worries me about the op, thanks

[@alissachristine250]

Maxmc Sm I did not. Though I was aware that there are a lot of nerves running through your diaphragm and gut. I had some residual nerve pain after but it went away after three weeks.

[@maxmcsm7617]

Alissa Christine so are you still very happy with outcome of surgery? Completely back to normal as eating, exercising?

[@alissachristine250]

Maxmc Sm yes extremely happy! It’s improved my quality of life. I can enjoy the food and drink I like with no worry about acid reflux. I’ve done yoga since week 8 and no issues.

[@btinnin9359]

Occasionally when I burp I have a little but of pain in my left shoulder which I think is from nerves but Its not anything major and quickly goes away. I'm 4 weeks post op

[@c.golden8280]

@@btinnin9359 That's from the anesthesia I heard. Anyone else?

[@patriciaperez838]

How are you doing now ? Did you ever have the sour bitter taste tongue from gerd did that go away after your surgery? My dr just reffered me to a surgeon to get the nissen fundo I’m nervous he’s sending me to get upper gi with barrium swallo done first and go from there

[@MissyMeats]

Hi Alissa, What about weight loss? Once you recover, did your weight stabilize? I need the surgery but I’m worried about losing too much weight.

[@tgibson4382]

I’m at 10 weeks post surgery and I have lost 10 pounds. The diet has a lot to do with it but I had issues with post Fundoplication diarrhea which finally is slowing down. I am not eating refined sugar and staying on a low fat high fiber diet. I exercise as much as I can and I don’t over eat.

[@alissachristine250]

Hi Melissa, I lost a total of 20 pounds. I'm 4 months post op and my weight has stabilized.

[@tgibson4382]

I'm currently 3 months post surgery and have lost so far 26 pounds. No refined sugar, plenty of fiber and exercising regularly. It appears my earlier issue maybe abating so it's all good at the moment.

[@cskiles318]

I lost a total of 30 pounds. But got back to my normal Wright within a year. I’m guessing a younger person might take longer to get it back

[@betsyofarrell6134]

@@cskiles318 How are you doing now Christina? I’m 4 weeks out and still on a liquid/soft food diet. I’ve lost 20 pounds pre-surgery and have lost 10 more pounds since surgery. Feeling weak is the worst part!

[@darklife3775]

Thank you so much ,you are amazing woman,l had the surgery done 4 weeks ago ,when can l start eating soft meat or chicken? And l had chest preesure after eating is it normal or happend to you ?, thanks a lot dear!

[@mohammadshujamalik5080]

Hi...i had surgery 2 week ago,i still feel chest pressure and more after eating.When did it go away for you?How are you felling now?When were you able to have a normal diet?

[@darklife3775]

@@mohammadshujamalik5080 أهلا محمد I think you still early to get any better healing process is very long this what l have heard for 5 minths now, but from my experience ldont scare you this surgery is my worst decision lve ever made, 5 months of hell and still have chest pain and preasure and recently headaches make me cry,now lam looking for an experienced surgon to take it down ,lam sorry if you want some one reassure you it will not be me That's why l blaming everyone who encourage people to this surgery, although it's a life saver for many but for others it's real death .

[@arlettypina3800]

Hello Alissa, I just got the surgery a couple of hours ago and I am having issues keeping water down. I am regurgitating it. Was this normal for you ?

[@alissachristine250]

If you are concerned about keeping water down, I would speak to your surgeon. I didn't have this issue but you may just have some more swelling then I did but it's important to stay hydrated.

[@arlettypina3800]

Alissa Christine Hi Alissa, hope all is well. 11 days post op here. I was wondering, how long did it take you to eat food at your regular pace again. I noticed when I drink quickly I get a stuck feeling in my stomach. Did you have a similar experience?

[@alissachristine250]

Arletty Pina hi, took about a week and a half for soft food diet. Four weeks to incorporate a bit more solid of food. Six weeks for harder meats and breads.

[@alissachristine250]

Arletty Pina also eatting slow is still a pattern even 5 months in. I’m aware of my consumption. I eat small meals, I don’t eat till I’m full just satisfied. You will be come more in turn with your eatting over time. Over eatting is extremely uncomfortable and not something you want to really experience so if you can avoid that I recommend it. I made the mistake becoming overly excited to eat a salad 3 months in and I could feel my stitches ache. They wouldn’t rip I know that but it was tender and uncomfortable for a good hour or two.

[@francescadaniel6381]

I didn't have anything to drink for 24 hours post surgery. Then sipping only.

[@tracyhillier444]

Do you know how you got the hernia? I have a small one, they say should not cause me issues but I do have issues. thanks

[@alissachristine250]

Hello! I had an upper endoscopy done and they found it. If you are having issues then be sure to notify your doctor.

[@tracyhillier444]

@@alissachristine250 i had 2 scopes done and a ct scan - just wondering how i got it - do you know what caused your hernia or do it just happen

[@alissachristine250]

@@tracyhillier444 There are honestly so many different things that can cause one. Age, injury, being born with it.

[@xRafinha]

I got mine doing sit up's, I'm 100% sure of it. If only I could imagine that was a thing I would have never ever done sit ups

[@lindarandell68]

Hi I am post op 12 days and not too good. I was okay. But last 2 days even when I drink water it hurts in my breast bone and almost immediateley white mucus comes up not pleasant. Did you have any of this.

[@alissachristine250]

a little bit. you just had major surgery! it might feel worse at first before it gets better. it can take a full 9-12 weeks to heel

[@Wizard-cv8zv]

Hi Alissa mam.I am gerd x patient. I do my surgery on 30th April,2022.55 days is completed after surgery. Still I have some issue,like sometime felling acidity,burping,indigestion,evacuation is not cleared, produced gas,loss of appetite. Only positive thing after surgery is that food is not coming out through my food pipe.Can you tell me how much time will it take to be normal?

[@michellebacchus3470]

I am now approaching week 9 post surgery. I still get reflux and heartburn and sometimes stomach pains maybe if I eat too much or maybe what I eat. I'm thinking this surgery jas not changed my issues....just the same. Anyone else continue to have symptoms post surgery?

[@boogotti1173]

15 days post op and i still have the reflux. Does this go away

[@arlettypina3800]

Hi Alissa, I am looking into having surgery very soon. I was diagnosed with a small Hiatal hernia and I had the same issues where my gastro doctor was stating that did not need surgery despite of my constant symptoms which include, severe nausea in the mornings. Coughing, indigestion, gas and bloating . I was an pantoprozale 40mg and I was still miserable. Then I was put on Dexilant 60mg. That Dexilant relieved my symptoms however I was still suffering. I went back to the gastro doctor and he stated that the medication is 99.9 effective and that I may have another issue in my body occurring. He then prescribed me an asthma pump and gave me some powdery packs to reduce bile in the body. None of that worked. I have been ready comments that people who undergo surgery cannot vomit. Is this still true for you ?

[@alissachristine250]

Arletty Pina hi! I’m so sorry to hear that your doctor isn’t making an effort to help your issues permanently. If you are not satisfied with the care of your doctor, seek a second opinion. I put my foot down and I said I wanted a surgical opinion to decide. Medication helps many many people. Don’t get me wrong. But ultimately there are people that do need surgery if medication doesn’t work. Dexilant worked temporarily for me. Pantoprazol worked temporarily for me. If he thinks there is another issue in your body then they should be explaining to you what that possibly might be and working to resolve it for you. Tests. Exams. Upper endoscopes. But really if you have a loose esophagus sphincter like I had medication is not going to work. Yes it is true you cannot vomit after. Some say that you can get a little out but not as much as it used to be. I was prescribed medical grade anti nauseous meds if I ever got food poisoning or was just so sick. I get that people are freaked out by the idea of that but you gotta think back to the last time you puked. For me, besides alcohol (won’t lie here), it was food poisoning when I was a kid. I’m more mindful of alcohol consumption now and I’m 4 months post op with no nauseous issues. You have to decide for yourself what the pros and cons are and what is the line for you. In my opinion not being able to vomit isn’t the worst thing in the world. Being miserable for a day or two is better then years of suffering from acid reflux. Another thing is, surgery will not correct gastritis. That’s super dietary based. I suggest if you have that and are cutting out the irritable foods but still have issues, work with a dietitian. I’ve worked with a dietitian, weight loss specialist, two gastro specialists and a surgeon before proceeding. You are going to be your #1 advocate. Trust your instincts. Do as much research on options because surgery has several options and there are also several qualifications with each. I had a small hiatial hernia + GERD that was not fixable with medication so I qualified for the Nissen under my insurance. I don’t know how it works in other states outside of CA or the USA but I have blue shield and those were my criteria. Let me know if you have any more questions and best of luck on your journey to health and wellness! PS I’d go through it all over again if I have to. I’m happy. Healthy. And acid reflux free 💕

[@arlettypina3800]

Alissa Christine Thank you Alissa for taking the time to reply so elaborately. I had another upper endoscopy done by the surgeon who is going to operate on me and I am currently waiting for the results. Now that you mentioned alcohol , I did drink socially with friends is that something that you have found that you can do without a problem after surgery ?

[@alissachristine250]

Arletty Pina yes I can drink now no issues. My doctor told me to cut caffeine and alcohol for the first 4 weeks. Beer / anything carbonated is more difficult to consume. Makes you feel bloated. Sticking to wine or like hard alcohol is in some ways easier because you don’t get as bloated as uncomfortable with it. At first I could only do 1 beer after eatting. Now 2 is my max. You just have to find the balance that works for you!

[@arlettypina3800]

Alissa Christine Thank you! I will keep you updated after my surgery

[@alissachristine250]

Arletty Pina hope it goes well! Let me know if you have any questions!

[@c.golden8280]

I'm a coffee drinker. Are we able to have coffee after the surgery?

[@alissachristine250]

yup!

[@glamladwales7056]

Having it monday ugh

[@muhyee294]

How was did u recover would u recommend

[@alissachristine250]

2 YEARS POST OP UPDATE: Hi Everyone, I haven't posted a video in a long time but I've had many requests from people asking how I feel now. My surgery was a success and has given me my life back. I feel wonderful and haven't had any issues with my hernia or GERD. -I can throw up, no issues -I can weight train and exercise. I just personally don't do any pull ups to not put strain on the wrap but I do other abdominal exercises. You can risk it but this is just my preference. -I can burp no issues and with no baby barf -I haven't had any children yet so I can't say I know if pregnancy will impact the wrap or not but I've heard a mix of experiences. -My stomach capacity is much more normal now after 2 years. I consume between 1500-2000 cal a day no issues. If I eat too MUCH then I will feel pressure on my wrap and then I'm uncomfortable for a short bit but it goes away.

[@honestview7697]

hello alissa christine, can you please me how your life is after surgery and most impoertant question is that can you do gym and other excercises like walking and sports

[@yonikab8066]

Can you update new video to see how you feeling ?

[@marufali6205]

im getting it done on 30th of this month couple weeks away

[@harshitraj7135]

R u from india,can we talk?

[@muhyee294]

Hi maruf bro did u have it, how was it have u recovered fully

[@alimamohammed8771]

hii how are you

[@kashyapdarji8454]

Are you able to burp/ belch after NF and if not then is there heaviness or pain in stomach until get release Gas. What is the status of Dysphagia? Are you able to hard food or how long it required to get it 100% cure!!

[@alissachristine250]

hello, I am not able to burp often but it has been getting easier to release that pressure. I have no dysphagia anymore and it should take a full 8 weeks to be better. I was able to eat solid food after 6 weeks. I think it will take your body a full year to heal though with the scar tissue and all.

[@kashyapdarji8454]

Thanks for the update. If you are not able burp then how to release that gas from stomach. Till how long you can not burp? One more thing this surgery is life threatening?? After this surgery are you able to diet in full quantity or after having some food it feels heaviness. Any improvement in weight gain?

[@alissachristine250]

@@kashyapdarji8454 I find burping just to happen naturally. I cannot force myself to burp like previously. For example, I was drinking coffee earlier and just happened to burp after my sip, but I just took another sip and nothing happened. Not being able to burp really isn't as bad as it sounds, more of an annoyance. I get hiccups a lot more now, but if you don't burp, that pressure ends up being released through passing gas. People who have this surgery tend to pass gas more then before having the surgery. Any surgery comes with risks. This surgery isn't a walk in a park, surgeons, nurses, anyone in the medical industry will call it a major surgery. You would have to discuss with your doctor risks that pertain to you. My doctor told me I had perfect blood pressure and I was a healthy weight and have had no prior complications under anesthesia. But just because that is my history doesn't mean it's the same for someone else. I would consider it a pretty safe procedure though. I eat a normal healthy diet and have no issues. I cannot eat in large quantities like before. It's more of 6 small meals a day rather then 3 large meals. Your stomach (organ) size is going to become smaller through this. It will feel uncomfortable to eat large qtys. You will get in a habit of eating slower and listening to your body and being more in tune with what works for you. I was not underweight going into this surgery, so gaining weight after surgery was never a personal goal of mine. If anything, I'm trying to lose weight. If you are worried about weight gain/loss, discuss with your doctor. Weight gain is very caloric based. I think if you monitor your calories and choose the right foods and eat in proper excess you should gain weight. A nutritionist or dietician are the best to speak to about this as they who can cater a diet specifically for you and your needs.

[@kashchi]

@@alissachristine250 Thank you for the information in details for Surgery. My doctor said it is small surgery. No any risk. I did my Barrium swallow last year but it was normal. i have not done surgery yet. But i am taking ppi's in morning. I have issue with burping with some liquid(Regur)and dysphagia due to acid reflux. i am thinking should i go with surgery or not as i loose my weight loss to approx 20 kg. i am worried is it life threaten. so worried about dysphagia and inability belch/burp after NF Surgery..

[@kandycewest710]

I"m going for a second opinion tomorrow -- after reading and hearing from people, this surgery really scares me. Is it better to suffer with the indigestion and heartburn, etc.? My family doesn't think I should do this -- so my dilemma -- if I do and it's bad I'll never hear the end of it.....Send prayers for me please.

[@alissachristine250]

Kandyce West excessive indigestion and heartburn can lead to damage that will be irreversible. You could potentially get esophagus cancer. Surgery is worth it. What makes you worried about the surgery?

[@matldn2697]

Look up barrett's esophagus. Then speak to your surgeon.

[@silkclayton8914]

Did u suffer from halitosis b4 surgery and if so has it gone now ?

[@alissachristine250]

yeah i had a little. but nothing extreme.

[@silkclayton8914]

@@alissachristine250 do u know how long after surgery your halitosis was gone ?

[@shemelislegesse7653]

silk clayton Hello please tell me ,about your case status you done surgery?,,, me I took referral paper for surgery .Really more than 10 years I was suffering from GERD especially and halitosis (badbraeth ) .due to GERD

[@nonserviam1580]

Hello. I have done nissen for hiatal hernia 9 weeks ago. For me this is by now Hell. I lost 10 kg, i cannot burp, bloat and gas, lost apettite, level of anxiety increase alot. I cannot be focus on other things but my strange feelings. I'm in depression now. I don't hnow it is a recovery what i feel or this is the negative side effect of the nissen forever. Before the surgery i was working out at the gym so my phisical condition was good. After 9 weeks i cannot recognize myself. I can swallow food, this is no problem, the problem is you can't burp and vomit so all the gas will be trap in your stomac. Before the surgery i never use ppi , even with hiatal hernia, my problem was constant indigestion, bloating pain and strong nausea maybe silent reflux. You must be mental prepare for this surgery, it looks like, i don't. I don't know what can i expect in the next period. I consider to use antidepressants. In this point, after 9 weeks i regret the surgery. (I made it robotic with the best surgeon). Any advice is good.

[@alissachristine250]

Hi Panzer, I'm so sorry to hear that you are feeling this way! Did the surgery provide relief for the acid reflux? For gas and the bloating, look into Gas x or some form of a gas reducer. I'm at 15 weeks post op and I can burp on occasion - mainly when I have just had a beer / carbonated drink. The gas and bloating get better in time. I lost 20 pounds as well during surgery. Most doctors recommend not trying to pursue physical activity (like working out) until week 8. I waited until week 9 and started with light yoga and build up my strength again. I found that taking walks really helped move gas along in my system. Try doing some light activity if you can. You cannot vomit, however, if you are ever worried that you might get food poisoning and feeling miserable from that, check with your doctor about prescribing you anti-nausea medication to keep on hand. I have a week supply at home for cases like this. This surgery is not a quick 8 week recovery. It can take up to a year to recovery. This is classified as a major surgery. (just for perspective, even people who get nose jobs, it also takes a year for full healing. This is considered a normal length of time.) Did you do much reasearch on the procedure prior to getting it? I would recommend speaking with a therapist before doing any anti-depressents. Many times those medications can actually make you more depressed. Just take it day by day. I know it's not an easy road but you ARE on the road to recovery and thats most important. Please let me know how else I can be of help.

[@nonserviam1580]

@@alissachristine250 thank you very much. Your words it means alot for me. So i'm in week 9...if i knew the recovery time it is so long... And i have three kids witch i grew up alone. (My mother help me alot). Thx.

[@alissachristine250]

@@nonserviam1580 I think you will notice a difference in how you feel in the next month or two. Please keep me posted on how you feel!

[@nonserviam1580]

@@alissachristine250 i will. Thx again.

[@steffmeisteren]

It sounds like the wrap may be a little to tight, so that air do not escape the stomach at all. I would talk to my surgeon about maybe trying to loosen the wrap a little. You can do this without undergo another surgery. Personally, I am going to take the Toupet variant of this operation (3/4 wrap), as it's been showing the same good effects, without the most of the negative symptoms.

[@saraapp6889]

Have all of your symptoms gone?

[@alissachristine250]

yes!

[@96cantona]

You are extremely beautiful

[@user-hj7mc6fl3x]

Who did the thumbs down double thumbs up

[@gabrielarch394]

Hi thnx for the updates, what about bloating and gas, and how about burping, are you able to burp?

[@alissachristine250]

Hello! I can't really burp anymore. If I'm able to force it, it's usually just a little baby one and it's when I'm eatting / drinking something. Bloating has gotten better and has gone away for the most part, however the gas is still very present. But it doesn't feel like painful gas pain, just more of you are walking around and then there's light flatulence. Generally there is more when I drink a carbonated drink (beer, soda water, etc) or consuming dairy or eat veggies that cause you to be gassier,

[@gabrielarch394]

@@alissachristine250 Thnx, Im thinking of getting a nissen lap. procedure done, I have had gerd for about 7 years now, I have been on PPIs on and off, lately I've been coughing and the doc says its a larynx esophageal something, basically the acid from my stomach comes up and irritates my throat and inflames it, would you recommend the lap-nissen procedure when all is said and done?

[@alissachristine250]

Yes! I would completely recommend it. The discomfort is temporary and I really did this procedure to get off the medication. If you'd like to get some more peoples first hand experience I highly recommend going to www.healingwell.com and looking through the GERD forum. There are good / bad experiences but you have to take it all with a grain of salt. Some people have more complex issues then others. I think this can really help a lot of people!

[@gabrielarch394]

@@alissachristine250 Yes thats one of the main things Im looking for to get off the PPIs, thx so much for the help Alissa, God bless u

[@tgibson4382]

At 3 months post fundoplication I have the ability to burp and I picked up an ability to burp from deep inside my abdomen. As the food moves through the esophagus it sits and then drops which creates a vacuum and then there can be a loud belch which I have no control over but I like that the food is moving through quicker in some sense. I had the full wrap and was told it can take 6 months to a year to recover, you just have to be patient.

[@swappriya]

What about cigarettes?

[@alissachristine250]

I don't smoke Cigarettes sorry :/

[@vernehayhurst7350]

No

[@XxAzureNekoxX]

Hey! Can you burp?

[@alissachristine250]

Ellie yes, not always on command, sometimes it just happened but for the most part I can. It’s gotten easier the longer into post op healing. I’m 6 months post op this month

[@btinnin9359]

I burped bad before surgery so I was kind of looking forward to not burping so much after surgery. Well...I still burp huge. But my stomach doesn't get upset as often so I dont think I burp as much as I used to. The dr told me I should be glad I can burp well because it keeps gases from being trapped inside me. Overall I am super thrilled with the results of the surgery. I am 4 weeks post op

[@alissachristine250]

@@btinnin9359 I couldn't burp for the first 6 months besides a little one here and there. Now I can burp quite well and thankful for it. I had a lot of gas pain the built up and had no way to release except to basically fart. But thankful I can burp now.

[@justtruth8310]

This is my 18th day from surgery I’ve been burping for about 7 days or more even though the doctor said I couldn’t.eating still difficult I’m staying on liquid diet right now